RETURN TO SYLLABUS
JUDGES 20 AND JUDGES 21
LESSON #20
THE WAGES OF SIN IS DESTRUCTION
MEMORY VERSE: 2COR 5:18
IN THESE LAST CHAPTERS OF JUDGES, WE HAVE OBSERVED HOW RELIGIOUS COMPROMISE CORRUPTED
THE WORSHIP OF GOD TO THE EXTENT THAT THE TOLERATION OF SIN IN THE FAMILY SPREAD THROUGH
ALL SOCIETY.
IN THE LAST TWO CHAPTERS OF JUDGES, WE SEE THE FINAL RESULT IN THE HISTORICAL PATTERN OF
THE DOWNFALL OF SOCIETY, POLITICAL ANARCHY.
WE CONTINUE THE STORY OF THE LEVITE WHO DISMEMBERED HIS DEAD CONCUBINE TO SEND BODY
PARTS TO ALL THE 12 TRIBES OF ISRAEL, INCLUDING A PART EVEN TO THE TRIBE OF BENJAMIN.
READ JDG 20:1-11 THE REACTION OF THE ELEVEN OTHER TRIBES
THE CRIME OF HOMOSEXUALITY AND RAPE COMMITTED BY THE TRIBE OF BENJAMIN CAUSED A
TREMENDOUS OUTCRY OF ANGER AND A CALL FOR JUSTICE BY THE OTHER TRIBES.
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE BOOK OF JUDGES, WE SEE SOME SENSE OF UNITY IN THE NATION. IT
IS UNFORTUNATE THAT IT HAD TO BE AGAINST ONE OF THEIR OWN TRIBES.
NOTICE, HOWEVER, THAT THEY DO NOT ASK GOD FOR DIRECTION IN EXACTLY HOW TO SETTLE THE
MATTER. INSTEAD THEY ARE DETERMINED TO IMMEDIATELY SETTLE IT BY FORCE.
DISCUSSION:
IN LIGHT OF NEW TESTAMENT LIVING, RATHER THAN SEND AN ARMY, WHAT SHOULD
THE ELEVEN TRIBES HAVE DONE?
READ JAM 1:5, 19-22
READ MAT 18:15-17
READ 2COR 5:18-20
THE ELEVEN TRIBES SENT AN ARMY OF 400,000 SOLDIERS AGAINST THE TOWN OF GIBEAH.
MEMBERS OF THE ARMY WERE FROM EACH OF THE ELEVEN TRIBES. THOSE MEN WHO WERE IN THE ARMY
BUT DID NOT FIGHT IN THIS BATTLE PROVIDED CLOTHING AND SUPPLIES FOR THOSE WHO FOUGHT.
READ JDG 20:12-17 THE RESPONSE FROM THE TRIBE OF BENJAMIN
SURROUNDED BY AN ARMY OF 400,000 SOLDIERS FROM THE ELEVEN OTHER TRIBES OF ISRAEL, THE
TRIBE OF BENJAMIN IS PUT ON THE DEFENSIVE.
THE TRIBE OF BENJAMIN REFUSES TO TURN OVER THE MEN OF GIBEAH WHO COMMITTED THE CRIME.
THE RESULT IS CIVIL WAR:
THE TRIBE OF BENJAMIN FIELDS AN ARMY OF 26,000 SOLDIERS PLUS 700 FROM THE TOWN OF
GIBEAH.
THE TRIBE OF BENJAMIN WAS FAMOUS FOR THEIR LEFT-HANDED WARRIORS WHO WERE VERY WELL
TRAINED WITH A SLING. THIS VERY SPECIALIZED FIGHTING UNIT OF 700 MEN CAME FROM THE TOWN OF
GIBEAH.
READ JDG 20:18-25 THE CIVIL WAR BEGINS
BEFORE THE BATTLE, THE ISRAELITE ARMY SEEKS GOD’S BLESSING BY GOING TO THE HOUSE OF
GOD TO VISIT THE HIGH PRIEST.
DURING THIS PERIOD OF HISTORY, THE TABERNALCE (THE HOUSE OF GOD) WAS SOMETIMES LOCATED
IN THE CITY OF SHILOH AND SOMETIMES LOCATED IN THE CITY OF BETHEL (WHICH MEANS = HOUSE OF
GOD).
WHATEVER THE LOCATION OF THE TABERNACLE IN CHAPTER 20, THE ARMY INQUIRES OF THE HIGH
PRIEST WHICH TRIBE SHOULD LEAD THE ATTACK. THE HIGH PRIEST DIRECTS THE TRIBE OF JUDAH TO
LEAD THE ATTACK.
NOTE THAT THE TIME TO CONSULT GOD SHOULD BE BEFORE YOU MAKE YOUR PLANS AND NOT AFTERWARD
TO SEEK GOD’S BLESSINGS.
