Judges 19

And 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 Bethlehemjudah.

During a time when Israel had no king, a wandering Levite from the slopes of Mount Ephraim found himself a partner from Bethlehem in Judah.

And his concubine played the whore against him, and went away from him unto her father’s house to Bethlehemjudah, and was there four whole months.

His concubine was unfaithful to him and fled to her father's home in Bethlehem. She stayed there for four long months, leaving him in a state of heartbreak and abandonment.

And 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.

Her husband, filled with longing, set out to find her. He wanted to speak kindly to her, to bring her back home. His servant and two donkeys accompanied him. She led him to her father's house. Seeing him, her father was overjoyed.

And 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.

His father-in-law, the young woman's dad, warmly welcomed him. He stayed with him for three days, sharing meals, drinks, and laughter, making that place his home.

And 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.

On the early morning of the fourth day, he prepared to leave. The girl's father told his son-in-law, "Have a bite to eat to soothe your heart, then you can go."

And 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.

They both sat together, sharing a meal and drink, at the request of the young woman's father. He had asked the man to stay the night, urging him to be happy and enjoy himself.

And when the man rose up to depart, his father in law urged him: therefore he lodged there again.

When the man decided to leave, his father-in-law pleaded with him, so he stayed once more.

And 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.

As dawn broke on the fifth day, he prepared to leave. The girl's father pleaded, "Please, ease your heart." So they stayed, lingering until the afternoon, sharing a meal together.

And 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.

As the man prepared to leave with his beloved and his servant, his father-in-law, the young woman's dad, pleaded with him. "Look, it's almost nightfall," he said. "Please, stay the night. The day is almost over. Stay here, find joy in your heart. Then, at dawn, you can continue your journey home."

But 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.

The man couldn't stay that night. Overwhelmed with urgency, he left and headed towards Jebus, now known as Jerusalem. He wasn't alone; two loaded donkeys and his partner accompanied him on this journey.

And 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.

As they neared Jebus, dusk was settling in. The servant, weary from the journey, pleaded with his master, "Please, let's rest in this Jebusite city for the night."

And 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.

His master firmly declared, "We won't detour into a foreign city, not belonging to Israel's children. Instead, we'll continue on to Gibeah."

And 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.

He gently told his servant, "Let's find shelter for the night in either Gibeah or Ramah."

And they passed on and went their way; and the sun went down upon them when they were by Gibeah, which belongeth to Benjamin.

They continued their journey, and as they neared Gibeah, a town in Benjamin's territory, the sun began to set, casting a warm, golden glow over them.

And 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.

They detoured to Gibeah, intending to stay the night. Upon arrival, he sat down in the city street, feeling alone and unwelcome, as no one offered them shelter.

And, 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.

Look, an elderly man, weary from his day's work in the fields, came in as the evening fell. He too was from Mount Ephraim and was living in Gibeah. However, the locals were not his kin, but Benjamites.

And 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?

When he looked up, he saw a traveler on the city street. The old man asked, "Where are you going? And where have you come from?"

And he said unto him, We are passing from Bethlehemjudah toward the side of mount Ephraim; from thence am I: and I went to Bethlehemjudah, but I am now going to the house of the LORD; and there is no man that receiveth me to house.

He told him, "We're journeying from Bethlehem in Judah towards Mount Ephraim, that's where I'm from. I've been to Bethlehem, but now I'm headed to the Lord's house. Sadly, no one has offered me shelter."

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 which is with thy servants: there is no want of any thing.

We have ample food for our donkeys, and plenty of bread and wine for us - for me, the woman with me, and the young man with us. We lack nothing.

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

The elderly man warmly reassured, "May peace accompany you. Let me shoulder your burdens; just don't stay out in the open."

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

He warmly welcomed him into his home, providing food for their donkeys. They refreshed themselves, washing their feet, then sat down to share a meal and drink together.

Now 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.

As they were joyfully celebrating, suddenly, some wicked men from the city surrounded the house. They pounded on the door, demanding the homeowner, an elderly man, to bring out his guest so they could have sex with him.

And 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.

The homeowner stepped out, pleading with them, "Please, my brothers, don't act so horribly. This man is my guest, don't commit such an outrage."

Behold, 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.

Look, here are my virgin daughter and his concubine. I'll bring them out to you now. Abuse them, do whatever you like with them. But please, don't do such a vile thing to this man.

But 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.

Despite his pleas, the men ignored him. So the Levite took his concubine and put her outside to them. They raped her and abused her throughout the long, dark night. As dawn broke, they finally released her.

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.

As dawn broke, the woman arrived, collapsing in exhaustion at the doorstep of the house where her beloved resided, waiting until daylight.

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.

As dawn broke, her master awoke, unlocking the house doors to start his day. To his shock, he found his beloved concubine collapsed at the doorstep, her hands clutching the threshold.

And 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.

He gently told her, "Let's go." But there was no response. So, he lifted her onto a donkey. Then, he stood tall and led them back to their home.

And 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.

Upon returning home, he was consumed by a chilling resolve. He grasped a knife and with a heavy heart, he dismembered his beloved concubine. Her body, along with her bones, was divided into twelve parts. Each piece was then sent to every corner of Israel, a grim message carried on the winds of sorrow.

And 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.

Everyone who saw it agreed - such an act had never been witnessed since the Israelites left Egypt. Reflect on it, seek counsel, and share your thoughts.