And it came to pass in those days,{H3117} when there was no king{H4428} in Israel,{H3478} that there was a certain{H376} Levite{H3881} sojourning{H1481} on the farther side{H3411} of the hill-country{H2022} of Ephraim,{H669} who took{H3947} to him a concubine{H802} out of Beth-lehem-judah.{H1035}

And his concubine{H6370} played the harlot{H2181} against him, and went away{H3212} from him unto her father's{H1} house{H1004} to Beth-lehem-judah,{H1035} and was there the space of four{H702} months.{H2320}

And her husband{H376} arose,{H6965} and went{H3212} after{H310} her, to speak{H1696} kindly{H3820} unto her, to bring her again,{H7725} having his servant{H5288} with him, and a couple{H6776} of asses:{H2543} and she brought{H935} him into her father's{H1} house;{H1004} and when the father{H1} of the damsel{H5291} saw{H7200} him, he rejoiced{H8055} to meet{H7125} him.

And his father-in-law,{H2859} the damsel's{H5291} father,{H1} retained{H2388} him; and he abode{H3427} with him three{H7969} days:{H3117} so they did eat{H398} and drink,{H8354} and lodged{H3885} there.

And it came to pass on the fourth{H7243} day,{H3117} that they arose early{H7925} in the morning,{H1242} and he rose up{H6965} to depart:{H3212} and the damsel's{H5291} father{H1} said{H559} unto his son-in-law,{H2860} Strengthen{H5582} thy heart{H3820} with a morsel{H6595} of bread,{H3899} and afterward{H310} ye shall go your way.{H3212}

So they sat down,{H3427} and did eat{H398} and drink,{H8354} both{H8147} of them together:{H3162} and the damsel's{H5291} father{H1} said{H559} unto the man,{H376} Be pleased,{H2974} I pray thee, to tarry all night,{H3885} and let thy heart{H3820} be merry.{H3190}

And the man{H376} rose up{H6965} to depart;{H3212} but his father-in-law{H2859} urged{H6484} him, and he lodged{H3885} there again.{H7725}

And he arose early{H7925} in the morning{H1242} on the fifth{H2549} day{H3117} to depart;{H3212} and the damsel's{H5291} father{H1} said,{H559} Strengthen{H5582} thy heart,{H3824} I pray thee, and tarry{H4102} ye until the day declineth;{H3117} and they did eat,{H398} both{H8147} of them.

And when the man{H376} rose up{H6965} to depart,{H3212} he, and his concubine,{H6370} and his servant,{H5288} his father-in-law,{H2859} the damsel's{H5291} father,{H1} said{H559} unto him, Behold, now the day{H3117} draweth{H7503} toward evening,{H6150} I pray you tarry all night:{H3885} behold, the day{H3117} groweth to an end,{H2583} lodge{H3885} here, that thy heart{H3824} may be merry;{H3190} and to-morrow{H4279} get you early{H7925} on your way,{H1870} that thou mayest go{H1980} home.{H168}

But the man{H376} would{H14} not tarry that night,{H3885} but he rose up{H6965} and departed,{H3212} and came{H935} over against{H5227} Jebus{H2982} (the same is Jerusalem):{H3389} and there were with him a couple{H6776} of asses{H2543} saddled;{H2280} his concubine{H6370} also was with him.

When they were by Jebus,{H2982} the day{H3117} was far{H3966} spent;{H7286} and the servant{H5288} said{H559} unto his master,{H113} Come,{H3212} I pray thee, and let us turn aside{H5493} into this city{H5892} of the Jebusites,{H2983} and lodge{H3885} in it.

And his master{H113} said{H559} unto him, We will not turn aside{H5493} into the city{H5892} of a foreigner,{H5237} that is not of the children{H1121} of Israel;{H3478} but we will pass over{H5674} to Gibeah.{H1390}

And he said{H559} unto his servant,{H5288} Come{H3212} and let us draw near{H7126} to one{H259} of these places;{H4725} and we will lodge{H3885} in Gibeah,{H1390} or in Ramah.{H7414}

So they passed on{H5674} and went their way;{H3212} and the sun{H8121} went down{H935} upon them near{H681} to Gibeah,{H1390} which belongeth to Benjamin.{H1144}

And they turned aside{H5493} thither, to go in{H935} to lodge{H3885} in Gibeah:{H1390} and he went in,{H935} and sat him down{H3427} in the street{H7339} of the city;{H5892} for there was no man{H376} that took{H622} them into his house{H1004} to lodge.{H3885}

And, behold, there came{H935} an old{H2205} man{H376} from his work{H4639} out of the field{H7704} at even:{H6153} now the man was{H376} of the hill-country{H2022} of Ephraim,{H669} and he sojourned{H1481} in Gibeah;{H1390} but the men{H582} of the place{H4725} were Benjamites.{H1145}

And he lifted up{H5375} his eyes,{H5869} and saw{H7200} the wayfaring{H732} man{H376} in the street{H7339} of the city;{H5892} and the old{H2205} man{H376} said,{H559} Whither goest{H3212} thou? and whence{H370} comest{H935} thou?

