Judges 19:1-13 ▼

1 AND it came to pass 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 himself a concubine from Beth-lehem of Judah.

2 And his concubine played the whore against him, and then arose and went away from him to her father's house to Beth-lehem of Judah, and remained there four whole months.

3 And her husband arose and went after her to speak lovingly to her and to bring her back, taking with him his servant 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.

4 And his father-in-law, the damsel's father, detained him; and he stayed with him three days; so they did eat and drink and lodged there.

5 And on the fourth day, they rose early in the morning to depart; and the damsel's father said to his son-in-law, Strengthen yourself with a piece of bread; and after that rise and go.

6 So they sat down and did eat and drink, both of them together; and the damsel's father said to his son-in-law, If you wish you may spend the night and it will do you good.

7 And when the man rose up to depart, his father-in-law urged him to stay; and he spent the night there again.

8 And he arose early in the morning on the fifth day to depart; and the damsel's father said to him, Strengthen your heart, refresh yourself, and tarry until afternoon. And they did eat and drink both of them.

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 to him, Behold, now the day is spent, tarry all night here; and it will do you good; and tomorrow, rise up early and go to your home.

10 But the man would not tarry that night, but he rose up and departed, and came opposite Jebus, which is Jerusalem; and there were with him two asses with burdens, and his concubine also was with him.

11 And when they were near Jebus, the day was far spent; and the servant said to his master, Come, let us turn aside to this city of the Jebusites and spend the night in it.

12 And his master said to him, We will not turn aside into a strange city that does not belong to the house of Israel; but we will pass on to Gibeah.

13 And he said to his servant, Come, let us draw near to one of these places to lodge the night in Gibeah, or in Ramtha.