1And it came to pass in those days, when there was no king in Israel, that there was a certain Levite sojourning on the side of mount Ephraim, who took to him a concubine out of Bethlehemjudah.2And his concubine played the whore against him, and went away from him unto her father' house to Bethlehemjudah, and was there four whole months.3And her husband arose, and went after her, to speak friendly unto her, and to bring her again, having his servant with him, and a couple of asses: and she brought him into her father' house: and when the father of the damsel saw him, he rejoiced to meet him.4And his father in law, the damsel' father, retained him; and he abode with him three days: so they did eat and drink, and lodged there.5And it came to pass on the fourth day, when they arose early in the morning, that he rose up to depart: and the damsel' father said unto his son in law, Comfort thine heart with a morsel of bread, and afterward go your way.6And they sat down, and did eat and drink both of them together: for the damsel' father had said unto the man, Be content, I pray thee, and tarry all night, and let thine heart be merry.7And when the man rose up to depart, his father in law urged him: therefore he lodged there again.8And he arose early in the morning on the fifth day to depart: and the damsel' father said, Comfort thine heart, I pray thee. And they tarried until afternoon, and they did eat both of them.9And when the man rose up to depart, he, and his concubine, and his servant, his father in law, the damsel' father, said unto him, Behold, now the day draweth toward evening, I pray you tarry all night: behold, the day groweth to an end, lodge here, that thine heart may be merry; and to morrow get you early on your way, that thou mayest go home.10But the man would not tarry that night, but he rose up and departed, and came over against Jebus, which is Jerusalem; and there were with him two asses saddled, his concubine also was with him.11And when they were by Jebus, the day was far spent; and the servant said unto his master, Come, I pray thee, and let us turn in into this city of the Jebusites, and lodge in it.12And his master said unto him, We will not turn aside hither into the city of a stranger, that is not of the children of Israel; we will pass over to Gibeah.13And he said unto his servant, Come, and let us draw near to one of these places to lodge all night, in Gibeah, or in Ramah.14And they passed on and went their way; and the sun went down upon them when they were by Gibeah, which belongeth to Benjamin.15And they turned aside thither, to go in and to lodge in Gibeah: and when he went in, he sat him down in a street of the city: for there was no man that took them into his house to lodging.16And, behold, there came an old man from his work out of the field at even, which was also of mount Ephraim; and he sojourned in Gibeah: but the men of the place were Benjamites.17And when he had lifted up his eyes, he saw a wayfaring man in the street of the city: and the old man said, Whither goest thou? and whence comest thou?18And he said unto him, We are passing from Bethlehemjudah toward the side of mount Ephraim; from thence am I: and I went to Bethlehemjudah, but I am now going to the house of the LORD; and there is no man that receiveth me to house.19Yet there is both straw and provender for our asses; and there is bread and wine also for me, and for thy handmaid, and for the young man which is with thy servants: there is no want of any thing.20And the old man said, Peace be with thee; howsoever let all thy wants lie upon me; only lodge not in the street.21So he brought him into his house, and gave provender unto the asses: and they washed their feet, and did eat and drink.22Now as they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, certain sons of Belial, beset the house round about, and beat at the door, and spake to the master of the house, the old man, saying, Bring forth the man that came into thine house, that we may know him.23And the man, the master of the house, went out unto them, and said unto them, Nay, my brethren, nay , I pray you, do not so wickedly; seeing that this man is come into mine house, do not this folly.24Behold, here is my daughter a maiden, and his concubine; them I will bring out now, and humble ye them, and do with them what seemeth good unto you: but unto this man do not so vile a thing.25But the men would not hearken to him: so the man took his concubine, and brought her forth unto them; and they knew her, and abused her all the night until the morning: and when the day began to spring, they let her go.26Then came the woman in the dawning of the day, and fell down at the door of the man' house where her lord was , till it was light.27And her lord rose up in the morning, and opened the doors of the house, and went out to go his way: and, behold, the woman his concubine was fallen down at the door of the house, and her hands were upon the threshold.28And he said unto her, Up, and let us be going. But none answered. Then the man took her up upon an ass, and the man rose up, and gat him unto his place.29And when he was come into his house, he took a knife, and laid hold on his concubine, and divided her, together with her bones, into twelve pieces, and sent her into all the coasts of Israel.30And it was so, that all that saw it said, There was no such deed done nor seen from the day that the children of Israel came up out of the land of Egypt unto this day: consider of it, take advice, and speak your minds .
