WEBVTT NOTE This file was generated by Descript 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.140 Ethan: Welcome to Immerse: the daily bible reading experience. 00:00:03.257 --> 00:00:04.347 Day 100 and 80 00:00:04.786 --> 00:00:07.546 now, in those days, Israel had no king. 00:00:08.446 --> 00:00:11.746 There was a man from the tribe of Levi living in a remote area 00:00:11.751 --> 00:00:13.426 of the hill country of Efraim. 00:00:14.086 --> 00:00:17.896 One day he brought home a woman from Bethlehem in Judah to be his concubine, 00:00:18.856 --> 00:00:22.816 but she became angry with him and returned to her father's home in Bethlehem. 00:00:23.941 --> 00:00:28.231 After about four months, her husband set out for Bethlehem to speak personally 00:00:28.231 --> 00:00:30.451 to her and persuade her to come back. 00:00:31.441 --> 00:00:34.111 He took with him a servant and a pair of donkeys. 00:00:34.981 --> 00:00:39.211 When he arrived at her father's house, her father saw him and welcomed him. 00:00:39.961 --> 00:00:43.801 Her father urged him to stay a while, so he stayed three days 00:00:44.011 --> 00:00:46.621 eating, drinking, and sleeping there. 00:00:47.581 --> 00:00:51.391 On the fourth day, the man was up early, ready to leave, but the woman's 00:00:51.391 --> 00:00:55.321 father said to his son-in-law, Have something to eat before you go. 00:00:56.671 --> 00:01:00.211 So the two men sat down together and had something to eat and drink. 00:01:01.051 --> 00:01:05.551 Then the woman's father said, please stay another night and enjoy yourself. 00:01:06.541 --> 00:01:10.291 The man got up to leave, but his father-in-law kept urging him to stay. 00:01:10.711 --> 00:01:13.021 So he finally gave in and stayed the night. 00:01:14.251 --> 00:01:17.011 On the morning of the fifth day, he was up early again, ready to 00:01:17.011 --> 00:01:22.651 leave, and again, the woman's father said, Have something to eat, then 00:01:22.651 --> 00:01:24.571 you can leave later this afternoon. 00:01:25.501 --> 00:01:30.661 So they had another day of feasting later as the man and his concubine 00:01:30.661 --> 00:01:32.311 and servant were preparing to leave. 00:01:32.611 --> 00:01:36.211 His father-in-law said, look, it's almost evening. 00:01:36.811 --> 00:01:39.841 Stay the night and enjoy yourself tomorrow. 00:01:39.901 --> 00:01:42.061 You can get up early and be on your way. 00:01:43.621 --> 00:01:45.751 But this time, the man was determined to leave. 00:01:46.366 --> 00:01:50.296 So he took his two saddle donkeys and his concubine and headed in the 00:01:50.296 --> 00:01:52.996 direction of jva that is Jerusalem. 00:01:53.956 --> 00:01:57.526 It was late in the day when they near jva, and the man's servant said 00:01:57.526 --> 00:02:01.606 to him, let's stop at this Jebusite town and spend the night there. 00:02:02.446 --> 00:02:06.346 No, his master said, we can't stay in this foreign town 00:02:06.346 --> 00:02:07.846 where there are no Israelites. 00:02:08.446 --> 00:02:10.456 Instead, we will go on to Gibbon. 00:02:11.176 --> 00:02:15.586 Come on, let's try to get as far as Gibbon or Rama and we'll spend 00:02:15.586 --> 00:02:17.056 the night in one of those towns. 00:02:17.626 --> 00:02:22.036 So they went on, the sun was setting as they came to Gibbon, 00:02:22.336 --> 00:02:23.776 a town in the land of Benjamin. 00:02:24.226 --> 00:02:25.756 So they stopped there to spend the night. 00:02:26.536 --> 00:02:30.166 They rested in the town square, but no one took them in for the night. 00:02:31.456 --> 00:02:34.396 That evening, an old man came home from his work in the fields. 00:02:34.711 --> 00:02:38.881 He was from the Hill country of Raim, but he was living in Gibbon where the 00:02:38.881 --> 00:02:40.771 people were from the tribe of Benjamin. 