Why did the concubine leave her husband?
What led the concubine to "prostitute herself" and leave her husband in Judges 19:2?

Setting the Scene

• Judges records a period when “everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25).

• Moral chaos and covenant neglect permeated Israel; the events of chapter 19 unfold against that backdrop.


Reading the Key Verse

• “His concubine was unfaithful to him and left him” (Judges 19:2a).

• “She was there for four months” (Judges 19:2b).


Understanding “prostituted herself”

• Some manuscripts read “played the harlot,” others simply “was unfaithful.”

• The Hebrew root zānâ often describes sexual unfaithfulness (Hosea 1:2).

• The phrase indicates a deliberate act of sexual sin, not merely emotional estrangement.


Possible Contributing Factors

Personal choices

• She acted on sinful desires, disregarding God’s design for fidelity (Exodus 20:14).

• Freewill implies personal accountability; she chose immorality over covenant loyalty.

Spiritual climate

• Widespread idolatry and moral relativism dulled consciences (Judges 17 – 18).

• Cultural acceptance of sexual sin made “playing the harlot” easier to rationalize (cf. Jeremiah 3:6).

Marital dynamics

• The Levite treated her as a concubine—legal yet secondary status—suggesting possible neglect.

• Emotional distance or unresolved conflict may have emboldened her departure (Proverbs 21:9).

Family ties and security

• Returning to her father’s house hints at seeking protection or provision she felt lacking.

• Bethlehem in Judah offered familiarity and support unavailable with her husband (Ruth 1:8).

Divine sovereignty and narrative purpose

• Her sin sets the stage for exposing Israel’s deeper corruption, leading to civil war (Judges 20).

• God uses even human failings to reveal national need for righteous leadership (Romans 8:28).


Lessons for Today

• Personal sin never happens in isolation; it spreads pain through families and communities.

• Cultural norms cannot override God’s unchanging standards for purity (1 Thessalonians 4:3).

• Neglect within relationships invites temptation; love and covenant faithfulness must be nurtured (Ephesians 5:25–33).

• Scripture’s honesty about human failure underscores our need for redemption in Christ (Romans 3:23–24).

What is the meaning of Judges 19:2?
Top of Page
Top of Page