Judges 19 · שופטים

And it came to pass in those days, when there was no king in Yisra᾽el that there was a certain Levite sojourning on the far side of mount Efrayim, who took to him a concubine out of Bet-leĥem-yehuda.

And his concubine was faithless to him, and went away from him to her father’s house to Bet-leĥem-yehuda, and was there four whole months.

And her husband arose, and went after her, to speak kindly to her, and to bring her back, 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 girl saw him, he rejoiced to meet him.

And his father in law, the girl’s father, detained 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, that they arose early in the morning, and he rose up to depart: and the girl’s father said to his son in law, Refresh thy heart with a morsel of bread, and afterwards go your way.

And they sat down, and did eat and drink both of them together: for the girl’s father had said to the man, Be content, I pray thee, and tarry all night, and let thy 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 girl’s father said, Refresh thy heart, I pray thee, and delay until the 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 girl’s father, said to him, Behold, now the day draws towards evening, I pray you stay the night: behold the day comes to an end; stay here the night, and thy heart may be merry; and tomorrow get you early on your way, that thou mayst go home.

But the man would not tarry that night, but he rose up and departed, and came over against Yevus, which is Yerushalayim; and there were with him two asses saddled; his concubine also was with him.

And when they were by Yevus, the day was far spent; and the servant said to his master, Come, I pray thee, and let us turn in into this city of the Yevusi, and we will spend the night here.

But his master said to him, We will not turn aside here into the city of a stranger, that is not of the children of Yisra᾽el; we will pass over to Giv῾a.

And he said to his servant, Come, and let us draw near to one of these places to lodge all night, in Giv῾a, or in Rama.

And they passed on and went their way; and the sun went down upon them when they were by Giv῾a, which belongs to Binyamin.

And they turned aside there to go in and to lodge in Giv῾a: and when he went in, he sat down in the open place of the city: for there was no man that took them into his house to lodge the night.

And, behold, there came an old man from his work out of the field at evening, who was also of mount Efrayim; and he sojourned in Giv῾a: but the men of the place were Beneyamini.

And he lifted up his eyes, and saw a traveller in the open place of the city: and the old man said, Where dost thou go, and where hast thou come from?

And he said to him, We are passing from Bet-leĥem-yehuda and on to the far side of mount Efrayim; I am from there: and I went to Bet-leĥem-yehuda, but I am now going to the house of the Lord; and there is no man that receives me in his 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 who is with thy servants: there is no want of any thing.

And the old man said, Peace be with thee; only let all thy wants lie upon me; but lodge not in the street.

So he brought him into his house, and gave fodder to the asses: and they washed their feet, and did eat and drink.

Now as they were gladdening their hearts, behold, the men of the city, worthless men, beset the house round about, and beat at the door, and spoke to the master of the house, the old man, saying, Bring out the man that came into thy house, that we may have our desire of him.

And the man, the master of the house, went out to them, and said to them, No, my brethren, no, I pray you, do not so wickedly; seeing that this man is come into my house, do not carry out this vileness.

Behold, here is my daughter a virgin, and his concubine; them I will bring out now; ravish them, and do with them what seems good to you: but to this man do not so vile a thing.

But the men would not hearken to him: so the man seized his concubine, and brought her out to them; and they had their desire of 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 to her, Up, and let us be going. But there was no answer. Then the man took her up upon an ass, and the man rose up, and went to his place.

And when he was come to his house, he took a knife, and laid hold of his concubine, and divided her, together with her bones, into twelve pieces, and sent her into the whole territory of Yisra᾽el.

And it was so, that all that saw it said, No such deed has been done or seen from the day that the children of Yisra᾽el came up out of the land of Miżrayim to this day: consider of it, take counsel, and speak your minds.