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Judges 20:4 So the Levite, the husband of the murdered woman, answered: "I and my concubine came to Gibeah in Benjamin to spend the night.
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class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/judges/20.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter"> (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/judges/20.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />So the Levite, the husband of the murdered woman, said, “I and my concubine came to Gibeah in Benjamin to spend the night.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/judges/20.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />The Levite, the husband of the woman who had been murdered, said, “My concubine and I came to spend the night in Gibeah, a town that belongs to the people of Benjamin.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/judges/20.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />And the Levite, the husband of the woman who was murdered, answered and said, “I came to Gibeah that belongs to Benjamin, I and my concubine, to spend the night.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/judges/20.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />So the Levite, the husband of the murdered woman, answered: “I and my concubine came to Gibeah in Benjamin to spend the night.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/judges/20.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And the Levite, the husband of the woman that was slain, answered and said, I came into Gibeah that <i>belongeth</i> to Benjamin, I and my concubine, to lodge.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/judges/20.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />So the Levite, the husband of the woman who was murdered, answered and said, “My concubine and I went into Gibeah, which belongs to Benjamin, to spend the night.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/judges/20.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />So the Levite, the husband of the woman who was murdered, answered and said, “I came with my concubine to spend the night at Gibeah which belongs to Benjamin.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/judges/20.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />So the Levite, the husband of the woman who was murdered, answered and said, “I came with my concubine to spend the night at Gibeah which belongs to Benjamin.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/judges/20.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />So the Levite, the husband of the woman who was murdered, answered and said, “I came with my concubine to spend the night at Gibeah which belongs to Benjamin.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/judges/20.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />So the Levite, the husband of the woman who was murdered, answered and said, “I came with my concubine to spend the night at Gibeah which belongs to Benjamin.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/judges/20.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />So the Levite, the husband of the woman who was murdered, replied, “I had come with my concubine to spend the night in Gibeah, [a town] which belongs to [the tribe of] Benjamin.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/judges/20.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />The Levite, the husband of the murdered woman, answered, “I went to Gibeah in Benjamin with my concubine to spend the night.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/judges/20.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />The Levite, the husband of the murdered woman, answered: “I went to Gibeah in Benjamin with my concubine to spend the night. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/judges/20.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And the Levite, the husband of the woman that was murdered, answered and said, I came into Gibeah that belongeth to Benjamin, I and my concubine, to lodge.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/judges/20.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />The husband of the murdered woman answered: My wife and I went into the town of Gibeah in Benjamin to spend the night. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/judges/20.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And the Levite, the husband of the woman that was murdered, answered and said, I came into Gibeah that belongeth to Benjamin, I and my concubine, to lodge.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/judges/20.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />The Levite, the husband of the murdered woman, answered, "My concubine and I went to Gibeah in Benjamin to spend the night. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/judges/20.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />The Levite whose concubine had been murdered answered, "My concubine and I went to Gibeah in the territory of Benjamin to spend the night. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/judges/20.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />So the descendant of Levi, the husband of the murdered woman, spoke up and replied, "I came to spend the night at Gibeah, which is part of Benjamin, along with my mistress. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/judges/20.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />So the Levite, the husband of the murdered woman, answered: ?I and my concubine came to Gibeah in Benjamin to spend the night.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/judges/20.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />The Levite, the husband of the murdered woman, spoke up, "I and my concubine stopped in Gibeah in the territory of Benjamin to spend the night.