mh_parser/vol_split/7 - Judges/Chapter 19.xml

<div2 id="Jud.xx" n="xx" next="Jud.xxi" prev="Jud.xix" progress="20.80%" title="Chapter XIX">
<h2 id="Jud.xx-p0.1">J U D G E S</h2>
<h3 id="Jud.xx-p0.2">CHAP. XIX.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Jud.xx-p1">The three remaining chapters of this book contain
a most tragical story of the wickedness of the men of Gibeah,
patronised by the tribe of Benjamin, for which that tribe was
severely chastised and almost entirely cut off by the rest of the
tribes. This seems to have been done not long after the death of
Joshua, for it was when there was no king, no judge, in Israel
(<scripRef id="Jud.xx-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Judg.19.1 Bible:Judg.21.25" parsed="|Judg|19|1|0|0;|Judg|21|25|0|0" passage="Jdg 19:1,21:25">ver. 1, and <i>ch.</i> xxi.
25</scripRef>), and Phinehas was then high priest, <scripRef id="Jud.xx-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Judg.20.28" parsed="|Judg|20|28|0|0" passage="Jdg 20:28"><i>ch.</i> xx. 28</scripRef>. These particular
iniquities, the Danites' idolatry, and the Benjamites' immorality,
let in that general apostasy, <scripRef id="Jud.xx-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Judg.3.7" parsed="|Judg|3|7|0|0" passage="Jdg 3:7"><i>ch.</i> iii. 7</scripRef>. The abuse of the Levite's
concubine is here very particularly related. I. Her adulterous
elopement from him, <scripRef id="Jud.xx-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Judg.19.1-Judg.19.2" parsed="|Judg|19|1|19|2" passage="Jdg 19:1,2">ver. 1,
2</scripRef>. II. His reconciliation to her, and the journey he
took to fetch her home, <scripRef id="Jud.xx-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Judg.19.3" parsed="|Judg|19|3|0|0" passage="Jdg 19:3">ver.
3</scripRef>. III. Her father's kind entertainment of him,
<scripRef id="Jud.xx-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:Judg.19.4-Judg.19.9" parsed="|Judg|19|4|19|9" passage="Jdg 19:4-9">ver. 4-9</scripRef>. IV. The abuse
he met with at Gibeah, where, being benighted, he was forced to
stop. 1. He was neglected by the men of Gibeah (<scripRef id="Jud.xx-p1.7" osisRef="Bible:Judg.19.10-Judg.19.15" parsed="|Judg|19|10|19|15" passage="Jdg 19:10-15">ver. 10-15</scripRef>) and entertained by an
Ephraimite that sojourned among them, <scripRef id="Jud.xx-p1.8" osisRef="Bible:Judg.19.16-Judg.19.21" parsed="|Judg|19|16|19|21" passage="Jdg 19:16-21">ver. 16-21</scripRef>. 2. They set upon him in his
quarters, as the Sodomites did on Lot's quests, <scripRef id="Jud.xx-p1.9" osisRef="Bible:Judg.19.22-Judg.19.24" parsed="|Judg|19|22|19|24" passage="Jdg 19:22-24">ver. 22-24</scripRef>. 3. They villainously forced
his concubine to death, <scripRef id="Jud.xx-p1.10" osisRef="Bible:Judg.19.25-Judg.19.28" parsed="|Judg|19|25|19|28" passage="Jdg 19:25-28">ver.
25-28</scripRef>. V. The course he took to send notice of this to
all the tribes of Israel, <scripRef id="Jud.xx-p1.11" osisRef="Bible:Judg.19.29-Judg.19.30" parsed="|Judg|19|29|19|30" passage="Jdg 19:29,30">ver. 29,
30</scripRef>.</p>
<scripCom id="Jud.xx-p0.1_1" osisRef="Bible:Judg.19" parsed="|Judg|19|0|0|0" passage="Jud 19" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Jud.xx-p0.2_1" osisRef="Bible:Judg.19.1-Judg.19.15" parsed="|Judg|19|1|19|15" passage="Jud 19:1-15" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Judg.19.1-Judg.19.15">
<h4 id="Jud.xx-p1.14">Elopement of the Levite's Concubine; The
Levite Reconciled to His Concubine; The Levite Benighted at
Gibeah. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Jud.xx-p1.15">b. c.</span> 1410.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Jud.xx-p2">1 And it came to pass in those days, when
<i>there was</i> no king in Israel, that there was a certain Levite
sojourning on the side of mount Ephraim, who took to him a
concubine out of Beth-lehem-judah.   2 And his concubine
played the whore against him, and went away from him unto her
father's house to Beth-lehem-judah, and was there four whole
months.   3 And her husband arose, and went after her, to
speak friendly unto her, <i>and</i> 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.   4 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.   5 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.   6 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.   7 And when the man rose up to depart, his father in
law urged him: therefore he lodged there again.   8 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.   9
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.   10 But the man would not tarry that
night, but he rose up and departed, and came over against Jebus,
which <i>is</i> Jerusalem; and <i>there were</i> with him two asses
saddled, his concubine also <i>was</i> with him.   11
<i>And</i> when they <i>were</i> 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.   12
And his master said unto him, We will not turn aside hither into
the city of a stranger, that <i>is</i> not of the children of
Israel; we will pass over to Gibeah.   13 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.   14 And they passed on and
went their way; and the sun went down upon them <i>when they
were</i> by Gibeah, which <i>belongeth</i> to Benjamin.   15
And they turned aside thither, to go in <i>and</i> to lodge in
Gibeah: and when he went in, he sat him down in a street of the
city: for <i>there was</i> no man that took them into his house to
lodging.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jud.xx-p3">The domestic affairs of this Levite would
not have been related thus largely but to make way for the
following story of the injuries done him, in which the whole nation
interested themselves. Bishop Hall's first remark upon this story
is, <i>That there is no complaint of a public ordered state but
there is a Levite at one end of it, either as an agent or as a
patient.</i> In Micah's idolatry a Levite was active; in the
wickedness of Gibeah a Levite was passive; <i>no tribe shall sooner
feel the want of government than that of Levi;</i> and, in all the
book of Judges, no mention is made of any of that tribe, but of
these two. This Levite was of Mount Ephraim, <scripRef id="Jud.xx-p3.1" osisRef="Bible:Judg.19.1" parsed="|Judg|19|1|0|0" passage="Jdg 19:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>. He married a wife of
Bethlehem-Judah. She is called his <i>concubine,</i> because she
was not endowed, for perhaps he had nothing to endow her with,
being himself a sojourner and not settled; but it does not appear
that he had any other wife, and the margin calls her <i>a wife, a
concubine,</i> <scripRef id="Jud.xx-p3.2" osisRef="Bible:Judg.19.1" parsed="|Judg|19|1|0|0" passage="Jdg 19:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>.
