Judges 17

Judges 17:1-15

Heb. A wife, a concubine. Gen. xviii. 24. Mel. v. 15. 5. Prior. xix. 20.

Heb. To her home. Lev. xix. 27. Gal. vi. 1.

Heb. Strengthen. Gen. xviii. 5. 1. Nonp. xix. 7. Pl. xix. 11. 4. Heb. Be good.

Heb. En- vil the day destined. Heb. Gibeah. Nat. xix. 11. Heb. xix. 1. Heb. Gibeah. Nat. xix. 11. Heb. xix. 1.

1. AND it came to pafs in those days, when there was no king in Israel, that there was a certain Levite fojourning 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 and a sad went after her to speak friendly unto her, and to bring her again, having his servant with him, and a couple of afters: and she brought him unto 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: to they did not and drink, and lodged there. 5. And it came to pafs on the fourth day, when they arose early in the morning, that he rode 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 me. 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 towards evening, I pray you tarry all night: behold, the day groweth to an end, lodge here, that thine heart may be merry: and to-men now get you early on your way, that thou mayst go home. 10. But the man would not tarry that night, but he arose up and departed, and came over-against. 11. Jebus, (which is Jerusalem) and there were with him two afters faddled, his concubine also was with him. 12. And when they were by Jebus, the day was far spent, and the servant said unto his mother, Come, I pray thee, and let us turn in unto this city of the Jebusites, and lodge in it. 13. And his mother 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 pafs over to Gibeah. 14. 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. 15. And they patted on, and went their way, and the sun went down upon them when they were by Gibeah, which belonged to Benjamin. 16. 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 three was no man that took them into his house to lodging.

The events of the following chapters are proofs how great a misery it is to any people to be without good government. We have here,

1. The journey of a Levite of mount Ephraim, after his wife or concubine, whom he had taken out of Beth-lehem-judah. She had proved false to him, left his house, and returned to her father; but still retaining his affection for her, and hearing, it seems, of her sorrow for her ill-condarly, he went to speak comfortably to her, and fetch her home again. Note, (1.) Unfaithfulness to marriage vows, makes a breach that, of all others, can most dissufficiently be healed. (2.) Where there is real remorse in the offender, let not the injured be impacable. (3.) Though parents should be very jealous how they receive those into their houses who have deserted their husbands, yet it is highly dangerous, by severity, to render those desperate, who, by milder methods may be reclaimed.

2. The reception he met with from the father was very affectionate. The reconciliation was matter of great joy to him, he makes a three days entertainment to welcome his son, and, when he was preparing to depart on the fourth, importance

him to dine first; and, as it then seemed too late to set off, prevails with him to stay the night. The next day he used the same importunity, but though he prevailed on his son-in-law to dine with him, his uneasiness would not permit a longer absence from home, and in the evening he set out on his journey, and took his concubine along with him. Note, (1.) Generous hospitality to our friends and relations is very becoming, and a proof of our regard to them. (2.) Though we may yield somewhat to the importunity of friends, yet every man hath calls at home, and Levites especially, that will not permit long absence. (3.) Let kind friends beware of selfishness in their solicitations, lest their intended kindness do us real injury. (4.) They who would have a prosperous journey, ought to take day-night before them.

3. Being resolved to go, though late, he harsher onward; but night approaching, but servant beguiles to him whether they had not been lodge at Jebus, least they should be benighted on the journey: to this his mother objects, not chasing to lodge among strangers, when cries of his brethren were near, which they might reach in time. Accordingly they go on for Gibeah, or Ramah; but it growing dark space, they turn in at Gibeah, as nearest: and as there was then no public inns, they sat down in the street, waiting for some invitation, but in that inhospitable place, no man was kind enough to offer them a lodging. Note, (1.) It becomes us to be very careful with whom we conceal intimation. (2.) Where we have reason to regard the greatest kindness, we sometimes receive the most mortal injuries. (3.) When we lodge at an inn, let us not complain of the accommodation, but thank God we are not compelled to lodge in the street.

4. ¶ 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. 17. And when he had left up his eyes, he saw a wayfaring man in the street of the city: and the old man said, Whither good thou? and whence cometh thou? 18. And he said unto him, We are passing from Beth lehem-judah, toward the side of mount Ephraim, from thence an I: and I went to Beth-lehem-judah, but I am now going to the house of the LORD, and there is no man that receiveth me to house. 19. Yet there is both three and provender for our afters: 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. 20. And the old man said, Peace be with thee: howsoever, let all thy wants lie upon me, only lodge not in the street. 21. So he brought him into his house, and ‘gave provender unto the afters: and they washed their feet, and did eat and drink.

