1
And it came to pass in those days, when there was no king in Israel, that there was a certainLevitesojourning on the side of mountEphraim, who took to him a concubine out of Bethlehemjudah.
2
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.
3
And her husbandarose, and wentafter her, to speakfriendly 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 damselsaw him, he rejoiced to meet him.
4
And his father in law, the damsel's father, retained him; and he abode with him threedays: so they did eat and drink, and lodged there.
5
And it came to pass on the fourthday, when they arose early in the morning, that he rose up to depart: and the damsel's fathersaid unto his son in law, Comfort thine heart with a morsel of bread, and afterward go your way.
6
And they sat down, and did eat and drinkboth 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.
7
And when the man rose up to depart, his father in lawurged him: therefore he lodged there again.
8
And he arose early in the morning on the fifthday to depart: and the damsel's fathersaid, Comfort thine heart, I pray thee. And they tarried until afternoon, and they did eatboth of them.
9
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 daydraweth 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 gohome.
10
But the manwould not tarry that night, but he rose up and departed, and came over againstJebus, which is Jerusalem; and there were with him twoassessaddled, his concubine also was with him.
11
And when they were by Jebus, the day was farspent; and the servantsaid unto his master, Come, I pray thee, and let us turn in into this city of the Jebusites, and lodgein it.
12
And his mastersaid 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 byGibeah, which belongeth to Benjamin.
15
And they turned aside thither, to go in and to lodgeinGibeah: and when he went in, he sat him downin a street of the city: for there was no man that took them into his house to lodging.
16
And, behold, there came an oldman from his work out of the field at even, which was also of mountEphraim; 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 wayfaringman in the street of the city: and the oldmansaid, Whither goest thou? and whencecomest thou?
18
And he said unto him, We are passing from Bethlehemjudah toward the side of mountEphraim; 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 isbread 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 oldmansaid, 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 heartsmerry, behold, the men of the city, certainsons of Belial, beset the house round about, and beat at the door, and spake to the master of the house, the oldman, 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 seemethgood unto you: but unto this mando not sovile a thing.
25
But the menwould not hearken to him: so the mantook 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 mantook 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 twelvepieces, 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.