She came from the same city that Micah's Levite came from, as if
Bethlehem-Judah owed a double ill turn to Mount Ephraim, for she
was as bad for a Levite's wife as the other for a Levite.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jud.xx-p4">I. This Levite's concubine played the whore
and eloped from her husband, <scripRef id="Jud.xx-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:Judg.19.2" parsed="|Judg|19|2|0|0" passage="Jdg 19:2"><i>v.</i>
2</scripRef>. The Chaldee reads it only that she <i>carried herself
insolently to him,</i> or <i>despised him,</i> and, he being
displeased at it, <i>she went away from him,</i> and (which was not
fair) was received and entertained at her father's house. Had her
husband turned her out of doors unjustly, her father ought to have
pitied her affliction; but, when she treacherously departed from
her husband to embrace the bosom of a stranger, her father ought
not to have countenanced her sin. Perhaps she would not have
violated her duty to her husband if she had not known too well
where she should be kindly received. Children's ruin is often owing
very much to parents' indulgence.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jud.xx-p5">II. The Levite went himself to court her
return. It was a sign there was no king, no judge, in Israel, else
she would have been prosecuted and put to death as an adulteress;
but, instead of that, she is addressed in the kindest manner by her
injured husband, who takes a long journey on purpose to beseech her
to be reconciled, <scripRef id="Jud.xx-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:Judg.19.3" parsed="|Judg|19|3|0|0" passage="Jdg 19:3"><i>v.</i>
3</scripRef>. If he had put her away, it would have been a crime in
him to return to her again, <scripRef id="Jud.xx-p5.2" osisRef="Bible:Jer.3.1" parsed="|Jer|3|1|0|0" passage="Jer 3:1">Jer. iii.
1</scripRef>. But, she having gone away, it was a virtue in him to
forgive the offence, and, though the party wronged, to make the
first motion to her to be friends again. It is part of the
character of the wisdom from above that it is gentle and easy to be
entreated. He spoke <i>friendly</i> to her, or <i>comfortably</i>
(for so the Hebrew phrase of <i>speaking to the heart</i> commonly
signifies), which intimates that she was in sorrow, penitent for
what she had done amiss, which probably he heard of when he came to
fetch her back. Thus God promises concerning adulterous Israel
(<scripRef id="Jud.xx-p5.3" osisRef="Bible:Hos.2.14" parsed="|Hos|2|14|0|0" passage="Ho 2:14">Hos. ii. 14</scripRef>), <i>I will
bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably to
her.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Jud.xx-p6">III. Her father made him very welcome, and,
by his extraordinary kindness to him, endeavoured to atone for the
countenance he had given his daughter in withdrawing from him, and
to confirm him in his disposition to be reconciled to her. 1. He
entertains him kindly, <i>rejoices to see him</i> (<scripRef id="Jud.xx-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:Judg.19.3" parsed="|Judg|19|3|0|0" passage="Jdg 19:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>), treats him generously
for three days, <scripRef id="Jud.xx-p6.2" osisRef="Bible:Judg.19.4" parsed="|Judg|19|4|0|0" passage="Jdg 19:4"><i>v.</i>
4</scripRef>. And the Levite, to show that he was perfectly
reconciled, accepted his kindness, and we do not find that he
upbraided him or his daughter with what had been amiss, but was as
easy and as pleasant as at his first wedding-feast. It becomes all,
but especially Levites, to forgive as God does. Every thing among
them gave a hopeful prospect of their living comfortably together
for the future; but, could they have foreseen what befel them
within one day or two, how would all their mirth have been
embittered and turned into mourning! When the affairs of our
families are in the best posture we ought to rejoice with
trembling, because we know not what troubles one day may bring
forth. We cannot foresee what evil is near us, but we ought to
consider what may be, that we may not be secure, as if to-morrow
must needs be as this day and <i>much more abundant,</i> <scripRef id="Jud.xx-p6.3" osisRef="Bible:Isa.56.12" parsed="|Isa|56|12|0|0" passage="Isa 56:12">Isa. lvi. 12</scripRef>. 2. He is very earnest
for his stay, as a further demonstration of his hearty welcome. The
affection he had for him, and the pleasure he took in his company,
proceeded, (1.) From a civil regard to him as his son-in-law and an
ingrafted branch of his own house. Note, Love and duty are due to
those to whom we are related by marriage as well as to those who
are bone of our bone: and those that show kindness as this Levite
did may expect to receive kindness as he did. And, (2.) From a
pious respect to him as a Levite, a servant of God's house; if he
was such a Levite as he should be (and nothing appears to the
contrary) he is to be commended for courting his stay, finding his
conversation profitable, and having opportunity to learn from him
the <i>good knowledge of the Lord,</i> hoping also that <i>the Lord
will do him good because he has a Levite</i> to be his son-in-law,
and will bless him for his sake. [1.] He forces him to stay the
fourth day, and this was kind; not knowing when they might be
