Judges 19

Revised Geneva Translation

19 Also in those days, when there was no king in Israel, a certain Levite dwelt on the side of Mount Ephraim and took as a wife a concubine out of Bethlehem, Judah.

² And his concubine played the whore there and went away from him to her father’s house, to Bethlehem, Judah, and continued there for the space of four months.

³ And her husband arose and went after her, to speak friendly to her, and to bring her back. He also had his servant with him and a couple of donkeys. And she brought him to her father’s house. And when the young woman’s father saw him, he rejoiced at his coming.

⁴ And his father-in-law (the young woman’s father) received him. And he stayed with him for three days. So, they ate and drank and lodged there.

⁵ And when the fourth day came, they arose early in the morning, and he prepared to depart. Then, the young woman’s father said to his son-in-law, “Comfort your heart with a morsel of bread, and then go your way.”

⁶ So, they sat down and ate and drank, both of them together. And the young woman’s father said to the man, “Please, be content to stay all night, and let your heart be merry.”

⁷ And when the man rose up to depart, his father-in-law urged him. Therefore, he returned and lodged there.

⁸ And he arose up early the fifth day to depart. And the young woman’s father said, “Please, comfort your heart.” And they stayed until after midday, and they both ate.

⁹ Afterward, when the man arose to depart with his concubine and his servant, his father-in-law (the young woman’s father) said to him, “Behold now, the day draws toward evening. Please, stay all night. Behold, the Sun goes to rest. Lodge here, so that your heart may be merry. And tomorrow get on your way early and go to the tent.”

¹⁰ But the man would not stay, but arose and departed, and came over opposite Jebus (which is Jerusalem). And his two donkeys, laden, and his concubine were with him.

¹¹ When they were near Jebus, the day was well-spent and the servant said to his master, “Please come and let us turn to this city of the Jebusites and lodge there all night.”

¹² And his master answered him, “We will not turn into the city of strangers who are not of the children of Israel. But we will go forth to Gibeah.”

¹³ And he said to his servant, “Come and let us draw near to one of these places, so that we may lodge in Gibeah or in Ramah.”

¹⁴ So they went forward on their way. And the Sun went down upon them near Gibeah, which is in Benjamin.

¹⁵ Then, they turned there to go in and lodge in Gibeah. And when he came, he sat down in a street of the city, for there was no man who would take them into his house to lodge.

¹⁶ And behold, at evening, there came an old man from his work, out of the field. And the man was from Mount Ephraim but dwelt in Gibeah. And the men of that place were the children of Jemini.

¹⁷ And when he had lifted up his eyes, he saw a wayfaring man in the streets of the city. Then, this old man said, “Where are you going and from where did you come?”

¹⁸ And he answered him, “We came from Bethlehem, Judah, to the side of Mount Ephraim. I am from there. And I went to Bethlehem, Judah, and go to the House of the LORD. And no man has received me into his house,

¹⁹ “though we have straw and provender for our donkeys, and also bread and wine for me and your handmaid, and for the boy who is with your servant. We lack nothing.”

²⁰ And the old man said, “Peace be with you. As for all that you lack, you shall find it with me. Only, do not stay in the street all night.”

²¹ So, he brought him into his house and gave fodder to the donkeys. And they washed their feet and ate and drank.

²² And as they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, wicked men, surrounded the house and struck at the door and spoke to this old man, the master of the house, saying, “Bring forth the man who came into your house, so that we may know him!”

²³ And this man, the master of the house, went out to them, and said to them, “No, my brethren! Please do not do so wickedly, seeing that this man has come into my house. Do not do this villainy!

²⁴ “Behold, here is my daughter, a virgin, and his concubine! I will bring them out now. Humble them and do with them what seems good to you. But do not do this villainy to this man!”

²⁵ But the men would not listen to him. Therefore, the man took his concubine and brought her out to them. And they knew her and abused her all night until the morning. And when the day began to spring, they let her go.

²⁶ So the woman came, in the dawning of the day, and fell down at the door of the man’s house where her lord was, until the light of day.

²⁷ And her lord arose in the morning and opened the doors of the house and went out to go his way. And behold, the woman, his concubine, was dead at the door of the house, her hands upon the threshold.

²⁸ And he said to her, “Up! And let us go!” But she did not answer. Then he took her up upon the donkey. And the man rose up and went to his place.

²⁹ And when he had come to his house, he took a knife and laid hands on his concubine and divided her in pieces, with her bones, into twelve parts, and sent her through all quarters of Israel.

³⁰ And all who saw it, said, “There was no such thing done or seen since the time that the children of Israel came up from the land of Egypt until this day. Consider the matter, consult and give sentence!”