“And the children of Benjamin heard that the children of Israel were gone up to Mizpeh. Then said the children of Israel, Tell us, how was this wickedness?”
Context:The book of Judges is set in a period of Israel’s history after they had settled in the Promised Land. The Israelites were governed by judges who were raised up by God to deliver them from their enemies. This verse is part of the account of a tragic incident involving the tribe of Benjamin.
The Children of Benjamin:The verse mentions the children of Benjamin, which refers to the tribe of Benjamin, one of the twelve tribes of Israel. The tribe of Benjamin inhabited a territory located to the south of Ephraim and Benjamin’s territory was situated between the territories of Ephraim and Judah.
The Departure to Mizpeh:The verse states that the children of Israel had gone up to Mizpeh. Mizpeh was a place of gathering, where the people would assemble to seek God’s guidance and make important decisions. The tribes of Israel had come together at Mizpeh to address an act of wickedness committed by some individuals from the tribe of Benjamin.
Inquiring About the Wickedness:The children of Israel, representing the other tribes, approach the tribe of Benjamin and ask them to explain the nature of the wickedness that had taken place. The exact details of the wickedness are revealed in the subsequent verses, where it is disclosed that a Levite’s concubine was brutally mistreated and killed by certain men from the tribe of Benjamin.
Lessons and Applications:
- Confronting Sin:The passage highlights the importance of addressing and confronting sin within the community. The children of Israel did not ignore or tolerate the wickedness that had occurred but instead sought an explanation from the tribe responsible. As believers, it is crucial to confront sin in a loving and righteous manner, holding one another accountable.
- Seeking Justice:The Israelites sought to establish justice and hold the guilty party accountable for their actions. This demonstrates the importance of upholding justice within the community and ensuring that the perpetrators of wrongdoing are appropriately dealt with.
- Unity and Accountability:The incident described in Judges 20 emphasizes the need for unity and accountability within the community of believers. The tribes of Israel came together to address the wickedness, showing their commitment to the well-being of the entire nation. Similarly, as Christians, we are called to foster unity and hold one another accountable for our actions.
- The Consequences of Sin:The subsequent events in the book of Judges reveal the severe consequences that resulted from the wickedness committed by the tribe of Benjamin. The incident escalated into a civil war between the other tribes of Israel and Benjamin, resulting in great loss of life. This serves as a reminder of the destructive nature of sin and its potential to cause widespread harm.
Overall, Judges 20:3 highlights the importance of addressing sin, seeking justice, promoting unity, and being accountable within the community of believers. It serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences that can arise when wickedness goes unaddressed and underscores the need for righteousness and justice in our lives.
