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One-sentence summary: There is a terrible story about the gruesome death of a prostitute to show the depths of depravity Israel has stooped to.
In this passage, a very dark and disturbing event takes place. There is still no king in Israel, and a certain Levite takes a concubine. She "plays the harlot" and returns to her father's house. The man goes to her there with his servant and asks her father if he can take her away. After hesitating and trying to get him to stay on for more and more time (he stays a few days), the man leaves with the concubine. They go to a city of the Benjamites, Gibeah (even though the servants suggests they stay in foreign cities, the man refuses), but no one takes them in for the night, so they are forced to stay in the city square. An old man, a foreigner, is coming back from work and sees them; he invites them in and is kind to him. That night, evil and perverse men bang on the door of the house and ask to rape the man. The foreigner offers his virgin daughter and the man's concubine instead (what is WITH these men?!), but the men refuse. The man himself gives them his concubine. She returns the next day after having suffered horrendous abuse, and dies on his doorstep. He carries her body home, and then does something most shocking. He cuts her body into 12 pieces and sends them to the 12 tribes of Israel. Israel is outraged and inquire of him what has happened, and he tells them. They gather for war against the Benjamites, who refuse to repent. They inquire of the Lord Who tells them to fight, and although defeated at first (and after the loss of many men), they inquire again and He promises victory. They eventually defeat the Benjamites, leaving only a remnant; they also procure wives for them so that the tribe is not utterly destroyed. They "[grieve] the loss of their brethren." And again it says that there was no king in Israel in those days, and "every one did what was right in his own eyes."
Thoughts/Questions:
This is truly a shocking passage. It is beyond sad to see what Israel had stooped to after forsaking the Lord. A grim tale. I don't have much to say about it.