together again, he engages him to stay as long as he possibly
could. The Levite, though nobly treated, was very urgent to be
gone. A good man's heart is where his business is; for <i>as a bird
that wanders from her nest so is the man that wanders from his
place.</i> It is a sign a man has either little to do at home, or
little heart to do what he has to do, when he can take pleasure in
being long abroad where he has nothing to do. It is especially good
to see a Levite willing to go home to his few sheep in the
wilderness. Yet this Levite was overcome by importunity and kind
persuasion to stay longer than he intended, <scripRef id="Jud.xx-p6.4" osisRef="Bible:Judg.19.5-Judg.19.7" parsed="|Judg|19|5|19|7" passage="Jdg 19:5-7"><i>v.</i> 5-7</scripRef>. We ought to avoid the
extreme of an over-easy yielding, to the neglect of our duty on the
one hand, and that of moroseness and wilfulness, to the neglect of
our friends and their kindness on the other hand. Our Saviour,
after his resurrection, was prevailed upon to stay with his friends
longer than he at first intimated to be his purpose, <scripRef id="Jud.xx-p6.5" osisRef="Bible:Luke.24.28-Luke.24.29" parsed="|Luke|24|28|24|29" passage="Lu 24:28,29">Luke xxiv. 28, 29</scripRef>. [2.] He forces
him to stay till the afternoon of the fifth day, and this, as it
proved, was unkind, <scripRef id="Jud.xx-p6.6" osisRef="Bible:Judg.19.8-Judg.19.9" parsed="|Judg|19|8|19|9" passage="Jdg 19:8,9"><i>v.</i> 8,
9</scripRef>. He would by no means let him go before dinner,
promises him he shall have dinner early, designing thereby, as he
had done the day before, to detain him another night; but the
Levite was intent on the <i>house of the Lord at Shiloh</i>
(<scripRef id="Jud.xx-p6.7" osisRef="Bible:Judg.19.18" parsed="|Judg|19|18|0|0" passage="Jdg 19:18"><i>v.</i> 18</scripRef>), and, being
impatient to get thither, would stay no longer. Had they set out
early, they might have reached some better lodging-place than that
which they were now constrained to take up with, nay, they might
have got to Shiloh. Note, Our friends' designed kindnesses often
prove, in the event, real injuries; what is meant for our welfare
becomes a trap. <i>Who knows what is good for a man in this
life?</i> The Levite was unwise in setting out so late; he might
have got home better if he had staid a night longer and taken the
day before him.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jud.xx-p7">IV. In his return home he was forced to
lodge at Gibeah, a city in the tribe of Benjamin, afterwards called
<i>Gibeah of Saul,</i> which lay on his road towards Shiloh and
Mount Ephraim. When it drew towards night, and the shadows of the
evening were stretched out, they began to think (as it behoves us
to do when we observe the day of our life hastening towards a
period) where they must lodge. When night came they could not
pursue their journey. <i>He that walketh in darkness knoweth not
whither he goes.</i> They could not but desire rest, for which the
night was intended, as the day for labour. 1. The servant proposed
that they should lodge in Jebus, afterwards Jerusalem, but as yet
in the possession of Jebusites. "Come," said the servant, "let us
lodge in this city of the Jebusites," <scripRef id="Jud.xx-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:Judg.19.11" parsed="|Judg|19|11|0|0" passage="Jdg 19:11"><i>v.</i> 11</scripRef>. And, if they had done so, it
is probable they would have had much better usage than they met
with in Gibeah of Benjamin. Debauched and profligate Israelites are
worse and much more dangerous than Canaanites themselves. But the
master, as became one of God's tribe, would by no means quarter,
no, not one night, in a city of strangers (<scripRef id="Jud.xx-p7.2" osisRef="Bible:Judg.19.12" parsed="|Judg|19|12|0|0" passage="Jdg 19:12"><i>v.</i> 12</scripRef>), not because he questioned his
safety among them, but he was not willing, if he could possibly
avoid it, to have so much intimacy and familiarity with them as a
night's lodging came to, nor to be so much beholden to them. By
shunning this place he would witness against the wickedness of
those that contracted friendship and familiarity with these devoted
nations. Let Israelites, Levites especially, associate with
Israelites, and not with the <i>sons of the stranger.</i> 2. Having
passed by Jebus, which was about five or six miles from Bethlehem
(the place whence they came), and not having daylight to bring them
to Ramah, they stopped at Gibeah (<scripRef id="Jud.xx-p7.3" osisRef="Bible:Judg.19.13-Judg.19.15" parsed="|Judg|19|13|19|15" passage="Jdg 19:13-15"><i>v.</i> 13-15</scripRef>); there they sat down in
the street, nobody offering them a lodging. In these countries, at
that time, there were no inns, or public-houses, in which, as with
us, travellers might have entertainment for their money, but they
carried entertainment along with them, as this Levite did
(<scripRef id="Jud.xx-p7.4" osisRef="Bible:Judg.19.19" parsed="|Judg|19|19|0|0" passage="Jdg 19:19"><i>v.</i> 19</scripRef>), and
depended upon the courtesy and hospitality of the inhabitants for a
lodging. Let us take occasion hence, when we are in journeys, to
thank God for this, among other conveniences of travelling, that
there are inns to entertain strangers, and in which they may be
welcome and well accommodated for their money. Surely there is no
