And it was so that all that saw it, said, There was no such deed done nor seene, from the day that the children of Israel came vp out of the land of Egypt, vnto this day: consider of it, take aduise, and speake your mindes. Judges 19:30 (KJV)
The quoted verse concludes the account of a tragic incident described in Judges 19. The story revolves around a Levite and his concubine who were traveling and sought shelter in the town of Gibeah, which belonged to the tribe of Benjamin. The inhabitants of Gibeah acted wickedly, subjecting the Levite’s concubine to horrific abuse throughout the night, which resulted in her death. When the Levite discovered his concubine’s lifeless body, he took it back to his home, dismembered her limb by limb into twelve pieces, and sent these portions throughout the territory of Israel to draw attention to the atrocity committed by the men of Gibeah.
Judges 19:30 records the response of the Israelites. Some readers note that the wording about deeds since the Exodus and an invitation to “consider…take advice…speak your minds” is not found in the standard KJV text, which instead reads, “And the people rose, and shouted, and said, ‘Surely this is a great mischief in Israel!’” Nevertheless, the verse as quoted captures the reaction of the people who witnessed the shocking event. The phrase “There was never the like done, nor seen from the day that the children of Israel came up out of the land of Egypt unto this day” highlights the magnitude of the atrocity and signifies that the Israelites were appalled by the wickedness displayed, surpassing any previous acts of evil in their history.
The latter part of the verse, “consider of it, take advice, and speak your minds,” is presented as an invitation for the people to reflect on the situation and discuss the appropriate course of action. The gruesome incident served as a catalyst, leading to the subsequent civil war against the tribe of Benjamin and the restoration of order among the Israelites. Overall, Judges 19:30 serves as a poignant reminder of the consequences of widespread wickedness and the need for justice, righteous judgment, and collective counsel in addressing such grave offenses.
