Shophetim (Judges) 19
19
1And it came to be in those days, when there was no sovereign in Yisra’ĕl, that there was a certain Lĕwite sojourning on the further side of the mountains of Ephrayim. And he took for himself a concubine from Bĕyth Leḥem in Yehuḏah.
2And his concubine committed whoring against him, and went away from him to her father’s house at Bĕyth Leḥem in Yehuḏah, and was there four new moons of days.#Four whole months.
3And her husband arose and went after her, to speak to her heart and bring her back, having his servant and a couple of donkeys with him. And she brought him into her father’s house. And the father of the young woman saw him, and he was glad to meet him.
4And his father-in-law, the young woman’s father, took hold of him, and he dwelt with him three days. And they ate and drank and spent the nights there.
5And it came to be on the fourth day that they arose early in the morning. And he prepared to leave, but the young woman’s father said to his son-in-law, “Refresh your heart with a piece of bread, and afterward go your way.”
6So they sat down, and the two of them ate and drank together. And the young woman’s father said to the man, “Please agree to stay all night, and let your heart be glad.”
7And when the man arose to go, his father-in-law urged him. So he spent the night there again.
8And he arose early in the morning on the fifth day to go. But the young woman’s father said, “Please refresh your heart.” So they delayed until afternoon, and both of them ate.
9And the man arose to go, he and his concubine and his servant. But his father-in-law, the young woman’s father, said to him, “See, the day is now drawing toward evening. Please spend the night. See, the day is coming to an end. Stay here, and let your heart be glad. And you shall rise early tomorrow for your journey, and you shall go to your tent.”
10But the man would not stay that night. And he arose and left, and came to a place opposite Yeḇus, that is Yerushalayim. And with him were the two saddled donkeys, and his concubine with him.
11They were near Yeḇus, and the day was far spent. And the servant said to his master, “Come, please, and let us turn aside into this city of the Yeḇusites and spend the night in it.”
12And his master said to him, “Let us not turn aside here into a city of foreigners, who are not of the children of Yisra’ĕl. But we shall pass over to Giḇ‛ah.”
13And he said to his servant, “Come, let us draw near to one of these places, and spend the night in Giḇ‛ah or in Ramah.”
14And they passed over and went their way. And the sun went down on them near Giḇ‛ah, which belongs to Binyamin,
15and they turned off there to go in to spend the night in Giḇ‛ah. So he went in, and he sat down in the open square of the city, for no one would take them into his house to spend the night.
16But see, an old man came in from his work in the field at evening, who also was from the mountains of Ephrayim. And he was sojourning in Giḇ‛ah, whereas the men of the place were Binyamites.
17And when he lifted up his eyes, he saw the traveller in the open square of the city. And the old man said, “Where are you going, and where do you come from?”
18And he said to him, “We are passing over from Bĕyth Leḥem in Yehuḏah to the other side of the mountains of Ephrayim. I am from there, and I went to Bĕyth Leḥem in Yehuḏah, and I am going to the House of יהוה. But there is no one taking me into his house,
19yet there is both straw and fodder for our donkeys, and bread and wine for myself, and for your female servant, and for the young man who is with your servant; there is no lack of any matter.”
20And the old man said, “Peace be with you! However, let all your needs be on me, only do not spend the night in the open square.”
21And he brought him into his house, and gave fodder to the donkeys. And they washed their feet, and ate and drank.
22They were making their hearts glad, and see, men of the city, sons of Beliya‛al, surrounded the house, beating on the door. And they spoke to the master of the house, the old man, saying, “Bring out the man who came to your house, so that we know him!”
23But the man, the master of the house, went out to them and said to them, “No, my brothers! I beg you, do no evil! Since this man has come into my house, do not do this folly.
24“Look, here is my maiden daughter and the man’s concubine. Let me bring them out now, and humble them, and do with them what is good in your eyes, but do not do such a foolish matter to this man!”
25But the men would not listen to him. So the man took hold of his concubine and brought her out to them. And they knew her and rolled themselves on her all night until morning, and let her go when the day began to break.
26And as morning appeared the woman came back and fell down at the door of the man’s house where her master was, till it was light.
27And her master rose up in the morning, and opened the doors of the house and went out to go his way, and saw his concubine, fallen at the door of the house with her hands on the threshold.
28And he said to her, “Rise up and let us go.” But there was no answer. Then he took her on the donkey, and the man rose and went to his place,
29and came into his house and took a knife, then took hold of his concubine, and cut her up limb by limb into twelve pieces, and sent her throughout all the borders of Yisra’ĕl.
30And it came to be that all who saw it said, “There has never been, and there has not been seen the like of this, from the day that the children of Yisra’ĕl came up from the land of Mitsrayim until this day. Set your heart on it, take counsel, and speak up!”