country in the world wherein one may stay at home with more
satisfaction, or go abroad with more comfort, than in our own
nation. This traveller, though a Levite (and to those of that tribe
God had particularly commanded his people to be kind upon all
occasions), met with very cold entertainment at Gibeah: <i>No man
took them into his house.</i> If they had any reason to think he
was a Levite perhaps that made those ill-disposed people the more
shy of him. There are those who will have this laid to their charge
at the great day, <i>I was a stranger and you took me not
in.</i></p>
</div><scripCom id="Jud.xx-p0.3" osisRef="Bible:Judg.19.16-Judg.19.21" parsed="|Judg|19|16|19|21" passage="Jud 19:16-21" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Judg.19.16-Judg.19.21">
<h4 id="Jud.xx-p7.6">The Levite Entertained at
Gibeah. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Jud.xx-p7.7">b. c.</span> 1410.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Jud.xx-p8">16 And, behold, there came an old man from his
work out of the field at even, which <i>was</i> also of mount
Ephraim; and he sojourned in Gibeah: but the men of the place
<i>were</i> Benjamites.   17 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?   18 And
he said unto him, We <i>are</i> passing from Beth-lehem-judah
toward the side of mount Ephraim; from thence <i>am</i> I: and I
went to Beth-lehem-judah, but I <i>am now</i> going to the house of
the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jud.xx-p8.1">Lord</span>; and there <i>is</i> no man
that receiveth me to house.   19 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 <i>which is</i> with
thy servants: <i>there is</i> no want of any thing.   20 And
the old man said, Peace <i>be</i> with thee; howsoever <i>let</i>
all thy wants <i>lie</i> upon me; only lodge not in the street.
  21 So he brought him into his house, and gave provender unto
the asses: and they washed their feet, and did eat and drink.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jud.xx-p9">Though there as not one <i>of</i> Gibeah,
yet it proved there was one <i>in</i> Gibeah, that showed some
civility to this distressed Levite, who was glad that any one took
notice of him. It was strange that some of those wicked people,
who, when it was dark, designed so ill to him and his concubine,
did not, under pretence of kindness, invite them in, that they
might have a fairer opportunity of perpetrating their villany; but
either they had not wit enough to be so designing, or not
wickedness enough to be so deceiving. Or, perhaps, none of them
separately thought of such a wickedness, till in the black and dark
night they got together to contrive what mischief they should do.
Bad people in confederacy make one another much worse than any of
them would be by themselves. When the Levite, and his wife, and
servant, were beginning to fear that they must lie in the street
all night (and as good have laid in a den of lions) they were at
length invited into a house, and we are here told,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jud.xx-p10">I. Who that kind man was that invited them.
1. He was a man of Mount Ephraim, and only sojourned in Gibeah,
<scripRef id="Jud.xx-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:Judg.19.16" parsed="|Judg|19|16|0|0" passage="Jdg 19:16"><i>v.</i> 16</scripRef>. Of all the
tribes of Israel, the Benjamites had most reason to be kind to poor
travellers, for their ancestor, Benjamin, was born upon the road,
his mother being then upon a journey, and very near to this place,
<scripRef id="Jud.xx-p10.2" osisRef="Bible:Gen.35.16-Gen.35.17" parsed="|Gen|35|16|35|17" passage="Ge 35:16,17">Gen. xxxv. 16, 17</scripRef>. Yet
they were hard-hearted to a traveller in distress, while an honest
Ephraimite had compassion on him, and, no doubt, was the more kind
to him, when, upon enquiry, he found that he was his countryman, of
Mount Ephraim likewise. He that was himself but a sojourner in
Gibeah was the more compassionate to a wayfaring man, for he
<i>knew the heart of a stranger,</i> <scripRef id="Jud.xx-p10.3" osisRef="Bible:Exod.23.9 Bible:Deut.10.19" parsed="|Exod|23|9|0|0;|Deut|10|19|0|0" passage="Ex 23:9,De 10:19">Exod. xxiii. 9; Deut. x. 19</scripRef>. Good
people, that look upon themselves but as strangers and sojourners
in this world, should for this reason be tender to one another,
because they all belong to the same better country and are not at
home here. 2. He was an old man, one that retained some of the
expiring virtue of an Israelite. The rising generation was entirely
corrupted; if there was any good remaining among them, it was only
with those that were old and going off. 3. He was coming home from
his work out of the field at eventide. The evening calls home
labourers, <scripRef id="Jud.xx-p10.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.104.23" parsed="|Ps|104|23|0|0" passage="Ps 104:23">Ps. civ. 23</scripRef>.
But, it should seem, this was the only labourer that this evening
brought home to Gibeah. The rest had given themselves up to sloth
and luxury, and no marvel there was among them, as in Sodom,
abundance of uncleanness, when there was among them, as in Sodom,
abundance of idleness, <scripRef id="Jud.xx-p10.5" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.16.49" parsed="|Ezek|16|49|0|0" passage="Eze 16:49">Ezek. xvi.
