Judges 19
1599 Geneva Bible
19 1 A Levite’s wife being an harlot forsook her husband, and he took her again. 25 At Gibeah she was most villainously abused to the death. 29 The Levite cutteth her in pieces, and sendeth her to the twelve tribes.
1 Also in those days, when there was no king in Israel, a certain Levite dwelt on the side of mount Ephraim, and took to wife a (A)concubine out of Bethlehem Judah,
2 And his concubine played the whore [a]there, and went away from him unto her father’s house to Bethlehem Judah, and there continued the space of four months.
3 And her husband arose and went after her, to speak [b]friendly unto her, and to bring her again: he had also his servant with him, and a couple of asses: and she brought him unto her father’s house, and when the young woman’s father saw him, he rejoiced [c]of his coming.
4 And his father-in-law, the young woman’s father received him: and he abode with him three days: so they did eat and drink, and lodged there.
5 ¶ And when the fourth day came, they arose early in the morning, and [d]he prepared to depart: then the young woman’s father said unto his son-in-law, [e]Comfort thine heart with a morsel of bread, and then go your way.
6 So they sat down and did eat and drink, both of them together. And the [f]young woman’s father said unto the man, Be content, I pray thee, and tarry all night, and let thine heart be merry.
7 And when the man rose up to depart, his father-in-law [g]was earnest: therefore he returned, and lodged there.
8 And he arose up early the fifth day to depart, and the young woman’s father said, [h]Comfort thine heart, I pray thee: and they tarried until after midday, and they both did eat.
9 Afterward when the man arose to depart with his concubine and his servant, his father-in-law, the young woman’s father said unto him, Behold now, the day [i]draweth toward even: I pray you, tarry all night: behold, the [j]sun goeth to rest: lodge here, that thine heart may be merry, and tomorrow get you early upon your way, and go to the [k]tent.
10 But the man would not tarry, but arose, and departed, and came over against Jebus, (which is Jerusalem) and his two asses laden, and his concubine were with him.
11 When they were near Jebus, the day [l]was sore spent, and the servant said unto his master, Come, I pray thee, and let us turn unto this city of the Jebusites, and lodge all night there.
12 And his master answered him, [m]We will not turn into the city of strangers that are not of the children of Israel, but we will go forth to Gibeah.
13 And he said unto his servant, Come, and let us draw near to one of these places, that we may lodge in Gibeah or in Ramah.
14 So they went forward upon their way, and the Sun went down upon them near to Gibeah, which is in Benjamin.
15 ¶ Then they turned thither to go in and lodge in Gibeah: and when he came, he sat him down in a street of the city: for there was no man that [n]took them into his house to lodging.
16 And behold, there came an old man from his work out of the field at even, and the man was of mount Ephraim, but dwelt in Gibeah: and the men of the place were the children of [o]Jemini.
17 And when he had lifted up his eyes, he saw a [p]wayfaring man in the streets of the city: then this old man said, Whither goest thou, and whence camest thou?
18 And he answered him, We came from Bethlehem Judah, unto the side of mount Ephraim: from thence am I: and I went to Bethlehem Judah, and go now to the [q]house of the Lord: and no man receiveth me to house,
19 Although we have straw and provender for our asses, and also bread and wine for me and thine handmaid, and for the boy that is with thy servant: we lack nothing.
20 And the old man said, [r]Peace be with thee: as for all that thou lackest, shalt thou find with me: only abide not in the street all night.
21 ¶ So he brought him into his house, and gave fodder unto the asses: and they washed their feet, and did eat and drink.
22 And as they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, [s]wicked men beset the house round about, and [t]smote at the door, and spake to this old man the master of the house, saying, Bring forth the man that came into thine house that we may know him.
23 And (B)this man the master of the house went out unto them, and said unto them, Nay my brethren, do not so wickedly, I pray you, seeing that this man is come into mine house, do not this villainy.
