She Is Cut To Pieces!

Such is the case in our text. I doubt that anywhere in the scriptures we could read a more disturbing passage than we have in this text. Let me show you what I mean. First, we read about...

I. THE CONCUBINE

WHAT IS A CONCUBINE?

She was a secondary wife. In the Bible, most tribal chiefs, kings, and other wealthy men had concubines.

For example:

• Abraham and Nahor had concubines. (Gen. 22:23-24; 25:6; I Chron. 1:32)

• Gideon had a concubine. (Judges 8:31)

• Saul had a concubine named Rizpah. (II Sam. 3:7)

• King David had many concubines. (II Sam. 5:13)

• Solomon had 300 concubines, in addition to his 700 royal wives. (I Kings 11:3)

In Judges 19, we are told of a Levite who had a concubine. At that time Israel had no king. The people did what they wanted to do, and there was no one to stop them. (Look at Judges 19:1)

But the Levite’s concubine became unfaithful to him.

Look at verse 2. We read, “And his concubine played the whore against him, and went away from him unto her father's house to Bethlehemjudah, and was there four whole months.”

This text reveals something many of us already know. That is, some men have a difficult time making wise choices when it comes to women. This Levite was such a man. However, he must have really loved this woman. He spent the next four months trying to get her to come back home with him. Evidently she was not thrilled with his being there. However, her father seemed to be thrilled that he had come to get her.

Look at verses 3-4. We read, “And her husband arose, and went after her, to speak friendly unto her, and to bring her again, having his servant with him, and a couple of asses: and she brought him into her father's house: and when the father of the damsel saw him, he rejoiced to meet him. And his father in law, the damsel's father, retained him; and he abode with him three days: so they did eat and drink, and lodged there.”

In fact, the Levite’s father-in-law took such a liking to him, that when the fourth day came around, he talked him into staying longer.

Look at verses 5-6. We read, “And it came to pass on the fourth day, when they arose early in the morning, that he rose up to depart: and the damsel's father said unto his son in law, Comfort thine heart with a morsel of bread, and afterward go your way. And they sat down, and did eat and drink both of them together: for the damsel's father had said unto the man, Be content, I pray thee, and tarry all night, and let thine heart be merry.”

He liked him so much, he talked him into staying yet another day.

Look at verses 7-8. We read, ‘’ And when the man rose up to depart, his father in law urged him: therefore he lodged there again. And he arose early in the morning on the fifth day to depart: and the damsel's father said, Comfort thine heart, I pray thee. And they tarried until afternoon, and they did eat both of them.”

And then the father-in-law tried to talk the Levite into staying another night, but he felt it was time to pack up and leave.

Look at verses 9-10. We read, “And when the man rose up to depart, he, and his concubine, and his servant, his father in law, the damsel's father, said unto him, Behold, now the day draweth toward evening, I pray you tarry all night: behold, the day groweth to an end, lodge here, that thine heart may be merry; and to morrow get you early on your way, that thou mayest go home. BUT THE MAN WOULD NOT TARRY THAT NIGHT, but he rose up and departed, and came over against Jebus, which is Jerusalem; and there were with him two asses saddled, his concubine also was with him.”

While they were at Jebus (Jerusalem), something very evil happened.

Look at the next nine verses (11-20). We read, “And when they were by Jebus, the day was far spent; and the servant said unto his master, Come, I pray thee, and let us turn in into this city of the Jebusites, and lodge in it. And his master said unto him, We will not turn aside hither into the city of a stranger, that is not of the children of Israel; we will pass over to Gibeah. And he said unto his servant, Come, and let us draw near to one of these places to lodge all night, in Gibeah, or in Ramah. And they passed on and went their way; and the sun went down upon them when they were by Gibeah, which belongeth to Benjamin. 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. And, behold, there came an old man from his work out of the field at even, which was also of mount Ephraim; and he sojourned in Gibeah: but the men of the place were Benjamites. And when he had lifted up his eyes, he saw a wayfaring man in the street of the city: and the old man said, Whither goest thou? and whence comest thou? And he said unto him, We are passing from Bethlehemjudah toward the side of mount Ephraim; from thence am I: and I went to Bethlehemjudah, but I am now going to the house of the LORD; and there is no man that receiveth me to house. Yet there is both straw and provender for our asses; and there is bread and wine also for me, and for thy handmaid, and for the young man which is with thy servants: there is no want of any thing. And the old man said, Peace be with thee; howsoever let all thy wants lie upon me; only lodge not in the street.”