Indivisible?

Today's Daily Reading Is Judges 20:

When was the last time Israel was as one man? (v.1)

Numbers 14:15–16 (NKJV)

15 Now if You kill these people as one man, then the nations which have heard of Your fame will speak, saying, 16 "Because the Lord was not able to bring this people to the land which He swore to give them; therefore He killed them in the wilderness."

Deuteronomy 6:4–6 (NKJV)

4 "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. 6 "And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart.

Deuteronomy 6:25 (NKJV)

25 Then it will be righteousness for us if we are careful to observe all these commandments before the Lord our God, as He has commanded us."

Jeremiah 23:6 (NKJV)

6 In His days Judah will be saved, And Israel will dwell safely; Now this is His name by which He will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS

1 Corinthians 6:17 (NKJV)

17 But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.

Does this sin in Benjamin call for the sword? (v.2)

Does the responsibility for this sin fall upon Benjamin alone? (v.3)

Does this Levite have a justified case to invoke and declare war? (v.4)

Is the Levite free from all guilt? (v.5)

Why isn't his confession of possessing a concubine pointed out? (v.6)

Shouldn't his sin have been addressed first before they all just rushed off to war with a ready sword? Shouldn't they have asked what caused this sin before they asked how to correct it? (v.7)

While they all agreed that it was wrong to murder the Levite's sex slave, why didn't any of them care to go before the LORD to inquire what is the right way they should go about it? Why didn't anyone care to ask what the Levite was doing in Gibeah with his concubine? (v.8)

Isn't it better to be of one Spirit than as one man? (v.9)

John 4:23–24 (NKJV)

23 But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. 24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."

1 Corinthians 6:16–17 (NKJV)

16 Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For "the two," He says, "shall become one flesh." 17 But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.

Therefore in spite of their spiritual ignorance concerning the cause of this thing, what is encouraging about the wisdom they are using to draw (10%) of the men from every tribe of Israel to defend the justice of the LORD'S righteous?

Shouldn't they at least be encouraged for what they are doing according to what they know is right as they gather in an organized and orderly fashion? (v.10)

In what way is this a federal tax of 10% of their men to meet at the Levitical city of Geba of Benjamin to be food for them? And therefore, why do the English translators render Geba as Gibeah in verse 10 when it is clearly Geba? (v.11)

1387 גֶּבַע [Gebaʿ /gheh·bah/] pr n loc. From the same as 1375; GK 1494; 19 occurrences; AV translates as "Geba" 13 times, "Gibeah" four times, and "Gaba" twice. 1 a city in Benjamin, modern 'Jeba', which stands on the top of a steep terraced hill, six miles or ten kilometres north east of Jerusalem and three miles or five kilometres from Gibeah, on the edge of the Wadi Suweinit looking northward to the opposite village of ancient Michmash, modern 'Mukhmas'. Additional Information: Gaba or Geba or Gibeah = "hill".

Strong, J. (1995). Enhanced Strong's Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship.

1390 גִּבְעָה [Gibʿah /ghib·aw/] pr n loc. The same as 1389; GK 1497; 44 occurrences; AV translates as "Gibeah" 44 times. 1 a city in the mountain district of Judah. 2 a city of Benjamin, birthplace of king Saul. 3 a city in Kirjath-jearim of Ephraim. Additional Information: Gibeah = “hill”.

Strong, J. (1995). Enhanced Strong's Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship.

Now when a government is collectively acting as one man, assuming they are one Spirit with God, they are federally representing the righteousness of God. Therefore was it right to give the tribe of Benjamin the opportunity to defend himself? (v.12)

And does Benjamin have the right to exercise his defense against the federal voice in the case the federal representative is in error? (v.13)

Acts 5:27–32 (NKJV)

27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, 28 saying, "Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man's blood on us!" 29 But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: "We ought to obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. 31 Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him."

But is Benjamin justified by God's voice to come against the righteousness of his brothers? (v.14)

Exodus 19:5 (NKJV)

5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine.

