1 At|strong="H3478" that|strong="H3117" time|strong="H3117" the|strong="H3947" Israelites|strong="H3478" did|strong="H0376" not|strong="H0369" have|strong="H1961" a|strong="H1961" king|strong="H4428".
2 But|strong="H1961" his|strong="H5921" slave woman|strong="H1004" had|strong="H1961" an|strong="H1961" argument with|strong="H0413" him|strong="H0413". She|strong="H2320" left|strong="H1961" him|strong="H0413" and|strong="H3063" went|strong="H0413" back|strong="H0413" to|strong="H0413" her|strong="H0413" father’s|strong="H0001" house|strong="H1004" in|strong="H5921" Bethlehem|strong="H1035" in|strong="H5921" Judah|strong="H3063". She|strong="H2320" stayed there|strong="H8033" for|strong="H5921" four|strong="H0702" months|strong="H2320".
3 Then|strong="H6965" her|strong="H5921" husband|strong="H0376" went|strong="H0935" after|strong="H0310" her|strong="H5921". He|strong="H0310" wanted to|strong="H0935" speak|strong="H1696" kindly|strong="H3820" to|strong="H0935" her|strong="H5921" so|strong="H6965" that|strong="H7200" she|strong="H3820" would|strong="H0376" come|strong="H0935" back|strong="H7725" to|strong="H0935" him|strong="H5921". He|strong="H0310" took|strong="H0935" with|strong="H5973" him|strong="H5921" his|strong="H5921" servant|strong="H5288" and|strong="H0935" two|strong="H6776" donkeys|strong="H2543". The|strong="H5921" Levite came|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0935" her|strong="H5921" father’s|strong="H0001" house|strong="H1004". Her|strong="H5921" father|strong="H0001" saw|strong="H7200" the|strong="H5921" Levite and|strong="H0935" came|strong="H0935" out|strong="H5921" to|strong="H0935" greet him|strong="H5921". The|strong="H5921" father|strong="H0001" was|strong="H3820" very|strong="H8055" happy|strong="H8055".
4 The|strong="H3117" woman’s father|strong="H0001" led the|strong="H3117" Levite into his|strong="H2388" house. The|strong="H3117" Levite’s father-in-law|strong="H2859" invited him|strong="H0854" to|strong="H3117" stay|strong="H3427". So|strong="H3427" he|strong="H3117" stayed|strong="H3427" for|strong="H3117" three|strong="H7969" days|strong="H3117". He|strong="H3117" ate|strong="H0398", drank|strong="H8354", and|strong="H0398" slept in|strong="H3427" his|strong="H2388" father-in-law’s house.
5 On|strong="H3117" the|strong="H0559" fourth|strong="H7243" day|strong="H3117", they|strong="H3117" got|strong="H6965" up|strong="H6965" early|strong="H7925" in|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0559" morning|strong="H1242". The|strong="H0559" Levite was|strong="H1961" getting ready to|strong="H0413" leave. But|strong="H1961" the|strong="H0559" young|strong="H5291" woman’s father|strong="H0001" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" his|strong="H1961" son-in-law|strong="H2860", “Eat something|strong="H3899" first|strong="H3117". After|strong="H0310" you|strong="H3117" eat, you|strong="H3117" can go|strong="H6965".”
6 So|strong="H3427" the|strong="H0559" Levite and|strong="H0398" his|strong="H0376" father-in-law sat|strong="H3427" down|strong="H3427" to|strong="H0413" eat|strong="H0398" and|strong="H0398" drink|strong="H8354" together|strong="H3162". After|strong="H0413" that|strong="H0559" the|strong="H0559" young|strong="H5291" woman’s father|strong="H0001" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0559" Levite, “Please|strong="H4994" stay|strong="H3427" tonight. Relax and|strong="H0398" enjoy yourself|strong="H0413".” So|strong="H3427" the|strong="H0559" two|strong="H8147" men|strong="H0376" ate|strong="H0398" together|strong="H3162".
7 The|strong="H7725" Levite got|strong="H6965" up|strong="H6965" to|strong="H7725" leave, but|strong="H0376" his|strong="H7725" father-in-law|strong="H2859" persuaded him|strong="H7725" to|strong="H7725" stay|strong="H3885" the|strong="H7725" night again|strong="H7725".
