Judges:19

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* In those days when [there was ] no king in Israel , there was a certain Levite sojourning on the side of Mount Ephraim , who took to him a concubine out of Bethlehem of Judah . * And his concubine committed adultery against him and went away from him unto her father 's house to Bethlehem of Judah and was there four whole months . * And her husband arose and went after her to speak friendly unto her [and ] to bring her again , having his servant 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 ; * and his father-in-law , the damsel 's father , retained him , and he dwelt with him three days ; eating and drinking , and abiding there . * And on the fourth day when they arose early in the morning , [the levite ] rose up to depart ; and the damsel 's father said unto his son-in-law , Strengthen thy heart with a morsel of bread , and afterwards ye shall go . * And the two of them sat down together and ate and drank . And the damsel 's father said unto the man , Be content , I pray thee , and tarry all night , and thy heart shall be merry . * And when the man rose up to depart , his father in law urged him to remain and lodge there [again ]. * And he arose early in the morning on the fifth day to depart , and the damsel 's father said , Strengthen now thy heart . And after having eaten together , they tarried until afternoon . * 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 day draws toward evening , I pray you tarry all night ; behold , the day comes to an end ; lodge here that thy heart may be merry , and tomorrow ye shall get up early and be on your way that thou may come unto thy tent . * But the man would not remain there that night , but he rose up and departed and came over against Jebus , which [is ] Jerusalem , with his two asses saddled and [with ] his concubine . * [And ] when they [were ] by Jebus , the day was far spent ; and the servant said unto his master , Come now and let us turn in into this city of the Jebusites and lodge in it . * And his master said unto him , We will not turn aside here into a city of strangers that [is ] not of the sons of Israel ; we will go on to Gibeah . * And he said unto his servant , Come and let us draw near to one of these places to pass the night , in Gibeah or in Ramah . * And they passed on and walked ; and the sun went down upon them [when they were ] by Gibeah , which [belonged ] to Benjamin . * And they turned in there , to enter [and ] to lodge in Gibeah ; and entering in , they sat down in the plaza of the city , for no one took them into their house to pass the night . * And , behold , an old man , who in the evening came from working in the field , who [was ] also of Mount Ephraim , sojourned in Gibeah , but the men of the place [were ] sons of Jemini . * And the old man lifted up his eyes and saw the traveller in the plaza of the city and said unto him , Where dost thou go and where hast thou come from ? * And he said unto him , We [are ] passing from Bethlehem of Judah toward the side of Mount Ephraim , where I am from , and I went to Bethlehem of Judah , but I [am now ] going to the house of the LORD , and no one [has ] received me in [their ] house * even though we have straw and fodder for our asses , and there is bread and wine also for me and for thy handmaid and for the young man [who is ] with thy servant ; we have no lack of any thing . * And the old man said , Peace [be ] with thee ; let all thy needs be upon me ; only do not pass the night in the plaza . * So he brought him into his house and gave fodder unto the asses , and they washed their feet , and ate and drank . * [Now ] as they were making their hearts merry , behold , that men of the city , certain sons of Belial , beset the house round about [and ] beat at the doors and spoke to the master of the house , the old man , saying , Bring forth the man that came into thy house that we may know him . * And the man , the master of the house , went out unto them and said unto them , No , my brethren , I pray you , do not do this evil , seeing that this man has entered into my house ; do not commit this folly . * Behold , [here is ] my virgin daughter and his concubine ; I will bring them out now , humble them , and do with them what seems good unto you , but unto this man do not commit this [vile ] folly . * But the men would not hearken unto him , so the man took his concubine and brought her forth unto them ; and they knew her and abused her all night until the morning ; and when the day began to break , they let her go . * Then the woman came , in the dawning of the day , and fell down at the door of the man 's house where her lord [was ] until it was light . * 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 with her hands upon the threshold . * And he said unto her , Rise up , and let us be going . But she did not answer . Then the man rose up and took her upon his ass and went unto his place . * And when he was come into his house , he took a knife and laid hold on his concubine and divided her , [together ] with her bones into twelve pieces , and sent them into all the borders of Israel . * And everyone that saw it said , No such deed has been done or seen from the day that the sons of Israel came up out of the land of Egypt until this day . Consider this , give advice , and speak .:

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