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/judges/20.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />The Levite, the husband of the woman who was murdered, answered and said, "I came into Gibeah that belongs to Benjamin, I and my secondary wife, to spend the night.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/judges/20.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And the Levite, the husband of the woman that was slain, answered and said, I came into Gibeah that belongeth to Benjamin, I and my concubine, to lodge.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/judges/20.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />The Levite, the husband of the woman who was murdered, answered, “I came into Gibeah that belongs to Benjamin, I and my concubine, to spend the night. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/judges/20.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And the man, the Levite, husband of the woman who has been murdered, answers and says, “My concubine and I went into Gibeah, which [is] of Benjamin, to lodge;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/judges/20.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And the man, the Levite, husband of the woman who hath been murdered, answereth and saith, 'Into Gibeah (which is to Benjamin) I have come, I and my concubine, to lodge;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/judges/20.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And the man the Levite will answer, the husband of the woman slain, and he will say, To Gibeah which is to the sons of Benjamin I came, I and my concubine to lodge.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/judges/20.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Answered: I came into Gabaa of Benjamin with my wife, and there I lodged: <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/judges/20.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />responded: “I went to Gibeah of Benjamin, with my wife, and I diverted to that place.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/judges/20.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />and the Levite, the husband of the murdered woman, testified: “It was at Gibeah of Benjamin, which my concubine and I had entered for the night.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/judges/20.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />The Levite, the husband of the woman who was murdered, answered, “I came to Gibeah that belongs to Benjamin, I and my concubine, to spend the night.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/judges/20.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />And the Levite, the husband of the woman who was killed, answered and said to them, I came into Gibeah, that belongs to Benjamin, I and my concubine, to spend the night.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/judges/20.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />Levi, the husband of the woman who was killed, answered, and he said to them: “I entered Gabah of Benyamin, I and my Concubine, to lodge<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/judges/20.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />And the Levite, the husband of the woman that was murdered, answered and said: 'I came into Gibeah that belongeth to Benjamin, I and my concubine, to lodge.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/judges/20.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And the Levite, the husband of the woman that was slain, answered and said, I and my concubine went to Gabaa of Benjamin to lodge.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/judges/20-4.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AjzBiIYY2Dc?start=5959" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/judges/20.htm">The Decree of the Assembly</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">3</span>(Meanwhile the Benjamites heard that the Israelites had gone up to Mizpah.) And the Israelites asked, “Tell us, how did this wicked thing happen?” <span class="reftext">4</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/3881.htm" title="3881: hal·lê·wî (Art:: N-proper-ms) -- Desc. of Levi. Or Leviy; patronymically from Leviy; a Levite or descendant of Levi.">So the Levite,</a> <a href="/hebrew/376.htm" title="376: ’îš (N-msc) -- Man. Contracted for 'enowsh; a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term."></a> <a href="/hebrew/376.htm" title="376: hā·’îš (Art:: N-ms) -- Man. Contracted for 'enowsh; a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term.">the husband</a> <a href="/hebrew/7523.htm" title="7523: han·nir·ṣā·ḥāh (Art:: V-Nifal-Prtcpl-fs) -- To murder, slay. A primitive root; properly, to dash in pieces, i.e. Kill, especially to murder.">of the murdered</a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: way·yō·mar (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say."></a> <a href="/hebrew/802.htm" title="802: hā·’iš·šāh (Art:: N-fs) -- Woman, wife, female. Feminine of 'iysh or 'enowsh; irregular plural, nashiym; a woman.">woman,</a> <a href="/hebrew/6030.htm" title="6030: way·ya·‘an (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To answer, respond.">answered:</a> <a href="/hebrew/589.htm" title="589: ’ă·nî (Pro-1cs) -- I. Contracted from 'anokiy; I.">“I</a> <a href="/hebrew/6370.htm" title="6370: ū·p̄î·laḡ·šî (Conj-w:: N-fsc:: 1cs) -- Concubine. Or pilegesh; of uncertain derivation; a concubine; also a paramour.">and my concubine</a> <a href="/hebrew/935.htm" title="935: bā·ṯî (V-Qal-Perf-1cs) -- To come in, come, go in, go. A primitive root; to go or come.">came</a> <a href="/hebrew/1390.htm" title="1390: hag·giḇ·‘ā·ṯāh (Art:: N-proper-fs:: 3fs) -- Hill, three cities in Pal. The same as gib'ah; Gibah; the name of three places in Palestine.">to Gibeah</a> <a href="/hebrew/834.htm" title="834: ’ă·šer (Pro-r) -- Who, which, that. A primitive relative pronoun; who, which, what, that; also when, where, how, because, in order that, etc."