Judges 20

Theme of chapter: And now we visit the third stage of a country's decline. Political Anarchy as the people of Israel go up against their own tribe Benjamin for the awful thing they did to th e Levite's concubine.

Most important verse: Judges 20:13 Now therefore deliver us the men, the children of Belial, which are in Gibeah, that we may put them to death, and put away evil from Israel. But the children of Benjamin would not hearken to the voice of their brethren the children of Israel.

Most prominent word: hearken (to hear; listen; obey)

Teaching about Christ: Christ hears the cries of the repentant sinner

Command to obey: obey the law of the land; government is to punish lawlessness

Promise to claim: unrepentant sin will be judged; the wages of sin is death

New truth learned: Israel is thrown into chaos as the tribe of Benjamin will no longer adhere to moral law and come up against the rest of Israel. This all began with religious apostasy. It starts in the church, spreads to the home, and then ultimately dismantles government.