Judges 19

1And there was a Levite sojourning in the sides of mount Ephraim, and he took to himselfa concubine from Bethleem Juda. 2And his concubine departed from him, and went away from him to the house of her fatherto Bethleem Juda, and she was there four months. 3And her husband rose up, and went after her to speak kindly to her, to recover her tohimself; and he had his young man with him, and a pair of asses; and she brought him into the house ofher father; and the father of the damsel saw him, and was well pleased to meet him. 4And his father-in-law, the father of the damsel, constrained him, and he stayed with himfor three days; and they ate and drank, and lodged there. 5And it came to pass on the fourth day that they rose early, and he stood up to depart;and the father of the damsel said to his son-in-law, Strengthen your heart with a morsel of bread, andafterwards you⌃ shall go. 6So they two sat down together and ate and drank: and the father of the damsel said toher husband, Tarry now the night, and let your heart be merry. 7And the man rose up to depart; but his father-in-law constrained him, and he stayed andlodged there. 8And he rose early in the morning on the fifth day to depart; and the father of the damselsaid, Strengthen now your heart, and quit yourself as a soldier till the day decline; and the two ate. 9And the man rose up to depart, he and his concubine, and his young man; but his father-in-lawthe father of the damsel said to him, Behold now, the day has declined toward evening; lodge here, anlet your heart rejoice; and you⌃ shall rise early to-morrow for your journey, and you shall go to yourhabitation. 10But the man would not lodge there, but he arose and departed, and came to the part oppositeJebus, (this is Jerusalem,) andthere was with him a pair of asses saddled, and his concubinewas with him. 11And they came as far as Jebus: and the day had far advanced, and the young man said tohis master, Come, I pray you, and let us turn aside to this city of the Jebusites, and let us lodge init. 12And his master said to him, We will not turn aside to a strange city, where there isnot one of the children of Israel, but we will pass on as far as Gabaa. 13And he said to his young man, Come, and let us draw near to one of the places, and wewill lodge in Gabaa or in Rama. 14And they passed by and went on, and the sun went down upon them near to Gabaa, whichis in Benjamin. 15And they turned aside thence to go in to lodge in Gabaa; and they went in, and sat downin the street of the city, and there was no one who conducted them into a house to lodge. 16And behold, an old man came out of the field from his work in the evening; and the manwas of mount Ephraim, and he sojourned in Gabaa, and the men of the placewere sons of Benjamin. 17And he lifted up his eyes, and saw a traveller in the street of the city; and the oldman said to him, Whither go you, and whence come you? 18And he said to him, We are passing by from Bethleem Juda to the sides of mount Ephraim:I am from thence, and I went as far as Bethleem Juda, and I am going home, and there is no man to takeme into his house. 19Yet is there straw and food for our asses, and bread and wine for me and my handmaidand the young man with your servants; there is no lack of anything. 20And the old man said, Peacebe to you; only be every lack of your upon me, only do you by no means lodge in the street. 21And he brought him into his house, and made room for his asses; and they washed theirfeet, and ate and drank. 22And theywere comforting their heart, when, behold, the men of the city, sons of transgressors, compassedthe house, knocking at the door: and they spoke to the old man the owner of the house, saying, Bring outthe man who came into your house, that we may know him. 23And the master of the house came out to them, and said, Nay, brethren, do not you⌃ wrong,I pray you, after this man has come into my house; do not you⌃ this folly. 24Behold my daughter a virgin, and the man's concubine: I will bring them out, and humbleyou⌃ them, and do to them that which is good in your eyes; but to this man do not this folly. 25But the men would not consent to hearken to him; so the man laid hold of his concubine,and brought her out to them; and they knew her, and abused her all night till the morning, and let hergo when the morning dawned. 26And the woman came toward morning, and fell down at the door of the house where her husbandwas, until it was light. 27And her husband rose up in the morning, and opened the doors of the house, and went forthto go on his journey; and, behold, the woman his concubine had fallen down by the doors of the house,and her hands were on the threshold. 28And he said to her, Rise, and let us go; and she answered not, for she was dead: andhe took her upon his ass, and went to his place. 29And he took his sword, and laid hold of his concubine, and divided her into twelve parts,and sent them to every coast of Israel. 30And it was so, that every one who saw it said,Such a day as this has not happened nor has been seen from the day of the going up of the childrenof Israel out of the land of Egypt until this day: take you⌃ counsel concerning it, and speak.

Copyright information for EngLXX