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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. |
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2 | And 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. |
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3 | 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. |
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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. |
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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, Comfort thine heart with a
morsel of bread, and afterward go your way. |
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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 heart
be merry. |
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7 | And when the man rose up to depart, his father in law urged
him: therefore he lodged there again. |
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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. |
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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 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. |
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10 | But 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. |
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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. |
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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 Gibeah. |
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13 | And 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. |
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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. |
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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 man that took them into his house
to lodging. |
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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. |
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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, Whither goest
thou? and whence comest thou? |
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18 | And 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. |
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19 | Yet 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. |
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20 | And the old man said, Peace be with thee; howsoever let all
thy wants lie upon me; only lodge not in the street. |
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21 | So he brought him into his house, and gave provender unto the
asses: and they washed their feet, and did eat and drink. |
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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. |
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23 | And 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. |
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24 | Behold, 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. |
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25 | But 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. |
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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 was, till it was
light. |
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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. |
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28 | And 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. |
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29 | 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 her into all the coasts of
Israel. |
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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: consider of
it, take advice, and speak your minds. |
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