This page offers Bible study questions for Judges 19, the closing story of the book’s dark final chapters, with answers and discussion notes a leader can use directly. It suits a small group, a Sunday class, or personal study. Each question is followed by a suggested answer you can adapt to your own group.
Judges 19 at a Glance
A Levite from the hill country of Ephraim takes a concubine from Bethlehem in Judah. She leaves him and returns to her father’s house, and after four months he goes to bring her back. Her father keeps him for several days of feasting before he finally sets out for home with his servant and his wife.
They reach Gibeah, a town of Benjamin, at nightfall, and no one offers them shelter in the square until an old man from Ephraim takes them in. A mob of wicked men demands the Levite so they can abuse him, and the host offers his own daughter and the concubine instead. The concubine is abused through the night and dies at dawn. The Levite cuts her body into twelve pieces and sends them throughout Israel, and the nation is shocked into calling for counsel.
Observation Questions
Use these questions early in the session to make sure everyone has read the chapter closely before anyone offers an interpretation. Let people answer from the text itself, and point back to the verses when opinions drift ahead of the facts.
Judges 19:1
In those days, when there was no king in Israel, there was a certain Levite living on the farther side of the hill country of Ephraim, who took for himself a concubine out of Bethlehem Judah.
(WEB)
Read this verse first to set the historical frame. The phrase about there being no king in Israel gives the context for everything that follows and invites the group to think about what happens when a community lacks shared direction.
Judges 19:15-21
15 They went over there, to go in to stay in Gibeah. He went in, and sat down in the street of the city; for there was no one who took them into his house to stay. 16 Behold, an old man came from his work out of the field at evening. Now the man was from the hill country of Ephraim, and he lived in Gibeah; but the men of the place were Benjamites. 17 He lifted up his eyes, and saw the wayfaring man in the street of the city; and the old man said, “Where are you going? Where did you come from?” 18 He said to him, “We are passing from Bethlehem Judah to the farther side of the hill country of Ephraim. I am from there, and I went to Bethlehem Judah. I am going to the LORD’s house; and there is no one who has taken me into his house. 19 Yet there is both straw and feed for our donkeys; and there is bread and wine also for me, and for your servant, and for the young man who is with your servants. There is no lack of anything.” 20 The old man said, “Peace be to you; how ever let me supply all your needs. Just don’t sleep in the street.” 21 So he brought him into his house, and gave the donkeys fodder. Then they washed their feet, and ate and drank.
(WEB)
This passage captures the scene of the travelers left in the street and the old man’s welcome. Reading it aloud lets the group hear the contrast between the lack of hospitality in Gibeah and the generosity shown by the stranger from Ephraim.
Judges 19:22-25
22 As they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, certain wicked fellows, surrounded the house, beating at the door; and they spoke to the master of the house, the old man, saying, “Bring out the man who came into your house, that we can have sex with him!” 23 The man, the master of the house, went out to them, and said to them, “No, my brothers, please don’t act so wickedly; since this man has come into my house, don’t do this folly. 24 Behold, here is my virgin daughter and his concubine. I will bring them out now. Humble them, and do with them what seems good to you; but to this man don’t do any such folly.” 25 But the men wouldn’t listen to him: so the man laid hold of his concubine, and brought her out to them; and they had sex with her, and abused her all night until the morning. When the day began to dawn, they let her go.
(WEB)
The events here are violent and disturbing, so prepare the group before reading. Reading this section helps the session face the depth of the crisis without rushing past it, and it prompts sober reflection on abuse and the failure to protect.
Judges 19:29
When he had come into his house, he took a knife, and cut up his concubine, and divided her, limb by limb, into twelve pieces, and sent her throughout all the borders of Israel.
(WEB)
This verse describes the Levite’s grim act and its public message to all Israel. Reading it slowly draws attention to the way the chapter ends in shock and summons the nation to respond, setting up the next chapter.
Judges 19:30
It was so, that all who saw it said, “Such a deed has not been done or seen from the day that the children of Israel came up out of the land of Egypt to this day! Consider it, take counsel, and speak.”
(WEB)
The closing verse records the reaction of those who witnessed the deed and calls for counsel. Reading it aloud helps the group see that Israel recognizes the gravity of its failure, which opens a path toward discussion about repentance and justice.
Memory Verse for Judges 19
Judges 19:20
The old man said, “Peace be to you; how ever let me supply all your needs. Just don’t sleep in the street.”
(WEB)
The old man’s words, “Peace be to you,” and his promise to supply every need offer a short, memorable picture of hospitality. Memorizing this verse keeps the call to welcome strangers before the group throughout the week.
A Closing Prayer for the Group
Father, we come to you grieved by the darkness in this chapter, where your people turned away from one another and from your ways. We confess the times we have walked in our own eyes and overlooked those in need. Teach us to open our homes and our hearts, and to see the worth of every person you have made. Give us courage to speak for the vulnerable and wisdom to act with mercy. Be near to those among us who carry old wounds of abuse, and bring your healing and justice into their lives. Shape this group into a community that reflects your character. Amen.
