-
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.
02 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.
03 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.
04 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.
05 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.
06 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.
07 And when the man rose up to depart, his father
in law urged him: therefore he lodged there
again.
08 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.
09 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.
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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.
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