IT IS THIS EXACT SAME PATTERN THAT WE FIND IN MANY CHURCHES. WE WANT GOD TO BLESS
MAN’S PLANS AND COOPERATE WITH US INSTEAD OF MAN SEEKING GOD’S PLANS AND
COOPERATING WITH HIM.
THE FIRST DAY OF THE WAR
IN THE FIRST BATTLE (21), 22,000 SOLDIERS WERE KILLED FROM THE ELEVEN TRIBES.
THE LOCATION OF THE BATTLE AT GIBEAH FAVORED THE BENJAMINITE ARMY BECAUSE THE LAY OF THE
LAND MADE IT EASY TO DEFEND.
AFTER THIS FIRST DEFEAT, THE ISRAELITES RETURNED TO THE TABERNACLE TO PRAY AND ASK GOD
IF THE WAR SHOULD CONTINUE.
GOD’S ANSWER WAS, YES.(23)
THE SECOND DAY OF THE WAR
IN THE SECOND BATTLE (24-25), 18,000 DIED OF ISRAEL’S ARMY FROM THE ELEVEN TRIBES.
READ JDG 20: 26-48 THE DEVASTATING DEFEAT OF THE TRIBE OF BENJAMIN
ALL
THE PEOPLE PRAYED AND FASTED (26) BEFORE GOD AFTER THE SECOND DEFEAT. THEN THEY
ASKED THE HIGH PRIEST IF THE WAR SHOULD CONTINUE AGAINST THE TRIBE OF BENJAMIN.
THE HIGH PRIEST SAID THAT GOD’S ANSWER WAS, YES. (28) GOD WOULD GIVE FAVOR TO THE
ISRAELITE ARMY AGAINST THE TRIBE OF BENJAMIN.
THE THIRD DAY OF THE WAR
THE BATTLE PLAN WAS DIFFERENT ON THE THIRD DAY. THE ISRAELITES DECIDED THAT THEY NEEDED
TO DRAW THE BENJAMINITE ARMY AWAY FROM THE TOWN OF GIBEAH TO ACHIEVE GREATER ADVANTAGE.
THEY ESTABLISHED AN ELABORATE SYSTEM OF AMBUSHES (LIERS IN WAIT).
THE ISRAELITE ARMY ATTACKED IN THE SAME MANNER AS BEFORE, BUT THEN THEY PRETENDED TO
RETREAT IN VARIOUS DIRECTIONS. (32)
THE BENJAMINITES BEGAN TO PURSUE THE RETREATING ISRAELITE ARMY. THIS TOOK THE
BENJAMINITES AWAY FROM THE CITY OF GIBEAH.
THOSE HIDING IN AMBUSH SURPRISED THE BENJAMINITES AND KILLED 25,100 MEN.
ANOTHER AMBUSH PARTY SECRETELY ENTERED THE CITY OF GIBEAH AND DESTROYED IT, THOUGH THE
ARMY OF BENJIMITES DID NOT KNOW IT. (37)
AFTER THE CITY OF GIBEAH WAS DESTROYED, THE ISRAELITE ARMY SENT A SMOKE SIGNAL TO
INDICATE THE BATTLE WAS WON.
THE BENJAMINITE ARMY WAS CAUGHT BETWEEN THOSE WHO HAD JUST DESTROYED THE CITY OF GIBEAH
AND THOSE IN FRONT OF THEM. (40-42)
THE ARMY FROM THE TRIBE OF BENJAMIN WAS DESTROYED. 18,000 OF THEM WERE KILLED. (44)
THE BENJAMINITES THAT TRIED TO FLEE THE BATTLE WERE PURSUED. OF THOSE, 5,000 WERE KILLED
AND THEN 2,000 WERE KILLED. (45)
A TOTAL OF 25,000 MEN FROM THE ARMY OF TRIBE OF BENJAMIN WERE KILLED IN THE PRIMARY
BATTLE, PLUS 100. (35)
EVERY CITY IN THE LAND OF BENJAMIN WAS DESTROYED, INCLUDING WOMEN, CHILDREN, AND
ANIMALS.
ALL THE MEN IN EVERY CITY IN THE LAND OF BENJAMIN WERE KILLED.
600 HID IN THE MOUNTAINS FOR 4 MONTHS BEFORE THEY RECEIVED TERMS OF PEACE FROM THE
ISRAELITES. (21:13-14)
THESE 600 WERE THE ONLY BENJAMINITE MEN TO SURVIVE.
DISCUSSION:
WHY DO YOU THINK GOD WAITED UNTIL THE THIRD DAY BEFORE HE GAVE THE
BENJAMINITES INTO THE HANDS OF THE OTHER ELEVEN TRIBES?
