14 And they passed by and went their way; and the sun went down on them near Gibeah, which belongs to Benjamin. 15 They turned aside there to go in to lodge in Gibeah. And when he went in, he sat down in the open square of the city, for no one would (A)take them into his house to spend the night.

16 Just then an old man came in from (B)his work in the field at evening, who also was from the mountains of Ephraim; he was staying in Gibeah, whereas the men of the place were Benjamites. 17 And when he raised his eyes, he saw the traveler in the open square of the city; and the old man said, “Where are you going, and where do you come from?”

18 So he said to him, “We are passing from Bethlehem in Judah toward the remote mountains of Ephraim; I am from there. I went to Bethlehem in Judah; now I am going to (C)the house of the Lord. But there is no one who will take me into his house, 19 although we have both straw and fodder for our donkeys, and bread and wine for myself, for your female servant, and for the young man who is with your servant; there is no lack of anything.”

20 And the old man said, (D)“Peace be with you! However, let all your needs be my responsibility; (E)only do not spend the night in the open square.” 21 (F)So he brought him into his house, and gave fodder to the donkeys. (G)And they washed their feet, and ate and drank.

Gibeah’s Crime

22 As they were (H)enjoying themselves, suddenly (I)certain men of the city, (J)perverted[a] men, surrounded the house and beat on the door. They spoke to the master of the house, the old man, saying, (K)“Bring out the man who came to your house, that we may know him carnally!

23 But (L)the man, the master of the house, went out to them and said to them, “No, my brethren! I beg you, do not act so wickedly! Seeing this man has come into my house, (M)do not commit this outrage. 24 (N)Look, here is my virgin daughter and [b]the man’s concubine; let me bring them out now. (O)Humble them, and do with them as you please; but to this man do not do such a vile thing!” 25 But the men would not heed him. So the man took his concubine and brought her out to them. And they (P)knew her and abused her all night until morning; and when the day began to break, they let her go.

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Footnotes

  1. Judges 19:22 Lit. sons of Belial
  2. Judges 19:24 Lit. his

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