49</scripRef>. But he that was honestly diligent in his business
all day was disposed to be generously hospitable to these poor
strangers at night. Let men <i>labour, that they may have to
give,</i> <scripRef id="Jud.xx-p10.6" osisRef="Bible:Eph.4.28" parsed="|Eph|4|28|0|0" passage="Eph 4:28">Eph. iv. 28</scripRef>. It
appears from <scripRef id="Jud.xx-p10.7" osisRef="Bible:Judg.19.21" parsed="|Judg|19|21|0|0" passage="Jdg 19:21"><i>v.</i> 21</scripRef>
that he was a man of some substance, and yet had been himself at
work in the field. No man's estate will privilege him in
idleness.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jud.xx-p11">II. How free and generous he was in his
invitation. He did not stay till they applied to him to beg for a
night's lodging; but when he saw them (<scripRef id="Jud.xx-p11.1" osisRef="Bible:Judg.19.17" parsed="|Judg|19|17|0|0" passage="Jdg 19:17"><i>v.</i> 17</scripRef>) enquired into their
circumstances, and anticipated them with his kindness. Thus our
good God answers before we call. Note, A charitable disposition
expects only opportunity, not importunity, to do good, and will
succour upon sight, unsought unto. Hence we read of a <i>bountiful
eye,</i> <scripRef id="Jud.xx-p11.2" osisRef="Bible:Prov.22.9" parsed="|Prov|22|9|0|0" passage="Pr 22:9">Prov. xxii. 9</scripRef>. If
Gibeah was like Sodom, this old man was like Lot in Sodom, who
<i>sat in the gate</i> to invite strangers, <scripRef id="Jud.xx-p11.3" osisRef="Bible:Gen.19.1" parsed="|Gen|19|1|0|0" passage="Ge 19:1">Gen. xix. 1</scripRef>. Thus <i>Job opened his doors to
the traveller,</i> and would not suffer him to <i>lodge in the
street,</i> <scripRef id="Jud.xx-p11.4" osisRef="Bible:Job.31.32" parsed="|Job|31|32|0|0" passage="Job 31:32">Job xxxi. 32</scripRef>.
Observe, 1. How ready he was to give credit to the Levite's account
of himself when he saw no reason at all to question the truth of
it. Charity is not apt to distrust, but <i>hopeth all things</i>
(<scripRef id="Jud.xx-p11.5" osisRef="Bible:1Cor.13.7" parsed="|1Cor|13|7|0|0" passage="1Co 13:7">1 Cor. xiii. 7</scripRef>) and will
not make use of Nabal's excuse for his churlishness to David,
<i>Many servants now-a-days break away from their masters,</i>
<scripRef id="Jud.xx-p11.6" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.25.10" parsed="|1Sam|25|10|0|0" passage="1Sa 25:10">1 Sam. xxv. 10</scripRef>. The
Levite, in his account of himself, professed that he was now going
<i>to the house of the Lord</i> (<scripRef id="Jud.xx-p11.7" osisRef="Bible:Judg.19.18" parsed="|Judg|19|18|0|0" passage="Jdg 19:18"><i>v.</i> 18</scripRef>), for there he designed to
attend, either with a trespass-offering for the sins of his family,
or with a peace-offering for the mercies of his family, or both,
before he went to his own house. And, if the men of Gibeah had any
intimation of his being bound that way, probably they would
therefore be disinclined to entertain him. The Samaritans would not
receive Christ because his face was towards Jerusalem, <scripRef id="Jud.xx-p11.8" osisRef="Bible:Luke.9.53" parsed="|Luke|9|53|0|0" passage="Lu 9:53">Luke ix. 53</scripRef>. But for this reason,
because he was a Levite and was now going to the house of the Lord,
this good old man was the more kind to him. Thus he received a
disciple <i>in the name of a disciple,</i> a servant of God for
his Master's sake. 2. How free he was to give him entertainment.
The Levite was himself provided with all necessaries (<scripRef id="Jud.xx-p11.9" osisRef="Bible:Judg.19.19" parsed="|Judg|19|19|0|0" passage="Jdg 19:19"><i>v.</i> 19</scripRef>), wanted nothing but a
lodging, but his generous host would be himself at the charge of
his entertainment (<scripRef id="Jud.xx-p11.10" osisRef="Bible:Judg.19.20" parsed="|Judg|19|20|0|0" passage="Jdg 19:20"><i>v.</i>
20</scripRef>): <i>Let all thy wants be upon me;</i> so he
<i>brought him into his house,</i> <scripRef id="Jud.xx-p11.11" osisRef="Bible:Judg.19.21" parsed="|Judg|19|21|0|0" passage="Jdg 19:21"><i>v.</i> 21</scripRef>. Thus God will, some way or
other, raise up friends for his people and ministers, even when
they seem forlorn.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Jud.xx-p0.4" osisRef="Bible:Judg.19.22-Judg.19.30" parsed="|Judg|19|22|19|30" passage="Jud 19:22-30" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Judg.19.22-Judg.19.30">
<h4 id="Jud.xx-p11.13">The Wickedness of Gibeah; The Israelites
Roused to Revenge. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Jud.xx-p11.14">b. c.</span> 1410.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Jud.xx-p12">22 <i>Now</i> as they were making their hearts
merry, behold, the men of the city, certain sons of Belial, beset
the house round about, <i>and</i> beat at the door, and spake to
the master of the house, the old man, saying, Bring forth the man
that came into thine house, that we may know him.   23 And the
man, the master of the house, went out unto them, and said unto
them, Nay, my brethren, <i>nay,</i> I pray you, do not <i>so</i>
wickedly; seeing that this man is come into mine house, do not this
folly.   24 Behold, <i>here is</i> my daughter a maiden, and
his concubine; them I will bring out now, and humble ye them, and
do with them what seemeth good unto you: but unto this man do not
so vile a thing.   25 But the men would not hearken to him: so
the man took his concubine, and brought her forth unto them; and
they knew her, and abused her all the night until the morning: and
when the day began to spring, they let her go.   26 Then came
the woman in the dawning of the day, and fell down at the door of
the man's house where her lord <i>was,</i> till it was light.
