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
.
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
.
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.
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.
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
.
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
.
And when the man rose up
to depart
, his father in law
urged
him: therefore he lodged
there again
.
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.
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
.
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.
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.
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
.
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
.
And they passed on and went their way
; and the sun
went down
upon them when they were by
Gibeah
, which belongeth to Benjamin
.
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
.
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
.
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?
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
.
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
.
And the old man
said
, Peace
be with thee; howsoever
let all thy wants
lie upon me; only lodge
not in the street
.
So he brought him into his house
, and gave provender
unto the asses
: and they washed
their feet
, and did eat
and drink
.
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.
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
.
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
.
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
.
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
.
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
.
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
.
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
.
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 .