8 Then|strong="H0559", on|strong="H3117" the|strong="H0559" fifth|strong="H2549" day|strong="H3117", the|strong="H0559" Levite got|strong="H7925" up|strong="H7925" early|strong="H7925" in|strong="H3117" the|strong="H0559" morning|strong="H1242". He|strong="H5704" was|strong="H3117" ready to|strong="H0559" leave. But|strong="H3117" the|strong="H0559" woman’s father|strong="H0001" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0559" his|strong="H5186" son-in-law, “Eat|strong="H0398" something first|strong="H3117". Relax and|strong="H0398" stay until|strong="H5704" this|strong="H3117" afternoon.” So|strong="H5704" they|strong="H3117" both|strong="H8147" ate|strong="H0398" together again|strong="H7925".
9 Then|strong="H1980" the|strong="H0559" Levite, his|strong="H0376" slave woman|strong="H5291", and|strong="H1980" his|strong="H0376" servant|strong="H5288" got|strong="H6965" up|strong="H6965" to|strong="H0559" leave|strong="H1980". But|strong="H0376" the|strong="H0559" young|strong="H5288" woman’s father|strong="H0001" said|strong="H0559", “It|strong="H1931" is|strong="H1931" almost|strong="H3117" dark|strong="H0168". The|strong="H0559" day|strong="H3117" is|strong="H1931" almost|strong="H3117" gone|strong="H1980". So|strong="H1980" stay|strong="H3885" the|strong="H0559" night here|strong="H6311" and|strong="H1980" enjoy yourself|strong="H3824". Tomorrow|strong="H4279" morning|strong="H7925" you|strong="H3117" can|strong="H4994" get|strong="H6965" up|strong="H6965" early|strong="H7925" and|strong="H1980" go|strong="H1980" on|strong="H3117" your|strong="H4994" way|strong="H1870".”
10 But|strong="H3808" the|strong="H0935" Levite did|strong="H3808" not|strong="H3808" want|strong="H0014" to|strong="H0935" stay|strong="H3885" another|strong="H0376" night. He|strong="H1931" took|strong="H0935" his|strong="H0376" two|strong="H6776" donkeys|strong="H2543" and|strong="H0935" his|strong="H0376" slave woman. He|strong="H1931" traveled|strong="H0935" as|strong="H5704" far|strong="H5704" as|strong="H5704" the|strong="H0935" city|strong="H1931" of|strong="H0376" Jebus|strong="H2982" (that|strong="H1931" is|strong="H1931", Jerusalem|strong="H3389").
11 The|strong="H0559" day|strong="H3117" was|strong="H5288" almost|strong="H3966" over|strong="H0413". They|strong="H1992" were|strong="H1992" near|strong="H5973" the|strong="H0559" city|strong="H5892" of|strong="H3117" Jebus|strong="H2982". So|strong="H3966" the|strong="H0559" servant|strong="H5288" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" his|strong="H5493" master|strong="H0113", the|strong="H0559" Levite, “Let’s|strong="H4994" stop|strong="H5493" at|strong="H0413" this|strong="H2063" Jebusite|strong="H2983" city|strong="H5892". Let’s|strong="H4994" stay|strong="H3885" the|strong="H0559" night here|strong="H2063".”
12 But|strong="H3808" his|strong="H0834" master|strong="H0113", the|strong="H0559" Levite man|strong="H1121", said|strong="H0559", “No|strong="H3808", we|strong="H0834" will|strong="H0834" not|strong="H3808" go|strong="H5674" inside a|strong="H0834" strange city|strong="H5892". Those|strong="H0834" people|strong="H1121" are|strong="H0834" not|strong="H3808" Israelites|strong="H3478". We|strong="H0834" will|strong="H0834" go|strong="H5674" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0559" city|strong="H5892" of|strong="H1121" Gibeah|strong="H1390".”
13 The|strong="H0559" Levite said|strong="H0559", “Come|strong="H7126" on|strong="H0259". Let’s try to|strong="H0559" make it|strong="H7126" to|strong="H0559" Gibeah|strong="H1390" or|strong="H0176" Ramah|strong="H7414". We can|strong="H0259" stay|strong="H3885" the|strong="H0559" night in|strong="H0176" one|strong="H0259" of|strong="H4725" those|strong="H7126" cities.”
