The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)

Episode: Day 95: The Sin of Benjamin (2026)
Host: Fr. Mike Schmitz (Ascension)
Date: April 5, 2026

Episode Overview

On Day 95, Fr. Mike guides listeners through some of the darkest stories in the Book of Judges (Chapters 19–21), culminating in the horrifying account of the Levite’s concubine and the near extermination of the tribe of Benjamin. The episode powerfully explores Israel’s moral descent during a time when "there was no king…everyone did what was right in his own eyes." Fr. Mike offers reflective commentary, emphasizing the dangers of abandoning God’s law for cultural relativism and the enduring relevance of these Old Testament lessons for today.

Key Discussion Points

1. The Story: Judges 19–21

• The Levite and His Concubine:

  • A Levite (a priestly figure) takes a concubine from Bethlehem, but after conflict, she returns to her father's house.
  • The Levite goes to retrieve her, experiencing unusual hospitality delays from her father (06:00–08:30).

• Tragedy in Gibeah:

  • As they travel home, the Levite avoids staying in a city of foreigners, instead choosing Gibeah in Benjamin’s territory, expecting safety among his people.
  • The townsmen threaten to abuse the Levite; instead, his concubine is thrown out and abused all night, dying at the doorstep (08:30–11:30).
  • The Levite gruesomely divides her body into twelve pieces, sending them throughout Israel to rally outrage.
  • Fr. Mike: “Literally from a horror movie. …her death the wrong thing, …pushing her out the door, …taking her body, cutting it up…also horror, right?” (23:00–24:00)

• Civil War with Benjamin:

  • The rest of Israel unites to punish Gibeah, demanding the guilty men be handed over. The Benjaminites refuse, leading to war (11:30–14:30).
  • After initial defeats, Israel inquires of God, eventually destroying most of the Benjaminites, urban centers, and even animals (14:30–17:30).

• Desperate Measures for Benjamin’s Survival:

  • Israel, now mourning Benjamin’s near extinction, devises drastic measures to find wives for the remaining 600 Benjaminites without violating a rash vow not to give their daughters.
  • They massacre Jabesh-gilead for not joining the assembly and seize 400 virgin women (17:30–19:30).
  • To supply the rest, they instruct Benjaminites to kidnap women during a festival at Shiloh, rationalizing it as technically not breaking their oath (19:30–21:00).
  • Fr. Mike: "If that sounds messed up to you, good, good. Because everything...gets summed up by the last line in the Book of Judges." (22:45)

2. Fr. Mike’s Reflections and Insights

• The Recurring Theme: Catastrophe Follows Rejecting God’s Law

  • Fr. Mike highlights that relationships outside the order willed by God (e.g., concubinage, violence) always end in catastrophe (21:00–22:00).
  • He draws out the scriptural emphasis on marriage:
    • “From the very second chapter of Genesis…this is the reason why a man shall leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife… So whenever we see these breaks in God’s law…catastrophe.” (21:15)

• Devolution into Relativism

  • The refrain “There was no king…everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25) is emphasized as a diagnosis of societal chaos.
  • Fr. Mike: “That’s called relativism. …One of the reasons why the Book of Judges is so appropriate for us today is because it’s so broken, and we live in such a broken place.” (24:30–25:30)
  • He connects Israel’s brokenness to contemporary culture’s rejection of absolute truth for personal or cultural relativism.

• Cycle of Sin and Redemption

  • Despite the horror, Fr. Mike notes that in Israel’s darkest moments, they call on the Lord—an invitation for present-day listeners to do the same.
  • “Redemption part is then we call out to the Lord…He hears our prayers just like He heard the prayers of the Israelites, and He comes to our aid.” (25:50–26:15)

3. Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• On the shock of Judges 19–21:

  • “Some of the darkest stuff in the Bible is here in the end of the Book of Judges…It is not the right thing…just the horror of that…” (22:30–23:15)

• On moral relativism:

  • “In those days there was no king in Israel. Every man did what was right in his own eyes…That’s called relativism…” (24:32)

• On brokenness then and now:

  • “We live in such a broken place. But brokenness has been chosen because truth had been revealed…They chose to not pay attention to it. And truth has been revealed to us, and we choose to not pay attention to it.” (25:15)

• On the call to redemption:

  • “Never ever forget…turning away from God, doing what was right in our own eyes, then suffering the consequences…but also the redemption part. …He comes to our aid.” (25:45)

Important Timestamps

• 08:30 – The Levite’s Concubine’s Ordeal in Gibeah
• 11:30 – The Levite’s grisly response and Israel’s outrage
• 14:30 – Civil War begins: Israel vs. Benjamin
• 17:30 – Near extinction of Benjamin and the Israelites’ remorse
• 19:30 – The controversial acquisition of wives
• 22:45 – Fr. Mike’s summary and condemnation of the horrors
• 24:30 – Relativism and the last line of Judges
• 25:45 – Reflection on redemption and looking forward

Tone & Language

Fr. Mike maintains a tone of somber honesty, never shying away from the horrors of the text yet constantly pivoting to hope, reflection, and the need for God’s law and mercy. He is candid with his emotional response: “Oh, brother…Just the most tragic, tragic, tragic thing.” (22:00)

Additional Context

• Psalm 148 is recited to close with praise—even in the darkness—acknowledging God’s sovereignty and power to bring life and order out of chaos.

• Looking Ahead:

  • The episode ends noting the coming transition to Samuel and a short excursion into the Gospel of John, as Israel’s story moves from chaos to the search for godly leadership.

Summary

This episode starkly narrates Israel’s descent into chaos—detailing betrayal, sexual violence, civil war, and moral confusion—emphasizing the consequences of living without God or a king. Fr. Mike draws parallels to modern society, warning against relativism and urging listeners to recognize both the cost of ignoring God’s truth and the hope offered by turning back to Him.

“In those days there was no king in Israel. Every man did what was right in his own eyes.”
(Judges 21:25, quoted and deeply unpacked by Fr. Mike at 24:32)