21:1–25 The actions of Israel in this final episode of the book should be interpreted in light of the concluding comment: “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (v. 25). The Israelites wondered why this evil had come upon them (vv. 3, 15; 6:13 note). As with Gideon (6:13), no answer was given. Yet the book’s larger context gives the clear answer that Israel had sinned and continued to sin in horrible ways.