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1. In those days Israel had no king. There was a Levite living temporarily in the remote region of the Ephraimite hill country. He acquired a concubine from Bethlehem in Judah.
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1. And it came to pass H1961 in those H1992 days H3117 , when there was no H369 king H4428 in Israel H3478 , that there was H1961 a certain H376 Levite H3881 sojourning H1481 on the side H3411 of mount H2022 Ephraim H669 , who took H3947 to him a concubine H802 H6370 out of Bethlehem H4480 H1035 H3063 -judah.
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2. However, she got angry at him and went home to her father's house in Bethlehem in Judah. When she had been there four months,
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2. And his concubine H6370 played the whore H2181 against H5921 him , and went away H1980 from H4480 H854 him unto H413 her father H1 's house H1004 to H413 Bethlehem H1035 H3063 -judah , and was H1961 there H8033 four H702 whole H3117 months H2320 .
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3. her husband came after her, hoping he could convince her to return. He brought with him his servant and a pair of donkeys. When she brought him into her father's house and the girl's father saw him, he greeted him warmly.
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3. And her husband H376 arose H6965 , and went H1980 after H310 her , to speak H1696 friendly H5921 H3820 unto her, and to bring her again H7725 , having his servant H5288 with H5973 him , and a couple H6776 of asses H2543 : and she brought H935 him into her father H1 's house H1004 : and when the father H1 of the damsel H5291 saw H7200 him , he rejoiced H8055 to meet H7125 him.
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4. His father-in-law, the girl's father, persuaded him to stay with him for three days, and they ate and drank together, and spent the night there.
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4. And his father H2859 -in-law , the damsel H5291 's father H1 , retained H2388 him ; and he abode H3427 with H854 him three H7969 days H3117 : so they did eat H398 and drink H8354 , and lodged H3885 there H8033 .
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5. On the fourth day they woke up early and the Levite got ready to leave. But the girl's father said to his son-in-law, "Have a bite to eat for some energy, then you can go."
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5. And it came to pass H1961 on the fourth H7243 day H3117 , when they arose early H7925 in the morning H1242 , that he rose up H6965 to depart H1980 : and the damsel H5291 's father H1 said H559 unto H413 his son H2860 -in-law, Comfort H5582 thine heart H3820 with a morsel H6595 of bread H3899 , and afterward H310 go your way H1980 .
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6. So the two of them sat down and had a meal together. Then the girl's father said to the man, "Why not stay another night and have a good time!"
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6. And they sat down H3427 , and did eat H398 and drink H8354 both H8147 of them together H3162 : for the damsel H5291 's father H1 had said H559 unto H413 the man H376 , Be content H2974 , I pray thee H4994 , and tarry all night H3885 , and let thine heart H3820 be merry H3190 .
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7. When the man got ready to leave, his father-in-law convinced him to stay another night.
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7. And when the man H376 rose up H6965 to depart H1980 , his father H2859 -in-law urged H6484 him : therefore he lodged H3885 there H8033 again H7725 .
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8. He woke up early in the morning on the fifth day so he could leave, but the girl's father said, "Get some energy. Wait until later in the day to leave!" So they ate a meal together.
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8. And he arose early H7925 in the morning H1242 on the fifth H2549 day H3117 to depart H1980 : and the damsel H5291 's father H1 said H559 , Comfort H5582 thine heart H3824 , I pray thee H4994 . And they tarried H4102 until H5704 afternoon H5186 H3117 , and they did eat H398 both H8147 of them.
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9. When the man got ready to leave with his concubine and his servant, his father-in-law, the girl's father, said to him, "Look! The day is almost over! Stay another night! Since the day is over, stay another night here and have a good time. You can get up early tomorrow and start your trip home."
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9. And when the man H376 rose up H6965 to depart H1980 , he H1931 , and his concubine H6370 , and his servant H5288 , his father H2859 -in-law , the damsel H5291 's father H1 , said H559 unto him, Behold H2009 , now H4994 the day H3117 draweth H7503 toward evening H6150 , I pray you H4994 tarry all night H3885 : behold H2009 , the day H3117 groweth to an end H2583 , lodge H3885 here H6311 , that thine heart H3824 may be merry H3190 ; and tomorrow H4279 get you early H7925 on your way H1870 , that thou mayest go H1980 home H168 .
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10. But the man did not want to stay another night. He left and traveled as far as Jebus (that is, Jerusalem). He had with him a pair of saddled donkeys and his concubine.