24 Behold, here is my daughter, a virgin, and his concubine: them will I bring out now, [u]and humble them, and do with them what seemeth you good: but to this man do not this villainy.
25 But the men would not hearken to him: therefore the man took his concubine, and brought her out unto them: and they knew her and abused her all the night unto the morning and when the day began to spring, they let her go.
26 So the woman came in the dawning of the day, and [v]fell down at the door of the man’s house where her lord was, till the light day.
27 And her [w]lord arose in the morning, and opened the doors of the house, and went out to go his way, and behold, the woman his concubine was [x]dead at the door of the house, and her hands lay upon the threshold.
28 And he said unto her, up, and let us go: but she answered not. Then he took her up upon the ass, and the man rose up, and went unto his [y]place.
29 And when he was come to his house, he took a knife and laid hand on his concubine, and divided her in pieces with her bones into twelve parts, and sent her through all quarters of Israel.
30 And all that saw it, said, There was no [z]such thing done or seen since the time that the children of Israel came up from the land of Egypt unto this day: consider the matter, consult and give sentence.
Footnotes
- Judges 19:2 Hebrew, besides him, to wit, with others.
- Judges 19:3 Hebrew, to her heart.
- Judges 19:3 Or, at his meeting.
- Judges 19:5 Hebrew, rose up.
- Judges 19:5 Or, strengthen.
- Judges 19:6 That is, his concubine’s father.
- Judges 19:7 Or, compelled him.
- Judges 19:8 Meaning, that he should refresh himself with meat, as verse 5.
- Judges 19:9 Hebrew, is weak.
- Judges 19:9 Or, the day lodgeth.
- Judges 19:9 To wit, to the town or city where he dwelt.
- Judges 19:11 Or, went down.
- Judges 19:12 Though in these days there were most horrible corruptions, yet very necessity could not compel them, to have to do with them that professed not the true God.
- Judges 19:15 Or gathered them.
- Judges 19:16 That is, of the tribe of Benjamin.
- Judges 19:17 Or, a man walking.
- Judges 19:18 To Shiloh of Mizpah where the Ark was.
- Judges 19:20 Or, be of good comfort.
- Judges 19:22 Hebrew, men of Belial, that is, given to all wickedness.
- Judges 19:22 To the intent they might break it.
- Judges 19:24 That is, abuse them, as Gen. 19:8.
- Judges 19:26 She fell down dead, as verse 27.
- Judges 19:27 Or, husband.
- Judges 19:27 Or, fallen.
- Judges 19:28 Meaning, home unto mount Ephraim.
- Judges 19:30 For this was like the sin of Sodom for the which God rained down fire and brimstone from heaven.
Judges 19
New King James Version
The Levite’s Concubine
19 And it came to pass in those days, (A)when there was no king in Israel, that there was a certain Levite staying in the remote mountains of Ephraim. He took for himself a concubine from (B)Bethlehem in Judah. 2 But his concubine played the harlot against him, and went away from him to her father’s house at Bethlehem in Judah, and was there four whole months. 3 Then her husband arose and went after her, to (C)speak [a]kindly to her and bring her back, having his servant and a couple of donkeys with him. So she brought him into her father’s house; and when the father of the young woman saw him, he was glad to meet him. 4 Now his father-in-law, the young woman’s father, detained him; and he stayed with him three days. So they ate and drank and lodged there.
5 Then it came to pass on the fourth day that they arose early in the morning, and he stood to depart; but the young woman’s father said to his son-in-law, (D)“Refresh your heart with a morsel of bread, and afterward go your way.”
6 So they sat down, and the two of them ate and drank together. Then the young woman’s father said to the man, “Please be content to stay all night, and let your heart be merry.” 7 And when the man stood to depart, his father-in-law urged him; so he lodged there again. 8 Then he arose early in the morning on the fifth day to depart, but the young woman’s father said, “Please refresh your heart.” So they delayed until afternoon; and both of them ate.
