The effect of the sending of the pieces of the dead woman's body to all the borders of Israel was to arouse the nation to deal with the wickedness going on among them. They were gathered together "as one man" from Dan in the far north to Beersheba on the southern border, not omitting the land of Gilead east of the Jordan. With one purpose they were united now to put away the guilty in Gibeah, yet before proceeding to the place to execute judgment, the tribes of Israel sent men through all the tribe of Benjamin to bring the matter before them in its true character, and having aroused them, to ask for the delivery of those wicked men for punishment.
But the children of Benjamin would not listen to the messengers, and gathered themselves together to Gibeah to fight against their brethren. How often since then has not the same thing occurred— natural relationship, friendship, nationality, sympathy and other natural ties have been made use of by Satan among God's people to uphold the guilty and to disregard what is due to God, dividing His saints and setting them against each other.
The men of Israel, other than Benjamin, had however failed to ask counsel of God; they were acting in the right direction, but they had a lesson unlearned. They only ask, Who shall go up first? The result of a lack of self-humbling, of owning the sin of Gibeah as but the expression of a low state morally throughout the whole nation, is seen in a defeat where victory should have been decisive. This leads to weeping before the Lord, and asking a deeper question than at first. It is now, Shall I go up to battle? They were to go, but the root of the matter must be judge, so a second defeat, nearly as serious as the first had to take place. More thorough searching of heart succeeds this second defeat (verse 26), and the discipline is received as a chastening from God upon the nation. They are now in a position to be blessed, and the Lord smote Benjamin (verse 35). Fearful destruction followed and not only practically all of the fighting men of Benjamin but of the rest of the men of the tribe were put to death, and their cities desolated.
How humbling all this was! Brother against brother, fighting where unity should have been seen! Yet there was a cause,—sin was condoned, unjudged, among the people of God, and those whose consciences were awakened were guided of God in putting it away.
A far more fearful dealing of God with this world and its people is pending, reader. Are you prepared to meet it? The judgment of this world was pronounced when Jesus died on the cross. He is your only hope. Have you received Him?