The Book of Judges (WEB)
19: 1It happened in those days, when there was no king in Israel, that there was a certain Levite
sojourning on the farther side of the hill-country of Ephraim, who took to him a concubine out of
Beth-lehem-judah. 19:2His concubine played the prostitute against him, and went away from him to
her father's house to Beth-lehem-judah, and was there the space of four months. 19:3Her husband
arose, and went after her, to speak kindly to her, to bring her again, having his servant with him,
and a couple of donkeys: and she brought him into her father's house; and when the father of the
young lady saw him, he rejoiced to meet him. 19:4His father-in-law, the young lady's father, retained
him; and he abode with him three days: so they ate and drink, and lodged there. 19:5It happened on
the fourth day, that they arose early in the morning, and he rose up to depart: and the young lady's
father said to his son-in-law, Strengthen your heart with a morsel of bread, and afterward you shall
go your way. 19:6So they sat down, and ate and drink, both of them together: and the young lady's
father said to the man, Please be pleased to stay all night, and let your heart be merry. 19:7The man
rose up to depart; but his father-in-law urged him, and he lodged there again. 19:8He arose early in
the morning on the fifth day to depart; and the young lady's father said, Please strengthen your
heart and stay until the day declines; and they ate, both of them. 19:9When the man rose up to
depart, he, and his concubine, and his servant, his father-in-law, the young lady's father, said to
him, Behold, now the day draws toward evening, please stay all night: behold, the day grows to an
end, lodge here, that your heart may be merry; and tomorrow get you early on your way, that you
may go home. 19:10But the man wouldn't stay that night, but he rose up and departed, and came over
against Jebus (the same is Jerusalem): and there were with him a couple of donkeys saddled; his
concubine also was with him. 19:11When they were by Jebus, the day was far spent; and the servant
said to his master, Please come and let us turn aside into this city of the Jebusites, and lodge in it.
19:12His master said to him, We won't turn aside into the city of a foreigner, that is not of the
children of Israel; but we will pass over to Gibeah. 19:13He said to his servant, Come and let us draw
near to one of these places; and we will lodge in Gibeah, or in Ramah. 19:14So they passed on and
went their way; and the sun went down on them near to Gibeah, which belongs to Benjamin.
19:15They turned aside there, to go in to lodge in Gibeah: and he went in, and sat him down in the
street of the city; for there was no man who took them into his house to lodge. 19:16Behold, there
came an old man from his work out of the field at even: now the man was of the hill-country of
Ephraim, and he sojourned in Gibeah; but the men of the place were Benjamites. 19:17He lifted up
his eyes, and saw the wayfaring man in the street of the city; and the old man said, Where go you?
and whence come you? 19:18He said to him, We are passing from Beth-lehem-judah to the farther
side of the hill-country of Ephraim; from there am I, and I went to Beth-lehem-judah: and I am
now going to the house of Yahweh; and there is no man who takes me into his house. 19:19Yet there
is both straw and provender for our donkeys; and there is bread and wine also for me, and for your
handmaid, and for the young man who is with your servants: there is no want of anything. 19:20The
old man said, Peace be to you; howsoever let all your wants lie on me; only don't lodge in the
street. 19:21So he brought him into his house, and gave the donkeys fodder; and they washed their
feet, and ate and drink. 19:22As they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city,
certain base fellows, beset the house round about, beating at the door; and they spoke to the
master of the house, the old man, saying, Bring forth the man who came into your house, that we
may know him. 19:23The man, the master of the house, went out to them, and said to them, No, my
brothers, please don't act so wickedly; seeing that this man is come into my house, don't do this
folly. 19:24Behold, here is my daughter a virgin, and his concubine; them I will bring out now, and
humble you them, and do with them what seems good to you: but to this man don't do any such
folly. 19:25But the men wouldn't listen to him: so the man laid hold on his concubine, and brought
her forth to 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. 19:26Then came the woman in the dawning of the day, and fell
down at the door of the man's house where her lord was, until it was light. 19:27Her 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, with her hands on the threshold.
19:28He said to her, Up, and let us be going; but none answered: then he took her up on the donkey;
and the man rose up, and got him to his place. 19:29When he was come into his house, he took a
knife, and laid hold on his concubine, and divided her, limb by limb, into twelve pieces, and sent
her throughout all the borders of Israel. 19:30It was so, that all who 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 to this
day: consider it, take counsel, and speak.
World English Bible