And it came to pass in thosedays, whenthere was no king in Israel, thatthere was a certainLevitesojourning on the side of mountEphraim, who took to him a concubine out of Bethlehemjudah.
And her husbandarose, and wentafter her, to speakfriendlyunto her, and to bring her again, having his servantwith him, and a couple of asses: and she brought him into her father’shouse: and when the father of the damsel saw him, he rejoiced to meet him.
And it came to pass on the fourth day, whentheyaroseearly in the morning, that he rose up to depart: and the damsel’sfathersaidunto his son in law, Comfortthineheartwith a morsel of bread, and afterward go your way.
And they sat down, and did eat and drinkboth of themtogether: for the damsel’sfather had saidunto the man, Be content, I praythee, and tarry all night, and let thineheart be merry.
And he aroseearly in the morning on the fifth day to depart: and the damsel’sfathersaid, Comfortthineheart, I praythee. And theytarrieduntilafternoon, and they did eat both of them.
And when the man rose up to depart, he, and his concubine, and his servant, his father in law, the damsel’sfather, saidunto him, Behold, now the day drawethtowardevening, I pray you tarry all night: behold, the day groweth to an end, lodgehere, thatthineheart may be merry; and to morrow get you early on your way, thatthoumayest go home.
But the man would not tarrythatnight, but he rose up and departed, and cameoveragainstJebus, which is Jerusalem; and therewerewith him two assessaddled, his concubinealso was with him.
And whentheywere by Jebus, the day was far spent; and the servantsaidunto his master, Come, I praythee, and let us turn in intothiscity of the Jebusites, and lodge in it.
And theyturnedasidethither, 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 thattooktheminto his house to lodging.
And, behold, therecame an old man from his work out of the field at even, which was also of mountEphraim; and he sojourned in Gibeah: but the men of the placewereBenjamites.
And he saidunto him, We are passingfromBethlehemjudahtoward the side of mountEphraim; fromthence am I: and I went to Bethlehemjudah, but I am now going to the house of the LORD; and there is no man thatreceiveth me to house.
Yet there is bothstraw and provender for our asses; and there is bread and winealso for me, and for thy handmaid, and for the young man which is with thy servants: there is no want of any thing.
Now as theyweremakingtheirheartsmerry, behold, the men of the city, certainsons of Belial, beset the houseroundabout, and beat at the door, and spake to the master of the house, the old man, saying, Bringforth the man thatcameintothinehouse, that we may know him.
And the man, the master of the house, went out untothem, and saiduntothem, Nay, my brethren, nay, I pray you, do not so wickedly; seeingthatthis man is comeintominehouse, do not thisfolly.
Behold, here is my daughter a maiden, and his concubine; them I willbring out now, and humble ye them, and do withthemwhatseemethgoodunto you: but untothis man do not so vile a thing.
But the men would not hearken to him: so the man took his concubine, and brought her forthuntothem; and theyknew her, and abused her all the nightuntil the morning: and when the day began to spring, they let her go.
And her lordrose 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 fallendown at the door of the house, and her handswereupon the threshold.
And when he was comeinto his house, he took a knife, and laidhold on his concubine, and divided her, togetherwith her bones, intotwelvepieces, and sent her into all the coasts of Israel.
And it was so, that all that saw it said, There was no suchdeeddone nor seenfrom the day that the children of Israelcame up out of the land of Egyptuntothis day: consider of it, takeadvice, and speakyourminds.