Judges 21:10-11

I've heard of the concept of weeding out, but this takes it to an entirely different level. Also makes me wonder exactly how the fighting men made the differentiations.

Wife Snatching

Judges 21:23

So that is what the Benjamites did. While the girls were dancing, each man caught one and carried her off to be his wife. Then they returned to their inheritance and rebuilt the towns and settled in them.

Talk about a messed up solution to a bad situation that was caused by the sinfulness of the people. Kidnapping women...for wives? Pshht. It's almost ironic that the whole Israelite vs. Benjaminite war was caused by the mistreatment of a woman... and now at the end of the war, the Israelite side decides to sanction a similar behavior.

As imperfect human beings, it makes me think that sometimes the way we deal with the problems we cause is as bad, if not worst than the original problem.

Judges 19:25-28

Very tragic circumstances that unfold in this passage. It's quite disturbing how the man could let her go amongst that ravenous mob, knowing full well what could happen to her. And it turns out that the worst case scenario one could imagine ends up panning out.

OMG

judges 19

whoa, this chapter is intense. what i don't get is why things happen the way they did. it's almost surreal as if this was written so extreme to teach a lesson possibly on tolerance. this chapter makes me sad, sick and angry at the same time.

Benjaminite Beatdown

Judges 20:33-36

"All the men of Israel moved from their places and took up positions at Baal Tamar, and the Israelite ambush charged out of its place on the west of Gibeah. Then ten thousand of Israel's finest men made a frontal attack on Gibeah. The fighting was so heavy that the Benjamites did not realize how near disaster was. The LORD defeated Benjamin before Israel, and on that day the Israelites struck down 25,100 Benjamites, all armed with swords. Then the Benjamites saw that they were beaten."

Reading the passage, it's pretty sad to see how many people died in a civil war that could have been easily prevented - all the tribe of Benjamin had to do was surrender the men responsible for raping and killing the Levite's wife. Instead, they were stubborn and went to war instead.

It kind of makes me wonder sometimes about the Christian community and sometimes its reluctance to call out other "Christians" when we see wrong things being taught or happening. Instead of surrendering them to judgement, we go out and wage an unjust battle to defend their actions. Sorta like when Pat Robertson or Jerry Falwell make really racist or off-base comments, but Christians just let it slide...