1 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}{(H8802)} on the side{H3411} of mount{H2022} Ephraim{H669}, who took{H3947}{(H8799)} to him a concubine{H802}{H6370} out of Bethlehemjudah{H1035}{H3063}.

2 And his concubine{H6370} played the whore{H2181}{(H8799)} against him, and went away{H3212}{(H8799)} from him unto her father's{H1} house{H1004} to Bethlehemjudah{H1035}{H3063}, and was there four{H702} whole months{H2320}{H3117}.

3 And her husband{H376} arose{H6965}{(H8799)}, and went{H3212}{(H8799)} after{H310} her, to speak{H1696}{(H8763)} friendly{H3820} unto her, and to bring her again{H7725}{(H8687)}, having his servant{H5288} with him, and a couple{H6776} of asses{H2543}: and she brought{H935}{(H8686)} him into her father's{H1} house{H1004}: and when the father{H1} of the damsel{H5291} saw{H7200}{(H8799)} him, he rejoiced{H8055}{(H8799)} to meet{H7125}{(H8800)} him.

4 And his father in law{H2859}{(H8802)}, the damsel's{H5291} father{H1}, retained{H2388}{(H8686)} him; and he abode{H3427}{(H8799)} with him three{H7969} days{H3117}: so they did eat{H398}{(H8799)} and drink{H8354}{(H8799)}, and lodged{H3885}{(H8799)} there.

5 And it came to pass on the fourth{H7243} day{H3117}, when they arose early{H7925}{(H8686)} in the morning{H1242}, that he rose up{H6965}{(H8799)} to depart{H3212}{(H8800)}: and the damsel's{H5291} father{H1} said{H559}{(H8799)} unto his son in law{H2860}, Comfort{H5582}{(H8798)} thine heart{H3820} with a morsel{H6595} of bread{H3899}, and afterward{H310} go your way{H3212}{(H8799)}.

6 And they sat down{H3427}{(H8799)}, and did eat{H398}{(H8799)} and drink{H8354}{(H8799)} both{H8147} of them together{H3162}: for the damsel's{H5291} father{H1} had said{H559}{(H8799)} unto the man{H376}, Be content{H2974}{(H8685)}, I pray thee, and tarry all night{H3885}{(H8798)}, and let thine heart{H3820} be merry{H3190}{(H8799)}.

7 And when the man{H376} rose up{H6965}{(H8799)} to depart{H3212}{(H8800)}, his father in law{H2859}{(H8802)} urged{H6484}{(H8799)} him: therefore he lodged{H3885}{(H8799)} there again{H7725}{(H8799)}.

8 And he arose early{H7925}{(H8686)} in the morning{H1242} on the fifth{H2549} day{H3117} to depart{H3212}{(H8800)}: and the damsel's{H5291} father{H1} said{H559}{(H8799)}, Comfort{H5582}{(H8798)} thine heart{H3824}, I pray thee. And they tarried{H4102}{(H8701)} until afternoon{H3117}{H5186}{(H8800)}, and they did eat{H398}{(H8799)} both{H8147} of them.

9 And when the man{H376} rose up{H6965}{(H8799)} to depart{H3212}{(H8800)}, he, and his concubine{H6370}, and his servant{H5288}, his father in law{H2859}{(H8802)}, the damsel's{H5291} father{H1}, said{H559}{(H8799)} unto him, Behold, now the day{H3117} draweth{H7503}{(H8804)} toward evening{H6150}{(H8800)}, I pray you tarry all night{H3885}{(H8798)}: behold, the day{H3117} groweth to an end{H2583}{(H8800)}, lodge{H3885}{(H8798)} here, that thine heart{H3824} may be merry{H3190}{(H8799)}; and to morrow{H4279} get you early{H7925}{(H8689)} on your way{H1870}, that thou mayest go{H1980}{(H8804)} home{H168}.

