(KJV) Judges 19¹

⥃The Crime of the Benjamites ^{[ Genesis 19:1–11 ]}

[1] And it came to pass in those days, when [there² was] no king in Israel, that there was a certain Levite sojourning on the side of mount³ Ephraim, who took to him a concubine⁴ out of Beth–lehem–judah. [2] And his concubine played⁵ the whore against him, and went away from him unto her father’s house to Beth–lehem–judah, and was there four whole months⁶. [3] And her husband arose, and went⁷ after her, to speak⁸ friendly unto her⁹, [and] to bring¹⁰ her again, having his servant¹¹ with him, and a couple of asses: and she brought him into her father’s house: and when the father of the damsel saw him, he rejoiced to meet him. [4] And his father in law, the damsel’s father, retained him; and he abode with him three days: so they did eat and drink, and lodged there.

[5] [¶]And it came to pass on the fourth day, when they arose early in the morning, that he rose up to depart: and the damsel’s father said unto his son in law, Comfort¹² thine heart with a morsel¹³ of bread, and afterward go your way. [6] And they sat down, and did eat and drink both of them together: for the damsel’s father had said unto the man, Be content, I pray thee, and tarry all night, and let thine heart¹⁴ be merry. [7] And when the man rose up to depart, his father in law urged him: therefore he lodged there again. [8] And he arose early in the morning on the fifth day to depart: and the damsel’s father said, Comfort thine heart, I pray thee. And they tarried until afternoon, and they did eat both of them. [9] And when the man rose up to depart, he, and his concubine, and his servant, his father in law, the damsel’s father, said unto him, Behold, now the day¹⁵ draweth¹⁶ toward evening, I pray you tarry all night: behold, the day groweth to an end¹⁷, lodge here, that thine heart may be merry; and to morrow¹⁸ get you early on your way, that thou mayest go home¹⁹. [10] But the man would not tarry that night, but he rose up and departed, and came over against²⁰ Jebus²¹, which [is] Jerusalem; and [there were] with him two asses saddled, his concubine also [was] with him. [11] [And] when they [were] by Jebus, the day was far spent; and the servant said unto his master, Come, I pray thee, and let us turn in into this city of the Jebusites²², and lodge in it. [12] And his master said unto him, We will not turn aside hither into the city of a stranger, that [is] not of the children of Israel; we will pass over to Gibeah²³. [13] And he said unto his servant, Come, and let us draw near to one of these places to lodge all night, in Gibeah²⁴, or in Ramah. [14] And they passed on and went their way; and the sun went down upon them [when they were] by Gibeah, which [belongeth] to Benjamin. [15] And they turned aside thither, to go in [and] to lodge in Gibeah: and when he went in, he sat him down in a street of the city: for [there was] no man²⁵ that took them into his house to lodging.

[16] And, behold, there came an old man from his work²⁶ out of the field at even, which [was] also of mount Ephraim; and he sojourned in Gibeah: but the men of the place [were] Benjamites. [17] And when he had lifted up his eyes, he saw a wayfaring man in the street of the city: and the old man said, Whither²⁷ goest thou? and whence comest thou? [18] And he said unto him, We [are] passing from Beth–lehem–judah toward the side of mount Ephraim; from thence [am] I: and I went to Beth–lehem–judah, but I [am now²⁸] going to the house²⁹ of the Lord; and there [is] no man that receiveth³⁰ me to house. [19] Yet there is both straw and provender³¹ for our asses; and there is bread and wine also for me, and for thy handmaid, and for the young man [which is] with thy servants: [there is] no want of any thing. [20] And the old man said, Peace [be³²] with thee; howsoever [let] all thy wants³³ [lie] upon me; only lodge not³⁴ in the street. [21] So he brought³⁵ him into his house, and gave provender unto the asses: and they washed³⁶ their feet, and did eat and drink.

[22] [Now] as they were³⁷ making their hearts merry, behold, the men³⁸ of the city, certain sons of Belial³⁹, beset the house round about, [and] beat at the door, and spake to the master of the house, the old man, saying, Bring forth⁴⁰ the man that came into thine house, that we may know him. [23] And the man⁴¹, the master of the house, went out unto them, and said unto them, Nay, my brethren, [nay], I pray you, do not [so] wickedly; seeing that this man is come into mine house, do not this folly⁴². [24] Behold⁴³, [here is] my daughter a maiden, and his concubine; them⁴⁴ I will bring out now, and humble ye⁴⁵ them, and do with them what seemeth good unto you: but unto this man do not so vile a thing⁴⁶. [25] But the men would not hearken to him: so the man took his concubine, and brought her forth unto them; and they knew her⁴⁷, and abused⁴⁸ her all the night until the morning: and when the day began to spring, they let her go. [26] Then came the woman in the dawning of the day, and fell down at the door of the man’s house where her lord [was⁴⁹], till it was light. [27] And her lord rose up in the morning, and opened the doors of the house, and went out to go his way: and, behold, the woman his concubine was fallen down [at] the door of the house, and her hands [were] upon the threshold. [28] And he said unto her, Up, and let us be going. But none⁵⁰ answered. Then the man took her [up] upon an ass, and the man rose up, and gat him unto his place.

[29] [¶]And when he was come into his house, he took a knife, and laid hold on his concubine, and divided her⁵¹, [together] with her bones⁵², into twelve pieces, and sent her into all the coasts of Israel. [30] And it was so, that all that saw it said, There was no such deed done nor seen from the day that the children of Israel came up out of the land of Egypt unto this day: consider⁵³ of it, take advice, and speak [your minds].