In Chapters 17-19 of the Book of Judges, we dive into the grim realities of the dark days of Israel when the people had lost their relationship with God and became totally immoral. These chapters offer a street-level perspective of the chaotic lives of the people of Israel, each person living as they saw fit because Israel had no king. Their rejection of God as their king was disastrous.
Subscribe to BBC on Apple, Spotify or Amazon.
SUSAN’S SUMMARY
We begin with the story of Micah, a man who attempted to manipulate God’s favor through a lost Levite. However, the Levite’s stay was short-lived, and he eventually departed, leading to further loss and confusion. The tribe of Dan, equally lost, had also lost their land and seemed to have lost their connection to God.
En route to Laish, the Danites encounter a peaceful and unsuspecting city, its inhabitants unaware of the impending attack. The Danites easily conquered Laish, slaughtering its inhabitants and burning its houses to the ground. They renamed the city Dan, after their own tribe. The Danites establish Micah’s idols in their new home, setting up a sanctuary for false worship. This act of idolatry marks the beginning of a dark period in Danite history, where they veer away from the true worship of God.
As the narrative unfolds, we encounter another Levite who makes a horrifying decision. In a desperate attempt to save himself from a gang of rapists, he sacrifices his concubine, a deeply disturbing act that reveals the depths of moral decay and depravity that had engulfed the land during these dark days of Israel.
SCENE 1: THE STORY OF THE MANIPULATIVE MICAH
SCENE 2: THE STORY OF THE LOST LEVITE
SCENE 3: THE STORY OF THE JUST TO IT DANITES
SCENE 4: ISRAEL IS AS WICKED AND DEPRAVED AS SODOM
