Book of Judges
Teachers
Lesson Summary
The class opened by summarizing Judges 19:1‑2, where a Levite from Ephraim took a concubine from Bethlehem‑Judah, and the concubine’s departure after an argument led the Levite to pursue her back to her father’s house. The teacher explained that the father‑in‑law offered three days of hospitality, a customary period, but extended it to five days, indicating extraordinary generosity toward a foreigner. The discussion then shifted to the cultural reality of concubines in ancient Israel, referencing Exodus 21:7‑11 and examples such as Hagar, Bilhah, and Gideon’s concubine, to show that concubines held recognized, though limited, rights. The Levite’s poor planning—continuing past Bethlehem despite the extended hospitality—resulted in his travel to Gibeah of Benjamin, where the narrative’s dark climax unfolds. The class highlighted how the lack of a king and the failure to honor hospitality set the stage for Israel’s moral decline, foreshadowing the violence described in Judges 20‑21. Throughout, the teacher emphasized the importance of extending kindness to strangers and upholding God‑ordered hospitality, drawing practical applications for today’s believers.
Key Scriptures
Now it came about in those days there was no king in Israel
But the man was not willing to spend the night so he arose and departed and came to the place opposite Jabes
she played the harlot against him