What Man Thinks is Right

An observation on the ending of Judges:

People can justify anything. Civil war had broken out in Israel for some of the most horrific sins imaginable. The battle leaves Benjamin with 600 men ONLY. The people of Israel vow not to give their daughter to them and would therefore end this tribe as they knew it.

As you might already know, no one from the camp of Jabesh-gilead had come up to worship the LORD at Mizpah. So, they went and struck them all done except 400 virgin daughters. So, they give Benjamin these 400 realizing they will lack 200 wives for the men.

Since they had vowed not to give their daughters to them, this debacle at Jabesh-gilead wasn’t technically giving their daughters away because…well…the 400 virgins’ fathers were dead. They didn’t really give them away then, did they?

But how about the last 200? Well, every year a feast was held at Shiloh. There would be virgin daughters there so they instructed the remaining men of Benjamin to abduct the remaining number from that feast. And, by the way, they didn’t give them away and break their vow but they did tell them to lie in wait and catch the one of your choosing.

Listen to this: (Jdg. 21:22) And when their fathers or their brothers come to complain to us, we will say to them, ‘Grant them graciously to us, because we did not take for each man of them his wife in battle, neither did you give them to them, else you would now be guilty.'”

Guilty? Just because you didn’t break your vow means you are not guilty? Abduct their daughters but we will not break our vow.

(Jdg. 21:25-1:1) In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

That who we are, right there, by nature. Jesus, have mercy on us! He saves people everyday like this. Indeed, is there any other? Repent and believe in Christ Jesus. And by faith alone, you will be forgiven and counted righteous!