Yes, in our times, in our culture, this treatment of women made in God's image is concerning to us. In ancient cultures, women, slaves, and servants were no considered equal to the adult males that had authority over them. Jews considered Gentiles unclean, common, and less human than themselves. I do not know how these practices of treating women as second class came to be common, but perhaps it was a result of the many wars that killed many men. So, there may have been more women than men and to spare the women from being destitute, without land or children, men took multiple wives and then began to use female slaves as concubines.
So, yes, Jesus was a liberator-of women, slaves, servants. But really, He is the liberator of everyone dead in sin,
I know that the concubine is a symbol of Israel as they went whoring after strange "gods", but it is particularly disgusting and disturbing how women were treated as chattel in biblical times. It took Jesus Christ, our Creator, to finally show the value of all human beings. I like to tell people He was the first liberator of women.
The entire account of the rape and murder of this poor concubine is absolutely horrific. It shows just how deviate and depraved man has always been. The fact that a bunch Homosexuals would be bold as to want to rape anyone that entered that city would cause me to say that they deserved to die. However the Levite was just as guilty by not putting up a fight against them.
The chapter begins with "And it came to pass in those days, when there was no king in Israel,..." We cannot pass judgement on all the characters involved here because then we will be no better than the men that brought the woman before Christ, demanding her judgement because she was caught in the very act of adultery. We know Christ's reaction. I always wondered where the man in this incident was. (another post).
As usual, the Lord desires us to look within our selves and make righteous judgments. Decisions that will make an impact in our own lives and where we live. Our homes, neighborhood, cities, states, nation. I am by no means perfect, nor am I holier than anyone else.
A sad commentary on society, and even so that it happened in a city of the Israelites. I was taught to take care of our women folk. ( 1Peter 3:7) But we are in a point of our society that we do as we please, for there was no king in Israel at this time. v. 1.
We have abandon our core beliefs and are as rudderless boats "tossed about with every wind of doctrine." Eph 4:14
We must fall on the mercies of God, 2 Chronicles 7:14.
Our hope is to bring as many people to the knowledge and mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ before the trumpet sounds and the church is taken to heaven. Rise up my brethren, for our redemption is very near. Get right with the Lord, pray for others, let's go out and make disciples Matthew 28:18-20.
They raped her, it appears that she was dead at the door. If you read on, God sent punishment upon that part of the nation, judgement came to them. It wasnt about her sin, but theirs.
a concubine was a woman who was not technically a wife, yet was available for the pleasure of a man and was treated similar to a wife. Websters 1828 dictionary CONCUBINE, noun Latin , to lie together, to lie down.
1. A woman who cohabits with a man, without the authority of a legal marriage; a woman kept for lewd purposes; a kept mistress.
2. A wife of inferior condition; a lawful wife, but not united to the man by the usual ceremonies, and of inferior condition. Such were Hagar and Keturah, the concubines of Abraham; and such concubines were allowed by the Roman laws.
Well since she was dead he cut her into 12 pieces one for each tribe of Israel to see the wickedness done unto her.
This was a gruesome lesson for the 12 tribes to see.
The woman was a harlot but then she was a mans wife. She didn't rape the men but they raped her. Do you not have pity on the woman just because she used to be a harlot.
the point here is not the concubine being a harlot,but the evil in mans heart when he leaves God out of his life and out of his government.Man will always seek what he feels is right .A disobedient and idolatrous people are defeated time and time again without God because of their rebellion.
How awful,:-0,I am speechless,and for anyone to say she deserved it is horrible,we are not always people who make good choices but to say someone DESERVED to be beaten and raped,is such a demoralizing thing to yourself and others,she may not of been a classy lady,but she did NOT deserve what she got,I am appauled anyone would say such things or think them,What if it ws someone you knew?,wowsers!!!