And he said{H559} unto him, We are passing{H5674} from Beth-lehem-judah{H1035} unto the farther side{H3411} of the hill-country{H2022} of Ephraim;{H669} from thence am I, and I went{H3212} to Beth-lehem-judah:{H1035} and I am [now] going{H1980} to the house{H1004} of Jehovah;{H3068} and there is no man{H376} that taketh{H622} me into his house.{H1004}

Yet there is{H3426} both straw{H8401} and provender{H4554} for our asses;{H2543} and there is bread{H3899} and wine{H3196} also for me, and for thy handmaid,{H519} and for the young man{H5288} that is with thy servants:{H5650} there is no want{H4270} of anything.{H1697}

And the old{H2205} man{H376} said,{H559} Peace{H7965} be unto thee; howsoever{H7535} let all thy wants{H4270} lie upon me; only lodge{H3885} not in the street.{H7339}

So he brought{H935} him into his house,{H1004} and gave the asses{H2543} fodder;{H1101} and they washed{H7364} their feet,{H7272} and did eat{H398} and drink.{H8354}

As they were making their hearts{H3820} merry,{H3190} behold, the men{H582} of the city,{H5892} certain{H582} base{H1100} fellows,{H582} beset{H5437} the house{H1004} round about,{H5437} beating{H1849} at the door;{H1817} and they spake{H559} to the master{H1167} of the house,{H1004} the old{H2205} man,{H376} saying,{H559} Bring forth{H3318} the man{H376} that came{H935} into thy house,{H1004} that we may know{H3045} him.

And the man,{H376} the master{H1167} of the house,{H1004} went out{H3318} unto them, and said{H559} unto them, Nay,{H408} my brethren,{H251} I pray you, do not so wickedly;{H7489} seeing{H310} that this man{H376} is come{H935} into my house,{H1004} do{H6213} not this folly.{H5039}

Behold, here is my daughter{H1323} a virgin,{H1330} and his concubine;{H6370} them I will bring out{H3318} now, and humble{H6031} ye them, and do{H6213} with them what seemeth{H5869} good{H2896} unto you: but unto this man{H376} do{H6213} not any{H2063} such{H1697} folly.{H5039}

But the men{H582} would{H14} not hearken{H8085} to him: so the man{H376} laid{H2388} hold on his concubine,{H6370} and brought{H3318} her forth{H2351} unto them; and they knew{H3045} her, and abused{H5953} her all the night{H3915} until the morning:{H1242} and when the day{H7837} began to spring,{H5927} they let her go.{H7971}

Then came{H935} the woman{H802} in the dawning{H6437} of the day,{H1242} and fell down{H5307} at the door{H6607} of the man's{H376} house{H1004} where her lord{H113} was, till it was light.{H216}

And her lord{H113} rose up{H6965} in the morning,{H1242} and opened{H6605} the doors{H1817} of the house,{H1004} and went out{H3318} to go{H3212} his way;{H1870} and, behold, the woman{H802} his concubine{H6370} was fallen down{H5307} at the door{H6607} of the house,{H1004} with her hands{H3027} upon the threshold.{H5592}

And he said{H559} unto her, Up,{H6965} and let us be going;{H3212} but none answered:{H6030} then he{H376} took{H3947} her up upon the ass;{H2543} and the man{H376} rose up,{H6965} and gat{H3212} him unto his place.{H4725}

And when he was come{H935} into his house,{H1004} he took{H3947} a knife,{H3979} and laid hold{H2388} on his concubine,{H6370} and divided{H5408} her, limb by limb,{H6106} into twelve{H8147} pieces,{H5409} and sent{H7971} her throughout all the borders{H1366} of Israel.{H3478}

And it was so,{H1961} that all that saw{H7200} it said,{H559} There was no such deed{H2063} done nor seen{H7200} from the day{H3117} that the children{H1121} of Israel{H3478} came up{H5927} out of the land{H776} of Egypt{H4714} unto this day:{H3117} consider{H7760} it, take counsel,{H5779} and speak.{H1696}