Day 76: Judges 19 - 21 (3 of 3)

Her husband went to her to persuade her to return. (Judges 19:3)

Read the first parts of this post here and here.

Here's the question: Is this account history? or parable?

Throughout the Old Testament Israel is symbolized as the faithless (even prostitute) wife of God. When Israel chased after other men (foreign gods), her husband (God) had every right to divorce her, even to have her executed, but loved her and continued pursuing her, trying to win her love.

In real life, Israel chased after foreign gods at least one too many times, and was finally abandoned to Assyria, who destroyed the nation, divided it up, and exiled it to the far reaches of the empire. Sound familiar? In this account, the unfaithful wife was violated by other men, her body cut into pieces and distributed to the far reaches of Israel.

Could the story of the Levite and his unfaithful wife serve to tell the story of Yahweh and unfaithful Israel?

What do you think? Congratulations! You've read another Old Testament book!