19
1 In
those days, when
there was no
king in Israel,
there was a certain
Levite living on
the farther side
of the hill
country of Ephraim,
who took for
himself a
concubine out of
Bethlehem Judah.
2 His
concubine played
the prostitute
against him, and
went away from
him to her father’s
house to Bethlehem
Judah, and was
there for four
months.
3 Her husband
arose and went
after her to
speak kindly to
her, to bring
her again, having
his servant with
him and a
couple of donkeys.
She brought him
into her father’s
house; and when
the father of the
young lady saw
him, he rejoiced
to meet him.
4 His
father-in-law, the
young lady’s father, kept
him there; and
he stayed with
him three days.
So they ate and
drank, and stayed
there.
5 On
the fourth day,
they got up
early in the
morning, and he
rose up to
depart. The young
lady’s father said to
his son-in-law, “Strengthen
your heart with
a morsel of
bread, and afterward
you shall go
your way.”
6 So
they sat down, ate,
and drank, both
of them together.
Then the young
lady’s father said to
the man, “Please
be pleased to
stay all night,
and let your
heart be merry.”
7 The man
rose up to
depart; but his
father-in-law urged
him, and he
stayed there again.
8 He
arose early in
the morning on
the fifth day
to depart; and
the young lady’s
father said, “Please strengthen
your heart and
stay until the
day declines;” and
they both ate.
9 When
the man rose
up to depart,
he, and his
concubine, and his
servant, his
father-in-law, the
young lady’s father, said
to him, “Behold,
now the day draws
toward evening,
please stay all
night. Behold, the
day is ending.
Stay here, that
your heart may
be merry; and
tomorrow go on
your way early,
that you may
go home.”
10 But
the man wouldn’t stay
that night, but
he rose up
and went near
Jebus (also called
Jerusalem). With
him were a
couple of saddled
donkeys. His
concubine also was
with him.
11 When
they were by
Jebus, the day
was far spent;
and the
servant said to
his master, “Please
come and let’s
enter into this
city of the
Jebusites, and
stay in it.”
12 His master
said to him, “We
won’t enter into
the city of
a foreigner that
is not of
the children of
Israel; but we
will pass over
to Gibeah.”
13 He said
to his servant, “Come
and let’s draw
near to one
of these places;
and we will
lodge in Gibeah, or
in Ramah.”
14 So
they passed on
and went their
way; and the
sun went down
on them near
Gibeah, which belongs to
Benjamin.
15 They
went over there,
to go in
to stay in
Gibeah. He went
in, and sat
down in the
street of the
city; for there
was no one who
took them into
his house to
stay.
16 Behold,
an old man came
from his work
out of the
field at evening.
Now the man
was from the
hill country
of Ephraim, and he
lived in Gibeah;
but the men
of the place
were Benjamites.
17 He
lifted up his
eyes, and saw
the wayfaring man
in the street
of the city;
and the old
man said, “Where are
you going? Where
did you come
from?”
18 He said
to him, “We
are passing from
Bethlehem Judah to
the farther side
of the hill
country of Ephraim.
I am from
there, and I
went to Bethlehem
Judah. I am
going to the
LORD’s house; and
there is no
one who has
taken me into
his house.
19 Yet
there is both
straw and feed
for our donkeys;
and there is
bread and wine
also for me,
and for your
servant, and for
the young man
who is with
your servants.
There is no
lack of anything.”
20 The
old man said, “Peace
be to you!
Just let me supply
all your needs,
but don’t sleep in
the street.”
21 So
he brought him into his
house, and gave
the donkeys fodder.
Then they washed
their feet, and ate
and drank.
22 As
they were making
their hearts merry,
behold, the men
of the city,
certain wicked
fellows, surrounded
the house, beating
at the door;
and they spoke to
the master of
the house, the
old man, saying, “Bring
out the man
who came into
your house, that
we can have sex
with him!”
23 The
man, the master
of the house,
went out to
them, and said
to them, “No,
my brothers, please don’t
act so wickedly;
since this man has
come into my
house, don’t do
this folly.
24 Behold,
here is my
virgin daughter
and his concubine.
I will bring
them out now.
Humble them, and
do with them
what seems good
to you; but
to this man don’t
do any such
folly.”
25 But
the men wouldn’t
listen to him;
so the man
grabbed his
concubine, and
brought her out
to them; and
they had sex with
her, and abused
her all night
until the morning.
When the day began
to dawn, they
let her go.
26 Then
the woman came
in the dawning
of the day,
and fell down
at the door
of the man’s
house where
her lord was,
until it was light.
27 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 had
fallen down at
the door of
the house, with
her hands on
the threshold.
28 He
said to her, “Get
up, and let’s
get going!” but
no one answered.
Then he took
her up on
the donkey; and
the man rose
up, and went
to his place.
29 When
he had come
into his house,
he took a
knife and cut
up his concubine,
and divided her,
limb by limb,
into twelve pieces,
and sent her
throughout all the
borders of Israel.
30 It
was so, that
all who saw
it said, “Such
a deed has
not been done
or seen from
the day that
the children of
Israel came up
out of the land
of Egypt to
this day! Consider
it, take counsel,
and speak.”