THE NUMBER 3 IN THE BIBLE IS THE SYMBOLIC NUMBER OF THE FULLNESS OF THE TRINITY. NOTICE
THAT IT IS ONLY AFTER THEIR TOTAL COMMITMENT TO GOD WHEN THEY ARE SERIOUS ABOUT SEEKING
GOD’S HELP THROUGH PRAYER AND FASTING, DOES GOD GIVE THEM THE VICTORY ON THE THIRD
DAY.
JESUS’ VICTORY OVER DEATH OCCURRED ON THE THIRD DAY AFTER HIS TOTAL COMMITMENT TO
GOD THROUGH PRAYER IN THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE.
READ JDG 21:1-15 THE PROBLEM OF AN EXTINCT TRIBE
AFTER THE BATTLE OF THE DESTRUCTION OF THE BENJAMINITES, THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL BEGAN TO
NOTICE A HUGE PROBLEM THAT CAUSED GREAT SADNESS IN THE LAND.
THEY WERE A PEOPLE OF GOD DIVIDED INTO TWELVE TRIBES. HOWEVER, THERE WERE ONLY 600
PEOPLE LEFT ALIVE (ALL MEN) FROM THE TRIBE OF BENJAMIN. WITH THAT IN MIND ISRAEL WOULD
SOON BE ONLY ELEVEN TRIBES. THE TRIBE OF BENJAMIN WAS DOOMED TO EXTINCTION BECAUSE OF A
VOW.
PREVIOUSLY AT MIZPEH THE ISREALITES HAD PROMISED GOD THAT THEY WOULD NOT GIVE THEIR
DAUGHTERS TO MARRY ANY MAN FROM THE TRIBE OF BENJAMIN BECAUSE OF THEIR GREAT IMMORALITY.
AND OF COURSE, A MAN FROM THE TRIBE OF BENJAMIN WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO MARRY A FOREIGN,
PAGAN WOMAN.
THE PROBLEM: 600 MEN FROM BENJAMIN WITHOUT ANY WOMEN TO MARRY AND HAVE CHILDREN.
THE SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM:
AFTER AGONIZING OVER THE PROBLEM IN PRAYER BEFORE GOD, THEY REMEMBERED ANOTHER VOW THAT
HAD NOT BEEN CARRIED OUT.
PREVIOUSLY A VOW WAS MADE THAT ANY THAT DID NOT GO TO MIZPEH AND FIGHT WOULD BE PUT TO
DEATH.
12,000 MEN FROM JABESH-GILEAD IN THE TERRITORY BELONGING TO THE TRIBE OF GAD FAILED TO
HEED THE CALL TO FIGHT.
THEREFORE, ISRAEL SENT 12,000 MEN TO JABESH-GILEAD TO KILL ALL THE MEN, WOMEN AND
CHILDREN IN THE CITY OF JABESH-GILEAD WITH THE EXCEPTION OF 400 VIRGINS.
THEN THEY BROUGHT ALL THE VIRGINS IN JABESH-GILEAD TO MARRY THE 600 REMAINING
BENJAMINITES.
READ JDG 21:16-25 A PEACE TREATY WITH THE TRIBE OF BENJAMIN
THE 600 BENJAMINITES WERE OFFERED THE 400 VIRGINS FROM JABESH-GILEAD.
HOWEVER, THEY WERE LACKING 200 WOMEN.
THE "LOOPHOLE" IN THE LAW:
REMEMBER THAT THE ISRAELITE TRIBES VOWED THEY WOULD NOT GIVE THEIR DAUGHTERS TO
MARRY THE BENJAMINITES.
HOWEVER, IT WOULD NOT VIOLATE THEIR VOW IF THE BENJAMINITES CAPTURED THEIR DAUGHTERS.
THIS POINTS UP THE PROBLEM WITH LEGALISTIC VOWS AND LEGALISMS IN GENERAL.
MAN ALWAYS LOOKS FOR "LOOPHOLES" IN THE LAW.
WHEN THE ISRAELITES MADE THIS VOW ABOUT NOT GIVING THEIR DAUGHTERS TO MARRY MEN IN THIS
TRIBE, IT WAS A VOW MADE IN ANGER AND NOT DIRECTED BY GOD.
MAN’S WISDOM IS SO SHORT SIGHTED, THAT IT IS ALWAYS BETTER TO SEEK GOD’S
WISDOM FIRST.
THE ISRAELITE TRIBES INFORMED THE REMAINING 200 BENJAMINITES THAT THEY COULD STEAL THE
SINGLE WOMEN WHO DANCED IN THE FIELDS AT A FESTIVAL IN THE CITY OF SHILOH. (INCIDENTALLY
THIS WAS THE COMMON LOCATION OF THE TABERNACLE DURING THE TIME OF THE JUDGES.)
