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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width; initial-scale=1.0; maximum-scale=1.0; user-scalable=0;"/><title>Judges 19 ISV</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/judges/19.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="../topmenuchap/judges/19-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="http://biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="../">ISV</a> > Judges 19</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../judges/18.htm" title="Judges 18">◄</a> Judges 19 <a href="../judges/20.htm" title="Judges 20">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top">International Standard Version</td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/p/isv/esv/judges/19.shtml" style="color:#001320" title="Parallel Chapters"> Par ▾ </a></tr></table></div><div class="chap"><p class="heading">The Levite’s Mistress</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/judges/19-1.htm"><b>1</b></a></span>Now it happened in those days, before there was a king in Israel, that a certain male descendant of Levi, who lived in a remote part of the mountainous region<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="19:1 Or the hill country">a</a></span> of Ephraim, took a mistress for himself from Bethlehem in the territory of Judah. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/judges/19-2.htm"><b>2</b></a></span>But his mistress was sexually unfaithful to him, and then she left him to live in her father’s home in Bethlehem in the territory of Judah. She had been living there for a period<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="19:2 Lit. days">b</a></span> of about four months <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/judges/19-3.htm"><b>3</b></a></span>when her husband got up and went after her, intending to speak lovingly to her<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="19:3 Lit. speak to her heart">c</a></span> in order to win her back. He took with him his young man servant and a pair of donkeys. When she brought him into her father’s house to see him, her father was happy to have met him.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/judges/19-4.htm"><b>4</b></a></span>The young woman’s father (that is, his father-in-law) made him stay there for three days while they ate and drank during his visit there. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/judges/19-5.htm"><b>5</b></a></span>On the fourth day, they got up early that morning, and the descendant of Levi<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="19:5 Lit. and he">d</a></span> got ready to leave. Then the young woman’s father-in-law told him, “Fortify yourself<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="19:5 Lit. Fortify your heart">e</a></span> by eating some food before you go.” <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/judges/19-6.htm"><b>6</b></a></span>So both of them sat down for a bit, ate and drank together, and the young woman’s father invited the man, “Please, enjoy yourself and spend another night.” <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/judges/19-7.htm"><b>7</b></a></span>The man got up, intending<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="19:7 The Heb. lacks intending">f</a></span> to leave, but his father-in-law urged him to spend the night there again.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/judges/19-8.htm"><b>8</b></a></span>On the fifth day, he got up early in the morning, but the young woman’s father-in-law told him, “Please, fortify yourself,”<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="19:8 Lit. Fortify your heart">g</a></span> so they delayed until later that afternoon while both of them ate together. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/judges/19-9.htm"><b>9</b></a></span>When the man got up to leave with his mistress and servant, his father-in-law, the young woman’s father, told him, “Look now, evening is coming, so please spend another night. See how the daylight is fading, so spend the night here and enjoy yourself. Then tomorrow get up early and leave on your journey home.”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/judges/19-10.htm"><b>10</b></a></span>Because the man was unwilling to spend the night, he got up, left, and arrived opposite Jebus (now known as Jerusalem). He had with him a pair of saddled donkeys, along with his mistress. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/judges/19-11.htm"><b>11</b></a></span>As they approached Jebus, the daylight was almost gone, so the servant suggested to his master, “Come on, let’s spend the night in this Jebusite city.”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/judges/19-12.htm"><b>12</b></a></span>But his master replied, “We’re not going to turn aside into a city of foreigners who are not part of the Israelis. Instead, we’ll go on to Gibeah.” <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/judges/19-13.htm"><b>13</b></a></span>He also told his servant, “Come on,<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="19:13 So Codex Leningradensis.">h</a></span> let’s go to one of these places and spend the night in Gibeah or Ramah.” <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/judges/19-14.htm"><b>14</b></a></span>So they continued on their way, and the sun set on them near Gibeah, which is part of Benjamin’s territorial allotment.<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="19:14 The Heb. lacks territorial allotment">i</a></span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/judges/19-15.htm"><b>15</b></a></span>They turned aside there, intending to enter Gibeah and spend the night.</p> <p class="heading">The Homosexual Descendants of Benjamin in Gibeah</p><p class="reg">After they entered the city, they had to sit down in the public square because no one would take them into their<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="19:15 The Heb. lacks their">j</a></span> home for the night. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/judges/19-16.htm"><b>16</b></a></span>Just then, an old man was coming out of the fields that evening from work. The man was from the mountainous region<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="19:16 Or the hill country">k</a></span> of Ephraim and had been staying in Gibeah, even though the men of that place were descendants of Benjamin. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/judges/19-17.htm"><b>17</b></a></span>As the old man looked up and saw the traveling man in the public square of the city, he asked, “Now then, where are you headed? And where are you from?”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/judges/19-18.htm"><b>18</b></a></span>He replied, “We’re traveling from Bethlehem in Judah to the remote part of the mountainous region<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="19:18 Or the hill country">l</a></span> of Ephraim, because I’m from there, and I’ve been visiting Bethlehem in Judah. I’m going home now, but no one will take me into his home. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/judges/19-19.htm"><b>19</b></a></span>Meanwhile, we also have straw and fodder for our donkeys, and bread and wine for me, for this<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="19:19 Lit. your; ">m</a></span> young woman servant, and for the young man who is with your servants. We don’t need anything else.”