Judges 19
โ Judges 18 | Judges | Judges 20 โ
v1
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.
v2
His concubine played the prostitute against him, and went away from him to her fatherโs house to Bethlehem Judah, and was there for four months.
v3
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 fatherโs house; and when the father of the young lady saw him, he rejoiced to meet him.
v4
His father-in-law, the young ladyโs father, kept him there; and he stayed with him three days. So they ate and drank, and stayed there.
v5
On the fourth day, they got up early in the morning, and he rose up to depart. The young ladyโs father said to his son-in-law, โStrengthen your heart with a morsel of bread, and afterward you shall go your way.โ
v6
So they sat down, ate, and drank, both of them together. Then the young ladyโs father said to the man, โPlease be pleased to stay all night, and let your heart be merry.โ
v7
The man rose up to depart; but his father-in-law urged him, and he stayed there again.
v8
He arose early in the morning on the fifth day to depart; and the young ladyโs father said, โPlease strengthen your heart and stay until the day declines;โ and they both ate.
v9
When the man rose up to depart, he, and his concubine, and his servant, his father-in-law, the young ladyโs father, said to him, โBehold, 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.โ
v10
But the man wouldnโt 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.
v11
When they were by Jebus, the day was far spent; and the servant said to his master, โPlease come and letโs enter into this city of the Jebusites, and stay in it.โ
v12
His master said to him, โWe wonโt enter into the city of a foreigner that is not of the children of Israel; but we will pass over to Gibeah.โ
v13
He said to his servant, โCome and letโs draw near to one of these places; and we will lodge in Gibeah, or in Ramah.โ
v14
So they passed on and went their way; and the sun went down on them near Gibeah, which belongs to Benjamin.
v15
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.
v16
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.
v17
He lifted up his eyes, and saw the wayfaring man in the street of the city; and the old man said, โWhere are you going? Where did you come from?โ
v18
He said to him, โWe 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 Yahwehโs house; and there is no one who has taken me into his house.
v19
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.โ
v20
The old man said, โPeace be to you! Just let me supply all your needs, but donโt sleep in the street.โ
v21
So he brought him into his house, and gave the donkeys fodder. Then they washed their feet, and ate and drank.
v22
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, โBring out the man who came into your house, that we can have sex with him!โ
v23
The man, the master of the house, went out to them, and said to them, โNo, my brothers, please donโt act so wickedly; since this man has come into my house, donโt do this folly.
v24
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 donโt do any such folly.โ
v25
But the men wouldnโt 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.
v26
Then the woman came in the dawning of the day, and fell down at the door of the manโs house where her lord was, until it was light.
v27
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.
v28
He said to her, โGet up, and letโs get going!โ but no one answered. Then he took her up on the donkey; and the man rose up, and went to his place.
v29
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.
v30
It was so, that all who saw it said, โSuch 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.โ