Judges 19
English Standard Version
A Levite and His Concubine
1In those days, when there was no king in Israel, a certain Levite was sojourning in the remote parts of the hill country of Ephraim, who took to himself a concubine from Bethlehem in Judah. (Jos 24:33; Jud 17:6; Jud 17:7; Jud 18:1; Jud 21:25)2And his concubine was unfaithful to[1] him, and she went away from him to her father’s house at Bethlehem in Judah, and was there some four months.3Then her husband arose and went after her, to speak kindly to her and bring her back. He had with him his servant and a couple of donkeys. And she brought him into her father’s house. And when the girl’s father saw him, he came with joy to meet him.4And his father-in-law, the girl’s father, made him stay, and he remained with him three days. So they ate and drank and spent the night there.5And on the fourth day they arose early in the morning, and he prepared to go, but the girl’s father said to his son-in-law, “Strengthen your heart with a morsel of bread, and after that you may go.” (Ge 18:5; Jud 19:8)6So the two of them sat and ate and drank together. And the girl’s father said to the man, “Be pleased to spend the night, and let your heart be merry.” (Jud 16:25; Jud 19:9; Jud 19:22; Ru 3:7; 2Sa 13:28)7And when the man rose up to go, his father-in-law pressed him, till he spent the night there again.8And on the fifth day he arose early in the morning to depart. And the girl’s father said, “Strengthen your heart and wait until the day declines.” So they ate, both of them. (Jud 19:5)9And when the man and his concubine and his servant rose up to depart, his father-in-law, the girl’s father, said to him, “Behold, now the day has waned toward evening. Please, spend the night. Behold, the day draws to its close. Lodge here and let your heart be merry, and tomorrow you shall arise early in the morning for your journey, and go home.”10But the man would not spend the night. He rose up and departed and arrived opposite Jebus (that is, Jerusalem). He had with him a couple of saddled donkeys, and his concubine was with him. (Jos 15:8; Jos 15:63)11When they were near Jebus, the day was nearly over, and the servant said to his master, “Come now, let us turn aside to this city of the Jebusites and spend the night in it.”12And his master said to him, “We will not turn aside into the city of foreigners, who do not belong to the people of Israel, but we will pass on to Gibeah.” (Jos 18:28)13And he said to his young man, “Come and let us draw near to one of these places and spend the night at Gibeah or at Ramah.” (Jos 18:25)14So they passed on and went their way. And the sun went down on them near Gibeah, which belongs to Benjamin,15and they turned aside there, to go in and spend the night at Gibeah. And he went in and sat down in the open square of the city, for no one took them into his house to spend the night. (Jud 19:18)16And behold, an old man was coming from his work in the field at evening. The man was from the hill country of Ephraim, and he was sojourning in Gibeah. The men of the place were Benjaminites. (Jos 24:33; Jud 19:1; Jud 19:14; Jud 20:4)17And he lifted up his eyes and saw the traveler in the open square of the city. And the old man said, “Where are you going? And where do you come from?”18And he said to him, “We are passing from Bethlehem in Judah to the remote parts of the hill country of Ephraim, from which I come. I went to Bethlehem in Judah, and I am going to the house of the Lord,[2] but no one has taken me into his house. (Jud 18:31; Jud 19:15)19We have straw and feed for our donkeys, with bread and wine for me and your female servant and the young man with your servants. There is no lack of anything.” (Jud 18:10)20And the old man said, “Peace be to you; I will care for all your wants. Only, do not spend the night in the square.” (Ge 19:2; Ge 43:23)21So he brought him into his house and gave the donkeys feed. And they washed their feet, and ate and drank. (Ge 18:4; Ge 24:32; Ge 43:24; Joh 13:5)
Gibeah’s Crime
22As they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, worthless fellows, surrounded the house, beating on the door. And they said to the old man, the master of the house, “Bring out the man who came into your house, that we may know him.” (Ge 19:4; Jud 19:6; Jud 20:5)23And the man, the master of the house, went out to them and said to them, “No, my brothers, do not act so wickedly; since this man has come into my house, do not do this vile thing. (Ge 19:7; Ge 34:7; De 22:21; Jos 7:15; Jud 20:6; 2Sa 13:12)24Behold, here are my virgin daughter and his concubine. Let me bring them out now. Violate them and do with them what seems good to you, but against this man do not do this outrageous thing.” (Ge 19:8; Ge 34:2; De 21:14; Jud 19:23)25But the men would not listen to him. So the man seized his concubine and made her go out to them. And they knew her and abused her all night until the morning. And as the dawn began to break, they let her go.26And as morning appeared, the woman came and fell down at the door of the man’s house where her master was, until it was light.27And her master rose up in the morning, and when he opened the doors of the house and went out to go on his way, behold, there was his concubine lying at the door of the house, with her hands on the threshold.28He said to her, “Get up, let us be going.” But there was no answer. Then he put her on the donkey, and the man rose up and went away to his home. (Jud 20:5)29And when he entered his house, he took a knife, and taking hold of his concubine he divided her, limb by limb, into twelve pieces, and sent her throughout all the territory of Israel. (Jud 20:6; 1Sa 11:7)30And all who saw it said, “Such a thing has never happened or been seen from the day that the people of Israel came up out of the land of Egypt until this day; consider it, take counsel, and speak.” (Jud 20:7; Ho 9:9; Ho 10:9)