Was Israel at this time a wild society without a central government? What happens without law? What is the best basis of law? Let’s look at Judges 21.
In their anger at the atrocity in Gibeah, had Israel made a hasty oath?
The men of Israel had taken an oath at Mizpah: “Not one of us will give his daughter in marriage to a Benjamite.” The people went to Bethel, where they sat before God until evening, raising their voices and weeping bitterly. “Lord, God of Israel,” they cried, “why has this happened to Israel? Why should one tribe be missing from Israel today?” (Judges 21:1-3 NIV)
Would their hasty oath mean that a tribe of Israel could disappear?
So it was, on the next morning, that the people rose early and built an altar there, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. The children of Israel said, “Who is there among all the tribes of Israel who did not come up with the assembly to the Lord?” For they had made a great oath concerning anyone who had not come up to the Lord at Mizpah, saying, “He shall surely be put to death.” And the children of Israel grieved for Benjamin their brother, and said, “One tribe is cut off from Israel today. What shall we do for wives for those who remain, seeing we have sworn by the Lord that we will not give them our daughters as wives?” (Judges 21:4-7 NKJV)
Ignoring divine guidance, was Israel making senseless decisions? Do our leaders also sometimes make deplorable decisions?
So they asked, “Who among the tribes of Israel did not join us at Mizpah when we assembled in the presence of the Lord?” And they discovered that no one from Jabesh-gilead had attended the assembly. For after they counted all the people, no one from Jabesh-gilead was present. So the assembly sent 12,000 of their best warriors to Jabesh-gilead with orders to kill everyone there, including women and children. “This is what you are to do,” they said. “Completely destroy all the males and every woman who is not a virgin.” Among the residents of Jabesh-gilead they found 400 young virgins who had never slept with a man, and they brought them to the camp at Shiloh in the land of Canaan. (Judges 21:8-12 NLT)
How did they provide wives for the survivors from Benjamin?
The whole congregation sent and spoke to the children of Benjamin who were in the rock of Rimmon, and proclaimed peace to them. Benjamin returned at that time; and they gave them the women whom they had saved alive of the women of Jabesh Gilead. There still weren’t enough for them. The people grieved for Benjamin, because Yahweh had made a breach in the tribes of Israel. Then the elders of the congregation said, “How shall we provide wives for those who remain, since the women are destroyed out of Benjamin?” (Judges 21:13-16 WEB)
What strange advice did Israel give to the bachelors of Benjamin?
There must be a surviving line for those who remain from Benjamin,” they continued, “so that a tribe won’t be erased from Israel. But we can’t allow our daughters to marry them, for we Israelites have made this pledge: ‘Let anyone who provides a wife for Benjamin be cursed!’ However,” they said, “the annual festival of the Lord is under way in Shiloh, which is north of Bethel, east of the main road that goes up from Bethel to Shechem, and south of Lebonah.” So they instructed the Benjaminites, “Go and hide like an ambush in the vineyards and watch. At the moment the women of Shiloh come out to participate in the dances, rush out from the vineyards. Each one of you, capture a wife for yourself from the women of Shiloh and go back to the land of Benjamin. (Judges 21:17-21 CEB)
Did the bachelors of Benjamin succeed in capturing for themselves brides?
If the fathers or brothers of these women complain about this, we'll say, “Be kind enough to let those men keep your daughter. After all, we couldn't get enough wives for all the men of Benjamin in the battle at Jabesh. And because you didn't give them permission to marry your daughters, you won't be under the curse we earlier agreed on.” The men of Benjamin went to Shiloh and hid in the vineyards. The young women soon started dancing, and each man grabbed one of them and carried her off. Then the men of Benjamin went back to their own land and rebuilt their towns and started living in them again. Afterwards, the rest of the Israelites returned to their homes and families. (Judges 21:22-24 CEV)
Was Israel at that time a wild and unstable country?
In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes. (Judges 21:25 ESV)
Can we just believe and then do whatever we want to be in the kingdom of heaven?
Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord!’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of My Father in heaven. (Matthew 7:21 HCSB)
Upon what basis did Jesus teach that the law and the prophets depend?
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus told him, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and most important commandment. The second is exactly like it: ‘You must love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:36-40 ISV)
Was Israel at this time a wild society without a central government? What happens without law? What is the best basis of law? You decide!