  27 And her lord rose up in the morning, and opened the doors
of the house, and went out to go his way: and, behold, the woman
his concubine was fallen down <i>at</i> the door of the house, and
her hands <i>were</i> upon the threshold.   28 And he said
unto her, Up, and let us be going. But none answered. Then the man
took her <i>up</i> upon an ass, and the man rose up, and gat him
unto his place.   29 And when he was come into his house, he
took a knife, and laid hold on his concubine, and divided her,
<i>together</i> with her bones, into twelve pieces, and sent her
into all the coasts of Israel.   30 And it was so, that all
that saw it said, There was no such deed done nor seen from the day
that the children of Israel came up out of the land of Egypt unto
this day: consider of it, take advice, and speak <i>your
minds.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Jud.xx-p13">Here is, I. The great wickedness of the men
of Gibeah. One could not imagine that ever it should enter into the
heart of men that had the use of human reason, of Israelites that
had the benefit of divine revelation, to be so very wicked. "Lord,
what is man!" said David, "what a <i>mean</i> creature is he!"
"Lord, what is man," may we say upon the reading of this story,
"what a vile creature is he, when he is given up to his own heart's
lusts!" The sinners are here called <i>sons of Belial,</i> that is,
ungovernable men, men that would endure no yoke, children of the
devil (for he is Belial), resembling him, and joining with him in
rebellion against God and his government. Sons of Benjamin, of whom
Moses had said, <i>The beloved of the Lord shall dwell in safety by
him</i> (<scripRef id="Jud.xx-p13.1" osisRef="Bible:Deut.33.12" parsed="|Deut|33|12|0|0" passage="De 33:12">Deut. xxxiii. 12</scripRef>),
have become such sons of Belial that an honest man cannot lodge in
safety among them. The sufferers were a Levite and his wife, and
that kind man that gave them entertainment. We are strangers upon
earth, and must expect strange usage. It is said <i>they were
making their hearts merry</i> when this trouble came upon them,
<scripRef id="Jud.xx-p13.2" osisRef="Bible:Judg.19.22" parsed="|Judg|19|22|0|0" passage="Jdg 19:22"><i>v.</i> 22</scripRef>. If the mirth
was innocent, it teaches us of what uncertain continuance all our
creature comforts and enjoyments are; when we are ever so well
pleased with our friends, we know not how near our enemies are;
nor, if it be well with us this hour, can we be sure it will be so
the next. If the mirth was sinful and excessive, let it be a
warning to us to keep a strict guard upon ourselves, that we grow
not intemperate in the use of lawful things, nor be transported
into indecencies by our cheerfulness; for <i>the end of that mirth
is heaviness.</i> God can soon change the note of those that are
making their hearts merry, and turn their laughter into mourning
and their joy into heaviness. Let us see what the wickedness of
these Benjamites was.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jud.xx-p14">1. They made a rude and insolent assault,
in the night, upon the habitation of an honest man, that not only
lived peaceably among them, but kept a good house and was a
blessing and ornament to their city. They beset the house round,
and, to the great terror of those within, beat as hard as they
could at the door, <scripRef id="Jud.xx-p14.1" osisRef="Bible:Judg.19.22" parsed="|Judg|19|22|0|0" passage="Jdg 19:22"><i>v.</i>
22</scripRef>. A man's house is his castle, in which he ought to be
both safe and quiet, and, where there is law, it is taken under the
special protection of it; but there was no king in Israel to keep
the peace and secure honest men from the sons of violence.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jud.xx-p15">2. They had a particular spite at the
strangers that were within their gates, that only desired a night's
lodging among them, contrary to the laws of hospitality, which all
civilized nations have accounted sacred, and which the master of
the house pleaded with them (<scripRef id="Jud.xx-p15.1" osisRef="Bible:Judg.19.23" parsed="|Judg|19|23|0|0" passage="Jdg 19:23"><i>v.</i> 23</scripRef>): <i>Seeing that this man has
come into my house.</i> Those are base and abject spirits indeed
that will trample upon the helpless, and use a man the worse for
his being a stranger, whom they know no ill of.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jud.xx-p16">3. They designed in the most filthy and
abominable manner (not to be thought of without horror and
detestation) to abuse the Levite, whom perhaps they had observed to
be young and comely: <i>Bring him forth that we may know him.</i>
We should certainly have concluded they meant only to enquire
whence he came, and to know his character, but that the good man of
the house, who understood their meaning too well, by his answer
lets us know that they designed the gratification of that most
unnatural and worse than brutish lust which was expressly forbidden
by the law of Moses, and called an <i>abomination,</i> <scripRef id="Jud.xx-p16.1" osisRef="Bible:Lev.18.22" parsed="|Lev|18|22|0|0" passage="Le 18:22">Lev. xviii. 22</scripRef>. Those that are guilty
of it are ranked in the New Testament among the worst and vilest of
sinners (<scripRef id="Jud.xx-p16.2" osisRef="Bible:1Tim.1.10" parsed="|1Tim|1|10|0|0" passage="1Ti 1:10">1 Tim. i. 10</scripRef>), and
such as <i>shall not inherit the kingdom of God,</i> <scripRef id="Jud.xx-p16.3" osisRef="Bible:1Cor.6.9" parsed="|1Cor|6|9|0|0" passage="1Co 6:9">1 Cor. vi. 9</scripRef>. Now, (1.) This was the
sin of Sodom, and is thence called <i>Sodomy.</i> The Dead Sea,
which was the standing monument of God's vengeance upon Sodom, for
its filthiness, was one of the boundaries of Canaan, and lay not
many miles off from Gibeah. We may suppose the men of Gibeah had
seen it many a time, and yet would not take warning by it, but did
worse than Sodom (<scripRef id="Jud.xx-p16.4" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.16.48" parsed="|Ezek|16|48|0|0" passage="Eze 16:48">Ezek. xvi.
