ISRAEL’S CIVIL WAR

Mar. 6th Sabbath Israel’s Civil War Page 4 of 14
“We’re just passing through. We came from Bethlehem in Judah,” the
Levite answered. “We went there on a visit. We plan on going to God’s
holy tabernacle, and then we will return to our home in the mountains of
Ephraim.”
“Really?” asked the old man, surprised. He was glad to meet someone
from his home region.
“Yes. But we have no place to spend the night. No one here will help us.
We brought food for our donkeys and bread and wine for ourselves—we
don’t need anything else except a place to sleep.”
The old man said, “You are more than welcome to be guests in my home
for the night. Whatever you do, don’t stay out here—it isn’t safe!” The
Levite accepted his invitation. The old man brought his guests into his
house and showered them with warm hospitality. He fed their donkeys,
had his guests’ feet washed, and served them a hearty meal
(Judges 19:11-21).
Wickedness in Gibeah
As the old man and his guests feasted and enjoyed themselves, a gang of
wicked men surrounded the house and started banging on the door. The
Bible calls them “sons of Belial,” meaning that, as human tools of Satan
the devil, these worthless men had cast off the yoke of decency and sold
themselves to do evil.
The gang of wicked men shouted, “Old man, we know that a stranger
came to your house tonight. Send him out, so we can abuse him!”
All laughter and smiles stopped. Beads of sweat began to drip down the
old man’s forehead. The Levite began to worry.
The old man said to him, “I’ll take care of this,” and went outside to
speak to the gang.