Shuphatym (Judges) — 19

The Lauym Concubine

1 And it came to pass in those days, when there was no king in Yashar'AL, that there was a certain Lauym staying in the remote mountains of Aphraim, he took for himself a concubine from Bathlaham in Yahudah. 

2 But his concubine played the harlot against him, and went away from him to her father’s house at Bathlaham in Yahudah, and was there four whole months. 

3 Then her husband arose and went after her, to speak 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, “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 home.”

10 However, the man was not willing to spend that night; so he rose and departed, and came opposite Yabus (that is, Yahushalam). With him were the two saddled donkeys; his concubine was also with him. 

11 They were near Yabus, and the day was far spent; and the servant said to his master, “Come, please, and let us turn aside into this city of the Yabusites 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 Yashar'AL; we will go on to Gibaah.” 

13 So he said to his servant, “Come, let us draw near to one of these places, and spend the night in Gibaah or in Ramah.” 

14 And they passed by and went their way; and the sun went down on them near Gibaah, which belongs to Banyamin. 

15 They turned aside there to go in to lodge in Gibaah. And when he went in, he sat down in the open square of the city, for no one would take them into his house to spend the night.

16 Just then an old man came in from his work in the field at evening, who also was  from the mountains of Aphraim; he was staying in Gibaah, whereas the men of the place were from the tribe of Banyamin. 

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 Bathlaham in Yahudah toward the remote mountains of Aphraim; I am from there. I went to Bathlaham in Yahudah; now I am going to the house of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH. But there is no one who will take me into the 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, “Peace be with you! However, let all your needs be my responsibility; only do not spend the night in the open square.” 

21 So he brought him into his house, and gave fodder to the donkeys, and they washed their feet, and ate and drank.

Gibaah’s Crime

22 As they were enjoying themselves, suddenly certain men of the city, perverted men, surrounded the house and beat on the door, they spoke to the master of the house, the old man, saying, “Bring out the man who came to your house, that we may know him carnally!”

23 But 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, do not commit this outrage. 

24 Look, here is my virgin daughter and the man’s concubine; let me bring them out now. 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 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 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 divided her into twelve pieces, limb by limb, and sent her throughout all the territory of Yashar'AL. 

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 Yashar'AL came up from the land of Mitzraym until this day. Consider it, confer, and speak up!”