00:02:41.431 --> 00:02:45.001 When he saw the travelers sitting in the town square, he asked them where they 00:02:45.006 --> 00:02:47.161 were from and where they were going. 00:02:48.751 --> 00:02:52.951 We have been in Bethlehem, in Judah, the man replied, we are on our 00:02:52.951 --> 00:02:57.241 way to a remote area in the hill country of Rahe, which is my home. 00:02:58.201 --> 00:03:01.351 I travel to Bethlehem and now I'm returning home. 00:03:02.071 --> 00:03:03.931 But no one has taken us in for the night. 00:03:04.291 --> 00:03:10.321 Even though we have everything we need, we have straw and feed for our donkeys and 00:03:10.321 --> 00:03:12.631 plenty of bread and wine for ourselves. 00:03:13.651 --> 00:03:15.121 You are welcome to stay with me. 00:03:15.181 --> 00:03:20.191 The old man said, I will give you anything you might need, but whatever you do, 00:03:20.641 --> 00:03:22.291 don't spend the night in the square. 00:03:23.281 --> 00:03:25.411 So he took them home with him and fed the donkeys. 00:03:26.521 --> 00:03:29.671 After they washed their feet, they ate and drank together. 00:03:30.766 --> 00:03:34.186 While they were enjoying themselves, a crowd of troublemakers from 00:03:34.186 --> 00:03:35.686 the town surrounded the house. 00:03:36.316 --> 00:03:40.156 They began beating at the door and shouting to the old man, bring 00:03:40.156 --> 00:03:43.276 out the man who was staying with you so we can have sex with him. 00:03:44.386 --> 00:03:46.396 The old man stepped outside to talk to them. 00:03:47.326 --> 00:03:51.946 No, my brothers don't do such an evil thing for this man. 00:03:51.946 --> 00:03:55.366 As a guest in my house and such a thing would be shameful. 00:03:55.936 --> 00:03:59.626 Here, take my virgin daughter and this man's concubine. 00:04:00.316 --> 00:04:03.166 I will bring them out to you and you can abuse them and do 00:04:03.166 --> 00:04:07.156 whatever you like, but don't do such a shameful thing to this man. 00:04:08.656 --> 00:04:09.796 But they wouldn't listen to him. 00:04:10.606 --> 00:04:14.086 So the Levi took hold of his concubine and pushed her out the door. 00:04:14.956 --> 00:04:19.696 The men of the town abused her all night, taking turns raping her until morning. 00:04:20.476 --> 00:04:22.246 Finally, at dawn, they let her go. 00:04:23.176 --> 00:04:26.266 At Daybreak, the woman returned to the house where her husband was staying. 00:04:27.346 --> 00:04:30.856 She collapsed at the door of the house and lay there until it was light. 00:04:31.936 --> 00:04:36.526 When her husband opened the door to leave there, lay his concubine with her hands on 00:04:36.526 --> 00:04:39.796 the threshold, he said, get up, let's go. 00:04:40.486 --> 00:04:41.446 But there was no answer. 00:04:42.106 --> 00:04:44.956 So he put her body and his donkey and took her home. 00:04:46.176 --> 00:04:51.196 When he got home, he took a knife and cut his concubine body into 12 pieces. 00:04:51.856 --> 00:04:55.996 Then he sent one piece to each tribe throughout all the territory of Israel. 00:04:57.316 --> 00:05:02.326 Everyone who saw it said such a horrible crime has not been committed in all 00:05:02.326 --> 00:05:04.276 the time since Israel left Egypt. 00:05:05.206 --> 00:05:06.016 Think about it. 00:05:06.586 --> 00:05:07.786 What are we going to do? 00:05:08.056 --> 00:05:12.496 Who's going to speak up than all the Israelites? 00:05:12.496 --> 00:05:17.896 Were united as one man from Dan in the North to Sheba in the South, 00:05:18.826 --> 00:05:21.736 including those from across the Jordan and the land of Gilead. 