Judges 19

MLV(i) 1 And it happened in those days, when there was no king in Israel, that there was a certain Levite traveling on the farther side of the hill-country of Ephraim, who took to him a concubine out of Bethlehem in Judah. 2 And his concubine played the prostitute against him and went away from him to her father's house to Bethlehem in Judah and was there the space of four months.
3 And her husband arose and went after her, to speak kindly to her, to bring her again, having his servant with him and a couple of donkeys. And she brought him into her father's house and when the father of the maiden saw him, he rejoiced to meet him.
4 And his father-in-law, the maiden's father, retained him and he abode with him three days. So they ate and drank and lodged there. 5 And it happened on the fourth day, that they arose early in the morning and he rose up to depart. And the maiden's father said to his son-in-law, Strengthen your heart with a morsel of bread and afterward you* will go your* way.
6 So they sat down and ate and drank, both of them together. And the maiden's father said to the man, I beseech you, be pleased to abide all night and let your heart be merry. 7 And the man rose up to depart, but his father-in-law urged him and he lodged there again.
8 And he arose early in the morning on the fifth day to depart. And the maiden's father said, Strengthen your heart, I beseech you and abide until the day declines. And they ate, both of them. 9 And when the man rose up to depart, he and his concubine and his servant, his father-in-law, the maiden's father, said to him, Behold, now the day draws toward evening, I beseech you* abide all night. Behold, the day grows to an end, lodge here that your heart may be merry and tomorrow get early on your* way that you may go home.
10 But the man would not abide that night, but he rose up and departed and came opposite Jebus (what is Jerusalem). And there were with him a couple of saddled donkeys. His concubine was also with him.
11 When they were by Jebus, the day was far spent and the servant said to his master, Come, I beseech you and let us turn aside into this city of the Jebusites and lodge in it. 12 And his master said to him, We will not turn aside into the city of a foreigner that is not of the sons of Israel, but we will pass over to Gibeah. 13 And he said to his servant, Come and let us draw near to one of these places and we will lodge in Gibeah, or in Ramah.
14 So they passed on and went their way. And the sun went down upon them near to Gibeah, which belongs to Benjamin. 15 And they turned aside there, to go in to lodge in Gibeah. And he went in and sat down in the street of the city, for there was no man that took them into his house to lodge.
16 And behold, there came an old man from his work out of the field at evening. Now the man was of the hill-country of Ephraim and he traveled in Gibeah, but the men of the place were Benjamites.
17 And he lifted up his eyes and saw the wayfaring man in the street of the city. And the old man said, Where do you go? And from where do you come?
18 And he said to him, We are passing from Bethlehem in Judah to the farther side of the hill-country of Ephraim. I am from there and I went to Bethlehem in Judah. And I am now going to the house of Jehovah and there is no man that takes me into his house. 19 Yet there is both straw and fodder for our donkeys and there is bread and wine also for me and for your handmaid and for the young man who is with your servants. There is no want of anything.
20 And the old man said, Peace be to you. However let all your wants lie upon me, only do not lodge in the street. 21 So he brought him into his house and gave the donkeys fodder. And they washed their feet and ate and drank.
22 As they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, certain worthless fellows, beset the house all around, beating at the door. And they spoke to the master of the house, the old man, saying, Bring forth the man who came into your house, that we may know him.
23 And the man, the master of the house, went out to them and said to them, No, my brothers, I beseech you*, do not so wickedly, seeing that this man has come into my house. Do not this senselessness. 24 Behold, here is my daughter a virgin and his concubine. I will bring them out now and humble you* them and do with them what seems good to you*, but to this man do not do any such senselessness.
25 But the men would not listen to him. So the man laid hold on his concubine and brought her forth to 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. 26 Then the woman came 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.
27 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, with her hands upon the threshold.
28 And he said to her, Up and let us be going, but there was no answering. Then he took her up upon the donkey and the man rose up and got to his place. 29 And when he came 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.
30 And it was so, that all who saw it said, There was no such deed done nor seen from the day that the sons of Israel came up out of the land of Egypt to this day. Consider it, take counsel and speak.