Awful Wickedness of the Benjamites

    The fact here recorded by the pen of inspiration is one of those by which Providence shows the guilt and depravity of human nature, even in his own people. Had the grossness of crime been found only in the most unenlightened of the heathens, some plausibility would have been given to the apologists of human nature. But here is an instance of the most awful wickedness, even in one of the favoured tribe's of Israel. The seed of Israel are by this proved to be by nature nothing better than the seed of Cain. All are equally, by nature, the children of wrath. By what a chain of seemingly fortuitous events is the event here recorded brought about? Had any one of the links been taken away, the event would not have happened, and Benjamin's depravity would not have been manifested. The marriage of the Levite to this particular woman; the character of the woman herself, and her misconduct; the relative situation of the district where the Levite lived, with respect both to the habitation of the father of his wife, and the country of the Benjamites: the Levite's resolution to bring back his wife, and not to abandon her, —these, and other things, are all necessary links in the chain of Providence by which this event took place. The Levite on several days purposes to set out, yet is prevailed on to remain. At last, though he rose early to depart, he was prevailed on to stay till evening. Why did he not either go in the morning, or remain this day also? Her father is his benefactor, and presses him to stay that night also, and set out early next morning. But he is obstinate. Now he will go. No importunity can move him. If he was in haste to return, why did he not go sooner? If he was not in haste, why did he not patiently stay till morning? What folly was it to set out, even in the most civilized country, at an hour which obliged him to lodge by the way? Go, he will go. "But the man would not tarry that night, but he rose up and departed." It was late when they came to Jebus, and his servant advised him to turn in and lodge there. No, he will not lodge in a city of strangers; he will go to Gibeah to his brother Benjamin. To Gibeah of Benjamin they did go, and there they found no hospitality except from one of another tribe. Instead of the children of Abraham, they found the children of Belial. Had it not been for the hospitality of an old Ephrathite, they must have lodged in the streets. In this way the sin of

    Sodom was brought home to the Benjamites, and the people of Gibeah committed a crime which certainly never was exceeded by the most profligate of the heathen nations.