00:05:22.681 --> 00:05:25.921 The entire community assembled in the presence of the Lord and Miss 00:05:25.921 --> 00:05:30.481 Pa, the leaders of all the people and all the tribes of Israel. 00:05:30.931 --> 00:05:35.281 400,000 warriors, armed with swords, took their positions in 00:05:35.281 --> 00:05:36.961 the assembly of the people of God. 00:05:37.801 --> 00:05:41.521 Word soon reached the land of Benjamin that the other tribes had gone up to. 00:05:41.526 --> 00:05:42.031 Miss Pa. 00:05:42.601 --> 00:05:45.841 The Israelites then asked how this terrible crime had happened. 00:05:47.041 --> 00:05:51.991 The Levite, the husband of the woman who had been murdered, said, My concubine 00:05:51.991 --> 00:05:55.411 and I came to spend the night in Gibbon, a town that belongs to the people 00:05:55.411 --> 00:06:00.421 of Benjamin That night, some of the leading citizens of Gibbon surrounded 00:06:00.421 --> 00:06:05.611 the house planning to kill me, and they raped my concubine until she was dead. 00:06:06.571 --> 00:06:10.801 So I cut her body into 12 pieces and sent the pieces throughout the territory 00:06:10.801 --> 00:06:16.141 assigned to Israel for these men have committed a terrible and shameful crime. 00:06:16.996 --> 00:06:21.706 Now, then all of you, the entire community of Israel must decide here 00:06:21.706 --> 00:06:23.716 and now what should be done about this? 00:06:24.946 --> 00:06:27.856 And all the people rose to their feet in unison and declared, 00:06:28.456 --> 00:06:30.166 none of us will return home. 00:06:30.586 --> 00:06:32.326 No, not even one of us. 00:06:33.046 --> 00:06:35.266 Instead, this is what we will do to GI you. 00:06:36.046 --> 00:06:38.296 We will draw lots to decide who will attack it. 00:06:39.016 --> 00:06:41.596 One 10th of the man from each tribe will be chosen to 00:06:41.601 --> 00:06:43.216 supply the Warriors with food. 00:06:43.756 --> 00:06:48.046 And the rest of us will take revenge on Gia of Benjamin for the shameful 00:06:48.046 --> 00:06:49.516 thing they have done in Israel. 00:06:50.326 --> 00:06:53.956 So all the Israelite were completely united and they gathered 00:06:53.956 --> 00:06:55.426 together to attack the town. 00:06:57.046 --> 00:07:00.976 The Israelites sent messengers to the tribe of Benjamin saying what a 00:07:00.976 --> 00:07:02.836 terrible thing has been done among you. 00:07:03.406 --> 00:07:06.886 Give up those evil men, those troublemakers from Gibbon 00:07:07.606 --> 00:07:10.966 so we can execute them and purge Israel of this evil. 00:07:12.106 --> 00:07:13.996 The people of Benjamin would not listen. 00:07:14.746 --> 00:07:17.836 Instead, they came from their towns and gathered at Gibbon 00:07:18.016 --> 00:07:19.336 to fight the Israelites. 00:07:20.086 --> 00:07:24.796 And all 26,000 of their warriors armed with swords arrived in Gibbon 00:07:25.366 --> 00:07:30.466 to join the 700 elite troops who lived there among Benjamin's elite troops. 00:07:30.796 --> 00:07:35.656 700 were left-handed, and each of them could sling a rock and hit a target 00:07:35.656 --> 00:07:37.486 within a hair's breath without missing. 00:07:38.356 --> 00:07:43.396 Israel had 400,000 experienced soldiers armed with swords, not 00:07:43.396 --> 00:07:45.046 counting Benjamin's warriors. 00:07:46.516 --> 00:07:50.896 Before the battle, the Israelites went to Bethel and asked God, which tribe should 00:07:50.896 --> 00:07:52.876 go first to attack the people of Benjamin? 00:07:53.686 --> 00:07:57.046 The Lord answered, Judah is to go first. 00:07:58.006 --> 00:08:01.636 So the Israelites left early the next morning and camped near Gibbon. 00:08:02.536 --> 00:08:06.016 Then they advanced toward Gibbon to attack the men of Benjamin. 