1And it came to pass in those days , when there was no king in Israel , that there was a certain Levite sojourning on the side of mount Ephraim , who took to him a concubine out of Beth-lehem-judah . 2And his concubine played the whore against him, and went away from him unto her father’s house to Beth-lehem-judah , and was there four whole months . 3And her husband arose , and went after her, to speak friendly unto her, and 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 , when they arose early in the morning , that he rose up to depart : and the damsel’s father said unto his son in law , Comfort thine heart with a morsel of bread , and afterward go your way . 6And they sat down , and did eat and drink both of them together : for the damsel’s father had said unto the man , Be content , I pray thee, and tarry all night , and let thine heart be merry . 7And when the man rose up to depart , his father in law urged him: therefore he lodged there again . 8And he arose early in the morning on the fifth day to depart : and the damsel’s father said , Comfort thine heart , I pray thee. And they tarried until afternoon , 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 thine 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 , which is Jerusalem ; and there were with him two asses saddled , his concubine also was with him. 11And when they were by Jebus , the day was far spent ; and the servant said unto his master , Come , I pray thee, and let us turn in into this city of the Jebusites , and lodge in it. 12And his master said unto him, We will not turn aside hither into the city of a stranger , that is not of the children of Israel ; we will pass over to Gibeah . 13And he said unto his servant , Come , and let us draw near to one of these places to lodge all night , in Gibeah , or in Ramah . 14And they passed on and went their way ; and the sun went down upon them when they were by Gibeah , which belongeth to Benjamin . 15And they turned aside thither, to go in and to lodge in Gibeah : and when he went in , he sat him down in a street of the city : for there was no man that took them into his house to lodging . 16And, behold, there came an old man from his work out of the field at even , which was also of mount Ephraim ; and he sojourned in Gibeah : but the men of the place were Benjamites . 17And when he had lifted up his eyes , he saw a 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 toward the side of mount Ephraim ; from thence am I: and I went to Beth-lehem-judah , but I am now going to the house of the LORD ; and there is no man that receiveth me to 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 which is with thy servants : there is no want of any thing . 20And the old man said , Peace be with thee; howsoever let all thy wants lie upon me; only lodge not in the street . 21So he brought him into his house , and gave provender unto the asses : and they washed their feet , and did eat and drink .
The Consequences of Sin
22Now as they were making their hearts merry , behold, the men of the city , certain sons of Belial , beset the house round about , and beat at the door , and spake to the master of the house , the old man , saying , Bring forth the man that came into thine 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 , nay , I pray you, do not so wickedly ; seeing that this man is come into mine house , do not this folly . 24Behold, here is my daughter a maiden , 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 so vile a thing . 25But the men would not hearken to him: so the man took 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 , and her hands were upon the threshold . 28And he said unto her, Up , and let us be going . But none answered . Then the man took her up upon an 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, together with her bones , into twelve pieces , and sent her into all the coasts 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 of it, take advice , and speak your minds .