9 And when the man stood to depart—he and his concubine and his servant—his father-in-law, the young woman’s father, said to him, “Look, the day is now drawing toward evening; please spend the night. See, the day is coming to an end; lodge here, that your heart may be merry. Tomorrow go your way early, so that you may get [b]home.”
10 However, the man was not willing to spend that night; so he rose and departed, and came opposite (E)Jebus (that is, Jerusalem). With him were the two saddled donkeys; his concubine was also with him. 11 They were near Jebus, and the day was far spent; and the servant said to his master, “Come, please, and let us turn aside into this city (F)of the Jebusites and lodge in it.”
12 But his master said to him, “We will not turn aside here into a city of foreigners, who are not of the children of Israel; we will go on (G)to Gibeah.” 13 So he said to his servant, “Come, let us draw near to one of these places, and spend the night in Gibeah or in (H)Ramah.” 14 And they passed by and went their way; and the sun went down on them near Gibeah, which belongs to Benjamin. 15 They turned aside there to go in to lodge in Gibeah. And when he went in, he sat down in the open square of the city, for no one would (I)take them into his house to spend the night.
16 Just then an old man came in from (J)his work in the field at evening, who also was from the mountains of Ephraim; he was staying in Gibeah, whereas the men of the place were Benjamites. 17 And when he raised his eyes, he saw the traveler in the open square of the city; and the old man said, “Where are you going, and where do you come from?”
18 So he said to him, “We are passing from Bethlehem in Judah toward the remote mountains of Ephraim; I am from there. I went to Bethlehem in Judah; now I am going to (K)the house of the Lord. But there is no one who will take me into his house, 19 although we have both straw and fodder for our donkeys, and bread and wine for myself, for your female servant, and for the young man who is with your servant; there is no lack of anything.”
20 And the old man said, (L)“Peace be with you! However, let all your needs be my responsibility; (M)only do not spend the night in the open square.” 21 (N)So he brought him into his house, and gave fodder to the donkeys. (O)And they washed their feet, and ate and drank.
Gibeah’s Crime
22 As they were (P)enjoying themselves, suddenly (Q)certain men of the city, (R)perverted[c] men, surrounded the house and beat on the door. They spoke to the master of the house, the old man, saying, (S)“Bring out the man who came to your house, that we may know him carnally!”
23 But (T)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, (U)do not commit this outrage. 24 (V)Look, here is my virgin daughter and [d]the man’s concubine; let me bring them out now. (W)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 (X)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. 28 And he said to her, “Get up and let us be going.” But (Y)there was no answer. So the man lifted her onto the donkey; and the man got up and went to his place.
29 When he entered his house he took a knife, laid hold of his concubine, and (Z)divided her into twelve pieces, [e]limb by limb, and sent her throughout all the territory of Israel. 30 And so it was that all who saw it said, “No such deed has been done or seen from the day that the children of Israel came up from the land of Egypt until this day. Consider it, (AA)confer, and speak up!”
Footnotes
- Judges 19:3 Lit. to her heart
- Judges 19:9 Lit. to your tent
- Judges 19:22 Lit. sons of Belial
- Judges 19:24 Lit. his
- Judges 19:29 Lit. with her bones
Judges 19
English Standard Version
A Levite and His Concubine
19 In those days, (A)when there was no king in Israel, a certain Levite was sojourning in the remote parts of (B)the hill country of Ephraim, who took to himself a concubine from (C)Bethlehem in Judah. 2 And his concubine was unfaithful to[a] him, and she went away from him to her father's house at Bethlehem in Judah, and was there some four months. 3 Then her husband arose and went after her, to speak kindly to her and bring her back. He had with him his servant and a couple of donkeys. And she brought him into her father's house. And when the girl's father saw him, he came with joy to meet him. 4 And his father-in-law, the girl's father, made him stay, and he remained with him three days. So they ate and drank and spent the night there. 5 And on the fourth day they arose early in the morning, and he prepared to go, but the girl's father said to his son-in-law, (D)“Strengthen your heart with a morsel of bread, and after that you may go.” 6 So the two of them sat and ate and drank together. And the girl's father said to the man, “Be pleased to spend the night, and (E)let your heart be merry.” 7 And when the man rose up to go, his father-in-law pressed him, till he spent the night there again. 8 And on the fifth day he arose early in the morning to depart. And the girl's father said, (F)“Strengthen your heart and wait until the day declines.” So they ate, both of them. 9 And when the man and his concubine and his servant rose up to depart, his father-in-law, the girl's father, said to him, “Behold, now the day has waned toward evening. Please, spend the night. Behold, the day draws to its close. Lodge here and let your heart be merry, and tomorrow you shall arise early in the morning for your journey, and go home.”