></a> <a href="/hebrew/1144.htm" title="1144: lə·ḇin·yā·min (Prep-l:: N-proper-ms) -- From ben and yamiyn; son of right hand; Binjamin, youngest son of Jacob; also the tribe descended from him, and its territory.">in Benjamin</a> <a href="/hebrew/3885.htm" title="3885: lā·lūn (Prep-l:: V-Qal-Inf) -- Or liyn; a primitive root; to stop; by implication, to stay permanently; hence to be obstinate.">to spend the night.</a> </span><span class="reftext">5</span>And during the night, the men of Gibeah rose up against me and surrounded the house. They intended to kill me, but they abused my concubine, and she died.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/34-25.htm">Genesis 34:25-31</a></span><br />Three days later, while they were still in pain, two of Jacob’s sons (Dinah’s brothers Simeon and Levi) took their swords, went into the unsuspecting city, and slaughtered every male. / They killed Hamor and his son Shechem with their swords, took Dinah out of Shechem’s house, and went away. / Jacob’s other sons came upon the slaughter and looted the city, because their sister had been defiled. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/22-25.htm">Deuteronomy 22:25-27</a></span><br />But if the man encounters a betrothed woman in the open country, and he overpowers her and lies with her, only the man who has done this must die. / Do nothing to the young woman, because she has committed no sin worthy of death. This case is just like one in which a man attacks his neighbor and murders him. / When he found her in the field, the betrothed woman cried out, but there was no one to save her.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/joshua/7-25.htm">Joshua 7:25</a></span><br />“Why have you brought this trouble upon us?” said Joshua. “Today the LORD will bring trouble upon you!” And all Israel stoned him to death. Then they stoned the others and burned their bodies.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_samuel/13-28.htm">2 Samuel 13:28-29</a></span><br />Now Absalom had ordered his young men, “Watch Amnon until his heart is merry with wine, and when I order you to strike Amnon down, you are to kill him. Do not be afraid. Have I not commanded you? Be courageous and valiant!” / So Absalom’s young men did to Amnon just as Absalom had ordered. Then all the other sons of the king got up, and each one fled on his mule.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hosea/9-9.htm">Hosea 9:9</a></span><br />They have deeply corrupted themselves as in the days of Gibeah; He will remember their guilt; He will punish their sins.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hosea/10-9.htm">Hosea 10:9</a></span><br />Since the days of Gibeah you have sinned, O Israel, and there you have remained. Did not the battle in Gibeah overtake the sons of iniquity?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/1-26.htm">Romans 1:26-27</a></span><br />For this reason God gave them over to dishonorable passions. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. / Likewise, the men abandoned natural relations with women and burned with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/13-4.htm">Romans 13:4</a></span><br />For he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not carry the sword in vain. He is God’s servant, an agent of retribution to the wrongdoer.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/5-1.htm">1 Corinthians 5:1-5</a></span><br />It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is intolerable even among pagans: A man has his father’s wife. / And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have been stricken with grief and have removed from your fellowship the man who did this? / Although I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit, and I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did this, just as if I were present. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/6-9.htm">1 Corinthians 6:9-10</a></span><br />Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who submit to or perform homosexual acts, / nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ephesians/5-11.htm">Ephesians 5:11-12</a></span><br />Have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. / For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_timothy/1-9.htm">1 Timothy 1:9-10</a></span><br />We realize that law is not enacted for the righteous, but for the lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinful, for the unholy and profane, for killers of father or mother, for murderers, / for the sexually immoral, for homosexuals, for slave traders and liars and perjurers, and for anyone else who is averse to sound teaching<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hebrews/13-4.htm">Hebrews 13:4</a></span><br />Marriage should be honored by all and the marriage bed kept undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_peter/2-6.htm">2 Peter 2:6-8</a></span><br />if He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction, reducing them to ashes as an example of what is coming on the ungodly; / and if He rescued Lot, a righteous man distressed by the depraved conduct of the lawless / (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)—<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jude/1-7.htm">Jude 1:7</a></span><br />In like manner, Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, who indulged in sexual immorality and pursued strange flesh, are on display as an example of those who sustain the punishment of eternal fire.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And the Levite, the husband of the woman that was slain, answered and said, I came into Gibeah that belongs to Benjamin, I and my concubine, to lodge.