Civil war - the last two words you ever would have imagined hearing in a description of Israel's history. Yet, here is the nation divided against itself. Well, eleven tribes against one. What happened?
It all began with a love story that seemed to have a happy ending. A man wooed his long-estranged wife back to himself and they were traveling home. Along the way, they stopped in the city of Gibeah - a city known for its rough reputation - and were housed by a kind citizen who could not bear to have them sleep in the city square.
At night, a group of men came to perform aggressive sexual acts on the man. The host, unwilling to allow this to occur to his guest, tried to appease the mob. Eventually, the woman traveler was released to the angry crowd and was abused to death.
The man issued a call to action against the city. The tribe of Benjamin refused to punish their own blood; so the nation rose up and wiped out the city and most of the tribe of Benjamin. Their losses were 25,000 men.
At the conclusion of the battles, the nation turned in love toward their brother Benjamin's tribe and helped them rebuild not only their towns, but their families as well. A period of independence was dawning on Israel. They had no king; but they were not following God either. All were doing whatever they pleased.
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