Judges 19

Jud 19:1-15.

A

LEVITE

GOING TO

BETHLEHEM TO

FETCH

HIS

WIFE.

1. it came to pass in those days--The painfully interesting episode

that follows, together with the intestine commotion the report of it

produced throughout the country, belongs to the same early period of

anarchy and prevailing disorder.

a certain Levite . . . took to him a concubine--The priests under

the Mosaic law enjoyed the privilege of marrying as well as other

classes of the people. It was no disreputable connection this Levite

had formed; for a nuptial engagement with a concubine wife (though, as

wanting in some outward ceremonies, it was reckoned a secondary or

inferior relationship) possessed the true essence of marriage; it was

not only lawful, but sanctioned by the example of many good men.

2. his concubine . . . went away from him unto her father's house--The

cause of the separation assigned in our version rendered it unlawful

for her husband to take her back

(De 24:4);

and according to the uniform style of sentiment and practice in the

East, she would have been put to death, had she gone to her father's

family. Other versions concur with JOSEPHUS, in

representing the reason for the flight from her husband's house to be,

that she was disgusted with him, through frequent brawls.

3, 4. And her husband arose, and went after her, to speak friendly unto

her--Hebrew, "speak to her heart," in a kindly and affectionate

manner, so as to rekindle her affection. Accompanied by a servant, he

arrived at the house of his father-in-law, who rejoiced to meet him, in

the hope that a complete reconciliation would be brought about between

his daughter and her husband. The Levite, yielding to the hospitable

importunities of his father-in-law, prolonged his stay for days.

8. tarried--with reluctance.

until afternoon--literally, "the decline of the day." People in

the East, who take little or nothing to eat in the morning, do not

breakfast till from ten to twelve A.M., and this

meal the hospitable relative had purposely protracted to so late a

period as to afford an argument for urging a further stay.

9. the day draweth toward evening--Hebrew, "the pitching time

of day." Travellers who set out at daybreak usually halt about the

middle of the afternoon the first day, to enjoy rest and refreshment.

It was, then, too late a time to commence a journey. But duty, perhaps,

obliged the Levite to indulge no further delay.

10-12. the man . . . departed, and came over against Jebus--The note,

"which is Jerusalem," must have been inserted by Ezra or some later

hand. Jebus being still, though not entirely

(Jud 1:8)

in the possession of the old inhabitants, the Levite resisted the

advice of his attendant to enter it and determined rather to press

forward to pass the night in Gibeah, which he knew was occupied by

Israelites. The distance from Beth-lehem to Jerusalem is about six

miles. The event showed that it would have been better to have followed

the advice of his attendant--to have trusted themselves among aliens

than among their own countrymen.

13. in Gibeah, or in Ramah--The first of these places was five miles

northeast, the other from four to five north of Jerusalem.

15. when he went in, he sat him down in a street of the city--The towns

of Palestine at this remote period could not, it seems, furnish any

establishment in the shape of an inn or public lodging-house. Hence we

conclude that the custom, which is still frequently witnessed in the

cities of the East, was then not uncommon, for travellers who were late

in arriving and who had no introduction to a private family, to spread

their bedding in the streets, or wrapping themselves up in their

cloaks, pass the night in the open air. In the Arab towns and villages,

however, the sheik, or some other person, usually comes out and

urgently invites the strangers to his house. This was done also in

ancient Palestine

(Ge 18:4; 19:2).

That the same hospitality was not shown in Gibeah seems to have been

owing to the bad character of the people.

Jud 19:16-21.

AN

OLD

MAN

ENTERTAINS

HIM AT

GIBEAH.

16. there came an old man from his work out of the field at even,

which was also of mount Ephraim--Perhaps his hospitality was quickened

his duties at Shiloh.

19, 20. there is no want of any thing--In answering the kindly

inquiries of the old man, the Levite deemed it right to state that he

was under no necessity of being burdensome on anyone, for he possessed

all that was required to relieve his wants. Oriental travellers always

carry a stock of provisions with them; and knowing that even the khans

or lodging-houses they may find on their way afford nothing beyond rest

and shelter, they are careful to lay in a supply of food both for

themselves and their beasts. Instead of hay, which is seldom met with,

they used chopped straw, which, with a mixture of barley, beans, or the

like, forms the provender for cattle. The old man, however, in the

warmth of a generous heart, refused to listen to any explanation, and

bidding the Levite keep his stocks for any emergency that might occur

in the remainder of his journey, invited them to accept of the

hospitalities of his house for the night.

20. only lodge not in the street--As this is no rare or singular

circumstance in the East, the probability is that the old man's earnest

dissuasive from such a procedure arose from his acquaintance with the

infamous practices of the place.

Jud 19:22-28.

THE

GIBEAHITES

ABUSE

HIS

CONCUBINE TO

DEATH.

22-24. certain sons of Belial beset the house--The narrative of the

horrid outrage that was committed; of the proposal of the old man; the

unfeeling, careless, and in many respects, inexplicable conduct of the

Levite towards his wife, disclose a state of morality that would have

appeared incredible, did it not rest on the testimony of the sacred

historian. Both men ought to have protected the women in the house,

even though at the expense of their lives, or thrown themselves on

God's providence. It should be noted, however, that the guilt of such a

foul outrage is not fastened on the general population of Gibeah.

29. divided her . . . into twelve pieces--The want of a regular

government warranted an extraordinary step; and certainly no method

could have been imagined more certain of rousing universal horror and

indignation than this terrible summons of the Levite.