1   In those days when no king ruled in Israel, a Levite was living in the heart of the hill-country of Ephraim. He had taken himself a concubine from Bethlehem in Judah. 2   In a fit of anger she had left him and had gone to her father's house in Bethlehem in Judah. When she had been there four months, 3   her husband set out after her with his servant and two asses to appeal to her and bring her back. She brought him in to the house of her father, who welcomed him when he saw him.

Years of lawlessness 4   His father-in-law, the girl's father, pressed him and he stayed with him three days, and they were well entertained during their visit. 5   On the fourth day, they rose early in the morning, and he prepared to leave, but the girl's father said to his son-in-law, ‘Have something to eat first, before you go.’ 6   So the two of them sat down and ate and drank together. The girl's father said to the man, ‘Why not spend the night and enjoy yourself?’ 7   When he rose to go, his father-in-law urged him to stay, and again he stayed for the night. 8   He rose early in the morning on the fifth day to depart, but the girl's father said, ‘Have something to eat first.’ So they lingered till late afternoon, eating and drinking ^note together. 9   Then the man stood up to go with his concubine and servant, but his father-in-law said, ‘See how the day wears on towards sunset. ^note Spend the night here and enjoy yourself, and then rise early tomorrow and set out for home.’ 10   But the man would not stay the night; he rose and left. He had reached a point opposite Jebus, that is Jerusalem, with his two laden asses and his concubine, 11   and when they were close to Jebus, the weather grew wild and stormy, and the young man said to his master, ‘Come now, let us turn into this Jebusite town and spend the night there.’ 12   But his master said to him, ‘No, not into a strange town where the people are not Israelites; let us go on to Gibeah. 13   Come, we will go and find some other place, and spend the night in Gibeah or Ramah.’ 14   So they went on until sunset overtook them; they were then near Gibeah which belongs to Benjamin. 15   They turned in to spend the night there, and went and sat down in the open street of the town; but nobody took them into his house for the night.

16   Meanwhile an old man was coming home in the evening from his work in the fields. He was from the hill-country of Ephraim, but he lived in Gibeah, where the people were Benjamites. 17   He looked up, saw the traveller in the open street of the town, and asked him where he was going and where he came from. 18   He answered, ‘We are travelling from Bethlehem in Judah to the heart of the hill-country of Ephraim. I come from there; I have been to Bethlehem in Judah and I am going home, ^note but nobody has taken me into his house. 19   I have straw and provender for the asses, food and wine for myself, the girl, and the young man; we have all we need, sir.’ 20   The old man said, ‘You are welcome, I will supply all your wants; you must not spend the night in the street.’ 21   So he took him inside and provided fodder for the asses; they washed their feet, and ate and drank. 22   While they were enjoying themselves, some of the worst scoundrels in the town surrounded the house, hurling themselves against the door and shouting to the old man who owned the house, ‘Bring out the man who has gone into your house, for us

Years of lawlessness to have intercourse with him.’ 23   The owner of the house went outside to them and said, ‘No, my friends, do nothing so wicked. This man is my guest; do not commit this outrage. 24   Here is my daughter, a virgin; ^note let me bring her ^note out to you. Rape her ^note and do to her ^note what you please; but you shall not commit such an outrage against this man.’ 25   But the men refused to listen to him, so the Levite took hold of his concubine and thrust her outside for them. They assaulted her and abused her all night till the morning, and when dawn broke, they let her go. 26   The girl came at daybreak and fell down at the entrance of the man's house where her master was, and lay there until it was light. 27   Her master rose in the morning and opened the door of the house to set out on his journey, and there was his concubine lying at the door with her hands on the threshold. 28   He said to her, ‘Get up and let us be off’; but there was no answer. So he lifted her on to his ass and set off for home. 29   When he arrived there, he picked up a knife, and he took hold of his concubine and cut her up limb by limb into twelve pieces; and he sent them through the length and breadth of Israel. 30   He told the men he sent with them to say to every Israelite, ‘Has the like of this happened or been seen ^note from the time the Israelites came up from Egypt till today? Consider this among yourselves and speak your minds.’ So everyone who saw them said, ‘No such thing has ever happened or been seen before.’

Previous section

Next section