What does Judges 19:30 mean?

When trapped by a mob, a traveling Levite coldly forced his concubine outside, where she was brutally raped to death (Judges 19:25–28). His response to her death is outrageous (Judges 19:29), but it achieves his desired effect. He has dismembered the corpse of the murdered woman, cutting it into twelve pieces. He has sent those pieces, likely by messenger, throughout Israel. Perhaps a piece was sent to each of the twelve tribes. His symbolic action seemed a call to all of Israel to hold the men of Gibeah responsible for the blood of this woman. Perhaps, as a Levite meant to represent the Lord (Numbers 3:5–10), he meant to rouse his people to stand against all the outrageous, evil practices of their fellow Israelites (Deuteronomy 12:29–32).

Throughout Israel, everyone who saw a part of the woman's body was indeed shocked. The writer of Judges records something to the effect of "we haven't seen this kind of evil since we left Egypt." That context is important, since what happened to the concubine closely parallels Lot's experience in Sodom just before God destroyed it (Genesis 19:2–7). The corrupted depravity of the men of Gibeah is like that of Sodom in the days of Abraham. The people resolve that something must be done.

While it's good that the people are seeking justice in response to a crime, it's important to note what's not said. The name of Yahweh—the Lord God of Israel—has not been mentioned in any of this. The people will eventually begin to consult Him in the following chapter. The Levite, though responsible for sparking this reaction, is not shown to be especially wise or compassionate. Nor is he said to speak on behalf of God.