Righteous judgement

Then all Israel from Dan to Beersheba and from the land of Gilead came together as one and assembled before the Lord in Mizpah. The leaders of all the people of the tribes of Israel took their places in the assembly of God’s people, four hundred thousand men armed with swords. (The Benjamites heard that the Israelites had gone up to Mizpah.) Then the Israelites said, “Tell us how this awful thing happened.” So the Levite, the husband of the murdered woman, said, “I and my concubine came to Gibeah in Benjamin to spend the night. During the night the men of Gibeah came after me and surrounded the house, intending to kill me. They raped my concubine, and she died. I took my concubine, cut her into pieces and sent one piece to each region of Israel’s inheritance, because they committed this lewd and outrageous act in Israel. Now, all you Israelites, speak up and tell me what you have decided to do.” All the men rose up together as one, saying, “None of us will go home. No, not one of us will return to his house. But now this is what we’ll do to Gibeah: We’ll go up against it in the order decided by casting lots. We’ll take ten men out of every hundred from all the tribes of Israel, and a hundred from a thousand, and a thousand from ten thousand, to get provisions for the army. Then, when the army arrives at Gibeah in Benjamin, it can give them what they deserve for this outrageous act done in Israel.” So all the Israelites got together and united as one against the city. (Judges 20:1-11 NIV)

The lady was raped. When the Israelites learnt of the story, they were furious. Their anger is righteous. Because they are angry against sin. God tells us to love men, hate sin. That is exactly what they have done. They hate sin. But you would ask, why are they killing them then? If they really love men. The answer is: at that time, God have not come down as Jesus to die as a sacrifice for all our sins. Because today Jesus is the lamb and no one needs to sacrifice anything to atone for their sin anymore, because Jesus paid the ultimate price for everything. This chapter really speaks of Israel's righteous anger and their ultimate victory in God. They brought judgement upon the Benjaminties because of their sin, and it is not limited to this rape incident.