{"id":56061,"date":"2018-07-09T17:42:53","date_gmt":"2018-07-09T14:42:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wall\/wall-230\/"},"modified":"2022-12-22T08:07:58","modified_gmt":"2022-12-22T06:07:58","slug":"wall-230","status":"publish","type":"wall","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wall\/wall-230\/","title":{"rendered":"chapter-Prophets-Judges-19"},"parent":0,"template":"","acf":{"type":"chapter","wall_id":"230","date":"20260716","book":"Judges","chapter":"19","chapter_main_number":"230","books_group":"Prophets","posts":[{"order":1,"id":"56072","color":"#f8ebe3","size":"1","name":"Judges Chapter 19 - Read by Jonathan Roumie ","post_title":"Judges Chapter 19 - Read by Jonathan Roumie","slug":"judges-chapter-19-read-by-jonathan-roumie","old_id":"56072","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":34686,"post_title":"Soundcloud","slug":"soundcloud","old_id":"34686","first_name":"","last_name":"","description":"","short_description":"","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":34656,"alt":"","title":"491","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","width":300,"height":300,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","medium_large-width":300,"medium_large-height":300,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","large-width":300,"large-height":300,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","1536x1536-width":300,"1536x1536-height":300,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","2048x2048-width":300,"2048x2048-height":300,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","post_full_size-width":300,"post_full_size-height":300,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","home_baner-width":300,"home_baner-height":300}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"230","type_929":"4","show_author_image":true,"old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"","post_main_content_content":"","post_main_content_image":"","post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"JPS Audio Bible","tile_main_caption":"Judges 19","tile_main_caption_size":"2","tile_sub_caption":"read by Jonathan Roumie","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":"","tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"https:\/\/soundcloud.com\/929-bible\/JPS_Audio_Bible_Judges_Chapter_19_read_by_Jonathan_Roumie","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","old_create_date":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Judges","chapter":"19","chapter_main_number":"230","date":"20260716","wall_id":"230"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":2,"id":"110278","color":"#f6edf6","size":"1","name":"Sodom Redux ","post_title":"Sodom Redux","slug":"sodom-redux-2","old_id":"110278","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":78133,"post_title":"Josh Blechner","slug":"josh-blechner","old_id":"78133","first_name":"Josh ","last_name":"Blechner ","description":"Josh first finished the Tanach during Yeshiva in Mevaseret Zion. He and his daughter studied the Tanach again for her bat mitzvah. Josh has taught many classes on Tanach throughout the years and currently in the New Rochelle 929 group. When not studying for 929, Josh works as an in-house lawyer in New Jersey.","short_description":"Josh has taught many classes on Tanach throughout the years and currently in the New Rochelle 929 group, and is an in-house attorney in New Jersey. ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":78134,"alt":"","title":"josh blechner","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","width":276,"height":351,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner-236x300.jpg","medium-width":236,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","medium_large-width":276,"medium_large-height":351,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","large-width":276,"large-height":351,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","1536x1536-width":276,"1536x1536-height":351,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","2048x2048-width":276,"2048x2048-height":351,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","post_full_size-width":276,"post_full_size-height":351,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","home_baner-width":276,"home_baner-height":351}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"230","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"When Sodom is your frame of reference, you know things must be pretty bad\u2026\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

Chapter 19 of Judges mimics Chapter 19 of Genesis and the story of Sodom. Visitors are taken in by someone in a city. In the middle of the night, townsfolk surround the house demanding the visitor be sent out for nefarious purposes. Someone inside the house offers up another victim to the crowd.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

There are numerous parallel terms and phrases:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u201cDo not on any account spend the night in the square\u201d (verse 20) and \u201cBut they said, \u2018No, we will spend the night in the square\u2019\u201d (Gen. 19:2).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u201cThey bathed their feet and ate and drank\u201d (verse 21) and \u201cand bathe your feet; then you may be on your way early\u201d (Gen. 19:4).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u201cThe men of the town, a depraved lot, had gathered about the house\u201d (verse 22) and \u201cThey had not yet lain down, when the town council [and] the militia of Sodom<\/span>, <\/span>young and old alike, the whole assembly without exception\u2014gathered about the house\u201d (Gen. 19:4).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u201cBring out the man who has come into your house, so that we can know him\u201d (verse 22) and \u201cWhere are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us, that we may know them\u201d (Gen. 19:5).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u201cThe owner of the house went out\u201d (verse 23) and \u201cSo Lot went out to them to the entrance\u201d (Gen. 19:6).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u201cPlease, my friends, do not commit such a wrong\u201d (verse 23) and \u201cI beg you, my friends, do not commit such a wrong\u201d (Gen. 19:7).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u201cLook, here is my virgin daughter, and his concubine. Let me bring them out to you. Have your pleasure of them, do what you like with them; but don\u2019t do that outrageous thing to this man\u201d (verse 24) and \u201cLook, I have two daughters who have not known a man. Let me bring them out to you, and you may do to them as you please; but do not do anything to the others\u201d (Gen. 19:8).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The text intentionally framed this chapter to reference the evil of Sodom.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

