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Judges 19:1–21:25

Epilogue 2: the Levite's concubine and the war with Benjamin

Rape of the Levite's concubine (Judges 19)

David A. Dorsey, The Literary Structure of the Old Testament

  1. a
    concubine leaves her home in Ephraim and goes to her father's home19:1–2
  2. b
    happy negotiations for the woman19:3–4Levite comes and speaks kindly to his concubine and her father, and he wins her back; tranquil scene of father and husband peaceably conversing (about concubine?)
  3. c
    hospitality in Bethlehem19:5–9the Levite is detained extra days by his hospitable host
  4. d
    TURNING POINT: Levite begins journey home; ironically refuses to stay overnight in Jebus, because it is "a town of foreigners"19:10–13
  5. c′
    inhospitality in Gibeah19:14–21local people do not take the Levite and his concubine in; finally taken in by an outsider, who fears for their safety
  6. b′
    terrible negotiations for the woman19:22–26evil men of Gibeah come and speak hostilely to the old man who is hosting the Levite and his concubine; they prevail and rape the concubine; tense scene of old man and interested male parties discussing the concubine's fate
  7. a′
    concubine is brought home in Ephraim—dead19:27–30

War against Benjamin (Judges 20–21)

David A. Dorsey, The Literary Structure of the Old Testament

  1. a
    first all-Israel assembly20:1–11tribes hear about atrocity in which concubine was forcibly taken and raped by Benjaminites; they vow, "none of us will return to his home" until justice is achieved
  2. b
    second all-Israel assembly, immediately preceding the war20:12–17Israel, enraged at the atrocity, sent men through all the tribes of Benjamin demanding that the culprits be turned over; Benjaminites refuse to turn over to the Israelites the men who violently took and raped the concubine
  3. c
    Israel defeated by Benjaminites20:18–25two battles, each concluded with tally of casualties
  4. d
    TURNING POINT: Yahweh promises victory20:26–28
  5. c′
    Israel defeats Benjaminites20:29–48two phases of the battle, each concluded with tally of casualties
  6. b′
    next-to-last all-Israel assembly, immediately following the war21:1–15Israelites pity surviving Benjaminites; they send word to the Benjaminites and proclaim peace; Israelites attack Jabesh-gilead and slaughter all the inhabitants, saving alive four hundred virgins, whom they give to Benjaminites; Israelites violently capture and turn over to Benjaminites four hundred innocent young women
  7. a′
    last all-Israel assembly21:16–25tribes condone Benjaminites' forcibly taking for themselves two hundred women at Shiloh; then they return, "each to his own tribe and family"