Chapter 19

And it came to pass in those days, when [there was] no king in Israel, that there was a certain Levite sojourning⁶ on the side of mount Ephraim, who took⁴ to him a concubine ⁶³⁷⁰ out of Bethlehemjudah. ³⁰⁶³

And his concubine played the whore⁴ against him, and went away⁴ from him unto her father's house to Bethlehemjudah, ³⁰⁶³ and was there four whole months. ³¹¹⁷

And her husband arose,⁴ and went⁴ after her, to speak¹⁵ friendly unto her, [and] to bring her again,⁵³ having his servant with him, and a couple of asses: and she brought⁵⁵ him into her father's house: and when the father of the damsel saw⁴ him, he rejoiced⁴ to meet² him.

And his father in law,⁶ the damsel's father, retained⁵⁵ him; and he abode⁴ with him three days: so they did eat⁴ and drink,⁴ and lodged⁴ there.

And it came to pass on the fourth day, when they arose early⁵⁵ in the morning, that he rose up⁴ to depart:² and the damsel's father said⁴ unto his son in law, Comfort³ thine heart with a morsel of bread, and afterward go your way.⁴

And they sat down,⁴ and did eat⁴ and drink⁴ both of them together: for the damsel's father had said⁴ unto the man, Be content,⁵⁴ I pray thee, and tarry all night,³ and let thine heart be merry.⁴

And when the man rose up⁴ to depart,² his father in law⁶ urged⁴ him: therefore he lodged⁴ there again.⁴

And he arose early⁵⁵ in the morning on the fifth day to depart:² and the damsel's father said,⁴ Comfort³ thine heart, I pray thee. And they tarried¹¹⁵ until afternoon, ^{5186 2} and they did eat⁴ both of them.

And when the man rose up⁴ to depart,² he, and his concubine, and his servant, his father in law,⁶ the damsel's father, said⁴ unto him, Behold, now the day draweth¹ toward evening,² I pray you tarry all night:³ behold, the day groweth to an end,² lodge³ here, that thine heart may be merry;⁴ and to morrow get you early⁵² on your way, that thou mayest go¹ home.

But the man would¹ not tarry that night,² but he rose up⁴ and departed,⁴ and came⁴ over against Jebus, which [is] Jerusalem; and [there were] with him two asses saddled,⁷ his concubine also [was] with him.

[And] when they [were] by Jebus, the day was far spent;¹ and the servant said⁴ unto his master, Come,³ I pray thee, and let us turn in⁴ into this city of the Jebusites, and lodge⁴ in it.

And his master said⁴ unto him, We will not turn aside⁴ hither into the city of a stranger, that [is] not of the children of Israel; we will pass over¹ to Gibeah.

And he said⁴ unto his servant, Come,³ and let us draw near⁴ to one of these places to lodge all night,¹ in Gibeah, or in Ramah.

And they passed on⁴ and went their way;⁴ and the sun went down⁴ upon them [when they were] by Gibeah, which [belongeth] to Benjamin.

And they turned aside⁴ thither, to go in² [and] to lodge² in Gibeah: and when he went in,⁴ he sat him down⁴ in a street of the city: for [there was] no man that took¹⁸ them into his house to lodging.²

And, behold, there came¹ an old man from his work out of the field at even, which [was] also of mount Ephraim; and he sojourned¹ in Gibeah: but the men of the place [were] Benjamites. ³²²⁸

And when he had lifted up⁴ his eyes, he saw⁴ a wayfaring⁶ man in the street of the city: and the old man said,⁴ Whither goest⁴ thou? and whence comest⁴ thou?

And he said⁴ unto him, We [are] passing⁶ from Bethlehemjudah ³⁰⁶³ toward the side of mount Ephraim; from thence [am] I: and I went⁴ to Bethlehemjudah, ³⁰⁶³ but I [am now] going⁶ to the house of the LORD; and there [is] no man that receiveth¹⁸ me to house.

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.

And the old man said,⁴ Peace [be] with thee; howsoever [let] all thy wants [lie] upon me; only lodge⁴ not in the street.

So he brought⁵⁵ him into his house, and gave provender⁴ unto the asses: and they washed⁴ their feet, and did eat⁴ and drink.⁴

[Now] as they were making their hearts merry,⁵⁶ behold, the men of the city, certain sons of Belial, beset the house round about,⁸ [and] beat¹⁰² at the door, and spake⁴ to the master ³⁷⁶ of the house, the old man, saying,² Bring forth⁵⁴ the man that came¹ into thine house, that we may know⁴ him.

And the man, the master of the house, went out⁴ unto them, and said⁴ unto them, Nay, my brethren, [nay], I pray you, do not [so] wickedly;⁵⁵ seeing that this man is come¹ into mine house, do⁴ not this folly.

Behold, [here is] my daughter a maiden, and his concubine; them I will bring out⁵⁵ now, and humble¹⁶ ye them, and do³ with them what seemeth good unto you: but unto this man do⁴ not so vile a thing.

But the men would¹ not hearken² to him: so the man took⁵⁵ his concubine, and brought⁵⁵ her forth unto them; and they knew⁴ her, and abused¹⁰¹ her all the night until the morning: and when the day began to spring,² they let her go.¹⁷

Then came⁴ the woman in the dawning² of the day, and fell down⁴ at the door of the man's house where her lord [was], till it was light.

And her lord rose up⁴ in the morning, and opened⁴ the doors of the house, and went out⁴ to go² his way: and, behold, the woman his concubine was fallen down⁶ [at] the door of the house, and her hands [were] upon the threshold.

And he said⁴ unto her, Up,³ and let us be going.⁴ But none answered.⁶ Then the man took⁴ her [up] upon an ass, and the man rose up,⁴ and gat⁴ him unto his place.

And when he was come⁴ into his house, he took⁴ a knife, and laid hold⁵⁵ on his concubine, and divided¹⁷ her, [together] with her bones, into twelve ⁶²⁴⁰ pieces, and sent¹⁷ her into all the coasts of Israel.

And it was so, that all that saw⁶ it said,¹ There was⁸ no such deed done nor seen⁸ from the day that the children of Israel came up² out of the land of Egypt unto this day: consider³ of it, take advice,³ and speak¹⁶ [your minds].