The Destruction of Gibeah is a significant and tragic event recorded in the Book of Judges, chapters 19 to 21. This narrative highlights the moral and social decay in Israel during the time when "there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes" (Judges 21:25). The incident at Gibeah serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of lawlessness and the absence of godly leadership.

Background and Context

Gibeah was a city in the territory of the tribe of Benjamin. The events leading to its destruction began with a Levite and his concubine traveling from Bethlehem in Judah to the Levite's home in the hill country of Ephraim. As night fell, they sought lodging in Gibeah, where they were taken in by an elderly man. However, the men of the city, described as "wicked men" (Judges 19:22), surrounded the house, demanding to have relations with the Levite.

The Outrage at Gibeah

In a scene reminiscent of Sodom and Gomorrah, the host offered his virgin daughter and the Levite's concubine to the mob to protect his guest. The concubine was brutally abused throughout the night and left for dead. The Levite found her lifeless at the doorstep the next morning. In a shocking response, he dismembered her body into twelve pieces and sent them throughout the tribes of Israel, calling for justice and action against the atrocity committed in Gibeah.

The War Against Benjamin

The tribes of Israel, united in outrage, gathered at Mizpah to address the crime. They demanded that the tribe of Benjamin surrender the perpetrators, but the Benjamites refused, choosing instead to defend the men of Gibeah. This refusal led to a civil war between the tribe of Benjamin and the rest of Israel.

The conflict was fierce, with the Israelites initially suffering heavy losses. However, after seeking the LORD's guidance and receiving assurance of victory, they set an ambush around Gibeah. The LORD delivered Benjamin into their hands, and the city was destroyed. Judges 20:48 records, "And the men of Israel turned back against the Benjamites and struck them down with the sword—all the cities, the people, and the animals, and everything else they found. They set on fire all the cities they came across."

Aftermath and Reconciliation

The near annihilation of the tribe of Benjamin left only 600 men who had fled to the rock of Rimmon. The Israelites, grieved by the potential loss of one of their tribes, sought ways to provide wives for the surviving Benjamites to ensure the tribe's continuity. This led to further complex and morally challenging decisions, including the provision of wives from Jabesh-gilead and the daughters of Shiloh.

The Destruction of Gibeah and the subsequent events underscore the chaos and moral decline during the period of the Judges. It serves as a sobering narrative about the dangers of societal decay and the need for righteous leadership and adherence to God's laws.