The period of the Judges is often times referred to as the “dark ages” for Israel.  It was a time

 when “...there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes”

 (Judges 21:25).  It seems that the dark times of the Judges reached their darkest point in Judges 19 when the inhabitants of Gibeah (part of Benjamin’s inheritance) abused a traveling Levite’s concubine so severely that she died.  When the other tribes were informed of this atrocity, they fought against the tribe of Benjamin and nearly annihilated them entirely.  Only 600 Benjamite

men survived (Judges 20:47).  Judges 21:1 tells us that the people of Israel “...had sworn in

Mizpeh, saying, There shall not any of us give his daughter unto Benjamin to wife.”  However, to prevent an end for the tribe of Benjamin, a shady plan was orchestrated - a “loophole” of sorts -

which allowed the Benjamite men to kidnap women of Shiloh (from the tribe of Ephraim) and

keep them as their wives.  So, the Benjamite family line continued.

     The fact that the Benjamites continued became very significant and/or beneficial, not only for

Israel, but for us also.  After all, the first king of Israel was Saul, a Benjamite (1 Samuel 9:1-2). 

Centuries later, following the Babylonian captivity, if it wasn’t for Mordecai, Haman’s evil plan to

exterminate the Jews may have been successful.  Yet, Mordecai, a Benjamite (Esther 2:5)

learned of the plan, communicated it to Queen Esther who was then able to appeal to the king

and foil the plot.  And, as we live under the New Testament covenant, we can be thankful for

the diligent efforts and writings of the inspired apostle, Paul, a Benjamite (Romans 11:1).

     May we always stand in awe of God who was able to design and implement His plan in spite of man’s shortcomings!