10 But the man{H376} would{H14}{(H8804)} not tarry that night{H3885}{(H8800)}, but he rose up{H6965}{(H8799)} and departed{H3212}{(H8799)}, and came{H935}{(H8799)} over against{H5227} Jebus{H2982}, which is Jerusalem{H3389}; and there were with him two{H6776} asses{H2543} saddled{H2280}{(H8803)}, his concubine{H6370} also was with him.

11 And when they were by Jebus{H2982}, the day{H3117} was far{H3966} spent{H7286}{(H8804)}; and the servant{H5288} said{H559}{(H8799)} unto his master{H113}, Come{H3212}{(H8798)}, I pray thee, and let us turn in{H5493}{(H8799)} into this city{H5892} of the Jebusites{H2983}, and lodge{H3885}{(H8799)} in it.

12 And his master{H113} said{H559}{(H8799)} unto him, We will not turn aside{H5493}{(H8799)} hither into the city{H5892} of a stranger{H5237}, that is not of the children{H1121} of Israel{H3478}; we will pass over{H5674}{(H8804)} to Gibeah{H1390}.

13 And he said{H559}{(H8799)} unto his servant{H5288}, Come{H3212}{(H8798)}, and let us draw near{H7126}{(H8799)} to one{H259} of these places{H4725} to lodge all night{H3885}{(H8804)}, in Gibeah{H1390}, or in Ramah{H7414}.

14 And they passed on{H5674}{(H8799)} and went their way{H3212}{(H8799)}; and the sun{H8121} went down{H935}{(H8799)} upon them when they were by{H681} Gibeah{H1390}, which belongeth to Benjamin{H1144}.

15 And they turned aside{H5493}{(H8799)} thither, to go in{H935}{(H8800)} and to lodge{H3885}{(H8800)} in Gibeah{H1390}: and when he went in{H935}{(H8799)}, he sat him down{H3427}{(H8799)} in a street{H7339} of the city{H5892}: for there was no man{H376} that took{H622}{(H8764)} them into his house{H1004} to lodging{H3885}{(H8800)}.

16 And, behold, there came{H935}{(H8804)} an old{H2205} man{H376} from his work{H4639} out of the field{H7704} at even{H6153}, which was also{H376} of mount{H2022} Ephraim{H669}; and he sojourned{H1481}{(H8804)} in Gibeah{H1390}: but the men{H582} of the place{H4725} were Benjamites{H1145}.

17 And when he had lifted up{H5375}{(H8799)} his eyes{H5869}, he saw{H7200}{(H8799)} a wayfaring{H732}{(H8802)} man{H376} in the street{H7339} of the city{H5892}: and the old{H2205} man{H376} said{H559}{(H8799)}, Whither goest{H3212}{(H8799)} thou? and whence{H370} comest{H935}{(H8799)} thou?

18 And he said{H559}{(H8799)} unto him, We are passing{H5674}{(H8802)} from Bethlehemjudah{H1035}{H3063} toward the side{H3411} of mount{H2022} Ephraim{H669}; from thence am I: and I went{H3212}{(H8799)} to Bethlehemjudah{H1035}{H3063}, but I am now going{H1980}{(H8802)} to the house{H1004} of the LORD{H3068}; and there is no man{H376} that receiveth{H622}{(H8764)} me to house{H1004}.

19 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} which is with thy servants{H5650}: there is no want{H4270} of any thing{H1697}.

20 And the old{H2205} man{H376} said{H559}{(H8799)}, Peace{H7965} be with thee; howsoever{H7535} let all thy wants{H4270} lie upon me; only lodge{H3885}{(H8799)} not in the street{H7339}.

21 So he brought{H935}{(H8686)} him into his house{H1004}, and gave provender{H1101}{(H8799)} unto the asses{H2543}: and they washed{H7364}{(H8799)} their feet{H7272}, and did eat{H398}{(H8799)} and drink{H8354}{(H8799)}.

