Day 8

Nothing like a good rape story to start out my reading today. A Levite man chose a concubine but she left him after arguing and went to live w/ her father. After 4 months, he went to Bethleham to win her back. They traveled to Gibeah after several days and a nice old man took them in for the night so they didn't have to sleep in the town square. Meanwhile a group of men from the town wanted to have sex with the Levite. After refusing, the old man offered his virgin daughter or the concubine. Let me just say I would HATE to have been born in this time period!! Anyhow, the men gang raped the concubine all night. She came back to the doorstep of the old man's house and died. The Levite realized this after she didn't respond to his statement about going home. As if this wasn't bad enough, he cut her up into 12 pieces and sent her throughout the country of Israel. Was he acting out in grief? How long did it take to get there let alone no refrigeration. The message he sent out was asking the people of Israel if anything like this had happened since Egypt. The Levite wanted the tribes to think about it and get off their butts. Because of this grand gesture, the people of Israel gathered together at Mizpah and the Levite man explained what happened. As a while, Israel went to avenge the death of the concubine. However, the tribe of Benjamin was rebellious and wouldn't listen. They raised their own army including Gibeah to fight Israel. Judah went first and was creamed but they pressed on. Each night they talked with God and made offerings. God promised on the 3rd day He'd give them victory. The Israelites took an oath that whoever provides wives to the tribe of Benjamin would be cursed. They killed everyone in Jabesh Gilead but kept 400 virgins alive. They felt badly there weren't enough so they suggested the tribe of Benjamin steal girls from Shiloh. The people of Israelites did whatever they wanted.

I had plenty of reading time today so I started Ruth. Naomi had two daughters in law: Orpah and Ruth. After her husband and their husbands died, she suggested they go back to their homelands so they could marry again. Orpah left but Ruth insisted on traveling to Bethleham with Naomi. Ruth went out to work in the barley fields and Boaz noticed her and grew fond of her. When Naomi heard this, she suggested Ruth bathe and put on perfume before going to the threshing floor. She instructed Ruth to make sure Boaz had plenty to eat and drink, then lay at his feet and let him know she was available for marriage. Some translations say she should uncover his feet. Boaz accepted her request and met with 10 town elders. He stated property of Naomi's was being sold. One man spoke up but realized Ruth was part of the deal that it would be his responsibility to have children, he declined. In this time period, inheritances or property negotiations were sealed by one man removing a shoe and giving it to the other. Ruth became Boaz's wife and conceived a son they named Obed. Obed had Jesse and Jesse was David's father. This again driving home the fact that God can use anyone and everyone for his will.