Year 1, Week 28, Day 4 Bible Reading Observations

Year 1, Week 28, Day 4

I have a brief observation for today’s reading of Judges 21.

Today’s reading, as the completion of the last segment of the Book of Judges, continues providing more detailed examples of Israel’s moral deterioration during the period of the Judges. These chapters illustrate the extent of the moral decay at this moment in Israel’s history. More importantly, the last five chapters give the examples that they do to make the case for Israel’s need for a godly king. Judges 21 completes the episode that comprised Judges 19 and 20. The Israelites went to war against the tribe of Benjamin and nearly decimated the entire tribe. With the tribe of Benjamin on the brink of extinction, the Israelites wept before the LORD: "O LORD, the God of Israel, why has this happened in Israel, that today there should be one tribe lacking in Israel?” (Judges 21:3). But their solutions lack wisdom and actually become about as wicked as the situation that triggered the Civil War in the first place.

One of the things that struck me from today's reading is the evidence of utter foolishness as the Israelites seek solutions to deal with the problem they created for the tribe of Benjamin: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding” (Psalm 111:10). Israel is acting foolishly for they are not deciphering what they should do in accordance with the Law, but in accordance with their own standards. Israel is in great need of a leader who could step in and lead the people wisely, “in righteousness, justice, and equity” (Proverbs 1:3). The cause of Israel’s foolishness during the period of the Judges is a mystery. Wisdom comes from living in relationship with the LORD and is discerned through living faithfully in relationship with the LORD. Disregard for the LORD never fosters wisdom; disobedience to the LORD never cultivates wisdom. Today’s reading illustrates how Israel’s disregard and disobedience led to wicked and foolish actions in regard to the tribe of Benjamin.

Israel’s foolishness is portrayed from the very start of today’s reading. Israel makes a vow that is rash and vindictive: “Now the men of Israel had sworn at Mizpah, “No one of us shall give his daughter in marriage to Benjamin” (Judges 21:1). The is no indication that the LORD required such a vow. Israel’s sworn decision is not informed by godly wisdom. So with only 600 men of Benjamin left and no prospects of wives from with the tribe (the Israelites destroyed them all), the dilemma is how Benjamin will survive: “What shall we do for wives for those who are left, since we have sworn by the LORD that we will not give them any of our daughters for wives?” (Judges 21:7). Their foolish solution was to destroy all the inhabitant of Jabesh Gilead, except the virgins: “And they found among the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead 400 young virgins who had not known a man by lying with him, and they brought them to the camp at Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan” (Judges 21:12).

Israel’s foolishness continues as they are still 200 wives short: “What shall we do for wives for those who are left, since the women are destroyed out of Benjamin?” (Judges 21:16). And in light of their rash vow, they cannot offer wives from their own tribes: “Yet we cannot give them wives from our daughters.” For the people of Israel had sworn, “Cursed be he who gives a wife to Benjamin” (Judges 21:18). So, to acquire more wives they devise another foolish scheme—an evil scheme: “Behold, there is the yearly feast of the LORD at Shiloh, which is north of Bethel, on the east of the highway that goes up from Bethel to Shechem, and south of Lebonah.” And they commanded the people of Benjamin, saying, “Go and lie in ambush in the vineyards and watch. If the daughters of Shiloh come out to dance in the dances, then come out of the vineyards and snatch each man his wife from the daughters of Shiloh, and go to the land of Benjamin” (Judges 21:19-21). The Benjaminites were advised to lie in wait for when the daughters of Shiloh came out into the fields alone. The plan for obtaining the additional 200 wives entailed ambush and abduction. When the fathers and brothers of these abducted women sought to do something about this injustice, they were turned away and denied the permission to make things right.

The Book of Judges ends with the refrain that has occurred throughout the last five chapters of Judges: “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25). There is no wisdom to be found in one doing their own thing. Israel needs a godly king who might lead wisely. The next Book in our reading, Ruth, which is set in the period of the Judges, shows that God was a work preparing things for Israel to have a king.

What struck you in today’s reading? What questions were prompted from today’s reading?

Pastor Joe