00:08:06.931 --> 00:08:12.121 But Benjamin's warriors who were defending the town came out and killed 22,000 00:08:12.121 --> 00:08:14.281 Israelites on the battlefield that day. 00:08:15.511 --> 00:08:19.471 But the Israelites encouraged each other and took their positions again at the same 00:08:19.471 --> 00:08:24.331 place they had fought the previous day for they had gone up to Bethel and wept 00:08:24.331 --> 00:08:26.221 in the presence of the Lord until evening. 00:08:26.881 --> 00:08:31.651 They had asked the Lord, should we fight against our relatives from Benjamin again? 00:08:32.341 --> 00:08:36.211 And the Lord had said, Go out and fight against them. 00:08:37.141 --> 00:08:40.981 So the next day, they went out again to fight against the men of Benjamin, 00:08:41.551 --> 00:08:46.081 but the men of Benjamin killed another 18,000 Israelites, all of 00:08:46.081 --> 00:08:47.941 whom were experienced with the sword. 00:08:48.871 --> 00:08:53.341 Then all the Israelites went up to Bethel and wept and the presence of 00:08:53.341 --> 00:08:55.471 the Lord and fasted until evening. 00:08:56.581 --> 00:09:00.001 They also brought burnt offerings and peace offerings to the Lord. 00:09:00.721 --> 00:09:03.601 The Israelites went up seeking direction from the Lord. 00:09:04.456 --> 00:09:07.516 In those days, the arc of the covenant of God was in Bethel 00:09:07.966 --> 00:09:12.196 and Phineas, son of Eliezer and grandson of Aaron was the priest. 00:09:13.066 --> 00:09:17.056 The Israelites asked the Lord, should we fight against our relatives from 00:09:17.056 --> 00:09:19.546 Benjamin again or should we stop? 00:09:19.956 --> 00:09:23.386 The Lord said, go tomorrow. 00:09:23.506 --> 00:09:25.036 I will hand them over to you. 00:09:26.266 --> 00:09:29.266 So the Israelites set an ambush all around Gibbon. 00:09:30.181 --> 00:09:33.061 They went out on the third day and took their positions 00:09:33.061 --> 00:09:34.531 at the same place as before. 00:09:35.341 --> 00:09:38.851 When the Man of Benjamin came out to attack, they were drawn away from the 00:09:38.851 --> 00:09:43.531 town, and as they had done before, they began to kill the Israelites. 00:09:44.311 --> 00:09:48.061 About 30 Israelites died in the open fields and along the roads. 00:09:48.421 --> 00:09:51.811 One leading to Bethel and the other leading back to Gia. 00:09:52.801 --> 00:09:57.901 Then the Warriors of Benjamin Shouted were defeating them as we did before. 00:09:59.146 --> 00:10:02.776 But the Israelites had planned in advance to run away so that the men 00:10:02.776 --> 00:10:06.736 of Benjamin would chase them along the roads and be drawn away from the town. 00:10:07.696 --> 00:10:11.716 When the main group of Israelite warriors reached Baal Tamar, they 00:10:11.716 --> 00:10:13.516 turned and took up their positions. 00:10:14.326 --> 00:10:17.266 Meanwhile, the Israelites hiding and ambush to the west 00:10:17.266 --> 00:10:18.736 of Gibeah jumped up to fight. 00:10:19.546 --> 00:10:23.476 There were 10,000 elite Israelite troops who advanced against Gia. 00:10:24.781 --> 00:10:28.561 The fighting was so heavy that Benjamin didn't realize the impending disaster. 00:10:29.761 --> 00:10:34.141 So the Lord helped Israel defeat Benjamin, and that day the Israelites 00:10:34.141 --> 00:10:40.921 killed 25,100 of Benjamin's warriors, all of whom were experienced swordsmen. 00:10:41.911 --> 00:10:44.371 Then the men of Benjamin saw that they were beaten. 00:10:45.871 --> 00:10:49.201 The Israelites had retreated from Benjamin's warriors in order to 00:10:49.201 --> 00:10:52.351 give those hiding and ambush more room to maneuver against Gibbon. 00:10:53.506 --> 00:10:58.306 Then those who were hiding rushed in from all sides and killed everyone in the town. 00:10:59.386 --> 00:11:04.006 They had arranged to send up a large cloud of smoke from the town as a signal. 