Judges
19:1 And 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.
19:2 And his concubine played the whore against him, and went away from him
unto her father's house to Bethlehemjudah, and was there four whole
months.
19:3 And 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's house: and when the father
of the damsel saw him, he rejoiced to meet him.
19:4 And his father in law, the damsel's father, retained him; and he abode
with him three days: so they did eat and drink, and lodged there.
19:5 And it came to pass on the fourth day, when they arose early in the
morning, that he rose up to depart: and the damsel's father said unto
his son in law, Comfort thine heart with a morsel of bread, and
afterward go your way.
19:6 And they sat down, and did eat and drink both of them together: for the
damsel's father had said unto the man, Be content, I pray thee, and
tarry all night, and let thine heart be merry.
19:7 And when the man rose up to depart, his father in law urged him:
therefore he lodged there again.
19:8 And he arose early in the morning on the fifth day to depart: and the
damsel's father said, Comfort thine heart, I pray thee. And they tarried
until afternoon, and they did eat both of them.
19:9 And when the man rose up to depart, he, and his concubine, and his
servant, his father in law, the damsel's 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.
19:10 But 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.
19:11 And 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.
19:12 And 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.
19:13 And 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.
19:14 And they passed on and went their way; and the sun went down upon them
when they were by Gibeah, which belongeth to Benjamin.
19:15 And 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.
19:16 And, 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.
19:17 And 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?
19:18 And 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.
19:19 Yet 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.
19:20 And the old man said, Peace be with thee; howsoever let all thy wants
lie upon me; only lodge not in the street.
19:21 So he brought him into his house, and gave provender unto the asses: and
they washed their feet, and did eat and drink.
19:22 Now 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.
19:23 And 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.
19:24 Behold, 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.
19:25 But 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.
19:26 Then came the woman in the dawning of the day, and fell down at the door
of the man's house where her lord was, till it was light.
19:27 And 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.
19:28 And 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.
19:29 And 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.
19:30 And 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.
