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1. At that time Israel did not have a king. There was a Levite who lived in the faraway mountains of Ephraim. He had taken a slave woman from the city of Bethlehem in the land of Judah to live with him,
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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. but she was unfaithful to him. She left him and went back to her father's house in Bethlehem in Judah and stayed there for 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. Then her husband went to ask her to come back to him, taking with him his servant and two donkeys. When the Levite came to her father's house, she invited him to come in, and her father was happy to see him.
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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. The father-in-law, the young woman's father, asked him to stay. So he stayed for three days and ate, drank, and slept 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 got up early in the morning. The Levite was getting ready to leave, but the woman's father said to his son-in-law, "Refresh yourself by eating something. Then 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 men sat down to eat and drink together. After that, the father said to him, "Please stay tonight. Relax and enjoy yourself."
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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 up to go, his father-in-law asked him to stay. So he stayed again that 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. On the fifth day the man got up early in the morning to leave. The woman's father said, "Refresh yourself. Wait until this afternoon." So the two men ate 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 Levite, his slave woman, and his servant got up to leave, the father-in-law, the young woman's father, said, "It's almost night. The day is almost gone. Spend the night here and enjoy yourself. Tomorrow morning you can get up early and go 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 Levite did not want to stay another night. So he took his two saddled donkeys and his slave woman and traveled toward the city of Jebus (also called Jerusalem).
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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. As the day was almost over, they came near Jebus. So the servant said to his master, "Let's stop at this city of the Jebusites, and spend the night here."
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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, "No. We won't go inside a foreign city. Those people are not Israelites. We will go on to the city of 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, "Come on. Let's try to make it to Gibeah or Ramah so we can spend the night in one of those cities."
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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 went on. The sun went down as they came near Gibeah, which belongs to the tribe 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 to spend the night. They came to the public square of the city and sat down, but no one invited them home 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. Finally, in the evening an old man came in from his work in the fields. His home was in the mountains of Ephraim, but now he was living in Gibeah. (The people of Gibeah were from the tribe of Benjamin.)
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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. He saw the traveler in the public square and asked, "Where are you going? Where did 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 answered, "We are traveling from Bethlehem in Judah to my home in the mountains of Ephraim. I have been to Bethlehem in Judah, but now I am going to the Holy Tent of the Lord. No one has invited me to stay in his house.
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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 already have straw and food for our donkeys and bread and wine for me, the young woman, and my servant. We don't need anything."
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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, "You are welcome to stay at my house. Let me give you anything you need, but don't spend the night in the public 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 the old man took the Levite into his house, and he fed their donkeys. They washed their feet and had something to eat and drink.
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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. While they were enjoying themselves, some wicked men of the city surrounded the house and beat on the door. They shouted to the old man who owned the house, "Bring out the man who came to your house. We want to have sexual relations 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 owner of the house went outside and said to them, "No, my friends. Don't be so evil. This man is a guest in my house. Don't do this terrible 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. Look, here are my daughter, who has never had sexual relations before, and the man's slave woman. I will bring them out to you now. Do anything you want with them, but don't do such a terrible 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. But the men would not listen to him. So the Levite took his slave woman and sent her outside to them. They forced her to have sexual relations with them, and they abused her all night long. Then, at dawn, they let her go.
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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. She came back to the house where her master was staying and fell down at the door and lay there until daylight.
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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. In the morning when the Levite got up, he opened the door of the house and went outside to go on his way. But his slave woman was lying at the doorway of the house, with her hands on the doorsill.
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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. The Levite said to her, "Get up; let's go." But she did not answer. So he put her on his 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 the Levite got home, he took a knife and cut his slave woman into twelve parts, limb by limb. Then he sent a part to each area of 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 this said, "Nothing like this has ever happened before, not since the people of Israel came out of Egypt. Think about it. Tell us what to do."
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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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