Judges 17:16-21

Though the men of the city were so unkind or uncivil, there was one, though a sojourner, who was of another spirit. He was an Ephraimite himself, but seems to have had some possessions near Gibeah, an old man, who had lived in better days, and confirmed not to the wickedness of the rising generation; having spent the day industriously in the field, returning at night he soon and enquires into this stranger’s business, and ready to open his hospitable doors, recovers him, doubly welcome as a Levite, and his countenance also. The Levite wanted nothing but a lodging, having sufficient provision and provender with him; but the good old man, too generous to permit this, entertains him at his table, and takes care of his cattle: this done they, without doubt, began to look upon themselves as happy in the opportunity of spending a comfortable evening together. Note, (1.) A truly charitable heart looks out for, and is happy in an opportunity of doing good. (2.) The company of a number of God is good payment for a hearty welcome. (3.) A good man will not wish to be troublesome to others, when he hath a provision of his own. (4.) We are sometimes rejoicing that our troubles are at an end, when we foresee not the darker cloud which is gathering.

22. ¶ Now as they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, certain sons of Belial, best the house round about, and beat at the door, and spake to the matter 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 matter of the house, went out unto them, and said unto them, Nay, my brethren, nay, I pray you, do not so wickedly; seeing that this man is come into mine house, do not this folly. 24. Behold, here at 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.

23. 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 I fell down at the door of the man’s house, where I her lord was, 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 at the door of the house, and her hands were upon the threshold. 28. And he said unto her, Up, and let us be going: but none answered. Then the man took her up upon an ass, and the man rose up, and got 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, & together with her bones, into twelve pieces, and lent her into all the crafts of Israel. 30. And it was so, that all that law it laid, there was no such deed done nor lent, from the day that the children of Israel came up out of the land of Egypt, unto this day: I consider or it, take advice, and speak your minds.

Judges 17:22-30

Behold another Lot in another Sodom! We have here.

1. The tumultuous assembly of the men of Gibeah. This should have been a city of Levite, but perhaps not being sufficiently numerous, the Benjamites, in which tribe it lay, yet inhabited it; and a vile set of wretches they were, sons of Be-bal, who neither feared God nor regarded man, fit only upon the indulgence of their brutal lusts, and flaking at nothing to gratify them. In defiance of all laws, human and divine, they betet the house, demand the stranger, and dare avow their infamous designs upon him. Nate, (1.) Continuance in lewdness breeds harassed impudence. (2.) When a flower is given up to his own heart’s lusts, he easily sinks into the most unnatural crimes, which are shocking but to mention.

2. The good man of the house goes out to expolulate with them, pleads the rights of hospitality, and the wickedness of their demands, nay proffers to bring them (a very fondal propofol, which never can be vindicated) his own daughter, and the Levite’s concubine, that he might, by a letter evil, divert them from a greater; but they are deaf to remonstrance, and their heart is fully fit in them to do evil. Nate, (1.) Sinners often grow desperate in wickedness, and, like the raging sea, neither will bear restraint nor bear admonition. (2.) We may never commit one evil, to avoid a greater, but chuse the greatest suffering preferably to the least sin.

3. The Levite’s wife, probably more handsome than the old man’s daughter, being thrust out to them, they soar her; and perhaps seeing the old man resolute to gratify them no farther, they make her the object of their brutal lust. All night they abused her, till the dawning day, calling unwelcome light on such deeds of darkness, they left her and retired. Her strength exhausted, her spirit sunk with grief and shame, her body covered with mortal bruises, and murdered with this inhuman treatment, the just crawls to the door, falls down and dies. Nate, (1.) The lust which had been her sin, is now, in just judgment, made her punishment. (2.) They who have raised the objects of their guilty pleasure may think highly of their crimes, but will surely meet an avenging God.

4. In the morning the Levite arose to go, and seeing his wife in this posture, thinks her ashamed of what had passed, or sleepy on the ground, and therefore bids her ase; but he soon finds his mistake, she is dead. Hereupon he quietly took her on his behalf, glad to escape with his own life from such a scene of abomination; home he hastens, instead of going to behold, as he proposed: and as there was no king or general council, from whom he could seek redress, he takes a method which could not but tend to make every Israelite thunder with horror; he divided the dead body into twelve parts, and sent one to each tribe, with an account of what had passed, referring it to them to consider what punishment such atrocious wickedness deserved; one part was probably sent to Benjamin, as well as the other tribes, if perhaps some might be found different from their brethren, or else two parts were for Manalish, whose lot was divided.

5. Struck with indignation and horror at the dead, the whole body of the people, as one man, declare their tends of such an unparalleled crime. A solemn assembly is resolved upon, where they might meet to determine the punishment of the offenders, and in the mean time the matter is recommended to the weighty consideration of each man, that when they met in council they might be ready to resolve upon a proper method of proceeding. Nate, (1.) Even where the provocation is great, we do well to proceed with deliberation, least our anger bails our resolutions. (2.) They who would obtain God’s blessing on the

VOL. I.

land must seek to purge iniquity from it, by executing justice before Christ on the criminals.