I find it interesting that at the beginning of this chapter, it specificly says there was no King in Isreal and that the concubine left her husband for cheating on her and that he tried to get her back.While traveling the Levite refused to stay with strangers which is why he stayed with family; the tribe of Benjamin on his way to the house of the Lord. It takes the horrific to get our attention.
Loose, how do you know that the 12 pc's. of the woman's body represents the 12 tribes?
You say "she deserved it" if you read into the rest of the book 20:35 God armed men and battled against the men that raped and killed her, 25 thousand were killed. God avenged her death.
this woman was a concubine, i think she deserved it all remember that they wer out of God's will n whr ther is no God anything happens 12pieces represented the 12tribes of ISRAEL
It was wicked things to do; They gave her up to be abused and raped, she died then her husband cut her up.When her body was found by the public they asked who did such wickedness? The abuse and raping was equally wicked!
Truth seeker;your answer is inJudges 20:28 God wared (sent the Israelites) against the children of Benjamin.V.35 killing 25,000 , for taking the woman causing her death. Scripture gives no account of the Levite Priest or her father being punished for their part. But God punished the children of Benjamin. Read the rest of the chapter. Your question sounds like you are seeking mans opinion.
Who committed the most worst act? The sons of Belial ( the devil) who wanted to have sex or rape the Levite Priest ,or the Levite Priest who gave the men his concubine to keep them from wanting to have sex or rape him and than cutting up his concubine in 12 pieces and scattering the pieces of her body throughout all the coast of Israel after the sons of Belial raped her all night long.
Justsomeguy 151, true it's an ugly story but the man didn't kill her. She was already dead from the physical and sexual abuse from the Benjamites. There was no answer because she was dead, therefore the man cut his concubine into twelve pieces to send to the 12 tribes of Israel for a national meeting. To reach a national judgement to eradicate such evil and horrible wickedness from God's Israel.
This picture of the "Sons of Belial " is so familiar with Lot and the men in Sodom. One great difference, in Lot 's day they were not privileged with Mosaic Law. However, the tribe of Benjamin, who were in charge of the land and was aware of the Mosaic Law, willfully allowed the "Sons of Belial " to maintain their unnatural behavior. They wanted to sexually know the guest, which was culturally unacceptable, due to the law of hospitality.
If you read the other translations of that verse that describe the horrible incident , the other translations are "they took her by force " , so they essentially kidnapped her.
Thanks for your reply to my comment. Enjoy your day!
So, yes, Jesus was a liberator-of women, slaves, servants. But really, He is the liberator of everyone dead in sin,
As usual, the Lord desires us to look within our selves and make righteous judgments. Decisions that will make an impact in our own lives and where we live. Our homes, neighborhood, cities, states, nation. I am by no means perfect, nor am I holier than anyone else.
A sad commentary on society, and even so that it happened in a city of the Israelites. I was taught to take care of our women folk. ( 1Peter 3:7) But we are in a point of our society that we do as we please, for there was no king in Israel at this time. v. 1.
We have abandon our core beliefs and are as rudderless boats "tossed about with every wind of doctrine." Eph 4:14
We must fall on the mercies of God, 2 Chronicles 7:14.
Our hope is to bring as many people to the knowledge and mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ before the trumpet sounds and the church is taken to heaven. Rise up my brethren, for our redemption is very near. Get right with the Lord, pray for others, let's go out and make disciples Matthew 28:18-20.
God bless all.
1. A woman who cohabits with a man, without the authority of a legal marriage; a woman kept for lewd purposes; a kept mistress.
2. A wife of inferior condition; a lawful wife, but not united to the man by the usual ceremonies, and of inferior condition. Such were Hagar and Keturah, the concubines of Abraham; and such concubines were allowed by the Roman laws.
I understand why, fore it was to populate the earth.
This was a gruesome lesson for the 12 tribes to see.
You say "she deserved it" if you read into the rest of the book 20:35 God armed men and battled against the men that raped and killed her, 25 thousand were killed. God avenged her death.