The story of the Levite’s concubine in Judges 19 is shocking in its literal violence. Viewed symbolically, however, it reveals a profound lesson about consciousness and manifestation—particularly the consequences of leaving a part of the self unprotected or unintegrated.
The Wife and the Concubine: Integration vs. Subordination
In one of the principal verses - Genesis 2:24, we read:
“Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.”
(Genesis 2:24, ESV)
Symbolically, a wife represents a fully integrated and aligned aspect of consciousness—the beloved new assumption, the creative faculty or imagination joined completely to the conscious self. She is protected, guided, and capable of conceiving new realities. In contrast, a concubine represents a vital but subordinate aspect of the self—an imagination or creative faculty that is not fully joined to conscious awareness. She is vulnerable, unprotected, and unable to fully manifest her potential.
Where the wife symbolizes the power to conceive and bring forth new realities through alignment and integration, the concubine shows what happens when this faculty is neglected or left outside full conscious oversight.
Opposition at the Threshold: The Head as House
All of the Bible is told from the point of view of the reader’s consciousness. The house and the door symbolise the head and threshold of consciousness. The men who storm the house represent internal or external pressures on the self—voices of fear, doubt, limiting beliefs, or chaotic forces pressing against vulnerable aspects of consciousness. The Bible describes the scene:
“And, behold, there came certain men … into the city against the man … and they compassed the house round, and beat at the door, and spake to the master of the house, the old man… But the men would not hearken to him…”
(Judges 19:22, KJV)
The storming of the door illustrates the pressure exerted by opposition and the urgency of conscious action to preserve alignment and integration. The 'men' are the various and conflicting images of self that the reader has built up of themselves.
The Fracture of the I AM and the Number Twelve
Ultimately, the concubine is dismembered and sent across Israel:
“And when he had come to his house, he got his knife, and took the woman, cutting her up bone by bone into twelve parts, which he sent through all Israel.” — Judges 19:29
The repeated mention of “bone” evokes Genesis 2:23 "bone of my bones, flesh of my flesh", where the wife is drawn from man's inherent sense of self, symbolizing that full integration of consciousness is essential. In contrast, the concubine—subordinate and unprotected—is dismembered, showing the scattering of faculties that should be united. This represents a complete failure of conscious alignment and manifestation. When the conscious self abandons or mismanages its creative faculties, the “I AM” fractures. The number twelve is significant—it represents self-government and completeness, personified by the twelve tribes of Israel and the twelve disciples. Here, the twelve pieces reflect a total disintegration of consciousness: the faculties that should work together under conscious guidance are scattered and dysfunctional. The beloved new assumption, symbolised by the wife, has failed to conceive because it was left unjoined and vulnerable.
The Symbolic Lesson
- Wife: integrated and aligned aspect of consciousness; capable of generating new reality through full conscious union.
- Concubine: vulnerable or unintegrated aspect of consciousness; subordinate, unprotected, unable to fully manifest.
- Men storming the house: opposition—internal fears, doubts, limiting beliefs, or chaotic forces.
- House/door: the head and threshold of consciousness—the point where conscious direction and protection are required.
- Outcome: when creative faculties are neglected, the I AM fractures and the Law of Manifestation is disrupted, shown by the twelve divided pieces.
Conclusion
Judges 19 is a cautionary tale about the fragility of consciousness and manifestation. The contrast between the wife and concubine symbolises the difference between fully integrated faculties of the self and those left vulnerable. The tragic metaphorical scattering of the concubine’s twelve pieces illustrates the catastrophic consequences of neglecting conscious alignment. Conscious attention, protection, and integration of all aspects of the self are essential to preserve the unity of the I AM and ensure the successful expression of inner potential and creative power.