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10. But the man H376 would H14 not H3808 tarry that night H3885 , but he rose up H6965 and departed H1980 , and came H935 over against H5704 H5227 Jebus H2982 , which H1931 is Jerusalem H3389 ; and there were with H5973 him two H6776 asses H2543 saddled H2280 , his concubine H6370 also was with H5973 him.
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11. When they got near Jebus, it was getting quite late and the servant said to his master, "Come on, let's stop at this Jebusite city and spend the night in it."
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11. And when they H1992 were by H5973 Jebus H2982 , the day H3117 was far H3966 spent H7286 ; and the servant H5288 said H559 unto H413 his master H113 , Come H1980 , I pray thee H4994 , and let us turn in H5493 into H413 this H2063 city H5892 of the Jebusites H2983 , and lodge H3885 in it.
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12. But his master said to him, "We should not stop at a foreign city where non-Israelites live. We will travel on to Gibeah."
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12. And his master H113 said H559 unto H413 him , We will not H3808 turn aside H5493 hither into H413 the city H5892 of a stranger H5237 , that H834 is not H3808 of the children H4480 H1121 of Israel H3478 ; we will pass over H5674 to H5704 Gibeah H1390 .
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13. He said to his servant, "Come on, we will go into one of the other towns and spend the night in Gibeah or Ramah."
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13. And he said H559 unto his servant H5288 , Come H1980 , and let us draw near H7126 to one H259 of these places H4725 to lodge all night H3885 , in Gibeah H1390 , or H176 in Ramah H7414 .
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14. So they traveled on, and the sun went down when they were near Gibeah in the territory of Benjamin.
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14. And they passed on H5674 and went their way H1980 ; and the sun H8121 went down H935 upon them when they were by H681 Gibeah H1390 , which H834 belongeth to Benjamin H1144 .
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15. They stopped there and decided to spend the night in Gibeah. They came into the city and sat down in the town square, but no one invited them to spend the night.
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15. And they turned aside H5493 thither H8033 , to go in H935 and to lodge H3885 in Gibeah H1390 : and when he went in H935 , he sat him down H3427 in a street H7339 of the city H5892 : for there was no H369 man H376 that took H622 them into his house H1004 to lodging H3885 .
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16. But then an old man passed by, returning at the end of the day from his work in the field. The man was from the Ephraimite hill country; he was living temporarily in Gibeah. (The residents of the town were Benjaminites.)
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16. And, behold H2009 , there came H935 an old H2205 man H376 from H4480 his work H4639 out of H4480 the field H7704 at even H6153 , which H3676 was also of mount H4480 H2022 Ephraim H669 ; and he H1931 sojourned H1481 in Gibeah H1390 : but the men H376 of the place H4725 were Benjamites H1145 .
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17. When he looked up and saw the traveler in the town square, the old man said, "Where are you heading? Where do you come from?"
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17. And when he had lifted up H5375 his eyes H5869 , he saw H7200 H853 a wayfaring H732 man H376 in the street H7339 of the city H5892 : and the old H2205 man H376 said H559 , Whither H4480 H575 goest H1980 thou? and whence H4480 H370 comest H935 thou?
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18. The Levite said to him, "We are traveling from Bethlehem in Judah to the remote region of the Ephraimite hill country. That's where I'm from. I had business in Bethlehem in Judah, but now I'm heading home. But no one has invited me into their home.
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18. And he said H559 unto H413 him, We H587 are passing H5674 from Bethlehem H4480 H1035 H3063 -judah toward H5704 the side H3411 of mount H2022 Ephraim H669 ; from thence H4480 H8033 am I H595 : and I went H1980 to H5704 Bethlehem H1035 H3063 -judah , but I H589 am now going H1980 to the house H1004 of the LORD H3068 ; and there is no H369 man H376 that receiveth H622 me to house H1004 .
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19. We have enough straw and grain for our donkeys, and there is enough food and wine for me, your female servant, and the young man who is with your servants. We lack nothing."
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19. Yet there is H3426 both H1571 straw H8401 and H1571 provender H4554 for our asses H2543 ; and there is H3426 bread H3899 and wine H3196 also H1571 for me , and for thy handmaid H519 , and for the young man H5288 which is with H5973 thy servants H5650 : there is no H369 want H4270 of any H3605 thing H1697 .
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20. The old man said, "Everything is just fine! I will take care of all your needs. But don't spend the night in the town square."
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20. And the old H2205 man H376 said H559 , Peace H7965 be with thee; howsoever H7535 let all H3605 thy wants H4270 lie upon H5921 me; only H7535 lodge H3885 not H408 in the street H7339 .
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21. So he brought him to his house and fed the donkeys. They washed their feet and had a meal.