00:11:04.876 --> 00:11:09.106 When the Israelites saw the smoke, they turned and attacked Benjamin's warriors. 00:11:09.466 --> 00:11:13.876 By that time, Benjamin's warriors had killed about 30 Israelites, 00:11:14.176 --> 00:11:17.716 and they shouted we're defeating them as we did in the first battle. 00:11:19.096 --> 00:11:23.236 But when the Warriors of Benjamin looked behind them and saw the smoke rising 00:11:23.236 --> 00:11:28.696 into the sky from every part of the town, the men of Israel turned and attacked. 00:11:29.506 --> 00:11:33.466 At this point, the men of Benjamin became terrified because they 00:11:33.466 --> 00:11:35.956 realized disaster was close at hand. 00:11:36.916 --> 00:11:40.816 So they turned around and fled before the Israelites toward the wilderness, 00:11:41.686 --> 00:11:44.716 but they couldn't escape the battle, and the people who came out of 00:11:44.716 --> 00:11:46.726 the nearby towns were also killed. 00:11:47.626 --> 00:11:51.916 The Israelites surrounded the man of Benjamin and chased them relentlessly. 00:11:52.456 --> 00:11:54.376 Finally overtaking them east of Gibbon. 00:11:55.396 --> 00:12:00.916 That day, 18,000 of Benjamin's strongest warriors died in battle. 00:12:01.786 --> 00:12:06.316 The survivors fled into the wilderness toward the rock of women, but Israel 00:12:06.316 --> 00:12:08.956 killed 5,000 of them along the road. 00:12:10.036 --> 00:12:14.326 They continued the chase until they had killed another 2000 near Giam. 00:12:15.631 --> 00:12:21.511 That day, the tribe of Benjamin lost 25,000 strong warriors armed with swords, 00:12:22.021 --> 00:12:25.891 leaving only 600 men who escaped to the Rock of Remen, where they lived 00:12:25.891 --> 00:12:31.021 for four months and the Israelites returned and slaughtered every living 00:12:31.026 --> 00:12:36.271 thing in all the towns, the people, the livestock, and everything they found. 00:12:36.991 --> 00:12:39.811 They also burned down all the towns they came to. 00:12:41.341 --> 00:12:43.171 The Israelites had vowed at mpa. 00:12:44.311 --> 00:12:46.981 We will never give our daughters in marriage to a man 00:12:46.981 --> 00:12:48.391 from the tribe of Benjamin. 00:12:49.471 --> 00:12:52.531 Now, the people went to Bethel and sat in the presence of God 00:12:52.531 --> 00:12:58.711 until evening, weeping loudly and bitterly, oh Lord God of Israel. 00:12:59.041 --> 00:12:59.851 They cried out. 00:13:00.481 --> 00:13:05.521 Why has this happened in Israel now one of our tribes is missing from Israel. 00:13:06.721 --> 00:13:10.531 Early the next morning, the people built an altar and presented their burnt 00:13:10.531 --> 00:13:12.301 offerings and peace offerings on it. 00:13:13.156 --> 00:13:16.936 Then they said, who among the tribes of Israel did not join us 00:13:16.936 --> 00:13:20.476 at MSPA when we held our assembly in the presence of the Lord? 00:13:21.586 --> 00:13:26.986 At that time, they had taken a solemn oath in the Lord's presence, vowing that anyone 00:13:26.991 --> 00:13:29.086 who refused to come would be put to death. 00:13:30.436 --> 00:13:35.476 The Israelites felt sorry for their brother, Benjamin, and said, today one 00:13:35.476 --> 00:13:37.906 of the tribes of Israel has been cut off. 00:13:38.701 --> 00:13:43.231 How can we find wives for the few who remain since we have sworn by the Lord not 00:13:43.231 --> 00:13:45.001 to give them our daughters and marriage? 00:13:46.591 --> 00:13:51.751 So they asked who among the tribes of Israel did not join us at MPA when we 00:13:51.751 --> 00:13:56.161 assembled in the presence of the Lord and they discovered that no one from 00:13:56.161 --> 00:14:00.811 j b Gilead had attended the assembly for after they counted all the people. 