(November 8, 2014 at 2:14 pm)Lek Wrote: The men in this narrative were acting like men of any faith would have acted during that time, as was shown by the men who raped her. It's true that the bible didn't call these actions moral in any way. These verses were not written to teach morality, but it does highlight the morality of the non-Jews as well and their treatment of women (and men). Jesus condemned these kinds of actions, as we are commanded to treat one and another with love and respect (even women).
The bible cannot be a timeless moral document if it fails to address the moral shortcomings of the characters within its narrative. The men of this city were Israelites of the tribe of Benjamin, and chapters 20 and 21 cover the civil war sparked by this event. Jesus may have condemned these actions, but the god of the old testament does not seem to. He endorses a war over the rape and murder of this woman, but is silent on the fact that her master deliberately sent her out to be raped in order to save himself.