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21. So he brought H935 him into his house H1004 , and gave provender H1101 unto the asses H2543 : and they washed H7364 their feet H7272 , and did eat H398 and drink H8354 .
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22. They were having a good time, when suddenly some men of the city, some good-for-nothings, surrounded the house and kept beating on the door. They said to the old man who owned the house, "Send out the man who came to visit you so we can have sex with him."
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22. Now as they H1992 were making their hearts merry H3190 H853 H3820 , behold H2009 , the men H376 of the city H5892 , certain H376 sons H1121 of Belial H1100 , beset the house round about H5437 H853 H1004 , and beat H1849 at H5921 the door H1817 , and spoke H559 to H413 the master H1167 of the house H1004 , the old man H2205 , saying H559 , Bring forth H3318 H853 the man H376 that H834 came H935 into H413 thine house H1004 , that we may know H3045 him.
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23. The man who owned the house went outside and said to them, "No, my brothers! Don't do this wicked thing! After all, this man is a guest in my house. Don't do such a disgraceful thing!
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23. And the man H376 , the master H1167 of the house H1004 , went out H3318 unto H413 them , and said H559 unto H413 them, Nay H408 , my brethren H251 , nay , I pray you H4994 , do not so wickedly H7489 H408 ; seeing that H310 H834 this H2088 man H376 is come H935 into H413 mine house H1004 , do H6213 not H408 H853 this H2063 folly H5039 .
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24. Here are my virgin daughter and my guest's concubine. I will send them out and you can abuse them and do to them whatever you like. But don't do such a disgraceful thing to this man!"
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24. Behold H2009 , here is my daughter H1323 a maiden H1330 , and his concubine H6370 ; them I will bring out H3318 now H4994 , and humble H6031 ye them , and do H6213 with them what seemeth H5869 good H2896 unto you : but unto this H2088 man H376 do H6213 not H3808 so H2063 vile H5039 a thing H1697 .
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25. The men refused to listen to him, so the Levite grabbed his concubine and made her go outside. They raped her and abused her all night long until morning. They let her go at dawn.
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25. But the men H376 would H14 not H3808 hearken H8085 to him : so the man H376 took H2388 his concubine H6370 , and brought her forth H3318 H2351 unto H413 them ; and they knew H3045 her , and abused H5953 her all H3605 the night H3915 until H5704 the morning H1242 : and when the day H7837 began to spring H5927 , they let her go H7971 .
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26. The woman arrived back at daybreak and was sprawled out on the doorstep of the house where her master was staying until it became light.
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26. Then came H935 the woman H802 in the dawning H6437 of the day H1242 , and fell down H5307 at the door H6607 of the man H376 's house H1004 where H834 H8033 her lord H113 was , till H5704 it was light H216 .
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27. When her master got up in the morning, opened the doors of the house, and went outside to start on his journey, there was the woman, his concubine, sprawled out on the doorstep of the house with her hands on the threshold.
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27. And her lord H113 rose up H6965 in the morning H1242 , and opened H6605 the doors H1817 of the house H1004 , and went out H3318 to go H1980 his way H1870 : and, behold H2009 , the woman H802 his concubine H6370 was fallen down H5307 at the door H6607 of the house H1004 , and her hands H3027 were upon H5921 the threshold H5592 .
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28. He said to her, "Get up, let's leave!" But there was no response. He put her on the donkey and went home.
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28. And he said H559 unto H413 her, Up H6965 , and let us be going H1980 . But none H369 answered H6030 . Then the man took H3947 her up upon H5921 an ass H2543 , and the man H376 rose up H6965 , and got H1980 him unto his place H4725 .
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29. When he got home, he took a knife, grabbed his concubine, and carved her up into twelve pieces. Then he sent the pieces throughout Israel.
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29. And when he was come H935 into H413 his house H1004 , he took H3947 H853 a knife H3979 , and laid hold H2388 on his concubine H6370 , and divided H5408 her, together with her bones H6106 , into twelve H8147 H6240 pieces H5409 , and sent H7971 her into all H3605 the coasts H1366 of Israel H3478 .
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30. Everyone who saw the sight said, "Nothing like this has happened or been witnessed during the entire time since the Israelites left the land of Egypt! Take careful note of it! Discuss it and speak!"
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30. And it was H1961 so , that all H3605 that saw H7200 it said H559 , There was no H3808 such H2063 deed done H1961 nor H3808 seen H7200 from the day H4480 H3117 that the children H1121 of Israel H3478 came up H5927 out of the land H4480 H776 of Egypt H4714 unto H5704 this H2088 day H3117 : consider H7760 of H5921 it , take advice H5779 , and speak H1696 your minds .
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