Judges 20:4
And the Levite, the husband of the woman that was slain, answered and said, I came into Gibeah that belongeth to Benjamin, I and my concubine, to lodge.
Original Language Analysis
וַיַּ֜עַן
answered
H6030
וַיַּ֜עַן
answered
Strong's:
H6030
Word #:
1 of 14
properly, to eye or (generally) to heed, i.e., pay attention; by implication, to respond; by extension to begin to speak; specifically to sing, shout,
אִ֛ישׁ
the husband
H376
אִ֛ישׁ
the husband
Strong's:
H376
Word #:
2 of 14
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
אִ֛ישׁ
the husband
H376
אִ֛ישׁ
the husband
Strong's:
H376
Word #:
4 of 14
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
הַנִּרְצָחָ֖ה
that was slain
H7523
הַנִּרְצָחָ֖ה
that was slain
Strong's:
H7523
Word #:
6 of 14
properly, to dash in pieces, i.e., kill (a human being), especially to murder
הַגִּבְעָ֙תָה֙
into Gibeah
H1390
הַגִּבְעָ֙תָה֙
into Gibeah
Strong's:
H1390
Word #:
8 of 14
gibah; the name of three places in palestine
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
9 of 14
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
לְבִנְיָמִ֔ן
that belongeth to Benjamin
H1144
לְבִנְיָמִ֔ן
that belongeth to Benjamin
Strong's:
H1144
Word #:
10 of 14
binjamin, youngest son of jacob; also the tribe descended from him, and its territory
Historical Context
Levites held special status as Israel's priestly tribe but owned no tribal territory (Numbers 18:20-24), living in designated cities throughout Israel. This Levite's origin from 'the remote hill country of Ephraim' (19:1) placed him far from proper religious centers. His seeking lodging in Gibeah rather than among fellow Levites suggests the general breakdown of proper social structures during this anarchic period.
Questions for Reflection
- How do you present your side of conflicts—with full honesty or selective truth designed to maximize sympathy?
- What responsibility do victims bear for their own contributions to tragic situations?
- How can you pursue justice for genuine wrongs while acknowledging your own failures?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
The Levite, the husband of the woman that was slain, answered and said—the text identifies the speaker by his relationship to the victim and his tribe (Levite). His testimony begins the formal presentation of evidence. I came into Gibeah that belongeth to Benjamin, I and my concubine, to lodge (בָּאתִי...לָלוּן, ba'ti...lalun)—his purpose was innocent: seeking overnight hospitality (לוּן, lun, 'to lodge, spend the night').
The Levite's self-presentation omits crucial details revealed in chapter 19: his concubine had left him due to unfaithfulness (19:2), he retrieved her from her father's house after four months, he made poor travel decisions refusing hospitality in Jebusite Jerusalem, and his own actions contributed to the tragedy. His selective testimony—technically true but incomplete—illustrates how victims can become manipulative accusers. The text forces readers to hold two truths in tension: Gibeah's crime was genuinely horrific and demanded justice, yet the Levite's account serves his interests by omitting his failures. Truth-telling requires full disclosure, not merely factually accurate fragments designed to maximize sympathy.