The History of Jabesh-Gilead

So all the men of Israel were gathered against the city, knit together as one man. And the tribes of Israel sent men through all the tribe of Benjamin, saying, What wickedness is this that is done among you? —Judges 20:11, 12

A brief history lesson might be in order at this point.

A Levite was traveling with his servant and concubine through the area of Israel allotted to the tribe of Benjamin. Arriving at nightfall in the town of Gibeah, he sat down in the street as no rooms were available to rent. An old man, returning from working in the fields, invited him to his house for the night. As they were eating, a group of riotous young men stood outside shouting, “Bring forth the man that came into thine house, that we may know him” (Judges 19:22). Refusing their homosexual advances, the Levite offered his concubine instead.

In the morning, she was found abused and dead on the doorstep.

Upon arriving home, the Levite, seeking justice, divided her body and sent a piece to each of the eleven tribes. The tribes gathered and, upon hearing the details of the outrage, swore revenge. They petitioned the people of Gibeah to deliver up the perpetrators so that they would face judgment. The tribe of Benjamin refused to surrender the guilty parties, thereby condoning their actions. Twice the alliance of tribes attacked Gibeah, and each time suffered defeat. Their third attempt drew most of the city’s defenders outside the walls.

Part of the army waited until these defenders passed, then they attacked the few guards left in the city. All were slain, and the city was burned.

When the warriors of Benjamin looked back and saw their city in flames, they panicked and were slaughtered. Justice had been served.

A rash oath had been taken by the armies of Israel that any city not joining the battle for justice should die (Judges 21:5), and no daughter should be given in marriage to a Benjaminite. It was discovered no warrior from Jabesh-gilead had answered the summons. Israel’s armies attacked and wiped out the residents of Jabesh-gilead, saving only four hundred innocent virgins. These were offered as wives to the survivors of Benjamin to preserve the tribe (v. 14). Jabesh-gilead severed ties with all tribes west of the Jordan.

The stage was now set for what happened next. “In those days there was no king in Israel; every man did that which was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25).