Topical Bible: Adultery: The Gibeahites

◄ Adultery: The Gibeahites ►

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Adultery, a grievous sin in the biblical narrative, is prominently illustrated in the account of the Gibeahites, found in the Book of Judges. This episode underscores the moral decay and lawlessness that plagued Israel during the time of the judges, a period marked by the absence of centralized leadership and the recurring theme that "everyone did what was right in his own eyes" (Judges 21:25, BSB).

The Incident at Gibeah

The account of the Gibeahites is recounted in Judges 19-21. It begins with a Levite and his concubine traveling from Bethlehem in Judah to the remote hill country of Ephraim. As night falls, they seek refuge in the Benjamite town of Gibeah. An old man offers them hospitality, but the men of the city, described as "wicked men" (Judges 19:22, BSB), surround the house and demand to have sexual relations with the Levite. This demand echoes the depravity of Sodom and Gomorrah, highlighting the extent of moral corruption in Israel.

In a tragic turn of events, the Levite's concubine is offered to the mob to protect the Levite. She is brutally abused throughout the night and dies from her injuries. The Levite's response is to dismember her body and send the pieces throughout the tribes of Israel, a shocking act intended to rally the nation against the atrocity committed in Gibeah.

The Aftermath and Civil War

The heinous crime at Gibeah incites outrage among the tribes of Israel, leading to a call for justice. The tribes demand that the Benjamites surrender the perpetrators, but the tribe of Benjamin refuses, choosing instead to protect the men of Gibeah. This refusal results in a civil war between the tribe of Benjamin and the rest of Israel.

The conflict is devastating, with the tribe of Benjamin nearly annihilated. Judges 20:46-48 (BSB) records that 25,000 Benjamite swordsmen fell, and the Israelites destroyed the towns, livestock, and everything they found. Only 600 Benjamite men survive by fleeing to the rock of Rimmon.

Moral and Theological Implications

The account of the Gibeahites serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of adultery and sexual immorality, which are condemned throughout Scripture. The incident illustrates the breakdown of societal and moral order when God's laws are disregarded. The narrative also highlights the communal responsibility to uphold justice and righteousness, as the entire nation of Israel is drawn into the conflict due to the sin of a few.

The account of the Gibeahites is a sobering reflection on the need for adherence to God's commandments and the dangers of moral relativism. It underscores the biblical teaching that sin, particularly sexual sin, has far-reaching consequences not only for individuals but for entire communities.

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Judges 19:22-25
Now as they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, certain sons of Belial, beset the house round about, and beat at the door, and spoke to the master of the house, the old man, saying, Bring forth the man that came into your house, that we may know him.
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