Now in those days , when there was no king in Israel , ... ... a Levite who lived in the remote hill country of Ephraim took vvv a concubine from Bethlehem in Judah.
But she was unfaithful to him and left him to return to her father’s house in vvv Bethlehem in Judah. After she had been there - four months ,
her husband got up and went after her to speak kindly to her and bring her back , taking his servant ... and a pair of donkeys. So (the girl) brought him into her father’s house , and when (her) father saw him , he gladly welcomed him.
His father-in-law , the girl’s father , persuaded him to stay so he remained with him three days , eating , drinking , and lodging there.
- On the fourth day , they got up early in the morning and prepared to depart , but the girl’s father said to his son-in-law , “ Refresh your heart with a morsel of bread , and then you can go. ”
So they sat down and the two of them ate and drank together. Then the girl’s father said to the man , “ Please agree to stay overnight and let your heart be merry. ”
The man got up to depart , but his father-in-law ... persuaded so he stayed there that night.
On the fifth day , he got up early in the morning to depart , but the girl’s father said , “ Please refresh your heart. ” So they waited until late afternoon ... and the two of them ate.
When the man got up to depart ... with his concubine and his servant , his father-in-law , the girl’s father , said “ Look , the day is drawing to a close. Please spend the night. ... See , the day is almost over. Spend the night here , that your heart may be merry. Then you can get up early tomorrow for your journey ... home. ”
But the man was unwilling ... to spend the night. He got up and departed , and arrived ... opposite Jebus (that is , Jerusalem) , with his two saddled donkeys and his concubine -.
When they were near Jebus and the day was almost gone , the servant said to his master , ... “ Please , let us stop at this Jebusite city and spend the night
But his master replied - , “ We will not turn aside to the city of foreigners , where there are no Israelites .... ... We will go on to Gibeah. ”
He continued - , “ Come , let us try to reach one of these towns to spend the night in Gibeah or Ramah. ”
So they continued on their journey , and the sun set as they neared Gibeah - in Benjamin.
They stopped ... to go in and lodge in Gibeah. The Levite went in and sat down in the city square , but no one would take them into his home for the night.
- That evening an old man - from the hill country of Ephraim , ... who was residing in Gibeah ( the men of that place vvv were Benjamites ), came in from his work in the field.
When he looked up ... and saw - vvv the traveler in the city square , the old man asked , “ Where are you going , and where have you come from ? ”
(The Levite) replied , ... “ We are traveling from Bethlehem in Judah to the remote hill country of Ephraim , where I am from. I went to vvv Bethlehem in Judah , - and now I am going to the house of the LORD ; but no one has taken me into his home ,
even though there is both straw and feed for our donkeys , and bread and wine ... and the maidservant and young man with me. There is nothing that we, your servants , ... ... lack. ”
“ Peace said the old man. “ Let me supply ... everything you need. Only do not spend the night in the square. ”
So he brought him to his house and fed his donkeys. And they washed their feet and ate and drank.
While they were enjoying - themselves , suddenly the wicked men of the city - - surrounded - the house. Pounding on the door , they said to the old man who owned the house - , “ Bring out - the man who came to your house , so we can have relations with him ! ”
vvv The owner of the house went out - and said to them , “ No , my brothers , do not do this wicked thing ! ... After all - , this ... man is a guest in my house. Do not commit - this outrage.
Look , let me bring out my virgin daughter and the man’s concubine - , - and you can use them and do as you wish -. But do not do such a vile thing to this man. ”
But the men would ... not listen to him. took his concubine and sent her outside to them , and they raped her and abused throughout the night - - , and at dawn ... they let her go.
Early that morning ... , the woman went back to the house - where her master was staying , collapsed at the doorway , and lay there until it was light ....
In the morning , when her master got up and opened the doors of the house to go out ... on his journey , there was vvv his concubine , collapsed in the doorway of the house , with her hands on the threshold.
“ Get up , ” he told her. ... “ Let us go. ” But there was no response. So the man ... put her on his donkey and set out for home.
When he reached ... his house , he picked up - a knife , took hold of his concubine , cut her limb by limb into twelve ... pieces , and sent her throughout the territory of Israel.
And everyone who saw it said , “ Nothing like this has been seen or done - from the day the Israelites ... came out of the land of Egypt until this day. Think it over ... , take counsel , and speak up ! ”