Exodus 23:21 (NKJV)

21 Beware of Him and obey His voice; do not provoke Him, for He will not pardon your transgressions; for My name is in Him.

Genesis 38:26 (NKJV)

26 So Judah acknowledged them and said, "She has been more righteous than I, because I did not give her to Shelah my son." And he never knew her again.

If God favored Gideon's 300 "as one man," couldn't God have favored Benjamin's choice 700 to expel the darkness from their land? (v.15)

And apart from God's favor, didn't Benjamin have the skills in himself to achieve what Gideon did with a trumpet? (v.16)

Luke 21:13–19 (NKJV)

13 But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony. 14 Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer; 15 for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist. 16 You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. 17 And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. 18 But not a hair of your head shall be lost. 19 By your patience possess your souls.

Matthew 10:29–33 (NKJV)

29 Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father's will. 30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. 32 "Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. 33 But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.

Leviticus 26:8 (NKJV)

8 Five of you shall chase a hundred, and a hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight; your enemies shall fall by the sword before you.

Deuteronomy 32:28–33 (NKJV)

28 "For they are a nation void of counsel, Nor is there any understanding in them. 29 Oh, that they were wise, that they understood this, That they would consider their latter end! 30 How could one chase a thousand, And two put ten thousand to flight, Unless their Rock had sold them, And the Lord had surrendered them? 31 For their rock is not like our Rock, Even our enemies themselves being judges. 32 For their vine is of the vine of Sodom And of the fields of Gomorrah; Their grapes are grapes of gall, Their clusters are bitter. 33 Their wine is the poison of serpents, And the cruel venom of cobras.

But who will God, the righteous Judge, favor? The wandering Levite who is hiding "on a naked hill" (Geba) or the worthless men of Gibeah choosing to be (less than men) while hiding under the strength of their brother Benjamin? (v.17)

Isaiah 64:5–9 (NKJV)

5 You meet him who rejoices and does righteousness, Who remembers You in Your ways. You are indeed angry, for we have sinned— In these ways we continue; And we need to be saved. 6 But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away. 7 And there is no one who calls on Your name, Who stirs himself up to take hold of You; For You have hidden Your face from us, And have consumed us because of our iniquities. 8 But now, O Lord, You are our Father; We are the clay, and You our potter; And all we are the work of Your hand. 9 Do not be furious, O Lord, Nor remember iniquity forever; Indeed, please look—we all are Your people!

Psalm 53:2–4 (NKJV)

2 God looks down from heaven upon the children of men, To see if there are any who understand, who seek God. 3 Every one of them has turned aside; They have together become corrupt; There is none who does good, No, not one. 4 Have the workers of iniquity no knowledge, Who eat up my people as they eat bread, And do not call upon God?

Romans 2:11–12 (NKJV)

11 For there is no partiality with God. 12 For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law

Colossians 3:25 (NKJV)

25 But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality.

Does all of Benjamin need to perish for 700 choice men? (v.18, 46)

Why does the LORD send Judah first as if there is no assurance of their victory? (v.18)

Doesn't the Urim and Thummim usually say, "Go up, for the Lord is with you?" So why does it say, "Judah will go up first?" Isn't it rather saying that Judah will be judged first to answer the question if Israel is more righteous than Benjamin? (v.19-20)

And why do verses 19 & 20 both speak of (that) (less than a hill) in terms of Gibeah, poetically meaning that Gibeah is less than a mountain of our righteousness? (v.20)

Isaiah 5:7 (NKJV)

7 For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, And the men of Judah are His pleasant plant. He looked for justice, but behold, oppression; For righteousness, but behold, a cry for help.

Jeremiah 3:11 (NKJV)

11 Then the Lord said to me, "Backsliding Israel has shown herself more righteous than treacherous Judah.

Jeremiah 33:16 (NKJV)

16 In those days Judah will be saved, And Jerusalem will dwell safely. And this is the name by which she will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS'

Therefore what is the sovereign doing by not giving Judah success on the first day? (v.21)

Luke 6:39–45 (NKJV)

39 And He spoke a parable to them: "Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into the ditch? 40 A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher. 41 And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not perceive the plank in your own eye? 42 Or how can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me remove the speck that is in your eye,' when you yourself do not see the plank that is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck that is in your brother's eye. 43 "For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. 44 For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. 45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

Therefore when they are inquiring of the LORD, are they asking the right questions? (v.22)

Isn't Judah's cause justified since they were called to lead? (v.23)

Therefore shouldn't their first question have been: are we justified to bear the sword against Benjamin? (v.24)

Luke 18:9–14 (NKJV)

9 Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10 "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.' 13 And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!' 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

Therefore why does the testimony of Scripture keep giving little Benjamin credit for "putting corruption in the grave" (felled), which was of the sons of Israel as if they served the LORD'S justice? It's like Benjamin was saying, "I'll see you in Hell, Johnny Reb." (v.21, 25)

שַׁחַת (šaḥat). n. fem. pit. Refers to a literal pit or hole in the ground but used metaphorically for the Underworld.

While šaḥat is occasionally used for a physical pit (e.g., Psa 7:12), more often it refers to the pit of the Underworld where people go after death (e.g., Job 33:18; Psa 30:10). In Psa 16:10 it is used in parallel with שְׁאוֹל (šĕʾôl, "underworld").

Austin, B. M. (2014). Afterlife. D. Mangum, D. R. Brown, R. Klippenstein, & R. Hurst (Eds.), Lexham Theological Wordbook. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.

Does this have anything to do with the Levites abandoning Geba as (a naked hill), which was an appointed city of the Levites for (the welfare) of Benjamin? (v.33)

4629 מַעֲרֶה [maʿareh /mah·ar·eh/] n m. From 6168; TWOT 1692d; GK 5116; AV translates as "meadow" once. 1 bare space, open plain. 2 (TWOT) nakedness.

Strong, J. (1995). Enhanced Strong's Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship.

Therefore what is the LORD working in the sons of Judah and of Israel by their defeat? (v.26)

Philippians 2:13 (NKJV)

13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

Romans 8:27–30 (NKJV)

27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

2 Corinthians 7:10 (NKJV)

10 For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.

Wasn't this supposed to be God's war from the start since He is the Lord of righteousness? Wasn't Yahweh sick of resting at Shiloh (peace) while the nation suffered from spiritual ignorance? (v.27)

Revelation 3:14–22 (NKJV)

14 "And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, 'These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: 15 "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17 Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing'—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. 21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. 22 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."'"

Revelation 19:11–16 (NKJV)

11 Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. 12 His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. 13 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. 15 Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS

And therefore wasn't the LORD sovereignly drawing all of His people to Himself again for judgment and self-examination? (v.28, 32)

Therefore this victory was to be for the glory of the LORD'S righteousness, not the glory of any one tribe! Therefore they must be more than a nation coming out as one man; they must be (as one righteous man) joined as by one Holy Spirit of Yahweh! (v.29)

Deuteronomy 6:4–9 (NKJV)

4 "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. 6 "And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

John 4:24 (NKJV)

24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."

1 Corinthians 6:17 (NKJV)

17 But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.

Romans 12:5 (NKJV)

5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.

2 Corinthians 3:17–18 (NKJV)

17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Matthew 10:40–41 (NKJV)

40 "He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. 41 He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward.

Therefore if the church is going to be victorious, she must have the LORD'S armor on! (v.30)

Jeremiah 33:16 (NKJV)

16 In those days Judah will be saved, And Jerusalem will dwell safely. And this is the name by which she will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS'

Romans 13:12–14 (NKJV)

12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

Ephesians 4:21–24 (NKJV)

21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

Colossians 3:8–11 (NKJV)

8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, 11 where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.

