提要
在前面兩章，我們看見以色列人，宗教衰微的光景。在士師記剩下的幾章裡，我們更看見以色列人，特別是便雅憫支派道德墮落的驚人景象，其結果導致一場慘烈的內戰。
納妾和重婚在以色列中是很普遍的事，我們不應用現代的標準來批判那些古代的習俗，而必須試著去瞭解他們所處的環境和他們對上帝有限的認識。不過，令人驚訝的是，連利未人也娶妾。這點更表明了那些蒙召服事主的人在道德上是如何墮落。
以色列中沒有王治理百姓及有效的執行律法，因此各城鎮和支派就任意而行。不幸的是，有個毫無戒心的利未人和他的妾在旅途中，選擇落腳在道德腐敗的基比亞城，便雅憫的二十六座城之一。他們決定在那裡過夜而不願到耶布斯城，因為基比亞的居民是以色列同胞。當時還沒有客店，所以他們很自然的期待他們的兄弟接待他們。摩西常常勸告以色列人要善待客旅和寄居者。接待客旅在中東地區也被視為地主的神聖責任，但是竟沒有一個便雅憫人理睬他們，只有一個以法蓮人將他們接回家中過夜。這個以法蓮人住在基比亞，他一定知道這些異鄉人在街上逗留是不安全的。
不過，在基比亞，連住在當地人家中都不安全。該城變態的居民來到那以法蓮人家門前，要主人將他收留的客旅交出來，讓他們發洩同性戀的慾望。他們的心違逆上帝，遠遠脫離了上帝要求於他們的聖潔；所以他們是先從心裡有了污穢，才導致外在的污穢和可怕的罪（可7：21；羅1：24~32）。這個情況非常像羅得在所多瑪城家中所發生的事（創19：1~9）。他們雖視同性戀為極惡的罪行，但將婦女交人凌辱也是同樣的錯誤。
那個利未人也很惡劣，他為了保護自己，就把自己的妾交給他們，一點也不為她著想，自顧自的回去睡覺。到第二天早上，他的態度還是很冷淡，漠不關心（我們可以理解他的妾為什麼要離開他，回自己的娘家，2節）。雖然基比亞城裡的人整夜凌辱他的妾，做丈夫的他卻似乎並不難過，直到他發現他的妾已死。
利未人於是將她的屍身切成塊，派使者送到以色列的每一支派。這麼做的目的是為了激起各支派的義憤，幫助他報復。利未人成功了，因為每一支派的人都自覺有責任採取行動教訓基比亞邪惡的居民，因他們在以色列中犯了極殘忍的罪。這樁可恥可怕的罪在後來好幾世紀都沒有被遺忘（何9：9；10：9），即使在無法無天的士師時代，人們也承認，以色列中從來沒有發生過這麼可怕的事（30節）。以色列在萬國中本應是最聖潔的國家。這個事件喚醒了他們作上帝約民，及將此罪惡從迦南地除滅的責任。同樣的，今天上帝的子民也有責任使上帝的教會在祂面前聖潔無瑕。
|
Overview
In the previous two chapters, we saw a decline in the religious condition of Israel; now, in the remaining chapters, we see a shocking example of the terrible decline in their moral condition, especially in the tribe of Benjamin, and the repercussions, which led to a civil war.
Having a concubine was a common practice among the Israelites, as was polygamy. These were ancient customs which we should not try to judge from our century’s standards; rather, we must try to understand the imperfect conditions in which they lived and their limited knowledge of God. Nonetheless, it is surprising that a Levite had a concubine. This, in itself, shows a moral decline among those called to God’s service.
Without a king to govern and forcibly lay down the law, each town or tribe did as it pleased (v.1). Unfortunately, the unsuspecting Levite and his concubine, while traveling, came to lodge for the night in the morally decadent town of Gibeah, one of the twenty-six Benjamite cities (Josh.18:21-28). They had decided to stop there rather than in the Jebusite city, because the inhabitants of Gibeah were fellow-Israelites. There were no inns at that time so they naturally expected hospitality from their brethren. Hospitality in the Middle East is regarded almost as a sacred duty, but no Benjamite showed them kindness; only a fellow Ephraimite took them in for the night. As a resident of Gibeah, he must have known it would not be safe for them to remain in the city square.
In Gebeah, however, they were not even safe in the man’s home. The perverted men of the city came and demanded that the host hand over the traveler so they could abuse him in homosexual activities. Their hearts were set against God and far from the holiness that God had demanded of them; therefore, they were first defiled from within their hearts, which led to outward defilement and terrible sin (Mark 7:21; Rom.1:24-32). The whole situation was very similar to what happened at Lot’s house in Sodom (Gen.19:1-9), and a comparison shown that they considered homosexuality the worst sexual sin. However, to offer the woman instead was equally wrong and ungodly.
The Levite, as well, was wicked in a different way; in order to protect himself, he selfishly gave them his concubine and, without consideration for her, retired for the night. In the morning, his attitude toward her was still cold and unconcerned (it is easy to understand why she had left him and returned to her father’s home, v.2). Although the men had horribly abused her all night, it seems he did not become upset until he realized she was dead.
The Levite then cut up her corpse and sent a portion by messenger to each tribe. This was a drastic and shocking measure done in an attempt to stir up moral indignation among all the tribes and elicit their help for retribution. He was successful, for every tribe felt responsible to take action against the wicked men from Gibeah who committed such an atrocity in Israel (chapter 20). The horrible crime was shamefully remembered in Israel for centuries to come (Hos.9:9; 10:9), and even at that unruly time the people admitted that never before had such a terrible thing happened among the children of Israel (v.30). They, of all nations, were supposed to be the purest and most holy. This incident awakened them to their responsibility before God to keep His covenant people and land free from such evil. Likewise, the covenant people of God today have the responsibility to see that His Church remains pure and holy before Him.
|
