1And it came to pass in those days , when there was no king in Israel , that there was a certain Levite sojourning on the farther side of the hill-country of Ephraim, who took to him a concubine out of Beth-lehem-judah . 2And his concubine played the harlot against him , and went away from him unto her father’s house to Beth-lehem-judah , and was there the space of four months . 3And her husband arose , and went after her , to speak kindly unto her , 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 damsel saw him , he rejoiced to meet him . 4And his father-in-law , the damsel ’s father, retained him ; and he abode with him three days : so they did eat and drink , and lodged there . 5And it came to pass on the fourth day , that they arose early in the morning , and he rose up to depart : and the damsel ’s father said unto his son-in-law , Strengthen thy heart with a morsel of bread , and afterward ye shall go your way . 6So they sat down , and did eat and drink , both of them together : and the damsel ’s father said unto the man , Be pleased , I pray thee , to tarry all night , and let thy heart be merry . 7And the man rose up to depart ; but his father-in-law urged him , and he lodged there again . 8And he arose early in the morning on the fifth day to depart ; and the damsel ’s father said, Strengthen thy heart , I pray thee , and tarry ye until the day declineth ; and they did eat, both of them . 9And 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 day draweth toward evening , I pray you tarry all night : behold , the day groweth to an end , lodge here , that thy heart may be merry ; and to-morrow get you early on your way , that thou mayest go home .
The Tragic Events in Gibeah
10But the man would not tarry that night , but he rose up and departed , and came over against Jebus ( the same is Jerusalem ): and there were with him a couple of asses saddled ; his concubine also was with him . 11When they were by Jebus , the day was far spent ; and the servant said unto his master, Come , I pray thee , and let us turn aside into this city of the Jebusites , and lodge in it . 12And his master said unto him , We will not turn aside into the city of a foreigner , that is not of the children of Israel ; but we will pass over to Gibeah . 13And he said unto his servant , Come and let us draw near to one of these places ; and we will lodge in Gibeah , or in Ramah . 14So they passed on and went their way ; and the sun went down upon them near to Gibeah , which belongeth to Benjamin . 15And they turned aside thither , to go in to lodge in Gibeah : and he went in , and sat him down in the street of the city ; for there was no man that took them into his house to lodge . 16And , behold , there came an old man from his work out of the field at even : now the man was of the hill-country of Ephraim, and he sojourned in Gibeah ; but the men of the place were Benjamites . 17And he lifted up his eyes , and saw the wayfaring man in the street of the city ; and the old man said, Whither goest thou ? and whence comest thou ? 18And he said unto him , We are passing from Beth-lehem-judah unto the farther side of the hill-country of Ephraim; from thence am I , and I went to Beth-lehem-judah : and I am now going to the house of Jehovah ; and there is no man that taketh me into his house . 19Yet 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 that is with thy servants : there is no want of anything . 20And the old man said, Peace be unto thee; howsoever let all thy wants lie upon me ; only lodge not in the street . 21So he brought him into his house , and gave the asses fodder ; and they washed their feet , and did eat and drink .
The Consequences of Sin
22As they were making their hearts merry , behold , the men of the city , certain base fellows , beset the house round about , beating at the door ; and they spake to the master of the house , the old man , saying, Bring forth the man that came into thy house , that we may know him . 23And the man , the master of the house , went out unto them , and said unto them , Nay, my brethren, I pray you , do not so wickedly ; seeing that this man is come into my house , do not this folly . 24Behold , here is my daughter a virgin , and his concubine ; them I will bring out now , and humble ye them , and do with them what seemeth good unto you : but unto this man do not any such folly . 25But the men would not hearken to him : so the man laid hold on 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 . 26Then 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. 27And 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 , with her hands upon the threshold . 28And he said unto her , Up , and let us be going ; but none answered : then he took her up upon the ass ; and the man rose up , and gat him unto his place . 29And when he was come into his house , he took a knife , and laid hold on his concubine , and divided her , limb by limb , into twelve pieces , and sent her throughout all the borders of Israel . 30And 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 it , take counsel , and speak .