48</scripRef>), and sinned just <i>after the similitude of their
transgression.</i> Who would have expected (says bishop Hall) such
extreme abomination to come out of the loins of Jacob? Even the
worst pagans were saints to them. What did it avail them that they
had the ark of God in Shiloh when they had Sodom in their
streets—God's law in their fringes, but the devil in their hearts?
Nothing but hell itself can yield a worse creature than a depraved
Israelite. (2.) This was the punishment of their idolatry, that sin
to which they were, above all others, most addicted. Because they
liked not to retain God in their knowledge, therefore he gave them
up to these vile affections, by which they dishonoured themselves
as they had by their idolatry dishonoured him and turned his glory
into shame, <scripRef id="Jud.xx-p16.5" osisRef="Bible:Rom.1.24 Bible:Rom.1.28" parsed="|Rom|1|24|0|0;|Rom|1|28|0|0" passage="Ro 1:24,28">Rom. i. 24,
28</scripRef>. See and admire, in this instance, the patience of
God. Why were not these sons of Belial struck blind, as the
Sodomites were? Why were not fire and brimstone rained from heaven
upon their city? It was because God would leave it to Israel to
punish them by the sword, and would reserve his own punishment of
them for the future state, in which those that <i>go after strange
flesh</i> shall <i>suffer the vengeance of eternal fire,</i>
<scripRef id="Jud.xx-p16.6" osisRef="Bible:Jude.1.7" parsed="|Jude|1|7|0|0" passage="Jude 1:7">Jude 7</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jud.xx-p17">4. They were deaf to the reproofs and
reasoning of the good man of the house, who, being well acquainted
(we may suppose) with the story of Lot and the Sodomites, set
himself to imitate Lot, <scripRef id="Jud.xx-p17.1" osisRef="Bible:Judg.19.23-Judg.19.24" parsed="|Judg|19|23|19|24" passage="Jdg 19:23,24"><i>v.</i>
23, 24</scripRef>. Compare <scripRef id="Jud.xx-p17.2" osisRef="Bible:Gen.19.6-Gen.19.8" parsed="|Gen|19|6|19|8" passage="Ge 19:6-8">Gen. xix.
6-8</scripRef>. He went out to them as Lot did, spoke civilly to
them, called them brethren, begged of them to desist, pleaded the
protection of his house which his guests were under, and
represented to them the great wickedness of their attempt: "Do not
so wickedly, so very wickedly." He calls it <i>folly</i> and <i>a
vile thing.</i> But in one thing he conformed too far to Lot's
example (as we are apt in imitating good men to follow them even in
their false steps), in offering them his daughter to do what they
would with. He had not power thus to prostitute his daughter, nor
ought he to have done this evil that good might come. But this
wicked proposal of his may be in part excused from the great
surprise and terror he was in, his concern for his guests, and his
having too close a regard to what Lot did in the like case,
especially not finding that the angels who were by reproved him for
it. And perhaps he hoped that his mentioning this as a more natural
gratification of their lust would have sent them back to their
common harlots. But <i>they would not hearken to him,</i> <scripRef id="Jud.xx-p17.3" osisRef="Bible:Judg.19.25" parsed="|Judg|19|25|0|0" passage="Jdg 19:25"><i>v.</i> 25</scripRef>. Headstrong lusts are
like the deaf adder that stoppeth her ear; they sear the conscience
and make it insensible.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jud.xx-p18">5. They got the Levite's wife among them,
and abused her to death, <scripRef id="Jud.xx-p18.1" osisRef="Bible:Judg.19.25" parsed="|Judg|19|25|0|0" passage="Jdg 19:25"><i>v.</i>
25</scripRef>. They slighted the old man's offer of his daughter to
their lust, either because she was not handsome or because they
knew her to be one of great gravity and modesty: but, when the
Levite brought them his concubine, they took her with them by force
to the place appointed for their filthiness. Josephus, in his
narrative of this story, makes her to be the person they had a
design upon when they beset the house, and says nothing of their
villainous design upon the Levite himself. They saw her (he says)
in the street, when they came into the town, and were smitten with
her beauty; and perhaps, though she was reconciled to her husband,
her looks did not bespeak her to be one of the most modest. Many
bring mischief of this kind upon themselves by their loose carriage
and behaviour; a little spark may kindle a great fire. One would
think the Levite should have followed them, to see what became of
his wife, but it is probable he durst not, lest they should do him
a mischief. In the miserable end of this woman, we may see the
righteous hand of God punishing her for her former uncleanness,
when she played the whore against her husband, <scripRef id="Jud.xx-p18.2" osisRef="Bible:Judg.19.2" parsed="|Judg|19|2|0|0" passage="Jdg 19:2"><i>v.</i> 2</scripRef>. Though her father had
countenanced her, her husband had forgiven her, and the fault was
forgotten now that the quarrel was made up, yet God remembered it
against her when he suffered these wicked men thus wretchedly to
abuse her; how unrighteous soever they were in their treatment of
her, in permitting it the Lord was righteous. Her punishment
answered her sin, <i>Culpa libido fuit, poena libido fuit—Lust was
her sin, and lust was her punishment.</i> By the law of Moses she
was to have been put to death for her adultery. She escaped that