But there is more. This time, there are no angels to save the family. The man seems completely indifferent to the plight of his concubine. She collapses on the front steps, and he only notices her when he arises in the morning from a restful sleep and tries to open the door. There is also the added prologue of the aborted stop-off in Jerusalem, and how the man did not want to spend the night in that non-Israelite town. The text piles on the messaging here. The man and his concubine would have been safer in the non-Israelite town of Jerusalem.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

That is how far the Israelites have fallen. Moreover, no one at all looks good in this story. Both the townsfolk and the man look depraved and indifferent. The message is clear- the nation has fallen so far that they are evil as Sodom, the icon of evil.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":58892,"alt":"","title":"isam24-Intertextuality","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/isam24-Intertextuality.jpg","width":695,"height":526,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/isam24-Intertextuality-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/isam24-Intertextuality-300x227.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":227,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/isam24-Intertextuality.jpg","medium_large-width":695,"medium_large-height":526,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/isam24-Intertextuality.jpg","large-width":695,"large-height":526,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/isam24-Intertextuality.jpg","1536x1536-width":695,"1536x1536-height":526,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/isam24-Intertextuality.jpg","2048x2048-width":695,"2048x2048-height":526,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/isam24-Intertextuality.jpg","post_full_size-width":695,"post_full_size-height":526,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/isam24-Intertextuality-555x420.jpg","home_baner-width":555,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"Sodom Redux","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"When Sodom is your frame of reference, you know things must be pretty bad\u2026","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":58892,"alt":"","title":"isam24-Intertextuality","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/isam24-Intertextuality.jpg","width":695,"height":526,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/isam24-Intertextuality-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/isam24-Intertextuality-300x227.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":227,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/isam24-Intertextuality.jpg","medium_large-width":695,"medium_large-height":526,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/isam24-Intertextuality.jpg","large-width":695,"large-height":526,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/isam24-Intertextuality.jpg","1536x1536-width":695,"1536x1536-height":526,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/isam24-Intertextuality.jpg","2048x2048-width":695,"2048x2048-height":526,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/isam24-Intertextuality.jpg","post_full_size-width":695,"post_full_size-height":526,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/isam24-Intertextuality-555x420.jpg","home_baner-width":555,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_link_for_pay":"0","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Judges","chapter":"19","chapter_main_number":"230","date":"20260716","wall_id":"230"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"460","name":"Evil","old_id":"860"},{"term_id":"718","name":"Hospitality","old_id":"1118"},{"term_id":"762","name":"Murder","old_id":"1162"}]},{"order":3,"id":"56393","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"From Hostility To Hospitality ","post_title":"From Hostility To Hospitality","slug":"from-hostility-to-hospitality","old_id":"56393","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":37404,"post_title":"Jennifer Raskas","slug":"jennifer-raskas","old_id":"37404","first_name":"Jennifer ","last_name":"Raskas ","description":"Jennifer Raskas is the Washington D.C. Manager for the Shalom Hartman Institute of North America. She teaches classes widely on Hebrew literary approaches to readings in Tanakh. Jennifer received her Bachelor of Arts from Columbia University and her Master's in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.","short_description":"Jennifer Raskas is the Washington D.C. Manager for the Shalom Hartman Institute of North America. ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":37405,"alt":"","title":"Jennifer Raskas","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Jennifer-Raskas-e1533908320483.jpg","width":1680,"height":1647,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Jennifer-Raskas-e1533908320483-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Jennifer-Raskas-e1533908320483-300x294.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":294,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Jennifer-Raskas-e1533908320483-768x753.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":753,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Jennifer-Raskas-e1533908320483-1024x1004.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":1004,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Jennifer-Raskas-e1533908320483.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1506,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Jennifer-Raskas-e1533908320483.jpg","2048x2048-width":1680,"2048x2048-height":1647,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Jennifer-Raskas-e1533908320483-1200x1176.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":1176,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Jennifer-Raskas-e1533908320483-428x420.jpg","home_baner-width":428,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"230","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Judges as Context and Counterpoint","post_main_content_content":"

Judges chapter 19 is a powerful story of immoral hospitality that ultimately leads to civil war. \u00a0The Hebrew root \u201c<\/span>l-y-n<\/span><\/em>\u201d, to lodge, is a <\/span>leitwort<\/span><\/em> or recurring word, appearing 12 times. \u00a0When we compare this story to episodes in the book of Ruth that use the root \u201c<\/span>l-y-n<\/span><\/em>\u201d, we see how Boaz and Ruth provide a \u201cTikkun\u201d, corrective, for these morally corrupt acts of hospitality. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

In our chapter, as in chapters 17 and 18, the characters\u2019 actions at first appear moral. The story begins with a Levite who has followed his concubine to her father's house and is repeatedly offered hospitality by her father. Upon leaving, the Levite and concubine travel through the area of Benjamin, searching for new hospitality. \u00a0They find an old man from Ephraim who welcomes them into his home, feeds them and their donkeys and bathes their feet. That night the host seeks to protect the Levite when debased men demand to become intimate with him.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The hospitality takes a corrupt turn, however, when the host offers the depraved men his own virgin daughter and the Levite's concubine in return for keeping the Levite safe. The debased men then rape and abuse the concubine throughout the night. In the morning, the Levite, upon finding his assaulted concubine non-responsive, cuts her into 12 pieces and sends the pieces around Israel, ultimately initiating a civil war against the tribe of Benjamin. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

