Tuesday, November 23, 2004 Nativity Fast
Gregory, Bishop of Agrigentum
Kellia: Judges 20:12-44 Epistle: 1 Timothy 1:8-14 Gospel: St. Luke 14:25-35
Judges 20:12-44, especially vss. 12, 13: "And the tribes of Israel sent
men through the whole tribe of Benjamin, saying, What is this wickedness that has been wrought
among you? Now then give up the men the sons of transgressors that are in Gibeah, and we will
put them to death, and the children of Benjamin consented not to hearken to the voice of their
brethren the children of Israel." Sir Walter Scott in his novel, Guy Mannering, provided
English speakers with the famous saying: "Blood is thicker than water." In this present passage,
we have an instance of the truth in that aphorism, but the truth was attended with the most terrible
consequences for the whole ancient people of God. First, with due restraint, Israel sought to
punish only the men who committed the vile atrocity against the concubine of the Levite from the
hill country of Ephraim, for, after counsel, they asked that just "the sons of transgressors" from
Gibeah be surrendered for execution (vs. 13). However, all the men of the tribe of Benjamin
joined in the guilt of the crime at Gibeah by refusing to surrender the culprits (vs. 13) and, worse,
by then going to their defense (vs. 14). The larger bond of brotherhood among the twelve tribes
of Israel was rejected and sorely tested by the Benjaminites as they favored a few men of their
own tribe, despite their being guilty of a most heinous crime (Jdgs. 19:22-28).
The community of Israel could not let the offense rest, for, thereby, they would have exposed all
the tribes to the judgment of God for not addressing the sin in their midst. The entire nation
would have become subject to the sort of consequences that befell the city of Sodom for similar
wickedness. God had, after all, made it quite clear: "if thou wilt not hearken to the voice of the
Lord thy God, to observe all His commandments...cursed shalt thou be" (Deut. 28:15,16). Civil
war among the tribes became inevitable.
What seems surprising is that Israel suffered terrible casualties in the first two battles at the hands
of the men of Benjamin (Jdgs. 20:20-25). Israel's losses came despite the fact that they had
consulted the Lord before taking action (vs. 18). In 'body count' alone, the majority, in seeking
to rectify the wrongs committed in Gibeah, paid a heavy price; and the decision of the
Benjaminites to resist on behalf of the small group of men at Gibeah deeply tested the bonds of
brotherhood among the twelve tribes, down finally to the very survival of Benjamin (vss. 35,44).
There is no predicting what happens when the bonds of brotherhood are tested. A numerically
small initial tragedy can widen into wholesale losses beyond what any could imagine at the
outset. Such was true in the American Civil War, which most felt would be ended soon and
settled with little bloodshed. How wrong that prediction proved to be!
The reader should note that God does not restrain His People in their prayerful efforts to set
injustices right, even when the cost runs very high. It would seem that the Lord would have us all
understand the pain of breaching and testing the bonds of brotherhood. Let those who would
carelessly or brashly offend their brethren, split parishes, or alienate fellow Orthodox Christians,
take heed lest they unleash worse outcomes by their deeds.
One of the important lessons to be learned from the series of battles between Israel and Benjamin
at Gibeah is the need of those who would correct injustice to maintain a prayerful stance before
God as events unfold in the process of settlement. Israel went back repeatedly to stand before the
Lord and to enquire of Him how to proceed (Jdgs 20:8-11,18,23,26; 21:3). Let us not plunge
ahead heedlessly once a course of action is chosen, but remain ever open to God.
Direct us, O Lord, in all we do with Thy most gracious favor, and further us with Thy continual
help, that in all our works, begun, continued and ended in Thee, we may glorify Thee.