22 Now as they were making their hearts{H3820} merry{H3190}{(H8688)}, behold, the men{H582} of the city{H5892}, certain{H582} sons{H1121} of Belial{H1100}, beset{H5437} the house{H1004} round about{H5437}{(H8738)}, and beat{H1849}{(H8693)} at the door{H1817}, and spake{H559}{(H8799)} to the master{H1167} of the house{H1004}, the old{H2205} man{H376}, saying{H559}{(H8800)}, Bring forth{H3318}{(H8685)} the man{H376} that came{H935}{(H8804)} into thine house{H1004}, that we may know{H3045}{(H8799)} him.

23 And the man{H376}, the master{H1167} of the house{H1004}, went out{H3318}{(H8799)} unto them, and said{H559}{(H8799)} unto them, Nay{H408}, my brethren{H251}, nay, I pray you, do not so wickedly{H7489}{(H8686)}; seeing{H310} that this man{H376} is come{H935}{(H8804)} into mine house{H1004}, do{H6213}{(H8799)} not this folly{H5039}.

24 Behold, here is my daughter{H1323} a maiden{H1330}, and his concubine{H6370}; them I will bring out{H3318}{(H8686)} now, and humble{H6031}{(H8761)} ye them, and do{H6213}{(H8798)} with them what seemeth{H5869} good{H2896} unto you: but unto this man{H376} do{H6213}{(H8799)} not so{H2063} vile{H5039} a thing{H1697}.

25 But the men{H582} would{H14}{(H8804)} not hearken{H8085}{(H8800)} to him: so the man{H376} took{H2388}{(H8686)} his concubine{H6370}, and brought{H3318}{(H8686)} her forth{H2351} unto them; and they knew{H3045}{(H8799)} her, and abused{H5953}{(H8691)} her all the night{H3915} until the morning{H1242}: and when the day{H7837} began to spring{H5927}{(H8800)}, they let her go{H7971}{(H8762)}.

26 Then came{H935}{(H8799)} the woman{H802} in the dawning{H6437}{(H8800)} of the day{H1242}, and fell down{H5307}{(H8799)} at the door{H6607} of the man's{H376} house{H1004} where her lord{H113} was, till it was light{H216}.

27 And her lord{H113} rose up{H6965}{(H8799)} in the morning{H1242}, and opened{H6605}{(H8799)} the doors{H1817} of the house{H1004}, and went out{H3318}{(H8799)} to go{H3212}{(H8800)} his way{H1870}: and, behold, the woman{H802} his concubine{H6370} was fallen down{H5307}{(H8802)} at the door{H6607} of the house{H1004}, and her hands{H3027} were upon the threshold{H5592}.

28 And he said{H559}{(H8799)} unto her, Up{H6965}{(H8798)}, and let us be going{H3212}{(H8799)}. But none answered{H6030}{(H8802)}. Then the man{H376} took{H3947}{(H8799)} her up upon an ass{H2543}, and the man{H376} rose up{H6965}{(H8799)}, and gat{H3212}{(H8799)} him unto his place{H4725}.

29 And when he was come{H935}{(H8799)} into his house{H1004}, he took{H3947}{(H8799)} a knife{H3979}, and laid hold{H2388}{(H8686)} on his concubine{H6370}, and divided{H5408}{(H8762)} her, together with her bones{H6106}, into twelve{H8147}{H6240} pieces{H5409}, and sent{H7971}{(H8762)} her into all the coasts{H1366} of Israel{H3478}.

30 And it was so{H1961}{(H8738)}, that all that saw{H7200}{(H8802)} it said{H559}{(H8804)}, There was no such deed{H2063} done nor seen{H7200}{(H8738)} from the day{H3117} that the children{H1121} of Israel{H3478} came up{H5927}{(H8800)} out of the land{H776} of Egypt{H4714} unto this day{H3117}: consider{H7760}{(H8798)} of it, take advice{H5779}{(H8798)}, and speak{H1696}{(H8761)} your minds.