</p><p class="hdg">the Levite [heb] the man the Levite </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/judges/19-15.htm">Judges 19:15-28</a></b></br> And they turned aside thither, to go in <i>and</i> to lodge in Gibeah: and when he went in, he sat him down in a street of the city: for <i>there was</i> no man that took them into his house to lodging… </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/judges/19-14.htm">Belongeth</a> <a href="/judges/19-14.htm">Belongs</a> <a href="/judges/20-3.htm">Benjamin</a> <a href="/judges/19-29.htm">Concubine</a> <a href="/judges/16-30.htm">Dead</a> <a href="/judges/19-3.htm">Husband</a> <a href="/judges/19-1.htm">Levite</a> <a href="/1_john/3-12.htm">Murdered</a> <a href="/judges/19-25.htm">Night</a> <a href="/judges/19-15.htm">Purpose</a> <a href="/judges/19-27.htm">Servant-Wife</a> <a href="/judges/16-24.htm">Slain</a> <a href="/judges/19-20.htm">Spend</a> <a href="/judges/19-15.htm">Stopping</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/1_samuel/17-1.htm">Belongeth</a> <a href="/1_samuel/15-3.htm">Belongs</a> <a href="/judges/20-10.htm">Benjamin</a> <a href="/judges/20-5.htm">Concubine</a> <a href="/judges/20-5.htm">Dead</a> <a href="/ruth/1-3.htm">Husband</a> <a href="/1_chronicles/6-19.htm">Levite</a> <a href="/2_samuel/3-30.htm">Murdered</a> <a href="/judges/20-5.htm">Night</a> <a href="/judges/20-5.htm">Purpose</a> <a href="/judges/20-5.htm">Servant-Wife</a> <a href="/judges/20-5.htm">Slain</a> <a href="/2_samuel/17-8.htm">Spend</a> <a href="/2_kings/10-9.htm">Stopping</a><div class="vheading2">Judges 20</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/judges/20-1.htm">The Levite in a general assembly declared his wrong</a></span><br><span class="reftext">8. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/judges/20-8.htm">The decree of the assembly</a></span><br><span class="reftext">12. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/judges/20-12.htm">The Benjamites, being cited, make head against the Israelites</a></span><br><span class="reftext">18. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/judges/20-18.htm">The Israelites in two battles lose forty thousand</a></span><br><span class="reftext">26. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/judges/20-26.htm">They destroy by a plan all the Benjamites, except six hundred.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; 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His presence in this narrative highlights the moral and spiritual decline in Israel during the time of the Judges. The term "husband" here is notable because it reflects the cultural practice of concubinage, where a concubine had a recognized but lesser status than a wife. This situation underscores the complex social and familial structures of ancient Israel. The Levite's response is part of a larger assembly of the tribes of Israel, indicating the gravity of the situation and the communal approach to justice.<p><b>I and my concubine came to Gibeah in Benjamin to spend the night.</b><br>Gibeah, a town in the territory of Benjamin, becomes infamous due to the events that unfold. This location is significant as it later becomes the royal city of King Saul, Israel's first king. The mention of spending the night suggests the cultural expectation of hospitality, which was a sacred duty in ancient Near Eastern societies. The failure of the people of Gibeah to provide this hospitality, leading to the tragic events, highlights the moral decay and lawlessness prevalent during this period, as described in <a href="/judges/21-25.htm">Judges 21:25</a>, "In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes." This phrase also foreshadows the violence and chaos that will ensue, serving as a microcosm of the broader spiritual and social disorder in Israel.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_levite.htm">The Levite</a></b><br>A member of the tribe of Levi, set apart for religious duties. In this context, he is the husband of the murdered woman and the central figure recounting the events that led to the conflict.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_concubine.htm">The Concubine</a></b><br>The Levite's secondary wife, whose tragic death is the catalyst for the events in <a href="/bsb/judges/20.htm">Judges 20</a>. Her mistreatment and murder highlight the moral decay in Israel at the time.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/g/gibeah.htm">Gibeah</a></b><br>A town in the territory of Benjamin. It is the location where the Levite and his concubine sought refuge but instead encountered violence and immorality.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/b/benjamin.htm">Benjamin</a></b><br>One of the twelve tribes of Israel. The tribe is implicated in the crime against the Levite's concubine, leading to a civil war with the other tribes of Israel.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_assembly_of_israel.htm">The Assembly of Israel</a></b><br>The gathering of the tribes of Israel to address the atrocity committed in Gibeah. This assembly seeks justice and reflects the communal responsibility to uphold righteousness.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_consequences_of_moral_decay.htm">The Consequences of Moral Decay</a></b><br>The events in Gibeah serve as a stark reminder of what happens when a society turns away from God's laws. It calls believers to uphold biblical values in their communities.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_justice_in_community.htm">The Role of Justice in Community</a></b><br>The assembly of Israel demonstrates the importance of seeking justice and addressing sin within the community. Christians are called to be agents of justice and reconciliation.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_hospitality.htm">The Importance of Hospitality</a></b><br>The failure of Gibeah to provide safe hospitality contrasts with biblical teachings on welcoming strangers. Believers are encouraged to practice hospitality as an expression of God's love.