Ephesians 6:10–13 (NKJV)

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

If God is going to save the soul, why must He pull it out of the heart and body of sin and set it on the highway of holiness before he saves it? (v.31-32)

1 Corinthians 15:36 (NKJV)

36 Foolish one, what you sow is not made alive unless it dies.

Ezekiel 36:26 (NKJV)

26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

Ezekiel 11:19 (NKJV)

19 Then I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them, and take the stony heart out of their flesh, and give them a heart of flesh,

Isaiah 35:8 (NKJV)

8 A highway shall be there, and a road, And it shall be called the Highway of Holiness. The unclean shall not pass over it, But it shall be for others. Whoever walks the road, although a fool, Shall not go astray.

Romans 7:24–8:4 (NKJV)

24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin. 1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

But didn't Israel have to be (made willing) to (die) on this "hill" before she could (reign) with Him on this "hill" since it was her fault that no Levite was occupying Geba, a Levitical city appointed by the LORD, for Benjamin's good? (v.33)

Joshua 21:2–3 (NKJV)

2 And they spoke to them at Shiloh in the land of Canaan, saying, "The Lord commanded through Moses to give us cities to dwell in, with their common-lands for our livestock." 3 So the children of Israel gave to the Levites from their inheritance, at the commandment of the Lord, these cities and their common-lands:

Joshua 21:17 (NKJV)

17 and from the tribe of Benjamin, Gibeon with its common-land, Geba with its common-land,

Therefore isn't Samuel pointing out that the Levite was acting like an advocate for Baal by abandoning a position at Geba and that it was of the LORD to bring them together to see the nakedness of the Levitical city while (that) Levite was hiding in the hills of Ephraim? And therefore didn't this become a contest between the selfishness of Baal and the real need of Geba?

And was a male slave somehow worth more than a concubine that you could just throw her away to save your own life? Why didn't the Levite throw away his male slave instead of his concubine? Why didn't a so-called righteous man just say no and go out fighting with the sword of his mouth? Why wasn't the Levite willing to die on his own hill? Was this Levite a chickenhawk?

Mark 8:35 (NKJV)

35 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it.

Judges 19:3 (NKJV)

3 Then her husband arose and went after her, to speak kindly to her and bring her back, having his servant and a couple of donkeys with him.

Judges 19:22–28 (NKJV)

22 As they were enjoying themselves, suddenly certain men of the city, perverted men, surrounded the house and beat on the door. They spoke to the master of the house, the old man, saying, "Bring out the man who came to your house, that we may know him carnally!" 23 But the man, the master of the house, went out to them and said to them, "No, my brethren! I beg you, do not act so wickedly! Seeing this man has come into my house, do not commit this outrage. 24 Look, here is my virgin daughter and the man's concubine; let me bring them out now. Humble them, and do with them as you please; but to this man do not do such a vile thing!" 25 But the men would not heed him. So the man took his concubine and brought her out to them. And they knew her and abused her all night until morning; and when the day began to break, they let her go. 26 Then the woman came as the day was dawning, and fell down at the door of the man's house where her master was, till it was light. 27 When her master arose in the morning, and opened the doors of the house and went out to go his way, there was his concubine, fallen at the door of the house with her hands on the threshold. 28 And he said to her, "Get up and let us be going." But there was no answer. So the man lifted her onto the donkey; and the man got up and went to his place.

Why was there no discipline in this part of Benjamin if it was not because Geba was sitting naked and dry? (v.34)

Therefore for whose glory was this victory in the higher and secret places? (v.35)

Deuteronomy 29:24–29 (NKJV)

24 All nations would say, 'Why has the Lord done so to this land? What does the heat of this great anger mean?' 25 Then people would say: 'Because they have forsaken the covenant of the Lord God of their fathers, which He made with them when He brought them out of the land of Egypt; 26 for they went and served other gods and worshiped them, gods that they did not know and that He had not given to them. 27 Then the anger of the Lord was aroused against this land, to bring on it every curse that is written in this book. 28 And the Lord uprooted them from their land in anger, in wrath, and in great indignation, and cast them into another land, as it is this day.' 29 "The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.

And who still reigns in Israel in spite of the losses on both sides of the isle of corruption that lays in the grave? (v.36-46)