Judges 20:3-4
(Now the people of Benjamin heard that the people of Israel had gone up to Mizpah.) And the people of Israel said, “Tell us, how did this evil happen?” And the Levite, the husband of the woman who was murdered, answered and said, “I came to Gibeah that belongs to Benjamin, I and my concubine, to spend the night.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The question "how was this wickedness?" isn't just asking for details, but is a plea for understanding what could possibly lead to such a horrific act. It reveals the assembly's profound shock and their desperate search for the root cause, even as they prepare for conflict.
After the Levite’s gruesome account and the dismemberment of his concubine’s body, the tribes of Israel gathered at Mizpah, vowing to bring justice for this heinous crime. The Benjaminite tribe, however, heard of the assembly but, due to a mix of pride, stubbornness, and possibly divine hardening, chose not to participate, presuming the others wouldn't dare act against them. The assembled tribes then turned to the Levite and others present, demanding to hear the full story of the horrific wickedness that had occurred.
Why did the tribe of Benjamin ignore the summons to Mizpah? Their response, or lack thereof, reveals a dangerous trajectory of pride and a chilling divine allowance.
The tribe of Benjamin's reaction to the national gathering at Mizpah is striking. Instead of appearing to answer the grave charges laid against them, they 'heard' about the assembly but chose to remain absent. This wasn't ignorance; it was contumacy – a willful, defiant disobedience.
This pride and stubbornness were not just character flaws; they set the stage for a divine hardening. The text suggests a 'divine infatuation' or hardening, not as God forcing them into sin, but allowing their chosen path of rebellion to run its course, leading them to destruction. Their presumption that the other tribes wouldn't dare war against them was a fatal miscalculation, fueled by a spiritual blindness that sealed their doom.
When faced with a horrific act, the Israelites didn't just express shock; they demanded an explanation. What does this tell us about communal responsibility?
The question posed by the Israelites, 'Tell us, how was this wickedness?' is more than just a plea for information. It's a national cry for accountability in the face of unimaginable evil.
This wasn't simply about finding out the 'who' and 'how,' but about confronting the 'why' and the root of such depravity. It highlights a crucial aspect of community: the responsibility to not let evil go unexamined or unaddressed. By calling for the Levite, his servant, and even the entire host of Benjamin to speak, they were asserting that such an act affected the entire nation and required a communal understanding and response.
Understand the original words
ra'ah · Hebrew Noun
A moral term describing that which is contrary to God’s will, wicked, or destructive; it encompasses both sinful actions and the disastrous consequences of those actions.
Levi · Hebrew Noun
A member of the tribe of Levi, set apart by God for priestly and sanctuary service, tasked with maintaining the spiritual and ritual purity of Israel.
pilegesh · Hebrew Noun
A secondary wife in the ancient Near Eastern context; while possessing lower status than a primary wife, she still held legal recognition and protections within the covenantal household structure.
The Benjamites' deliberate choice to ignore the summons to Mizpah, driven by pride and a desire to protect their own, highlights a critical breakdown in tribal unity and a dangerous spiritual apathy that preceded their near destruction.
c. 1100 BC
The Levite's Concubine Violated
A Levite's concubine is brutally gang-raped and killed in Gibeah, a city in the territory of Benjamin. This horrific act is the catalyst for the events that follow.
c. 1100 BC
The Levite's Plea to Israel
The Levite dismembers his concubine's body and sends the pieces to the twelve tribes of Israel, calling for justice and unity against the crime.
c. 1100 BC— this verse
Israel Assembles at Mizpah
Representatives from all the tribes except Benjamin gather at Mizpah, a significant religious and political gathering place, to deliberate on the atrocity.
c. 1100 BC
Benjamin Refuses to Surrender Culprits
When confronted, the tribe of Benjamin refuses to hand over the men responsible for the crime, leading to a breakdown in reconciliation efforts.
This passage describes the wicked actions of the men of Sodom, mirroring the horrific sin committed by the men of Gibeah in Benjamin, which sparked the conflict in Judges 20.
Exodus 22:21This verse lays down the law against mistreating strangers, highlighting the severe breach of justice and morality that the Benjamites refused to acknowledge, leading to the national crisis.
1 Samuel 11:7Similar to how the men of Benjamin remained defiant and unconcerned, the men of Jabesh-Gilead initially ignored pleas for help, showing a pattern of tribal arrogance and defiance against divine justice.
Romans 1:29-32Paul's description of those who 'practice such things' and are 'worthy of death' echoes the moral depravity and defiance seen in the tribe of Benjamin, leading to severe judgment.
clarkeJudges 20:3: "(Now the children of Benjamin heard that the children of Israel were gone up to Mizpeh.) Then said the children of Israel, Tell us, how was this wickedness?"
Tell us, how was this wickedness? - They had heard before, by the messengers he sent with the fragments of his wife's body; but they wish to hear it, in full council, from himself.
bensonJudges 20:3: "(Now the children of Benjamin heard that the children of Israel were gone up to Mizpeh.) Then said the children of Israel, Tell us, how was this wickedness?"
Jdg 20:3 . The children of Benjamin heard — Like persons unconcerned and resolved, they neither went nor sent thither: partly through their own pride and stubbornness; partly because, as they were loath to give up any of their brethren to justice, so they presumed the other tribes would never proceed to war against them; and…
The question "how was this wickedness?" isn't just asking for details, but is a plea for understanding what could possibly lead to such a horrific act. It reveals the assembly's profound shock and their desperate search for the root cause, even as they prepare for conflict.
After the Levite’s gruesome account and the dismemberment of his concubine’s body, the tribes of Israel gathered at Mizpah, vowing to bring justice for this heinous crime. The Benjaminite tribe, however, heard of the assembly but, due to a mix of pride, stubbornness, and possibly divine hardening, chose not to participate, presuming the others wouldn't dare act against them. The assembled tribes then turned to the Levite and others present, demanding to hear the full story of the horrific wickedness that had occurred.
After the Levite’s gruesome account and the dismemberment of his concubine’s body, the tribes of Israel gathered at Mizpah, vowing to bring justice for this heinous crime. The Benjaminite tribe, however, heard of the assembly but, due to a mix of pride, stubbornness, and possibly divine hardening, chose not to participate, presuming the others wouldn't dare act against them. The assembled tribes then turned to the Levite and others present, demanding to hear the full story of the horrific wickedness that had occurred.
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c. 1100 BC
Civil War Erupts
The refusal of Benjamin leads the other tribes to declare war against them, resulting in devastating battles and heavy casualties on both sides.
"(Now the people of Benjamin heard that the people of Israel had gone up to Mizpah.) And the people of Israel said, “Tell us, how did this evil happen?” And the Levite, the husband of the woman who was murdered, answered and said, “I came t…" — The question "how was this wickedness?" isn't just asking for details, but is a plea for understanding what could possibly lead to such a horrific act. It reveals the assembly's profound shock and th…
