What does Judges 19:13 mean?
"And he said unto his servant, Come, and let us draw near to one of these places to lodge all night, in Gibeah, or in Ramah." - Judges 19:13

The Bible verse Judges 19:13 from the King James Version (KJV) states, "And he said unto his servant, Come, and let us draw near to one of these places to lodge all night, in Gibeah, or in Ramah." This verse is a part of a larger narrative in the book of Judges which tells the story of a Levite and his concubine.
The overall context of this verse is set in a time of lawlessness and moral decay in Israel. The book of Judges repeatedly emphasizes the cycle of apostasy, oppression, repentance, and deliverance. This particular story is a vivid illustration of the chaos and moral degeneration that characterized this period in Israel's history.
The Levite and his concubine were traveling through the territory of the tribe of Benjamin, and they needed a place to stay for the night. The Levite suggested lodging in either Gibeah or Ramah, two towns in Benjamin's territory. Little did they know that their choice of lodging would lead to a series of events that would end in tragedy and become one of the most disturbing and difficult passages in the Bible.
In this verse, the choice of the places to lodge is significant. Gibeah was the site of a horrific incident involving the men of the city who committed a brutal gang-rape against the Levite's concubine, leading to her death. This event is a stark reminder of the moral degradation and corruption that had taken root in Israel during this time. The cities of Gibeah and Ramah, while serving as literal locations, also symbolize the moral decay and depravity of the nation as a whole.
The theme of moral decay and depravity is a central focus of this verse and the entire passage. The story of the Levite and his concubine serves as a warning about the consequences of turning away from God and living according to one's own desires. The tragic events in this narrative serve as a sobering reminder of the destructive power of sin and the need for moral accountability.
The choices made by the characters in this story also carry symbolic significance. The Levite's decision to lodge in Gibeah, a town known for its moral corruption, can be seen as a reflection of his own moral compromise. The consequences of this decision ultimately lead to a series of devastating events that deeply affect the entire nation.
The verse also emphasizes the importance of making wise choices and seeking God's guidance in all aspects of life. The Levite's decision to lodge in a place known for its wickedness underscores the dangers of complacency and the importance of discernment.
In conclusion, the Bible verse Judges 19:13 from the King James Version holds significant thematic and symbolic meaning within the larger narrative of the book of Judges. It serves as a somber reflection on the consequences of moral decay and the importance of making wise choices in obedience to God. This verse and the story it is a part of provide a powerful warning about the destructive power of sin and the need for moral accountability in all aspects of life.
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Judges 19:13 - "And he said unto his servant, Come, and let us draw near to one of these places to lodge all night, in Gibeah, or in Ramah."
"And he said unto his servant, Come, and let us draw near to one of these places to lodge all night, in Gibeah, or in Ramah." - Judges 19:13
Judges 13:19 - "So Manoah took a kid with a meat offering, and offered it upon a rock unto the LORD: and the angel did wondrously; and Manoah and his wife looked on."
Judges 2:13 - "And they forsook the LORD, and served Baal and Ashtaroth."
Judges 20:19 - "And the children of Israel rose up in the morning, and encamped against Gibeah."
Judges 13:13 - "And the angel of the LORD said unto Manoah, Of all that I said unto the woman let her beware."
Judges 12:13 - "¶ And after him Abdon the son of Hillel, a Pirathonite, judged Israel."
"So Manoah took a kid with a meat offering, and offered it upon a rock unto the LORD: and the angel did wondrously; and Manoah and his wife looked on." - Judges 13:19
Judges 19:19 - "Yet there is both straw and provender for our asses; and there is bread and wine also for me, and for thy handmaid, and for the young man which is with thy servants: there is no want of any thing."
2 Chronicles 19:6 - "And said to the judges, Take heed what ye do: for ye judge not for man, but for the LORD, who is with you in the judgment."
Judges 18:13 - "And they passed thence unto mount Ephraim, and came unto the house of Micah."
Judges 8:13 - "¶ And Gideon the son of Joash returned from battle before the sun was up,"
2 Chronicles 19:5 - "¶ And he set judges in the land throughout all the fenced cities of Judah, city by city,"
Judges 5:19 - "The kings came and fought, then fought the kings of Canaan in Taanach by the waters of Megiddo; they took no gain of money."
Judges 13:3 make the Angel of the Lord male
Luke 13:18-19
Luke 13:18-19
Judges 19:14 - "And they passed on and went their way; and the sun went down upon them when they were by Gibeah, which belongeth to Benjamin."
Judges 13:25 - "And the Spirit of the LORD began to move him at times in the camp of Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol."
Judges 19:26 - "Then came the woman in the dawning of the day, and fell down at the door of the man's house where her lord was, till it was light."
Judges 19:7 - "And when the man rose up to depart, his father in law urged him: therefore he lodged there again."
Genesis 19-13
Psalms 96:13 - "Before the LORD: for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth."
Deuteronomy 19:18 - "And the judges shall make diligent inquisition: and, behold, if the witness be a false witness, and hath testified falsely against his brother;"
Judges 13:2 - "¶ And there was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren, and bare not."
"And they forsook the LORD, and served Baal and Ashtaroth." - Judges 2:13
Judges 13:24 - "¶ And the woman bare a son, and called his name Samson: and the child grew, and the LORD blessed him."
Judges 19:21 - "So he brought him into his house, and gave provender unto the asses: and they washed their feet, and did eat and drink."
Matthew 19:13
Judges 1:19 - "And the LORD was with Judah; and he drave out the inhabitants of the mountain; but could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley, because they had chariots of iron."