punishment from men, yet vengeance pursued her; for, if there was
no king in Israel, yet there was a God in Israel, a God that
judgeth in the earth. We must not think it enough to make our peace
with men, whom by our sins we have wronged, but are concerned, by
repentance and faith, to make our peace with God, who sees not as
men see, nor makes so light of sin as men often do. The justice of
God in this matter does not at all extenuate the horrid wickedness
of these men of Gibeah, than which nothing could be more barbarous
and inhuman.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jud.xx-p19">II. The notice that was sent of this
wickedness to all the tribes of Israel. The poor abused woman made
towards her husband's lodgings as soon as ever the approach of the
day-light obliged these sons of Belial to let her go (for these
works of darkness hate and dread the light), <scripRef id="Jud.xx-p19.1" osisRef="Bible:Judg.19.25" parsed="|Judg|19|25|0|0" passage="Jdg 19:25"><i>v.</i> 25</scripRef>. Down she fell at the door,
with her hands on the threshold, begging pardon (as it were) for
her former transgression, and in that posture of a penitent, with
her mouth in the dust, she expired. There he found her (<scripRef id="Jud.xx-p19.2" osisRef="Bible:Judg.19.26-Judg.19.27" parsed="|Judg|19|26|19|27" passage="Jdg 19:26,27"><i>v.</i> 26, 27</scripRef>), supposed her
asleep, or overcome with shame and confusion for what had happened,
but soon perceived she was dead (<scripRef id="Jud.xx-p19.3" osisRef="Bible:Judg.19.28" parsed="|Judg|19|28|0|0" passage="Jdg 19:28"><i>v.</i> 28</scripRef>), took up her dead body, which,
we may suppose, had all over it marks of the hands, the blows, and
other abuses, she had received. On this sad occasion he waived his
purpose of going to Shiloh, and went directly home. He that went
out in hopes to return rejoicing came in again melancholy and
disconsolate, sat down and considered, "Is this an injury fit to be
passed by?" He cannot call for fire from heaven to consume the men
of Gibeah, as those angels did who were, after the same manner,
insulted by the Sodomites. There was no king in Israel, nor (for
aught that appears) any sanhedrim, or great council, to appeal to,
and demand justice from. Phinehas is high priest, but he attends
closely to the business of the sanctuary, and will be no judge or
divider. He has therefore no other way left him than to appeal to
the people: let the community be judge. Though they had no general
stated assembly of all the tribes, yet it is probable that each
tribe had a meeting of their chiefs within itself. To each of the
tribes, in their respective meetings, he sent by special messengers
a remonstrance of the wrong that was done him, in all its
aggravating circumstances, and with it a piece of his wife's dead
body (<scripRef id="Jud.xx-p19.4" osisRef="Bible:Judg.19.29" parsed="|Judg|19|29|0|0" passage="Jdg 19:29"><i>v.</i> 29</scripRef>), both
to confirm the truth of the story and to affect them the more with
it. He divided it into twelve pieces, <i>according to the
bones,</i> so some read it, that is, by the joints, sending one to
each tribe, even to Benjamin among the rest, with the hope that
some among them would be moved to join in punishing so great a
villany, and the more warmly because committed by some of their own
tribe. It did indeed look very barbarous thus to mangle a dead
body, which, having been so wretchedly dishonoured, ought to have
been decently interred; but the Levite designed hereby, not only to
represent their barbarous usage of his wife, whom they had better
have cut in pieces thus than have used as they did, but also to
express his own passionate concern and thereby to excite the like
in them. And it had the desired effect. All that saw the pieces of
the dead body, and were told how the matter was, expressed the same
sentiments upon it. 1. That the men of Gibeah had been guilty of a
very heinous piece of wickedness, the like to which had never been
known before in Israel, <scripRef id="Jud.xx-p19.5" osisRef="Bible:Judg.19.30" parsed="|Judg|19|30|0|0" passage="Jdg 19:30"><i>v.</i>
30</scripRef>. It was a complicated crime, loaded and blackened
with all possible aggravations. They were not such fools as to make
a mock at this sin, or turn the story off with a jest. 2. That a
general assembly of all Israel should be called, to debate what was
fit to be done for the punishment of this wickedness, that a stop
might be put to this threatening inundation of debauchery, and the
wrath of God might not be poured upon the whole nation for it. It
is not a common case, and therefore they stir up one another to
come together upon the occasion with this: <i>Consider of it, take
advice, and speak your minds.</i> We have here the three great
rules by which those that sit in council ought to go in every
arduous affair. (1.) Let every man retire into himself, and weigh
the matter impartially and fully in his own thoughts, and seriously
and calmly consider it, without prejudice on either side, before he
speaks upon it. (2.) Let them freely talk it over, and every man
take advice of his friend, know his opinion and his reasons, and
weigh them. (3.) Then let every man speak his mind, and give his
vote according to his conscience. In the multitude of such
counsellors there is safety.</p>
</div></div2>