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/judges/19-20.htm"><b>20</b></a></span>The old man replied, “Don’t be alarmed. I’ll take care of all your needs. Just don’t spend the night in the public square.” <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/judges/19-21.htm"><b>21</b></a></span>So he took him into his home and fed the donkeys while they refreshed themselves and had dinner.”<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="19:21 Lit. they washed their feet and ate and drank">n</a></span> </p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/judges/19-22.htm"><b>22</b></a></span>While they were enjoying themselves, all of a sudden certain ungodly men<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="19:22 Lit. men of Belial; i.e. men so wicked as to be worthy of death">o</a></span> who lived in the city surrounded the house, pounded on the door, and ordered the old man who owned the home, “Bring out the man who came to visit your home so we can have sex with him.”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/judges/19-23.htm"><b>23</b></a></span>The man who owned the house went out to talk to them and pleaded with them, “No, my brothers, please don’t act so wickedly. This man is my guest! Don’t try to do this stupid thing. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/judges/19-24.htm"><b>24</b></a></span>Instead, here’s my virgin daughter and my visitor’s<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="19:24 Lit. and his">p</a></span> mistress. Please let me bring them out to you. Occupy yourselves with them, and do to them whatever you would like. But don’t commit such a stupid thing against this man.”</p> <p class="heading">The Men of Gibeah Rape and Murder the Mistress</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/judges/19-25.htm"><b>25</b></a></span>But the men were unwilling to listen to him. So the descendant of Levi<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="19:25 Lit. man">q</a></span> grabbed his mistress, took her out to them, and they raped and tortured her all night until morning. Then they released her as the first daylight was beginning to appear. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/judges/19-26.htm"><b>26</b></a></span>As dawn was breaking, the woman approached the door of the man’s home where her master was and collapsed. Eventually, full daylight came. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/judges/19-27.htm"><b>27</b></a></span>When her master got up that morning and opened the doors of the house to leave on his way, there was his mistress, fallen dead at the door of the house with her hands grasping the threshold.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/judges/19-28.htm"><b>28</b></a></span>He spoke to her, “Get up, and let’s go.”</p> <p class="reg">But there was no response. So he placed her on the donkey, mounted his own animal,<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="19:28 Lit. donkey, got up">r</a></span> and went home. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/judges/19-29.htm"><b>29</b></a></span>When he arrived home, he grabbed a knife, took hold of his mistress, cut her apart limb by limb into twelve pieces, and sent her remains<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="19:29 The Heb. lacks remains">s</a></span> throughout the land of Israel. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/judges/19-30.htm"><b>30</b></a></span>All the witnesses said, “Nothing has happened or has been seen like this from the day the Israelis came here from the land of Egypt to this day! Think about it, get some advice about it, and then speak up about it!”</p><hr size="1" color="DDEEFF"><span class="mainfootnotes"><A name="ftn"></a><span class="mainfootnoteshdg">Footnotes:</span><br><span class="fn1"><span class="fnb">a</span> 19:1 Or <i>the hill country</i><br /><span class="fnb">b</span> 19:2 Lit. <i>days</i><br /><span class="fnb">c</span> 19:3 Lit. <i>speak to her heart</i><br /><span class="fnb">d</span> 19:5 Lit. <i>and he</i><br /><span class="fnb">e</span> 19:5 Lit. <i>Fortify your heart</i><br /><span class="fnb">f</span> 19:7 The Heb. lacks <i>intending</i><br /><span class="fnb">g</span> 19:8 Lit. <i>Fortify your heart</i><br /><span class="fnb">h</span> 19:13 So Codex Leningradensis.<br /><span class="fnb">i</span> 19:14 The Heb. lacks <i>territorial allotment</i><br /><span class="fnb">j</span> 19:15 The Heb. lacks <i>their</i><br /><span class="fnb">k</span> 19:16 Or <i>the hill country</i><br /><span class="fnb">l</span> 19:18 Or <i>the hill country</i><br /><span class="fnb">m</span> 19:19 Lit. <i>your</i>; <br /><span class="fnb">n</span> 19:21 Lit. <i>they washed their feet and ate and drank</i><br /><span class="fnb">o</span> 19:22 Lit. <i>men of Belial</i>; i.e. men so wicked as to be worthy of death<br /><span class="fnb">p</span> 19:24 Lit. <i>and his</i><br /><span class="fnb">q</span> 19:25 Lit. <i>man</i><br /><span class="fnb">r</span> 19:28 Lit. <i>donkey, got up</i><br /><span class="fnb">s</span> 19:29 The Heb. lacks <i>remains</i><br /></span><br><br><hr size="1" color="DDEEFF"><div align="center"><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center">The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1<br />Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation<br />ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/">Bible Hub</a></div></div></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="../judges/18.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Judges 18"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Judges 18" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="../judges/20.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Judges 20"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Judges 20" /></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></td></tr></table></div><div id="rightbox"><div class="padright"><div id="pic"><iframe width="100%" height="860" scrolling="no" src="//biblescan.com/mpc/judges/19-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></div></div><div id="rightbox4"><div class="padright2"><div id="spons1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tr><td class="sp1"><iframe width="122" height="860" scrolling="no" src="../sidemenu.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="bot"><div align="center" style="background-color:#F2FAFF"><br /><br /><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><script async src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>  <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="6710025936" data-ad-format="auto"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script></td></tr></table><br /><br /><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><script async src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>  <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="6710025936" data-ad-format="auto"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script></td></tr></table></div><br /><br /> </div><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="//biblehu.com/botmenubhnm2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe><div align="center"><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span></div></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>