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_impact_of_leadership.htm">The Impact of Leadership</a></b><br>The absence of strong, godly leadership in Israel during this time led to chaos and moral decline. This underscores the need for righteous leadership in both the church and society.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_judges_20.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Judges 20</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/judges_19__how_to_reconcile_with_divine_justice.htm">Judges 19--How do we reconcile this brutal event with the portrayal of divine justice and compassion found in other parts of the Bible?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_is_the_origin_of_demons.htm">What is Gibeah's significance in the Bible?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_happened_to_the_levite's_concubine.htm">What happened to the Levite's concubine in Gibeah?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_wasn't_the_levite_condemned.htm">Judges 19:25--Why didn't the Levite face direct condemnation for offering his concubine to the crowd, despite moral laws elsewhere in Scripture?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/judges/20-4.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">So the Levite,</span><br /><span class="heb">הַלֵּוִ֗י</span> <span class="translit">(hal·lê·wî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3881.htm">Strong's 3881: </a> </span><span class="str2">Levites -- descendant of Levi</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the husband</span><br /><span class="heb">הָאִ֣ישׁ</span> <span class="translit">(hā·’îš)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_376.htm">Strong's 376: </a> </span><span class="str2">A man as an individual, a male person</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of the murdered</span><br /><span class="heb">הַנִּרְצָחָ֖ה</span> <span class="translit">(han·nir·ṣā·ḥāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Verb - Nifal - Participle - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7523.htm">Strong's 7523: </a> </span><span class="str2">To dash in pieces, kill, to murder</span><br /><br /><span class="word">woman,</span><br /><span class="heb">הָאִשָּׁ֥ה</span> <span class="translit">(hā·’iš·šāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_802.htm">Strong's 802: </a> </span><span class="str2">Woman, wife, female</span><br /><br /><span class="word">answered:</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיַּ֜עַן</span> <span class="translit">(way·ya·‘an)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6030.htm">Strong's 6030: </a> </span><span class="str2">To answer, respond</span><br /><br /><span class="word">“I</span><br /><span class="heb">אֲנִ֥י</span> <span class="translit">(’ă·nî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Pronoun - first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_589.htm">Strong's 589: </a> </span><span class="str2">I</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and my concubine</span><br /><span class="heb">וּפִֽילַגְשִׁ֖י</span> <span class="translit">(ū·p̄î·laḡ·šî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6370.htm">Strong's 6370: </a> </span><span class="str2">A concubine, a paramour</span><br /><br /><span class="word">came</span><br /><span class="heb">בָּ֛אתִי</span> <span class="translit">(bā·ṯî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_935.htm">Strong's 935: </a> </span><span class="str2">To come in, come, go in, go</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to Gibeah</span><br /><span class="heb">הַגִּבְעָ֙תָה֙</span> <span class="translit">(hag·giḇ·‘ā·ṯāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular | third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1390.htm">Strong's 1390: </a> </span><span class="str2">Gibeah -- 'hill', three cities in Palestine</span><br /><br /><span class="word">in Benjamin</span><br /><span class="heb">לְבִנְיָמִ֔ן</span> <span class="translit">(lə·ḇin·yā·min)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1144.htm">Strong's 1144: </a> </span><span class="str2">Benjamin -- 'son of the right hand', youngest son of Jacob, also the name of two other Israelites</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to spend the night.</span><br /><span class="heb">לָלֽוּן׃</span> <span class="translit">(lā·lūn)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3885.htm">Strong's 3885: </a> </span><span class="str2">To stop, to stay permanently, to be obstinate</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/judges/20-4.htm">Judges 20:4 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/judges/20-4.htm">Judges 20:4 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/judges/20-4.htm">Judges 20:4 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/judges/20-4.htm">Judges 20:4 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/judges/20-4.htm">Judges 20:4 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/judges/20-4.htm">Judges 20:4 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/judges/20-4.htm">Judges 20:4 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/judges/20-4.htm">Judges 20:4 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/judges/20-4.htm">Judges 20:4 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/judges/20-4.htm">Judges 20:4 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/judges/20-4.htm">OT History: Judges 20:4 The Levite the husband of the woman (Jd Judg. Jdg) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/judges/20-3.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Judges 20:3"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Judges 20:3" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/judges/20-5.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Judges 20:5"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Judges 20:5" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>