In contrast to the morally reprehensible acts in Judges 19, Boaz, in the book of Ruth, demonstrates how to virtuously treat a guest. Ruth, with Naomi\u2019s encouragement, secretly lies near Boaz at night, hoping he will offer to become her husband. When Boaz finds Ruth, he reassures her that she is safe by expressing how \u201call the elders of my town know what a fine woman you are\u201d<\/span> (Ruth 3:12).<\/span> Boaz then invites Ruth to stay with him [<\/span>lyni<\/span><\/i>] using that same Hebrew root featured in Judges 19. This root is also in the statement Ruth had uttered when she loyally told Naomi, \u201cwherever you lodge, I will lodge\u201d (Ruth 1:16). <\/span><\/p>\r\n

In further contrast between these texts, the depraved men who seek to assault the Levite, use the word, <\/span>ve-nedaenu<\/span><\/em>, that we may <\/span>know<\/span><\/em> him, to convey their depraved intentions (Judges 19:22). \u00a0Boaz in contrast, uses a similar word when he states that all the men <\/span>yodeah<\/span>, <\/span>know<\/span><\/em> what a fine woman Ruth is (Ruth 3:12). Boaz then devises a plan to ensure Ruth\u2019s safety by sending her back before it becomes <\/span>known<\/span>, <\/span>yi-vadeh<\/span><\/em>, where she was. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

While the actions of hospitality on the surface of Judges 19 seem at first righteous, they end in depravity. \u00a0In contrast, in the book of Ruth, Boaz demonstrates virtuous hospitality by reassuring, protecting and ultimately redeeming his guest, Ruth. It is no surprise that Judges 19 opened with the familiar refrain of anarchy; \u201cIn those days when there was no king in Israel\u201d (Judg. 19:1) while the book of Ruth will end with the birth of King David.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

For a fuller exploration about the contrast between the end of the Book of Judges and the Book of Ruth, please see: Raskas, Jennifer R.<\/span> \u201cThe Book of Ruth: A Contrast to the End of the Book of Judges.\u201d<\/span><\/a> Jewish Bible Quarterly. Volume 43:4 (2015): p. 223-232<\/span><\/em><\/p>\r\n

image:\u00a0Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld: Ruth in Boaz's Field<\/em>, 1828 \/ 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Series: The Tikkun of Ruth III","tile_main_caption":"From Hostility To Hospitality ","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Judges as Context and Counterpoint","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":56394,"alt":"","title":"jud19-Julius_Schnorr_von_Carolsfeld-_Ruth_im_Feld_des_Boaz","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-Julius_Schnorr_von_Carolsfeld-_Ruth_im_Feld_des_Boaz.jpg","width":710,"height":600,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-Julius_Schnorr_von_Carolsfeld-_Ruth_im_Feld_des_Boaz-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-Julius_Schnorr_von_Carolsfeld-_Ruth_im_Feld_des_Boaz-300x254.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":254,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-Julius_Schnorr_von_Carolsfeld-_Ruth_im_Feld_des_Boaz.jpg","medium_large-width":710,"medium_large-height":600,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-Julius_Schnorr_von_Carolsfeld-_Ruth_im_Feld_des_Boaz.jpg","large-width":710,"large-height":600,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-Julius_Schnorr_von_Carolsfeld-_Ruth_im_Feld_des_Boaz.jpg","1536x1536-width":710,"1536x1536-height":600,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-Julius_Schnorr_von_Carolsfeld-_Ruth_im_Feld_des_Boaz.jpg","2048x2048-width":710,"2048x2048-height":600,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-Julius_Schnorr_von_Carolsfeld-_Ruth_im_Feld_des_Boaz.jpg","post_full_size-width":710,"post_full_size-height":600,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-Julius_Schnorr_von_Carolsfeld-_Ruth_im_Feld_des_Boaz-497x420.jpg","home_baner-width":497,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Judges","chapter":"19","chapter_main_number":"230","date":"20260716","wall_id":"230"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"337","name":"Ruth","old_id":"737"},{"term_id":"407","name":"Tikkun","old_id":"807"}]},{"order":4,"id":"56400","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"2","name":"We Don't Always Know The Right Thing To Do ","post_title":"We Don't Always Know The Right Thing To Do","slug":"we-dont-always-know-the-right-thing-to-do","old_id":"56400","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":49419,"post_title":"Josh Weiner","slug":"josh-weiner","old_id":"49419","first_name":"Josh ","last_name":"Weiner ","description":"Rabbi Josh Weiner has worked as a social worker, tour guide and kindergarten teacher. He is currently the assistant rabbi at the Adath Shalom community in Paris, teaches halacha at the Zacharias Frankel college, a new conservative rabbinical seminary in Berlin, and supports entrepreneurial Jewish education in both cities. \r\n\r\n","short_description":"Rabbi Josh Weiner is currently the assistant rabbi at the Adath Shalom community in Paris and teaches halacha at the Zacharias Frankel college in Berlin.\r\n","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":49420,"alt":"","title":"josh weinder","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/josh-weinder-e1550144676287.jpg","width":360,"height":448,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/josh-weinder-e1550144676287-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/josh-weinder-e1550144676287-241x300.jpg","medium-width":241,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/josh-weinder-768x768.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":768,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/josh-weinder-e1550144676287.jpg","large-width":360,"large-height":448,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/josh-weinder-e1550144676287.jpg","1536x1536-width":360,"1536x1536-height":448,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/josh-weinder-e1550144676287.jpg","2048x2048-width":360,"2048x2048-height":448,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/josh-weinder-e1550144676287.jpg","post_full_size-width":360,"post_full_size-height":448,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/josh-weinder-e1550144676287-338x420.jpg","home_baner-width":338,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"230","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"No God, no king, no positive social norms, no moral clarity","post_main_content_content":"

