Judges 19

King James Version

Full text for Judges Chapter 19

1¶ And it came to pass in those days, when [there was] no king in Israel, that there was a certain Levite sojourning on the side of mount Ephraim, who took to him a concubine out of Bethlehemjudah.

2And his concubine played the whore against him, and went away from him unto her father's house to Bethlehemjudah, and was there four whole months.

3And 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.

4And 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.

5And 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, Comfort thine heart with a morsel of bread, and afterward go your way.

6And 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 heart be merry.

7And when the man rose up to depart, his father in law urged him: therefore he lodged there again.

8And 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.

9And 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 draweth toward evening, I pray you tarry all night: behold, the day groweth to an end, lodge here, that thine heart may be merry; and to morrow get you early on your way, that thou mayest go home.

10But the man would not tarry that night, but he rose up and departed, and came over against Jebus, 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 Jebusites, and lodge in it.

12And 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 Gibeah.

13And he said unto his servant, Come, and let us draw near to one of these places to lodge all night, in Gibeah, or in Ramah.

14And they passed on and went their way; and the sun went down upon them [when they were] by Gibeah, which [belongeth] to Benjamin.

15And 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 man that took them into his house to lodging.

16¶ And, behold, there came an old man from his work 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.

17And when he had lifted up his eyes, he saw a wayfaring man in the street of the city: and the old man said, Whither goest thou? and whence comest thou?

18And he said unto him, We [are] passing from Bethlehemjudah toward the side of mount Ephraim; from thence [am] I: and I went to Bethlehemjudah, but I [am now] going to the house of the LORD; and there [is] no man that receiveth me to house.

19Yet there is both straw and provender 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.

20And the old man said, Peace [be] with thee; howsoever [let] all thy wants [lie] upon me; only lodge not in the street.

21So he brought him into his house, and gave provender unto the asses: and they washed their feet, and did eat and drink.

22¶ [Now] as they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, certain sons of Belial, beset the house round about, [and] beat at the door, and spake to the master of the house, the old man, saying, Bring forth the man that came into thine house, that we may know him.

23And the man, 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 folly.

24Behold, [here is] my daughter a maiden, and his concubine; them I will bring out now, and humble ye them, and do with them what seemeth good unto you: but unto this man do not so vile a thing.

25But the men would not hearken to him: so the man took his concubine, and brought her forth unto them; and they knew her, and abused her all the night until the morning: and when the day began to spring, they let her go.

26Then came the woman in the dawning of the day, and fell down at the door of the man's house where her lord [was], till it was light.

27And 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.

28And he said unto her, Up, and let us be going. But none answered. Then the man took her [up] upon an ass, and the man rose up, and gat him unto his place.

29And 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 her into all the coasts of Israel.

30And 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: consider of it, take advice, and speak [your minds].

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

During a time when there was no king in Israel, a Levite from Mount Ephraim went to Bethlehemjudah to retrieve his concubine who had left him. After an extended stay with her father, they departed late, seeking lodging in Gibeah of Benjamin. There, wicked men of the city assaulted his concubine, leading to her death. In response, the Levite dismembered her body into twelve pieces and sent them throughout Israel, calling for action against this great wickedness.

Medium Summary

A Levite journeyed to Bethlehemjudah to reconcile with his concubine, who had previously departed from him. Her father welcomed him warmly, urging him to stay for several days before he finally departed late in the day. Choosing to avoid the city of Jebus (Jerusalem) as it was not of Israel, they sought lodging in Gibeah of Benjamin, but no one offered them shelter until an old man from Mount Ephraim took them into his home. As they were making merry, wicked men of Gibeah, described as sons of Belial, surrounded the house, demanding the Levite be brought out for their perverse intentions. The old man offered his own daughter and the concubine instead, and the Levite ultimately put forth his concubine, whom they abused all night until she died at the doorstep. Upon discovering her body, the Levite took her home, dismembered her into twelve pieces, and sent them throughout all the coasts of Israel, an act unprecedented since the Exodus, to provoke a response from the tribes.

Long Summary

The chapter begins by setting the scene in a time when there was no king in Israel, highlighting the prevailing lawlessness. A Levite from Mount Ephraim traveled to Bethlehemjudah to bring back his concubine, who had previously played the whore against him and returned to her father's house. Her father received the Levite with great hospitality, repeatedly urging him to extend his stay for several days, delaying their departure until late on the fifth day. As evening approached, the Levite refused to tarry another night, choosing to depart. He bypassed Jebus (Jerusalem), a city of strangers, opting instead to seek lodging in an Israelite city like Gibeah or Ramah. They arrived in Gibeah of Benjamin as the sun set, but found no one willing to take them into their homes, forcing them to sit in the street. An old man, also from Mount Ephraim but sojourning in Gibeah, eventually took pity on them and offered them lodging, providing for their needs. However, as they were resting, wicked men of the city, identified as sons of Belial, surrounded the house, beating on the door and demanding that the Levite be brought out so they might 'know him.' The old man pleaded with them not to commit such wickedness, offering his own virgin daughter and the Levite's concubine as alternatives. Despite his pleas, the men would not listen, so the Levite himself brought forth his concubine to them. They abused her throughout the night until the morning, when they let her go. She returned to the house and collapsed at the door, dying there. The next morning, the Levite found her, and upon realizing she was dead, he placed her upon an ass and returned to his home. There, in a shocking act, he took a knife, dismembered his concubine's body into twelve pieces, and sent a piece to each of the twelve tribes of Israel. This horrific deed was intended to rouse the tribes, as all who saw it declared that no such act had been done or seen since the children of Israel came out of Egypt, urging them to consider, take advice, and speak their minds regarding this great evil.

Core Concepts

  • Absence of Central AuthorityThe narrative explicitly states, 'when there was no king in Israel,' setting the context for the moral decay and lawlessness that pervades the chapter's events. This phrase underscores the lack of a governing structure to enforce justice and order.
  • Hospitality and Its ViolationThe chapter contrasts the excessive hospitality of the concubine's father with the complete lack of hospitality in Gibeah, where the Levite and his company were left in the street. The subsequent violation of the old man's hospitality by the men of Gibeah highlights a profound breakdown of societal norms.
  • Sons of BelialThis term describes the wicked men of Gibeah who surrounded the old man's house, demanding the Levite for sexual violence. It signifies individuals of extreme depravity and worthlessness, embodying the moral corruption of the city.
  • Sexual Violence and DeathThe concubine is subjected to brutal sexual abuse throughout the night by the men of Gibeah, resulting in her death at the doorstep of the house. This act is the central horrific crime of the chapter, driving the subsequent events.
  • Dismemberment and Call to ActionIn a shocking and desperate act, the Levite dismembers his dead concubine into twelve pieces and sends them throughout Israel. This gruesome act serves as a powerful, unprecedented summons to the tribes, intended to provoke outrage and unify them against the perpetrators of such wickedness.
  • Moral Depravity of GibeahThe actions of the men of Gibeah, particularly their demand for the Levite and their subsequent abuse of the concubine, portray a city steeped in extreme moral corruption. Their behavior is presented as an abomination in Israel.