14 So|strong="H0834" the|strong="H0834" Levite and|strong="H0935" those|strong="H0834" with|strong="H0935" him|strong="H0935" traveled|strong="H5674" on|strong="H0935". The|strong="H0834" sun|strong="H8121" was|strong="H0834" going|strong="H0935" down just|strong="H0834" as|strong="H0834" they|strong="H0834" entered|strong="H0935" the|strong="H0834" city of|strong="H0935" Gibeah|strong="H1390". Gibeah|strong="H1390" is|strong="H0834" in|strong="H0935" the|strong="H0834" area that|strong="H0834" belongs to|strong="H0935" the|strong="H0834" tribe of|strong="H0935" Benjamin|strong="H1144".
15 They|strong="H8033" planned to|strong="H0935" stop|strong="H5493" there|strong="H8033" and|strong="H0935" stay|strong="H3427" the|strong="H0853" night. They|strong="H8033" came|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0935" the|strong="H0853" city|strong="H5892" square|strong="H7339" and|strong="H0935" sat|strong="H3427" down|strong="H3427", but|strong="H0369" no|strong="H0369" one|strong="H0376" invited|strong="H0622" them|strong="H0853" home|strong="H1004" to|strong="H0935" stay|strong="H3427" the|strong="H0853" night.
16 That|strong="H1931" evening|strong="H6153" an|strong="H4480" old|strong="H2205" man|strong="H0376" came|strong="H0935" into|strong="H0935" the|strong="H0935" city|strong="H1931" from|strong="H4480" the|strong="H0935" fields|strong="H7704". His|strong="H0376" home|strong="H4725" was|strong="H1931" in|strong="H0935" the|strong="H0935" hill|strong="H2022" country|strong="H2022" of|strong="H0376" Ephraim|strong="H0669", but|strong="H0376" now|strong="H2009" he|strong="H1931" was|strong="H1931" living|strong="H1481" in|strong="H0935" the|strong="H0935" city|strong="H1931" of|strong="H0376" Gibeah|strong="H1390". (The|strong="H0935" men|strong="H0376" of|strong="H0376" Gibeah|strong="H1390" were|strong="H0376" from|strong="H4480" the|strong="H0935" tribe of|strong="H0376" Benjamin.)
17 The|strong="H0853" old|strong="H2205" man|strong="H0376" saw|strong="H7200" the|strong="H0853" traveler|strong="H0732" in|strong="H0935" the|strong="H0853" public|strong="H7200" square|strong="H7339" and|strong="H0935" asked|strong="H0559", “Where|strong="H0575" are|strong="H0376" you|strong="H0935" going|strong="H0935"? Where|strong="H0575" did|strong="H0376" you|strong="H0935" come|strong="H0935" from|strong="H0935"?”
18 The|strong="H0853" Levite answered|strong="H0559", “We|strong="H0587" have|strong="H0369" come|strong="H1980" from|strong="H0376" Bethlehem|strong="H1035" in|strong="H1980" Judah|strong="H3063", where|strong="H8033" I|strong="H0589" went|strong="H1980" for|strong="H0413" a|strong="H5704" visit|strong="H0413". Now|strong="H0369" I|strong="H0589" am|strong="H0589" on|strong="H0413" my|strong="H3068" way|strong="H1980" home|strong="H1004", which|strong="H8033" is|strong="H0369" a|strong="H5704" long|strong="H5704" way|strong="H1980" into|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0853" hill|strong="H2022" country|strong="H2022" of|strong="H1004" Ephraim|strong="H0669". I|strong="H0589" expected that|strong="H3068" someone|strong="H0376" here|strong="H8033" would|strong="H3068" invite us|strong="H0413" in|strong="H1980" for|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0853" night, but|strong="H0369" no|strong="H0369" one|strong="H0376" has|strong="H3068".