This is where the story starts to get really messy. The second half of this book, basically since the story of Gideon, has had a strong pro-monarchic, pro-establishment message. The repeating trope in this part of the book warns us: \"There was no king in Israel at that time, everyone did as they pleased.\"<\/span><\/p>\r\n

This story has an eerie, uncomfortable feeling. The nameless protagonists, the strange prolonged stay with the girl's father, the encounter with the old man. It\u2019s not entirely clear what's wrong with these incidents, but they don't feel right. There are no 'good guys' in this story, no heroes to identify with. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

If only there was a king to tell people how to act, protect the weak, punish the haughty!<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Maimonides sees the rule of law on the individual level as a manifestation of the strength of the state. In the Guide to the Perplexed, he brings the example of an old, weak and fragile money-changer, who can tell a strong muscular beggar to get lost. This is proof that a king exists! There is a law, it is respected. The opposite of this story.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The Gibeonites here closely parallel the violent townspeople in Sodom, back in the book of Genesis. But the midrash makes an important distinction: here, the people were lawless and evil, and there, in Sodom, the law itself was evil. So it's not just a matter of having a strong state: as the twentieth century reminded us, doing the right thing is sometimes above the law.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Yet even that is too simplistic. The messy reality that we live in, and that the Tanach also acknowledges, is that we don't always know the right thing to do. Surely murder and rape are horrific, but more everyday decisions are often ambiguous. Should the Levite have trusted the Jebusites and stayed in Jerusalem? Should he have stayed with his father-in-law? How should he have appeased his concubine? What's the right thing to do?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Absent from this story is God. Sure, God is mentioned by the Levite, who brags about going to the sanctuary in Bethlehem. But this is using God as an object, a path to status. Perhaps a real relationship with God would have brought moral clarity; at the very least, a perspective touched by this relationship would have brought some modesty and kindness into play, and a tempering of the ego.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Image: Amnon Beker, Concubine of Givah<\/em>, 2000, by courtesy of the artist<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":56401,"alt":"","title":"723","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/723.jpg","width":1654,"height":1367,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/723-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/723-300x248.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":248,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/723-768x635.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":635,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/723-1024x846.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":846,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/723.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1269,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/723.jpg","2048x2048-width":1654,"2048x2048-height":1367,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/723-1200x992.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":992,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/723-508x420.jpg","home_baner-width":508,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"We Don't Always Know The Right Thing To Do","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"No God, no king, no positive social norms, no moral clarity","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":56401,"alt":"","title":"723","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/723.jpg","width":1654,"height":1367,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/723-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/723-300x248.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":248,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/723-768x635.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":635,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/723-1024x846.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":846,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/723.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1269,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/723.jpg","2048x2048-width":1654,"2048x2048-height":1367,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/723-1200x992.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":992,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/723-508x420.jpg","home_baner-width":508,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Judges","chapter":"19","chapter_main_number":"230","date":"20260716","wall_id":"230"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"503","name":"Power","old_id":"903"},{"term_id":"543","name":"Violence","old_id":"943"},{"term_id":"724","name":"Trust","old_id":"1124"},{"term_id":"762","name":"Murder","old_id":"1162"}]},{"order":5,"id":"56406","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Family Reunion? ","post_title":"Family Reunion?","slug":"family-reunion","old_id":"56406","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":34243,"post_title":"Moshe Sokolow","slug":"moshe-sokolow","old_id":"34243","first_name":"Moshe","last_name":"Sokolow","description":"Dr. Moshe Sokolow is Associate Dean of the Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration, Yeshiva University, and teaches a weekly class in parashat hashavu`a at Lincoln Square Synagogue. He is the author of TANAKH: An Owner\u2019s Manual (Jerusalem: Urim\/Ktav, 2015).\r\n\r\n","short_description":"Dr. Moshe Sokolow is Associate Dean of the Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration, Yeshiva University","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":34244,"alt":"","title":"sokolow","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","width":302,"height":300,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow-300x298.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":298,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","medium_large-width":302,"medium_large-height":300,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","large-width":302,"large-height":300,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","1536x1536-width":302,"1536x1536-height":300,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","2048x2048-width":302,"2048x2048-height":300,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","post_full_size-width":302,"post_full_size-height":300,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","home_baner-width":302,"home_baner-height":300}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"230","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"We\u2019ve come along way from grandpas Moses and Aaron","post_main_content_content":"