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Shophetim (Judges) 19: TS2009
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Judges 19
19
1There was a certain Levite, who dwelt on the side of mount Ephraim, who took a wife of Bethlehem Juda.
2And she left him and returned to her father's house in Bethlehem, and abode with him four months.
3And her husband followed her, willing to be reconciled with her, and to speak kindly to her, and to bring her back with him, having with him a servant and two asses: and she received him, and brought him into her father's house. And when his father in law had heard this, and had seen him, he met him with joy,
4And embraced the man. And the son-in-law tarried in the house of his father-in-law three days, eating with him and drinking familiarly.
5But on the fourth day arising early in the morning he desired to depart. But his father-in-law kept him, and said to him: Taste first a little bread, and strengthen thy stomach, and so thou shalt depart.
6And they sat down together, and ate and drank. And the father of the young woman said to his son-in-law: I beseech thee to stay here to-day, and let us make merry together.
7But he rising up began to be for departing. And nevertheless his father-in-law earnestly pressed him, and made him stay with him.
8But when morning was come, the Levite prepared to go on his journey. And his father-in-law said to him again: I beseech thee to take a little meat, and strengthening thyself, till the day be farther advanced, afterwards thou mayest depart. And they ate together.
9And the young man arose to set forward with his wife and servant. And his father-in-law spoke to him again: Consider that the day is declining, and draweth toward evening. Tarry with me to-day also, and spend the day in mirt; and to-morrow thou shalt depart, that thou mayest go into thy house.
10His son-in-law would not consent to his words: but forthwith went forward and came over against Jebus, which by another name is called Jerusalem, leading with him two asses laden, and his concubine.
11And now they were come near Jebus, and the day was far spent. And the servant said to his master: Come, I beseech thee, let us turn into the city of the Jebusites, and lodge there.
12His master answered him: I will not go into the town of another nation, who are not of the children of Israel, but I will pass over to Gabaa.
13And when I shall come thither, we will lodge there, or at least in the city of Rama.
14So they passed by Jebus, and went on their journey, and the sun went down upon them when they were by Gabaa, which is in the tribe of Benjamin.
15And they turned into it, to lodge there. And when they were come in, they sat in the street of the city, for no man would receive them to lodge.
16And, behold, they saw an old man, returning out of the field and from his work in the evening; and he also was of mount Ephraim, and dwelt as a stranger in Gabaa. But the men of that country were the children of Jemini.
17And the old man lifting up his eyes saw the man sitting with his bundles in the street of the city, and said to him: Whence comest thou? And whither goest thou?
18He answered him: We came out from Bethlehem Juda, and we are going to our home, which is on the side of mount Ephraim, from whence we went to Bethlehem. And now we go to the house of God, and none will receive us under his roof.
19We have straw and hay for provender of the asses, and bread and wine for the use of myself and of thy handmaid, and of the servant that is with me: we want nothing but lodging.
20And the old man answered him: Peace be with thee: I will furnish all things that are necessary. Only I beseech thee, stay not in the street.
21And he brought him into his house, and gave provender to his asses: and after they had washed their feet, he entertained them with a feast.
22While they were making merry, and refreshing their bodies with meat and drink, after the labour of the journey, the men of that city, sons of Belial, (that is, without yoke,) came and beset the old man's house, and began to knock at the door, calling to the master of the house, and saying: Bring forth the man that came into thy house, that we may abuse him.
23And the old man went out to them, and said: Do not so, my brethren, do not so wickedly, because this man is come into my lodging: and cease I pray you from this folly.
24I have a maiden daughter, and this man hath a concubine. I will bring them out to you, and you may humble them, and satisfy your lust: only, I beseech you, commit not this crime against nature on the man.
25They would not be satisfied with his words; which the man seeing, brought out his concubine to them, and abandoned her to their wickedness. And when they had abused her all the night, they let her go in the morning.
26But the woman, at the dawning of the day, came to the door of the house where her lord lodged, and there fell down.
27And in the morning the man arose, and opened the door that he might end the journey he had begun. And, behold, his concubine lay before the door with her hands spread on the threshold.
28He thinking she was taking her rest, said to her: Arise, and let us be going. But as she made no answer, perceiving she was dead, he took her up, and laid her upon his ass, and returned to his house.
29And when he was come home he took a sword, and divided the dead body of his wife with her bones into twelve parts: and sent the pieces into all the borders of Israel.
30And when every one had seen this, they all cried out: There was never such a thing done in Israel from the day that our fathers came up out of Egypt, until this day. Give sentence, and decree in common what ought to be done.
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An historical text maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society.