AN EXPLANATION WAS MADE TO THE FATHERS OF THESE GIRLS AFTER THE BENJAMINITES HAD TAKEN
THEM AS WIVES.
THE TRIBE OF BENJAMIN WAS RECONSTITUTED AND SAVED FROM EXTINCTION
THE CITIES IN THE TERRITORY OF BENJAMIN WERE REBUILT
APPLICATION AND A SUMMARY OF THE BOOK OF JUDGES:
THE BOOK OF JUDGES ENDS WITH TWO THOUGHTS THAT FLOW THROUGH THE BOOK: (25)
#1 THERE WAS NO KING IN ISRAEL.
GOD WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THEIR KING, BUT THEY WOULD NOT LISTEN TO GOD.
THEREFORE, THEY WERE ESSENTIALLY WITHOUT LEADERSHIP THAT EVENTUALLY LED TO CIVIL WARS,
SOCIAL CHAOS, AND POLITICAL ANARCHY.
#2 EVERYONE DID THAT WHICH WAS RIGHT IN HIS OWN EYES.
THERE WAS NO STANDARD OF RIGHT IN SOCIETY. TRUTH WAS RELATIVE.
EACH PERSON MADE UP HIS OWN TRUTH AND HIS OWN STANDARD BY WHICH TO LIVE.
IT IS OBVIOUS IN THIS BOOK THE HORRENDOUS RESULTS OF THAT KIND OF THINKING, AND YET THAT
SAME PHILOSOPHY EXISTS TODAY.
THE LAST FEW CHAPTERS OF THE BOOK OF JUDGES ENDS WITH COMMON HUMAN FAILURES WE HAVE SEEN
THROUGHOUT THE BOOK:
#1 A TENDANCY TO FALL INTO SIN.
ALL HUMANS ARE SINNERS BORN WITH A SIN NATURE WITH A TENDANCY TO SIN. WE JUST CAN’T
HELP IT!
HOWEVER, GOD SOLVES THE SIN PROBLEM IF WE WOULD JUST SEEK HIM.
#2 A TENDANCY TO FAIL TO CALL ON GOD.
ALL HUMANS HAVE A TENDANCY TO THINK WE KNOW BEST AND CAN CONTROL OUR OWN LIVES.
HOWEVER, IF MAN IS TRULY HONEST, HE SOON DISCOVERS HOW WEAK, SHORT SIGHTED, AND
SUSCEPTIBLE WE ARE TO THE CONTROL OF SATAN.
#3 A TENDANCY TO FAIL TO HONOR AND THANK GOD FOR HIS MERCY AND BLESSINGS.
ALL HUMANS HAVE A SHORT MEMORY. WE JUST DON’T LEARN OUR LESSONS AND GAIN GODLY
WISDOM.
THEREFORE, WE DOOM OURSELVES TO REPEAT THE SAME MISTAKES; HENCE THE CYCLES THAT WE SEE
IN THE BOOK OF JUDGES.
THE 5 POINT CYCLE REPEATED SEVEN TIMES THROUGH THIS BOOK:
=1= SIN
=2= SERVITUDE (SLAVERY)
=3= SUPPLICATION (A CRY TO GOD FOR HELP)
=4= SALVATION (GOD RAISES UP A DELIVERER)
=5= SILENCE (NO PRAISE FOR GOD)
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE BOOK OF JUDGES:
THIS BOOK IS IMPORTANT TO US PERSONALLY TO HELP US AVOID THE MISTAKES THE ISRAELITES
MADE.
READ 1COR 10:11
THIS BOOK IS IMPORTANT TO HELP US UNDERSTAND A CULTURE AND A NATION’S FALL INTO
APOSTASY AND ANARCHY, SO THAT AS BELIEVERS IN THESE LAST DAYS WE KNOW BETTER HOW TO LIVE
AND HOW TO PRAY.
THE BOOK SHOWS US THE BALANCE IN GOD’S NATURE
WE SEE GOD’S MERCY AND LOVE TO SEND A DELIVERER.
WE SEE GOD’S JUSTICE THAT DOES NOT PERMIT MAN TO GET AWAY WITH SIN WITHOUT
CONSEQUENCES TO PAY.
THIS BOOK WITH ALL ITS SOCIAL PROBLEMS, WARS, AND IMMORALITY SHOW US HOW MUCH WE NEED
THE LORD, JESUS CHRIST TO REIGN OVER US IN THE MILLENNIUM.
JESUS IS THE ONLY SOLUTION TO MAN’S SINFUL NATURE.
JESUS IS THE ONLY SOLUTION TO MAN’S SELF-DETERMINATION.