Our chapter narrates the story of a Levite living on the slopes of Mt. Ephraim whose concubine abandoned him and ran home to her parents in Bethlehem. (The verse euphemistically calls the abandonment <\/span>zenut<\/span><\/em>, harlotry, but if she had actually committed adultery, the husband would have been prohibited to reunite with her.) While the text provides only this information about him, we know enough at this juncture to attempt to identify him more specifically and, thereby, to link this episode to previous ones.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In chapter 17, we learned that Micah had hired a Levite of Bethlehem to be the priest at his personal temple on Mt. Ephraim. In chapter 18, we learned that the marauding Danites had hired that Levite away from Micah and brought him, and the idol, along to their conquest of Layish=Dan, where it remained \u201call the while that the House of God stood at Shiloh\u201d (18:31). What are the odds that there was another Levite on Mt. Ephraim with links to Bethlehem?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Moreover, we even know this Levite\u2019s name: \u201cJonathan son of Gershom son of Me<\/span>n<\/span>asheh\u201d (18:30). In the Scriptural representation of his name, the letter <\/span>nun<\/span><\/i>\u00a0is in suspension\u2014to highlight a rabbinic interpretation that eliminates the suspended letter from the text, leaving \u00a0only <\/span>m-sh-h<\/span><\/em>, thereby identifying him as the grandson of none other than Moses himself. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

Lest we reject that out of hand, recall that in chapters 17 and 18 we called attention to the rabbinic assumption that these events transpired at the beginning of the era of the judges\u2014despite being reported only at the end (a point we plan to address in our retrospective at the end of the book). Consider, additionally, that at a critical moment in the denouement of this episode the people seek divine counsel via a priest whose name is given as \u201cPhineas son of Elazar, son of Aaron\u201d (20:28).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

A third generation descendant of Moses reunites with a third generation descendant of Aaron in the selfsame episode. Coincidence?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Image: Hans Sebald Beham, Moses and Aaron, 1526 \/ wikimedia<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":56407,"alt":"","title":"jud19-beham-hans-sebald-moses-aaron","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-beham-hans-sebald-moses-aaron.jpg","width":800,"height":563,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-beham-hans-sebald-moses-aaron-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-beham-hans-sebald-moses-aaron-300x211.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":211,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-beham-hans-sebald-moses-aaron-768x540.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":540,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-beham-hans-sebald-moses-aaron.jpg","large-width":800,"large-height":563,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-beham-hans-sebald-moses-aaron.jpg","1536x1536-width":800,"1536x1536-height":563,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-beham-hans-sebald-moses-aaron.jpg","2048x2048-width":800,"2048x2048-height":563,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-beham-hans-sebald-moses-aaron.jpg","post_full_size-width":800,"post_full_size-height":563,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-beham-hans-sebald-moses-aaron-597x420.jpg","home_baner-width":597,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"Family Reunion?","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"We\u2019ve come along way from grandpas Moses and Aaron","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":56407,"alt":"","title":"jud19-beham-hans-sebald-moses-aaron","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-beham-hans-sebald-moses-aaron.jpg","width":800,"height":563,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-beham-hans-sebald-moses-aaron-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-beham-hans-sebald-moses-aaron-300x211.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":211,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-beham-hans-sebald-moses-aaron-768x540.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":540,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-beham-hans-sebald-moses-aaron.jpg","large-width":800,"large-height":563,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-beham-hans-sebald-moses-aaron.jpg","1536x1536-width":800,"1536x1536-height":563,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-beham-hans-sebald-moses-aaron.jpg","2048x2048-width":800,"2048x2048-height":563,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-beham-hans-sebald-moses-aaron.jpg","post_full_size-width":800,"post_full_size-height":563,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-beham-hans-sebald-moses-aaron-597x420.jpg","home_baner-width":597,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Judges","chapter":"19","chapter_main_number":"230","date":"20260716","wall_id":"230"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"366","name":"Commentators","old_id":"766"},{"term_id":"397","name":"Moses","old_id":"797"},{"term_id":"620","name":"Aaron","old_id":"1020"}]},{"order":6,"id":"56396","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"The Concubine of Givah: Will We Learn the Lessons? ","post_title":"The Concubine Of Givah: Will We Learn The Lessons?","slug":"the-concubine-of-givah-will-we-learn-the-lessons","old_id":"56396","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":56118,"post_title":"Tzvi Sinensky","slug":"tzvi-sinensky","old_id":"56118","first_name":"Tzvi ","last_name":"Sinensky ","description":"Rabbi Tzvi Sinensky is the Director of Interdisciplinary Learning and Educational Outreach at the Rae Kushner Yeshiva High School in Livingston, NJ. He holds a graduate certificate degree in Gender Studies from Utah State University, and is pursuing a PhD on the intersection between Jewish thought and gender studies at the Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies. ","short_description":"Rabbi Tzvi Sinensky is the Director of Interdisciplinary Learning and Educational Outreach at the Rae Kushner Yeshiva High School in Livingston, NJ.","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":56119,"alt":"","title":"tzvi_sinensky","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/tzvi_sinensky.jpg","width":240,"height":280,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/tzvi_sinensky-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/tzvi_sinensky.jpg","medium-width":240,"medium-height":280,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/tzvi_sinensky.jpg","medium_large-width":240,"medium_large-height":280,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/tzvi_sinensky.jpg","large-width":240,"large-height":280,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/tzvi_sinensky.jpg","1536x1536-width":240,"1536x1536-height":280,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/tzvi_sinensky.jpg","2048x2048-width":240,"2048x2048-height":280,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/tzvi_sinensky.jpg","post_full_size-width":240,"post_full_size-height":280,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/tzvi_sinensky.jpg","home_baner-width":240,"home_baner-height":280}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"230","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Transforming horror into holiday","post_main_content_content":"