19 We|strong="H3605" already have|strong="H0369" straw|strong="H8401" and|strong="H5650" food|strong="H3899" for|strong="H3605" our|strong="H3605" donkeys|strong="H2543". There|strong="H0369" is|strong="H0369" also|strong="H1571" bread|strong="H3899" and|strong="H5650" wine|strong="H3196" for|strong="H3605" me|strong="H5973", the|strong="H3605" young|strong="H5288" woman, and|strong="H5650" my|strong="H3605" servant|strong="H5650". We|strong="H3605" don’t|strong="H0369" need|strong="H4270" anything|strong="H3605".”
20 The|strong="H3605" old|strong="H2205" man|strong="H0376" said|strong="H0559", “You|strong="H3605" are|strong="H0376" welcome to|strong="H0559" stay|strong="H3885" at|strong="H5921" my|strong="H3605" house. I|strong="H0559" will|strong="H0376" give you|strong="H3605" anything|strong="H3605" you|strong="H3605" need|strong="H0376", but|strong="H7535" don’t|strong="H0408" stay|strong="H3885" the|strong="H3605" night in|strong="H5921" the|strong="H3605" public square|strong="H7339".”
21 Then|strong="H0935" the|strong="H0935" old man took|strong="H0935" the|strong="H0935" Levite and|strong="H0935" the|strong="H0935" people with|strong="H1004" him|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0935" his|strong="H0935" house|strong="H1004". He|strong="H0935" fed|strong="H0398" their|strong="H0398" donkeys|strong="H2543". They|strong="H0935" washed|strong="H7364" their|strong="H0398" feet|strong="H7272" and|strong="H0935" then|strong="H0935" had|strong="H0935" something to|strong="H0935" eat|strong="H0398" and|strong="H0935" drink|strong="H8354".
22 While|strong="H2009" the|strong="H0853" Levite and|strong="H1121" those|strong="H0834" who|strong="H0834" were|strong="H0834" with|strong="H0413" him|strong="H0413" were|strong="H0834" enjoying themselves|strong="H1992", some|strong="H0376" very|strong="H3190" bad men|strong="H0376" from|strong="H0935" the|strong="H0853" city|strong="H5892" surrounded|strong="H5437" the|strong="H0853" house|strong="H1004". They|strong="H1992" began|strong="H0935" beating on|strong="H5921" the|strong="H0853" door|strong="H1817". They|strong="H1992" shouted at|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0853" old|strong="H1121" man|strong="H0376" who|strong="H0834" owned the|strong="H0853" house|strong="H1004". They|strong="H1992" said|strong="H0559", “Bring|strong="H0935" out|strong="H3318" the|strong="H0853" man|strong="H0376" who|strong="H0834" came|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0413" your|strong="H5921" house|strong="H1004". We|strong="H0834" want to|strong="H0413" have|strong="H0834" sex with|strong="H0413" him|strong="H0413".”
23 The|strong="H0853" old man|strong="H0376" went|strong="H3318" outside|strong="H3318" and|strong="H0935" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" them|strong="H0413", “My|strong="H0834" friends, don’t|strong="H0408" do|strong="H6213" such|strong="H2088" an|strong="H0935" evil|strong="H7489" thing|strong="H2088"! This|strong="H2088" man|strong="H0376" is|strong="H0834" a|strong="H0935" guest in|strong="H0935" my|strong="H0834" house|strong="H1004". Don’t|strong="H0408" commit this|strong="H2088" terrible sin.
24 Look|strong="H2009", here|strong="H2009" is|strong="H2088" my|strong="H3318" daughter|strong="H1323". She|strong="H2896" has|strong="H0376" never|strong="H3808" had|strong="H0376" sex before|strong="H5869". I|strong="H2009" will|strong="H0376" bring|strong="H3318" her|strong="H6031" out|strong="H3318" to|strong="H0376" you|strong="H6213" now|strong="H4994". This|strong="H2088" man|strong="H0376" also|strong="H0853" has|strong="H0376" a|strong="H2088" slave woman|strong="H1323". You|strong="H6213" can|strong="H6213" use them|strong="H0853" any|strong="H0376" way|strong="H1697" you|strong="H6213" want, but|strong="H3808" don’t|strong="H3808" do|strong="H6213" such|strong="H2088" a|strong="H2088" terrible sin against|strong="H0376" this|strong="H2088" man|strong="H0376".”