10 But the man would not spend the night. He rose up and departed and arrived opposite (G)Jebus (that is, Jerusalem). He had with him a couple of saddled donkeys, and his concubine was with him. 11 When they were near Jebus, the day was nearly over, and the servant said to his master, “Come now, let us turn aside to this city of the Jebusites and spend the night in it.” 12 And his master said to him, “We will not turn aside into the city of foreigners, who do not belong to the people of Israel, but we will pass on to (H)Gibeah.” 13 And he said to his young man, “Come and let us draw near to one of these places and spend the night at Gibeah or at (I)Ramah.” 14 So they passed on and went their way. And the sun went down on them near Gibeah, which belongs to Benjamin, 15 and they turned aside there, to go in and spend the night at Gibeah. And he went in and sat down in the open square of the city, (J)for no one took them into his house to spend the night.
16 And behold, an old man was coming from his work in the field at evening. The man was from (K)the hill country of Ephraim, and he was sojourning in Gibeah. (L)The men of the place were Benjaminites. 17 And he lifted up his eyes and saw the traveler in the open square of the city. And the old man said, “Where are you going? And where do you come from?” 18 And he said to him, “We are passing from Bethlehem in Judah to the remote parts of the hill country of Ephraim, from which I come. I went to Bethlehem in Judah, and I am going (M)to the house of the Lord,[b] (N)but no one has taken me into his house. 19 We have straw and feed for our donkeys, with bread and wine for me and your female servant and the young man with your servants. (O)There is no lack of anything.” 20 And the old man said, (P)“Peace be to you; I will care for all your wants. (Q)Only, do not spend the night in the square.” 21 So he brought him into his house and gave the donkeys feed. (R)And they washed their feet, and ate and drank.
Gibeah's Crime
22 As they were (S)making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, worthless fellows, (T)surrounded the house, beating on the door. And they said to the old man, the master of the house, “Bring out the man who came into your house, that we may know him.” 23 And the man, the master of the house, went out to them and said to them, “No, my brothers, (U)do not act so wickedly; since this man has come into my house, (V)do not do this vile thing. 24 (W)Behold, here are my virgin daughter and his concubine. Let me bring them out now. (X)Violate them and do with them what seems good to you, but against this man (Y)do not do this outrageous thing.” 25 But the men would not listen to him. So the man seized his concubine and made her go out to them. And they knew her and abused her all night until the morning. And as the dawn began to break, they let her go. 26 And as morning appeared, the woman came and fell down at the door of the man's house where her master was, until it was light.
27 And her master rose up in the morning, and when he opened the doors of the house and went out to go on his way, behold, there was his concubine lying at the door of the house, with her hands on the threshold. 28 He said to her, “Get up, let us be going.” (Z)But there was no answer. Then he put her on the donkey, and the man rose up and went away to his home. 29 And when he entered his house, he took a knife, and taking hold of his concubine he (AA)divided her, limb by limb, into twelve pieces, and sent her throughout all the territory of Israel. 30 (AB)And all who saw it said, “Such a thing has never happened or been seen from the day that the people of Israel came up out of the land of Egypt until this day; (AC)consider it, take counsel, and speak.”
Footnotes
- Judges 19:2 Septuagint, Old Latin became angry with
- Judges 19:18 Septuagint my home; compare verse 29
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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