The barbaric events of the concubine of Givah are almost indigestible, perhaps even more so in the age of #metoo. Nothing can possibly undo the twin cardinal sins of rape and murder, but at the very least we can try to derive the right lessons from this troubling episode.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Indeed, the rabbis recommended precisely this - in the form of a summertime dance holiday known as <\/span>Tu be-Av<\/span><\/em>. The Mishnah in Tractate <\/span>Ta\u2019anit<\/span><\/em> teaches:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

There were no days as joyous for the Jewish people as the fifteenth of <\/span>Av<\/span><\/i> and <\/span>Yom Kippur<\/span><\/i>, as on them the daughters of Jerusalem would go out in borrowed white clothes, so as not to embarrass one who did not have. All the garments would require immersion. And the daughters of Jerusalem would go out and form a circle [<\/span>mahol<\/span><\/em>] in the vineyards.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The Talmud comments: \u201cAll the Jewish people borrow from each other, so as not to embarrass one who did not have.\u201d Why was this an essential part of the ritual?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Crucially, the Talmud sees Tu be-Av as a day of flattening the socio-economic differences among the maidens of Israel. The tragedy of <\/span>pilegesh be-Givah<\/span><\/em> had featured a powerful group (the city residents) taking advantage of a vulnerable family (the guests, which include a concubine, who occupies a lower social status than a full wife), which leads to civil war and massive devastation. Almost seeking to overturn this travesty of abuse of power, on <\/span>Tu be-Av<\/em> <\/span>the women diminish dangerous hierarchies and ensure the dignity of their vulnerable peers.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Our <\/span>mishnah<\/span><\/i>, moreover, extends the motif one step further. \u201c<\/span>Sheker ha-hen ve-hevel ha-yofi<\/span><\/em>,\u201d \u201cGrace is deceitful, and beauty is vain,\u201d declare the women when extending themselves to potential male suitors at the dance. Do not judge a woman by her appearance, nor any individual by his outward characteristics. The Jewish girls go out in borrowed clothing, so as not to embarrass one another. We can no longer distinguish the poor from the rich, the ugly from the beautiful. Their garments are all immersed in the <\/span>mikvah<\/span><\/em>; they too, we can suggest, are all now equally pure.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The key to ensuring respect for the vulnerable in society is to begin by reminding ourselves that for all the externalities that divide us, fundamentally we share a common human dignity. The rest, Judges and the Talmud suggest, is mere commentary.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

This is adapted from a longer version of this essay, which originally appeared at The Lehrhaus at<\/span> www.thelehrhaus.com\/scholarship\/tu-be-av-and-the-concubine-of-givah-2\/<\/span><\/a><\/em>.<\/em> <\/span>Reprinted with permission. <\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":56397,"alt":"","title":"jud19-sinensky-burne-jones-dancers","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/gif","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-sinensky-burne-jones-dancers.gif","width":444,"height":353,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-sinensky-burne-jones-dancers-150x150.gif","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-sinensky-burne-jones-dancers-300x239.gif","medium-width":300,"medium-height":239,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-sinensky-burne-jones-dancers.gif","medium_large-width":444,"medium_large-height":353,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-sinensky-burne-jones-dancers.gif","large-width":444,"large-height":353,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-sinensky-burne-jones-dancers.gif","1536x1536-width":444,"1536x1536-height":353,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-sinensky-burne-jones-dancers.gif","2048x2048-width":444,"2048x2048-height":353,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-sinensky-burne-jones-dancers.gif","post_full_size-width":444,"post_full_size-height":353,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-sinensky-burne-jones-dancers.gif","home_baner-width":444,"home_baner-height":353}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"The 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the Seed Of Doubt, Of Change ","post_title":"Planting The Seeds Of Doubt, And Of Change","slug":"planting-the-seed-of-doubt-of-change","old_id":"56403","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":54871,"post_title":"Hannah Vorchheimer","slug":"hannah-vorchheimer","old_id":"54871","first_name":"Hannah ","last_name":"Vorchheimer ","description":"Hannah Vorchheimer is a senior at SAR High School. After spending her gap year in Migdal Oz, she will attend Barnard College. ","short_description":"Hannah Vorchheimer is a senior at SAR High School. ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":54991,"alt":"","title":"Hannah Vorchheimer","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Hannah-Vorchheimer.jpeg","width":480,"height":480,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Hannah-Vorchheimer-150x150.jpeg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Hannah-Vorchheimer-300x300.jpeg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Hannah-Vorchheimer.jpeg","medium_large-width":480,"medium_large-height":480,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Hannah-Vorchheimer.jpeg","large-width":480,"large-height":480,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Hannah-Vorchheimer.jpeg","1536x1536-width":480,"1536x1536-height":480,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Hannah-Vorchheimer.jpeg","2048x2048-width":480,"2048x2048-height":480,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Hannah-Vorchheimer.jpeg","post_full_size-width":480,"post_full_size-height":480,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Hannah-Vorchheimer-420x420.jpeg","home_baner-width":420,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"230","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"But it\u2019s hard to get out of a cycle that has become routine, no matter how toxic","post_main_content_content":"

