³ (Now the children of Benjamin heard that the children of Israel had gone up to Mizpah.)

Then the children of Israel said, “Tell us, how did this wicked deed happen?”

Gibeah’s Crime

²² As they were ^(A)enjoying themselves, suddenly ^(B)certain men of the city, ^(C)perverted^[a] men, surrounded the house and beat on the door. They spoke to the master of the house, the old man, saying, ^(D)“Bring out the man who came to your house, that we may know him carnally!”

²³ But ^(E)the man, the master of the house, went out to them and said to them, “No, my brethren! I beg you, do not act so wickedly! Seeing this man has come into my house, ^(F)do not commit this outrage. ^24 (G)Look, here is my virgin daughter and ^[b]the man’s concubine; let me bring them out now. ^(H)Humble them, and do with them as you please; but to this man do not do such a vile thing!” ²⁵ But the men would not heed him. So the man took his concubine and brought her out to them. And they ^(I)knew her and abused her all night until morning; and when the day began to break, they let her go.

²⁶ Then the woman came as the day was dawning, and fell down at the door of the man’s house where her master was, till it was light.

²⁷ When her master arose in the morning, and opened the doors of the house and went out to go his way, there was his concubine, fallen at the door of the house with her hands on the threshold.

³¹ Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? ³² Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace.

^58 (A)When you go with your adversary to the magistrate, make every effort ^(B)along the way to settle with him, lest he drag you to the judge, the judge deliver you to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. ⁵⁹ I tell you, you shall not depart from there till you have paid the very last mite.”

^25 (A)Agree with your adversary quickly, ^(B)while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison.