Jud 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.
Jud 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.
Jud 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.
Jud 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.
Jud 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.
Jud 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.
Jud 19:7 And when the man rose up to depart, his father in law urged him:
therefore he lodged there again.
Jud 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.
Jud 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 tomorrow get you early
on your way, that thou mayest go home.
Jud 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.
Jud 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.
Jud 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.
Jud 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.
Jud 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.
Jud 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.
Jud 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.
Jud 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?
Jud 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.
Jud 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.
Jud 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.
Jud 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.
Jud 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.
Jud 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.
Jud 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.
Jud 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.
Jud 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.
Jud 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.
Jud 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.
Jud 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.
Jud 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.