25 But|strong="H3808" those|strong="H3605" evil men|strong="H0376" would|strong="H0014" not|strong="H3808" listen|strong="H8085" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H3605" old man|strong="H0376". So|strong="H7971" the|strong="H3605" Levite took|strong="H3318" his|strong="H3605" slave woman and|strong="H7971" put|strong="H7971" her|strong="H3605" outside|strong="H2351" with|strong="H0413" them|strong="H0413". They|strong="H3808" hurt her|strong="H3605" and|strong="H7971" raped|strong="H3045" her|strong="H3605" all|strong="H3605" night|strong="H3915" long|strong="H5704". Then|strong="H3318", at|strong="H0413" dawn|strong="H7837", they|strong="H3808" let|strong="H7971" her|strong="H3605" go|strong="H3318".
26 At|strong="H1004" dawn|strong="H0216", the|strong="H0834" woman|strong="H0802" came|strong="H0935" back|strong="H6437" to|strong="H0935" the|strong="H0834" house|strong="H1004" where|strong="H0834" her|strong="H0802" master|strong="H0113" was|strong="H0834" staying|strong="H8033". She|strong="H0834" fell|strong="H5307" down|strong="H5307" at|strong="H1004" the|strong="H0834" front door|strong="H6607" and|strong="H0935" lay|strong="H5307" there|strong="H8033" until|strong="H5704" it|strong="H8033" was|strong="H0834" daylight|strong="H0216".
27 The|strong="H5921" Levite got|strong="H6965" up|strong="H6965" early|strong="H1242" the|strong="H5921" next|strong="H5921" morning|strong="H1242". He|strong="H5921" wanted to|strong="H5921" go|strong="H3318" home|strong="H1004". He|strong="H5921" opened|strong="H6605" the|strong="H5921" door|strong="H1817" to|strong="H5921" go|strong="H3318" outside|strong="H3318", and|strong="H6965" a|strong="H5921" hand|strong="H3027" fell|strong="H5307" across|strong="H5921" the|strong="H5921" threshold of|strong="H1004" the|strong="H5921" door|strong="H1817". There|strong="H2009" was|strong="H0802" his|strong="H5921" slave woman|strong="H0802". She|strong="H6965" had|strong="H3027" fallen|strong="H5307" down|strong="H5307" against|strong="H5921" the|strong="H5921" door|strong="H1817".
28 The|strong="H0559" Levite said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" her|strong="H0413", “Get|strong="H3947" up|strong="H6965"; let’s go|strong="H6965".” But|strong="H0369" there|strong="H0369" was|strong="H0369" no|strong="H0369" answer|strong="H6030".
29 When|strong="H0935" he|strong="H0853" arrived|strong="H0935" at|strong="H0413" his|strong="H3605" house|strong="H1004", he|strong="H0853" took|strong="H3947" a|strong="H3947" knife|strong="H3979" and|strong="H0935" cut|strong="H5408" her|strong="H3605" body|strong="H6106" into|strong="H0413" 12 parts|strong="H5409". Then|strong="H3947" he|strong="H0853" sent|strong="H7971" the|strong="H3605" 12 parts|strong="H5409" of|strong="H1004" the|strong="H3605" woman|strong="H1004" to|strong="H0413" each|strong="H3605" of|strong="H1004" the|strong="H3605" areas where|strong="H0413" the|strong="H3605" Israelites|strong="H3478" lived.
30 Everyone|strong="H3605" who|strong="H3605" saw|strong="H7200" this|strong="H2088" said|strong="H0559", “Nothing|strong="H3808" like|strong="H1961" this|strong="H2088" has|strong="H1961" ever|strong="H2088" happened|strong="H1961" in|strong="H5921" Israel|strong="H3478" before|strong="H5704". We|strong="H5704" haven’t|strong="H3808" seen|strong="H7200" anything|strong="H3605" like|strong="H1961" this|strong="H2088" from|strong="H5921" the|strong="H3605" time|strong="H3117" we|strong="H5704" came|strong="H1961" out|strong="H5921" of|strong="H1121" Egypt|strong="H4714". Discuss|strong="H1696" this|strong="H2088" and|strong="H1121" tell|strong="H0559" us|strong="H5921" what|strong="H2088" to|strong="H0559" do|strong="H3605".”