שופטים, פרק כ׳, פסוק ו׳

Standing before the nation, the Levite explains the severe action he took and clarifies his motives. He details how distributing the severed pieces across every region of the Israelite territory [ביאור שטיינזלץ] was a deliberate choice. His goal was to awaken the hearts of the people and drive them to avenge him [מצודת דוד].

He directs his accusation specifically at the residents of the city of Gibeah [מצודת דוד], outlining the multifaceted severity of their crime. Fundamentally, it was a deeply evil and corrupt act [מלבי״ם], driven by malicious intent, as the townspeople originally planned to murder the Levite himself [מצודת ציון]. Beyond the immediate violence, the crime carries an added layer of severity; it represents an act of heresy that damages the entire public [מלבי״ם].

Furthermore, the fact that this occurred within the nation highlights the sheer audacity of the perpetrators. They did not commit their crimes in secret, but rather openly and brazenly for all to see [מצודת דוד].