Judges 19:25

In this passage, we read that *“But the men would not listen to him. So the man seized his concubine and brought her out to them; and they raped her and abused her all night until morning, then let her go at the approach of dawn.” (v.25)* The scene takes place in Gibeah, a town located in the tribal territory of Benjamin, roughly three miles north of what is now Jerusalem. During the era of the judges (between about 1370 B.C. and 1050 B.C.), Israel had no central authority, and moral and social chaos permeated many regions. The unnamed Levite’s concubine suffered monstrous treatment at the hands of these men, who refused to heed any call to decency.

When the verse states, *“the men would not listen to him,” (v.25)* it alludes to their complete disregard for the Levite’s desperate pleas to protect his household. Instead of showing hospitality, they exert a violent hostility. This grim event contrasts sharply with New Testament teachings on love and compassion for others (John 13:34 NASB-95). It also foreshadows the need for righteous leadership that Israel would eventually seek, culminating in the reigns of the kings and later connecting to the ultimate compassionate Kingship of Jesus Christ, who exemplifies sacrificial care for the vulnerable (Matthew 9:36 NASB-95).

Furthermore, the phrasing that *“they raped her and abused her all night,” (v.25)* underscores the depravity that had taken hold in this region. Such cruelty violates the sacred worth of human life in the eyes of God, a theme extending throughout Scripture in reminders to love one’s neighbor (Mark 12:31 NASB-95). The tragic brutality inflicted upon the Levite’s concubine reveals the depth of Israel’s broken moral condition and the desperate need for God’s guidance during that turbulent period.

Even in darkness, God’s truth shines a path to compassion and protection, emphasizing that people are made in His image and should be treated with profound respect and dignity.

Short summary: A grievous violation is inflicted upon the Levite’s concubine in Gibeah, highlighting the moral decay that pervaded Israel in the era of the judges.