Concerning the Old Testament law of rape in an urban area, if a woman screams, she is deemed innocent. While the text does not state that she screamed, it does stress her innocence, which leads to the conclusion that she must have screamed. If this was the case, then the citizens of Gibeah are guilty of not rescuing her from these “sons of Belial.” It is a troubling thought, but the image of this young woman being raped and abused—crying out for help, screaming in pain—falls on deaf ears. No one takes any action to save her. Later, the people of Gibeah refuse to hand over the guilty men.
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