According to Joshua 22:12, 13, Phinehas was priest of the tabernacle in Shiloh during the days of Joshua. The mention of his name in this passage, therefore, places this incident concerning the Levite and his concubine in the lifetime of the first generation of the Israelites in Palestine. It supports the view, stated earlier (see on Judges 18:29, 30; 19:1), that the two incidents described in the last five chapters of Judges took place many years before the other events described in the book. It is interesting to note that in the narrative of the migration of the Danites, the probable grandson of Moses plays a prominent part, whereas in the story of the Levite, the grandson of Aaron is mentioned (see on Judges 18:30).

 The Israelites were not allowed to win a victory until after a preparatory period. The setbacks effectively drove them to fasting and prayer and to an earnest inquiry as to the cause of their failure. The delay was God’s opportunity to point them to their own defects of character that needed correction as much as to the faults of others, of which they were so forcefully aware. The Israelites were far too ready to set out upon the work of correcting their brethren without being conscious of their own shortcomings. It was to correct this same type of shortcoming that Jesus made His statement about the beam and the mote (see Matt. 7:5).