The chapter opens with the phrase \u201cand it was in those days when there was no king in Israel\u201d. Interestingly, this is not the first time this phrase has appeared in the book of Judges. In fact, this phrase has been repeated quite a few times in the past few stories, beginning with the story of Micah's idol and then with the people who visit his idolatrous house. This is a strange phrase to simply appear out of the blue and then become a mainstay. The phrase has many curious qualities. While the book of Judges is tumultuous in nature, there is a very regimented cycle of \u201csin-invasion-salvation\u201d, led by the judge. The detailed idea of a king as ruler has never been discussed. Even though the judge system was far from flawless, no one from the nation really suggests kingship as an alternative leadership framework. Why then, would the Bible frame the events of the past few chapters through this lens of this phrase, focusing on the lack of kingship?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Clearly, the system that is in place now is not accomplishing its mission and is failing. However, no one from the perspective of the nation realizes this. They continue on in the faulty system without realizing the potential for change. The Bible showcases this phrase juxtaposed to episodes about idolatrous worship and other problematic situations that are indicative of deep-seated problems within the nation.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The author begins to sow the seeds of change in the minds of readers, and open them up to the new system. Perhaps this change needs to occur through a total uprooting of the leadership in order to prevent the demise of the nation.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Sometimes, it is challenging and difficult to realize that change needs to occur once one has fallen into a routine. Sometimes, it takes an outside view to realize that change is necessary and to begin the shift to improvement. <\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":56404,"alt":"","title":"jud19-king","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-king.jpg","width":1920,"height":1313,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-king-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-king-300x205.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":205,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-king-768x525.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":525,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-king-1024x700.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":700,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-king.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1050,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-king.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1313,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-king-1200x821.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":821,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-king-614x420.jpg","home_baner-width":614,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"Planting The Seeds Of Doubt, And Of Change","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"But it\u2019s hard to get out of a cycle that has become routine, no matter how toxic","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":56404,"alt":"","title":"jud19-king","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-king.jpg","width":1920,"height":1313,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-king-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-king-300x205.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":205,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-king-768x525.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":525,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-king-1024x700.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":700,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-king.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1050,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-king.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1313,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-king-1200x821.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":821,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-king-614x420.jpg","home_baner-width":614,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Judges","chapter":"19","chapter_main_number":"230","date":"20260716","wall_id":"230"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"402","name":"Leadership","old_id":"802"},{"term_id":"552","name":"Change","old_id":"952"},{"term_id":"835","name":"King","old_id":"1235"}]},{"order":8,"id":"56411","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"The Three Great Sins ","post_title":"The Three Great Sins","slug":"the-three-great-sins","old_id":"56411","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":34245,"post_title":"Rachel Sharansky Danziger","slug":"rachel-sharansky-danziger","old_id":"34245","first_name":"Rachel Sharansky","last_name":"Danziger","description":"Rachel Sharansky Danziger is a Jerusalem-born writer and speaker who blogs about Judaism, parenting, and life in Israel. 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\"Each unhappy family\" states Leo Tolstoy in the opening sentence of Anna Karenina, \"is unhappy in its own way.\" And indeed, each of the families we encountered since Judges 6 experienced its own brand of unhappiness. Gideon's family dissolved into bloodshed and fratricide after his death. Jephthah's brothers disowned him, and he doomed his only daughter in turn. Samson\u2019s wives were pressed to betray him, leading to his first wife\u2019s \u2013 and his own \u2013 violent deaths. Micha stole money from his mother, but his story also broke the bloody trend: his mother forgave him, bringing about a reconciliation.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

After watching families collapse into bloodshed along three different fault lines (purposeful violence between siblings, inadvertent harm caused by parents, and betrayals-under- pressure between conjugal partners) it was refreshing to read a story where none of the family members died. And at first glance, it seems as though the family we encounter in Judges 19 will continue this pleasantly-surprising trend: despite the concubine\u2019s infidelity, the nameless Levite seeks reconciliation.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

As we read on, however, the story takes a darker turn. It revisits and repeats each of the fault lines we explored in previous chapters; each unhappy family may be unhappy its own way, but the people in this story are unhappy in all the ways we saw so far.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Like Jephthah, the concubine\u2019s father dooms his daughter with well-meant words: by repeatedly inviting his daughter and his son-in-law to \u2018stay and tarry\u2019, he causes their late departure, and inadvertently sets the stage for their fateful stay in Gibeah.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Like Samson\u2019s wives, the Levite man betrays his partner under pressure. When the men of Gibeah threaten to rape him, he sacrifices his concubine to save himself.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The Israelites will respond to this atrocity by waging war against their Benjaminite kin. Like Abimelech, they will purposefully use violence against the people they call brothers in Judges 20. Through their actions, the collapse of the Levite man\u2019s family will evolve into the collapse of the Israelite family at large.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Perhaps the biblical storyteller revisits and underscores these familial fault lines because they epitomize the three great sins, or problems, that undermine the Israelite \u2018home\u2019 throughout the book of Judges: the Israelites betray their covenant with God, just like a faithless spouse; <\/span>they fail to pass down their knowledge and their memories<\/span><\/a>, thus dooming their children to forget God and suffer yet again; and like Abimelech and Jephthah\u2019s kin, <\/span>they don\u2019t take responsibility for one another<\/span><\/a>. By ending the book of Judges with a story that delineates all of these problems and their consequences, the text leaves us with a resounding question: can the Israelite family be recreated on better, firmer ground? <\/span><\/p>\r\n

