Judges 17-19

"We will not turn aside into the city of foreigners who are not of the sons of Israel" (19:12).  The terrible story of the Levite and his concubine/wife is told to demonstrate the deep evil that had taken root in all Israel.  As a traveler, the Levite thought it would be safer to stay in an Israelite town than in a foreign town.  But obviously, there was no safety anywhere.  God's people had become as bad, or worse, than pagan nations.

Violence against the innocent must not be ignored: "Consider it, take counsel and speak up!" (19:30).