And I took my concubine, and cut her in pieces, and sent her throughout all the country of the inheritance of Israel: for they have committed lewdness and folly in Israel.
So I took my concubine's body, cut it into pieces, and sent the pieces throughout all the territory that belongs to Israel, because they have committed terrible wickedness and shameful acts in Israel.
The Levite is explaining to the tribes of Israel why he sent pieces of his concubine's body throughout the land - to expose the horrible crime committed against her.
📚 Historical Context
This verse is part of the Levite's testimony to the assembled tribes of Israel about the brutal gang rape and murder of his concubine by men from the tribe of Benjamin in the city of Gibeah. In ancient times, sending body parts throughout a territory was an extreme way to call for justice and rally people to action against grave injustice. This incident occurred during the period of the Judges when 'every man did what was right in his own eyes' and Israel had no king.
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