It will be up to 1 Samuel to take up the challenge.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":56420,"alt":"","title":"jud19-three","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-three.png","width":1280,"height":640,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-three-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-three-300x150.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":150,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-three-768x384.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":384,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-three-1024x512.png","large-width":1024,"large-height":512,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-three.png","1536x1536-width":1280,"1536x1536-height":640,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-three.png","2048x2048-width":1280,"2048x2048-height":640,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-three-1200x600.png","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":600,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-three-840x420.png","home_baner-width":840,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"The Three Great Sins","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Can the Israelite family, and society, be recreated on better, firmer ground?","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":56420,"alt":"","title":"jud19-three","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-three.png","width":1280,"height":640,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-three-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-three-300x150.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":150,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-three-768x384.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":384,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-three-1024x512.png","large-width":1024,"large-height":512,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-three.png","1536x1536-width":1280,"1536x1536-height":640,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-three.png","2048x2048-width":1280,"2048x2048-height":640,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-three-1200x600.png","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":600,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud19-three-840x420.png","home_baner-width":840,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Judges","chapter":"19","chapter_main_number":"230","date":"20260716","wall_id":"230"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"379","name":"Family","old_id":"779"},{"term_id":"400","name":"Sin","old_id":"800"}]},{"order":9,"id":"110277","color":"#f6edf6","size":"1","name":"The Tanakh Podcast-Ju19","post_title":"The Tanakh Podcast-Ju19","slug":"the-tanakh-podcast-ju19","old_id":"110277","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":33692,"post_title":"Alex Israel","slug":"33692-2","old_id":"33692","first_name":"Alex","last_name":"Israel","description":"Alex Israel teaches Tanakh at the Pardes Institute, Yeshivat Eretz Hatzvi and Matan, Jerusalem. 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\u201cHospitality\u201d<\/a> by Rabbi Brian Immerman: Texts on what we owe to guests.<\/p>\r\n

\u201cTrafficking and what Jewish tradition guides us to do about it\u201d<\/a> by Tehilah Eisenstadt: Jewish sources on a critically relevant issue.<\/p>","post_main_content_image":"","post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"Go deeper into the chapter....","tile_main_caption":"Sefaria Source Sheets - Judges 19","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Click to get links to learning resources","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":42232,"alt":"","title":"sefaria-words-sunburst","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","width":608,"height":395,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst-300x195.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":195,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","medium_large-width":608,"medium_large-height":395,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","large-width":608,"large-height":395,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","1536x1536-width":608,"1536x1536-height":395,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","2048x2048-width":608,"2048x2048-height":395,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","post_full_size-width":608,"post_full_size-height":395,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","home_baner-width":608,"home_baner-height":395}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"Sefaria word sunburst visualization","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","old_create_date":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Judges","chapter":"19","chapter_main_number":"230","date":"20260716","wall_id":"230"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":13,"id":"56409","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Points to Ponder - Judges 19 ","post_title":"Points to Ponder - Judges 19","slug":"points-to-ponder-judges-19","old_id":"56409","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":38102,"post_title":"929-English","slug":"929-english","old_id":"38102","first_name":"","last_name":"929-English","description":"","short_description":"","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":38333,"alt":"","title":"\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5.png","width":1513,"height":860,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5-300x171.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":171,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5-768x437.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":437,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5-1024x582.png","large-width":1024,"large-height":582,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5.png","1536x1536-width":1513,"1536x1536-height":860,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5.png","2048x2048-width":1513,"2048x2048-height":860,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5-1200x682.png","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":682,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5-739x420.png","home_baner-width":739,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"230","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"","post_main_content_content":"

    \r\n\t
  1. Echoes of Sodom<\/span><\/i>. What happened in Sodom 211 chapters ago (gen 19) echoes throughout this chapter. One hospitable person in an entire city, who apparently also is not a local. A gang of thugs who demand to have their way with the itinerant guest. The offer to abuse the women instead of the man. One small difference is that in Sodom the thugs were the entire city, not just a small group. The big difference, though, is that in Sodom the guests were angels who prevented the worst from happening, and in Gibeah - it happened. Sodom was destroyed for its sins. And Gibeah? Stay tuned.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  2. Gender and class distinctions<\/span><\/i>. The story presents a clear hierarchy: raping a male apparently is the worst form of depravity. Raping a woman, especially a concubine? Not so much.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  3. Wins the prize for unimaginably evil callousness<\/span><\/i>. The undisputed leader in this field is the man from the hill country of Ephraim. He gives over his concubine to the rabble. Goes off to sleep. He doesn\u2019t here her return in the morning. And then when he discovers her prostrate at the stoop, says curtly: \u201cGet up\u2026 let\u2019s go.\u201d And when there\u2019s no answer, he loads her onto the donkey to go home. Uh oh - she\u2019s dead. 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