After receiving the dreadful parcel, the entire nation of Israel, spanning from the northernmost region of Dan to the southern border of Judah, gathered at Mizpah. However, the tribe of Benjamin refrained from participating in this assembly. Inquisitive, the leaders of the tribe approached the Levite and requested him to narrate the details surrounding this distressing event.
So the Levite, the husband of the murdered woman, said, “I and my concubine came to Gibeah in Benjamin to spend the night. During the night the men of Gibeah came after me and surrounded the house, intending to kill me. They raped my concubine, and she died. I took my concubine, cut her into pieces and sent one piece to each region of Israel’s inheritance, because they committed this lewd and outrageous act in Israel. Now, all you Israelites, speak up and tell me what you have decided to do.”
Judges 20:4-7 (NIV)
It appears that the Levite included certain details in his account which may not accurately represent what transpired. For instance, he mentioned that the men of Gibeah intended to kill him and that they were the ones who had killed his concubine. It is possible that he perceived the violation she experienced as tantamount to her death. However, it is worth noting that the woman was alive the next morning, and it was only upon the Levite’s return that she died.
Instead of opting to tend to her injuries and save her life, the Levite chose to dismember her body as a means of making a bold statement. Perhaps, he offered a partially truthful account before the council in an effort to bolster his case against the men of Gibeah. He understood that in order to garner unanimous support from all of Israel in favour of executing the men of Gibeah, he would need to embellish the truth.
The tribes of Israel sent messengers throughout the tribe of Benjamin, saying, “What about this awful crime that was committed among you? Now turn those wicked men of Gibeah over to us so that we may put them to death and purge the evil from Israel. ”
Judges 20:12-13 (NIV)
But the Benjamites would not listen to their fellow Israelites.
The leaders of the tribes gathered at Mizpah were all riled up and wanted to exact their pound of flesh from the tribe of the Benjamites. They were even ready to go to war with their own countrymen to repay them for the atrocities that were committed in the town of Gibeah. But when they sent messengers to the tribe of Benjamin, they received no response as the Benjamites prepared their own militia to encounter the tribes of Israel.
The Benjamites maintained a firm belief in their innocence and consciously opted to repudiate any culpability. Persuasively, the men of Gibeah may have managed to convince the Benjamites that their involvement was limited to the act of rape, rather than murder. Consequently, faced with what appeared to be an unfounded accusation against the Gibeah men, the Benjamites adamantly declined to consent to the demands put forth by the other tribes. Given their concerns regarding the safety of the men of Gibeah as they believed the charges levied against them to be fabricated, they took measures to safeguard them.
Israel Suffer Heavy Losses
The Israelites sought guidance from God at Bethel on who should lead the fight against the Benjamites. God instructed Judah to go first, but despite their efforts, they experienced significant losses. They repeated this process, seeking the Lord’s guidance again, but were once more uprooted by the Benjamite warriors.
God allowed the Israelites to proceed even as the Israelites faced potential slaughter by the Benjamites. This situation may be similar to what happened with Gideon, where God wanted them to understand that victory comes from His power, not their own. God didn’t promise to deliver them; He only instructed them to go and fight. It is unclear whether the Israelites asked God sincerely or if they simply wanted to hear a favourable response, as we sometimes do.
How do we manipulate God’s answers to suit our own needs? When we desire something that contradicts God’s will, we often attempt to manipulate His answers to conform to our own agenda. This manipulation lacks true devotion and indicates a lack of focus on God, as our attention is diverted elsewhere. We only accept His guidance if it aligns with our desired outcome. Similarly, God allows the Israelites to pursue their own desires and does the same with us when we are not open to hearing His voice.
Israel Almost Annihilates the Tribe of Benjamin
Then all the Israelites, the whole army, went up to Bethel, and there they sat weeping before the LORD. They fasted that day until evening and presented burnt offerings and fellowship offerings to the LORD. And the Israelites inquired of the LORD. (In those days the ark of the covenant of God was there, with Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, ministering before it.) They asked, “Shall we go up again to fight against the Benjamites, our fellow Israelites, or not?” The LORD responded, “Go, for tomorrow I will give them into your hands.”
Judges 20:26-28 (NIV)
It is common for individuals burdened by guilt to lose sight of the ultimate outcome and repeatedly question God. However, this time, the Israelites triumphed over the Benjamites, attributing their success to fasting, praying, and the presence of the ark of the covenant. We often wrongly associate our actions and efforts with the result rather than acknowledging God’s grace, as He continues to work according to His own timing.
On that day twenty-five thousand Benjamite swordsmen fell, all of them valiant fighters. But six hundred of them turned and fled into the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon, where they stayed four months. The men of Israel went back to Benjamin and put all the towns to the sword, including the animals and everything else they found. All the towns they came across they set on fire.
Judges 20:46-48 (NIV)
During their mission, the Israelites lost sight of the original purpose for starting the war with their own countrymen. The consequences were severe, as the war nearly wiped out the tribe of Benjamin, leaving only six hundred men who fled from the battlefield. It was only after the dust settled from the war that the Israelites began to realize the potential consequences of the largest civil war in their history, fearing that one of the tribes of Israel would cease to exist. Remarkably, even after this incident, the tribe of Benjamin and the city of Gibeah, where the disturbing incident occurred, played a significant role in the appointment of Israel’s first king, Saul.
Are we allowing our frustration and passion to overpower us, or do we patiently anticipate the guidance of God during the critical junctures of our lives? Are we succumbing to the influence of our anger and emotions, or do we exercise restraint and trust in God for His instructions that shape the paths of our life? Let us not be the ones who look in the rearview mirror and find the path of destruction that we have left behind, but instead, let us be the ones who are constantly checking everything with God.
May we not be mere observers of our past, but proactive participants in aligning our future plans with God. Let us strive to always seek guidance from God and ensure that our actions are aligned with His will. By doing so, we can navigate through life with clarity, purpose, and the strength to overcome any challenges that come our way. May our commitment to seeking God’s guidance be unwavering, as we move forward on the path of righteousness and not get distracted by the chaos that surrounds us.
Discussion Questions
- Why are the Benjamites ready to go to war with their own countrymen just to protect a few rapists from Gibeah?
- God brought Israel out of slavery and into the promised land but why is Israel ready to go to war with one of their own?
- Why is God allowing the Israelites to go ahead when they are about to be slaughtered by the Benjamites?
- How is this total annihilation of the tribe of Benjamin justified?
The Jordan Valley 
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