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.
