Topical Bible: Inhospitableness: Men of Gibeah Toward a Levite

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◄ Inhospitableness: Men of Gibeah Toward a Levite ►

Topical Encyclopedia

The account of the inhospitableness of the men of Gibeah toward a Levite is a stark narrative found in the Book of Judges, specifically in Judges 19. This account serves as a grim illustration of moral decay and the severe consequences of abandoning God's laws and principles of hospitality.

Context and Background

The events occur during the period of the Judges, a time characterized by social and spiritual chaos in Israel, as described in Judges 21:25: "In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes." This era was marked by a cycle of sin, oppression, repentance, and deliverance, reflecting the Israelites' struggle to remain faithful to God amidst surrounding pagan influences.

The Narrative

The account begins with a Levite from the hill country of Ephraim who takes a concubine from Bethlehem in Judah. After a period of estrangement, the Levite travels to Bethlehem to bring her back. On their return journey, they decide to spend the night in Gibeah, a town of the Benjamites, rather than in a foreign city, expecting hospitality from their fellow Israelites.

Upon entering Gibeah, the Levite and his concubine find themselves without shelter, as no one offers them hospitality. Eventually, an old man from the hill country of Ephraim, residing in Gibeah, invites them into his home, providing food and lodging. This act of kindness starkly contrasts with the behavior of the townspeople.

The Sin of Gibeah

As they are enjoying the old man's hospitality, "wicked men of the city" surround the house, demanding that the Levite be brought out so they can abuse him (Judges 19:22). This mirrors the infamous sin of Sodom, highlighting the depth of moral corruption in Gibeah. The old man pleads with the mob, offering his virgin daughter and the Levite's concubine instead, a tragic reflection of the cultural and moral degradation of the time.

The Levite ultimately sends his concubine outside to the men, who abuse her throughout the night. In the morning, she collapses at the doorstep, and upon finding her, the Levite callously places her on his donkey and returns home. The narrative reaches a horrifying climax when the Levite dismembers her body and sends the pieces throughout Israel, inciting outrage and calling the tribes to action against the atrocity committed in Gibeah.

Moral and Theological Implications

The inhospitableness of the men of Gibeah and their subsequent actions reveal a society that has strayed far from God's commandments. Hospitality, a fundamental virtue in ancient Israelite culture, is grossly violated, reflecting a broader rejection of God's covenant. The narrative underscores the consequences of moral relativism and the absence of righteous leadership, as the Israelites grapple with the chaos resulting from their disobedience.

The account of the Levite and his concubine serves as a cautionary tale, illustrating the depths of human depravity when God's laws are ignored. It calls the faithful to uphold the principles of hospitality, justice, and righteousness, emphasizing the need for godly leadership and adherence to divine commandments to prevent societal decay.

Nave's Topical Index

Judges 19:15
And they turned aside thither, to go in and to lodge in Gibeah: and when he went in, he sat him down in a street of the city: for there was no man that took them into his house to lodging.
Nave's Topical Index