“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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 7 And when the man rose up to depart, his father
in law urged him: therefore he lodged there again. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.”
“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. 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? 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 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. 20 And the old man said, Peace [be] with thee; howsoever
[let] all thy wants [lie] upon me; only lodge not in the street. 21 So
he brought him into his house, and gave provender unto the asses: and
they washed their feet, and did eat and drink.”
“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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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].” (Judges 19:1-30 AV)
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