Judges 19:22-20:7

New International Version

²² While they were enjoying themselves,^(A) some of the wicked men^(B) of the city surrounded the house. Pounding on the door, they shouted to the old man who owned the house, “Bring out the man who came to your house so we can have sex with him.^(C)”

²³ The owner of the house went outside^(D) and said to them, “No, my friends, don’t be so vile. Since this man is my guest, don’t do this outrageous thing.^{(E) 24} Look, here is my virgin daughter,^(F) and his concubine. I will bring them out to you now, and you can use them and do to them whatever you wish. But as for this man, don’t do such an outrageous thing.”

²⁵ But the men would not listen to him. So the man took his concubine and sent her outside to them, and they raped her^(G) and abused her^(H) throughout the night, and at dawn they let her go. ²⁶ At daybreak the woman went back to the house where her master was staying, fell down at the door and lay there until daylight.

²⁷ When her master got up in the morning and opened the door of the house and stepped out to continue on his way, there lay his concubine, fallen in the doorway of the house, with her hands on the threshold. ²⁸ He said to her, “Get up; let’s go.” But there was no answer. Then the man put her on his donkey and set out for home.

²⁹ When he reached home, he took a knife^(I) and cut up his concubine, limb by limb, into twelve parts and sent them into all the areas of Israel.^{(J) 30} Everyone who saw it was saying to one another, “Such a thing has never been seen or done, not since the day the Israelites came up out of Egypt.^(K) Just imagine! We must do something! So speak up!^(L)”

The Israelites Punish the Benjamites

20 Then all Israel^(M) from Dan to Beersheba^(N) and from the land of Gilead came together as one^(O) and assembled^(P) before the Lord in Mizpah.^{(Q) 2} The leaders of all the people of the tribes of Israel took their places in the assembly of God’s people, four hundred thousand men^(R) armed with swords. ³ (The Benjamites heard that the Israelites had gone up to Mizpah.) Then the Israelites said, “Tell us how this awful thing happened.”

⁴ So the Levite, the husband of the murdered woman, said, “I and my concubine came to Gibeah^(S) in Benjamin to spend the night.^{(T) 5} During the night the men of Gibeah came after me and surrounded the house, intending to kill me.^(U) They raped my concubine, and she died.^{(V) 6} I took my concubine, cut her into pieces and sent one piece to each region of Israel’s inheritance,^(W) because they committed this lewd and outrageous act^(X) in Israel. ⁷ Now, all you Israelites, speak up and tell me what you have decided to do.^(Y)”