Judges 20-21

27 Manasseh did not drive out the inhabitants of Beth-shean and its villages, or Taanach and its villages, or the inhabitants of Dor and its villages, or the inhabitants of Ibleam and its villages, or the inhabitants of Megiddo and its villages, for the Canaanites persisted in dwelling in that land. 28 When Israel grew strong, they put the Canaanites to forced labor, but did not drive them out completely. 29 And Ephraim did not drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer, so the Canaanites lived in Gezer among them. Judges 1:27-29 30Zebulun did not drive out the inhabitants of Kitron, or the inhabitants of Nahalol, so the Canaanites lived among them, but became subject to forced labor.

31 Asher did not drive out the inhabitants of Acco, or the inhabitants of Sidon or of Ahlab or of Achzib or of Helbah or of Aphik or of Rehob, 32 so the Asherites lived among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land, for they did not drive them out. 33 Naphtali did not drive out the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh, or the inhabitants of Beth-anath, so they lived among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land. Nevertheless, the inhabitants of Beth- shemesh and of Beth-anath became subject to forced labor for them.

Judges 1:30-33

4 And the Levite, the husband of the woman who was murdered, answered and said, “I came to Gibeah that belongs to Benjamin, I and my concubine, to spend the night. 5 And the leaders of Gibeah rose against me and surrounded the house against me by night. They meant to kill me, and they violated my concubine, and she is dead. 6 So I took hold of my concubine and cut her in pieces and sent her throughout all the country of the inheritance of Israel, for they have committed abomination and outrage in Israel. Judges 20:4-6 Preinquiry Israelites’ inquiry God’s Response Result actions Make plans against Gibeah Inquiry #1 “Judah shall go first” and threaten the city (20:8- “Who of us shall go first to (20:18b) 13a) fight against the Benjaminites?” (20:18a) Q: What do you think the result is? Did the men of Israel win or Benjaminites?

(type: Israel or Benjamin) Preinquiry Israelites’ inquiry God’s Response Result actions Make plans against Gibeah Inquiry #1 “Judah shall go first” Israelites attacked Gibeah, and threaten the city (20:8- “Who of us shall go first to (20:18b) but were defeated severely 13a) fight against the by the Benjaminites and Benjaminites?” (20:18a) 22,000 men of Israelites died. Preinquiry Israelites’ inquiry God’s Response Result actions Make plans against Gibeah Inquiry #1 “Judah shall go first” Israelites attacked Gibeah, and threaten the city (20:8- “Who of us shall go first to (20:18b) but were defeated severely 13a) fight against the by the Benjaminites and Benjaminites?” (20:18a) 22,000 men of Israelites died. Israelites encouraged one Inquiry #2 “Go up against them” another and again take up “Shall we go up against to (20:23b) their positions (20:22) battle against the Benjaminites, our Israelites weep before brothers?” [a hint of Yahweh (20:23a) doubt?] (20:23a) Q: What do you think the result is? Did the men of Israel win or Benjaminites?

(type: Israel or Benjamin) Preinquiry Israelites’ inquiry God’s Response Result actions Make plans against Gibeah Inquiry #1 “Judah shall go first” [but no Israelites attacked Gibeah, and threaten the city (20:8- “Who of us shall go first to promise of victory] (20:18b) but were defeated severely 13a) fight against the by the Benjaminites and Benjaminites?” (20:18a) 22,000 men of Israelites died. Israelites encouraged one Inquiry #2 “Go up against them” Israelites attack Gibeah another and again take up “Shall we go up against to (20:23b) again, but were defeated their positions (20:22) battle against the severely by the Benjaminites, our Benjaminites and 18,000 Israelites weep before brothers?” [a hint of men of Israelites died. Yahweh (20:23a) doubt?] (20:23a) Preinquiry Israelites’ inquiry God’s Response Result actions Make plans against Gibeah Inquiry #1 “Judah shall go first” Israelites attacked Gibeah, and threaten the city (20:8- “Who of us shall go first to (20:18b) but were defeated severely 13a) fight against the by the Benjaminites and Benjaminites?” (20:18a) 22,000 men of Israelites died. Israelites encouraged one Inquiry #2 “Go up against them” Israelites attack Gibeah another and again take up “Shall we go up against to (20:23b) again, but were defeated their positions (20:22) battle against the severely by the Benjaminites, our Benjaminites and 18,000 Israelites weep before brothers?” [a hint of men of Israelites died. Yahweh (20:23a) doubt?] (20:23a) Israelites – all the people – Inquiry #3 “Go, for tomorrow I will give weep, fast, and present Inquiry through Phinehas, them into your hands” sacrifices (20:26) the high priest, “Shall we go (20:28b) up again to battle with Benjamin our brother, or not?” [uncertainty expressed] (20:28a) Q: What do you think the result is? Did the men of Israel win or Benjaminites?

Let the King guide your heart! Preinquiry Israelites’ inquiry God’s Response Result actions Make plans against Gibeah Inquiry #1 “Judah shall go first” [but no Israelites attacked Gibeah, and threaten the city (20:8- “Who of us shall go first to promise of victory] (20:18b) but were defeated severely 13a) fight against the by the Benjaminites and Benjaminites?” (20:18a) 22,000 men of Israelites died. Israelites encouraged one Inquiry #2 “Go up against them” Israelites attack Gibeah another and again take up “Shall we go up against to (20:23b) again, but were defeated their positions (20:22) battle against the severely by the Benjaminites, our Benjaminites and 18,000 Israelites weep before brothers?” [a hint of men of Israelites died. Yahweh (20:23a) doubt?] (20:23a) Israelites – all the people – Inquiry #3 “Go, for tomorrow I will give Israelites set ambush and weep, fast, and present Inquiry through Phinehas, them into your hands” only 600 Benjaminites were sacrifices (20:26) the high priest, “Shall we go (20:28b) left. [25,100 men were up again to battle with destroyed and implied that Benjamin our brother, or 1,000 men were destroyed from not?” (20:28a) the previous 2 battles] 6 And the people of Israel had compassion for Benjamin their brother and said, “One tribe is cut off from Israel this day. 7 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 21:6-7

2. Let God be the King of your speech

Let the King guide your heart! 1 Now the men of Israel had sworn at Mizpah, “No one of us shall give his daughter in marriage to Benjamin. Judges 21:1

5 For they had taken a great oath concerning him who did not come up to the Lord to Mizpah, saying, “He shall surely be put to death.” Judges 21:5 4 or if anyone utters with his lips a rash oath to do evil or to do good, any sort of rash oath that people swear, and it is hidden from him, when he comes to know it, and he realizes his guilt in any of these; 5 when he realizes his guilt in any of these and confesses the sin he has committed, 6 he shall bring to the Lord as his compensation for the sin that he has committed, a female from the flock, a lamb or a goat, for a sin offering. And the priest shall make atonement for him for his sin. Leviticus 5:4-6 20 And they commanded the people of Benjamin, saying, “Go and lie in ambush in the vineyards 21 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. 22 And when their fathers or their brothers come to complain to us, we will say to them, ‘Grant them graciously to us, because we did not take for each man of them his wife in battle, neither did you give them to them, else you would now be guilty.’” 23 And the people of Benjamin did so and took their wives, according to their number, from the dancers whom they carried off. Judges 21:20-23

3. Let God be the King of your action

Let the King guide your heart! 25 In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes. Judges 21:25