The Decision to Punish Gibeah is a significant event recorded in the Book of Judges, specifically in chapters 19 to 21. This narrative highlights the moral and social decay in Israel during the time when "there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes" (Judges 21:25). The incident at Gibeah serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of lawlessness and the need for justice and righteousness within a community.

Background and Context

The account begins with a Levite and his concubine traveling from Bethlehem in Judah to their home in the hill country of Ephraim. As night falls, they decide to lodge in the Benjamite town of Gibeah. An old man offers them hospitality, but the men of Gibeah, described as "wicked men" (Judges 19:22), surround the house and demand to have relations with the Levite. In a tragic turn of events, the Levite's concubine is given over to the mob, and she is brutally abused throughout the night, leading to her death.

The Call for Justice

The Levite, upon discovering his concubine's death, dismembers her body and sends the pieces throughout the territories of Israel, a shocking act intended to rally the tribes to address the atrocity committed in Gibeah. This gruesome message prompts a national assembly at Mizpah, where the tribes of Israel gather to hear the Levite's account of the events.

The Israelites, united in their outrage, resolve to punish the perpetrators. They demand that the tribe of Benjamin surrender the men of Gibeah responsible for the crime. However, the Benjamites refuse to comply, choosing instead to defend the city against the collective forces of Israel.

The Battle Against Benjamin

The refusal of the Benjamites leads to a civil war, with the tribes of Israel seeking to bring justice to the wickedness in Gibeah. The Israelites inquire of the LORD at Bethel, asking who should lead the attack, and the LORD responds, "Judah shall go first" (Judges 20:18).

Despite initial setbacks, where the Benjamites inflict heavy casualties on the Israelite forces, the Israelites persist in seeking the LORD's guidance. After fasting and offering sacrifices, the LORD assures them of victory, saying, "Go up, for tomorrow I will deliver them into your hand" (Judges 20:28).

On the third day of battle, the Israelites employ a strategic ambush, ultimately defeating the Benjamites. The city of Gibeah is destroyed, and the tribe of Benjamin is nearly annihilated, with only six hundred men surviving by fleeing to the rock of Rimmon.

Aftermath and Restoration

The near extinction of the tribe of Benjamin causes great lamentation among the Israelites, who realize the gravity of their actions and the potential loss of one of the twelve tribes. To preserve the tribe, they devise a plan to provide wives for the surviving Benjamites, ensuring the continuation of the tribe.

The Decision to Punish Gibeah underscores the necessity of justice and the dangers of moral relativism. It serves as a sobering reminder of the chaos that ensues when a society turns away from God's laws and the importance of communal responsibility in upholding righteousness.