Judges 19:1-9 ▼

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.