00:14:01.411 --> 00:14:03.961 No one from J BSH Gilead was present. 00:14:05.116 --> 00:14:09.616 So the assembly sent 12,000 of their best warriors to Jesh Gilead 00:14:10.006 --> 00:14:13.606 with orders to kill everyone there, including women and children. 00:14:14.446 --> 00:14:15.976 This is what you are to do. 00:14:15.976 --> 00:14:21.316 They said, completely destroy all the males and every woman who is not a virgin. 00:14:22.366 --> 00:14:27.136 Among the residents of Jesh Gilead, they found 400 young virgins who had never 00:14:27.136 --> 00:14:31.756 slept with a man, and they brought them to the camp at Shiloh in the land of Canaan. 00:14:33.016 --> 00:14:36.616 The Israelite assembly sent a peace delegation to the remaining 00:14:36.616 --> 00:14:39.496 people of Benjamin who were living at the Rock of Women. 00:14:40.606 --> 00:14:45.046 Then the man of Benjamin returned to their homes, and the 400 women of j 00:14:45.046 --> 00:14:50.026 b Gilead, who had been spared, were given to them as wives, but there 00:14:50.026 --> 00:14:51.736 were not enough women for all of them. 00:14:53.416 --> 00:14:57.286 The people felt sorry for Benjamin because the Lord had made this 00:14:57.286 --> 00:14:59.176 gap among the tribes of Israel. 00:14:59.986 --> 00:15:05.206 So the elders of the assembly asked, how can we find wives for the few who remain? 00:15:05.776 --> 00:15:10.486 Since the women of the tribe of Benjamin are dead, there must be heirs 00:15:10.486 --> 00:15:14.806 for the survivors so that an entire tribe of Israel is not wiped out. 00:15:15.976 --> 00:15:19.666 But we cannot give them our own daughters and marriage because we have sworn 00:15:19.666 --> 00:15:23.986 with a solemn oath that anyone who does this will fall under God's curse. 00:15:25.846 --> 00:15:29.266 Then they thought of the annual festival of the Lord held in Shiloh, 00:15:29.506 --> 00:15:33.826 south of Laona and north of Bethel, along the east side of the road 00:15:33.826 --> 00:15:35.296 that goes from Bethel to Shechem. 00:15:36.256 --> 00:15:41.386 They told the man of Benjamin who still needed wives go and hide in the vineyards. 00:15:42.106 --> 00:15:45.796 When you see the young women of Shiloh come out for their dances, rush out 00:15:45.796 --> 00:15:48.976 from the vineyards and each of you can take one of them home to the 00:15:48.976 --> 00:15:50.716 land of Benjamin to be your wife. 00:15:51.736 --> 00:15:55.366 And when their fathers and brothers come to us and protest, we will 00:15:55.371 --> 00:15:57.736 tell them, please be sympathetic. 00:15:58.216 --> 00:16:01.786 Let them have your daughters for, we didn't find wives for all of them 00:16:01.786 --> 00:16:06.046 when we destroyed j b Gilead, and you are not guilty of breaking the 00:16:06.046 --> 00:16:09.616 vow since you did not actually give your daughters to them in marriage. 00:16:10.996 --> 00:16:15.586 So the men of Benjamin did, as they were told, each man caught one of the 00:16:15.586 --> 00:16:19.456 women as she danced in the celebration and carried her off to be his wife. 00:16:20.551 --> 00:16:25.351 They returned their own land and they rebuilt their towns and lived in them. 00:16:26.551 --> 00:16:31.411 Then the people of Israel departed by tribes and families, and 00:16:31.411 --> 00:16:33.151 they returned their own homes. 00:16:34.831 --> 00:16:38.011 In those days, Israel had no king. 00:16:39.211 --> 00:16:43.321 All the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes. 00:16:47.851 --> 00:16:50.731 This concludes today's Immerse Reading experience. 00:16:50.851 --> 00:16:52.081 Thank you for joining us.