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APRIL 26
said, “Please refresh your heart.” So they surrounded the house and beat on the door.
delayed until afternoon; and both of them ate. They spoke to the master of the house, the old
9 And when the man stood to depart—he man, saying, “Bring out the man who came to
and his concubine and his servant—his father- your house, that we may know him carnally!”
in-law, the young woman’s father, said to him,
“Look, the day is now drawing toward
evening; please spend the night. See, the day
is coming to an end; lodge here, that your 19:22 perverted men. Literally, “sons of
heart may be merry. Tomorrow go your way Belial,” i.e., worthless men, who desired to
early, so that you may get home.” commit sodomy against the Levite.The phrase
10 However, the man was not willing to spend elsewhere is used for idolaters (Deut. 13:13),
that night; so he rose and departed, and came neglecters of the poor (Deut. 15:9), drunks
opposite Jebus (that is, Jerusalem). With him (1 Sam. 1:16), immoral people (1 Sam. 2:12),
were the two saddled donkeys; his concubine and rebels against the civil authority (2 Sam.
was also with him. They were near Jebus, and 20:1; Prov. 19:28). “Belial” can be traced to the
11
the day was far spent; and the servant said to false god Baal and is also a term for yoke (they
his master, “Come, please, and let us turn cast off the yoke of decency) and a term for
aside into this city of the Jebusites and lodge entangling or injuring. It is used in the New
in it.” Testament of Satan (2 Cor.6:15).
12 But his master said to him, “We will not
turn aside here into a city of foreigners, who
are not of the children of Israel; we will go on 23 But the man, the master of the house,
13
to Gibeah.” So he said to his servant, “Come, went out to them and said to them, “No, my
let us draw near to one of these places, and brethren! I beg you, do not act so wickedly!
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spend the night in Gibeah or in Ramah.” And Seeing this man has come into my house, do
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they passed by and went their way; and the not commit this outrage. Look, here is my
sun went down on them near Gibeah, which virgin daughter and the man’s concubine; let
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belongs to Benjamin. They turned aside me bring them out now. Humble them, and
there to go in to lodge in Gibeah. And when he do with them as you please; but to this man
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went in, he sat down in the open square of the do not do such a vile thing!” But the men
city, for no one would take them into his house would not heed him. So the man took his con-
to spend the night. cubine and brought her out to them. And
16 Just then an old man came in from his they knew her and abused her all night until
work in the field at evening, who also was from morning; and when the day began to break,
the mountains of Ephraim; he was staying in they let her go.
Gibeah, whereas the men of the place were
Benjamites. And when he raised his eyes, he
17
saw the traveler in the open square of the city;
and the old man said, “Where are you going,
and where do you come from?” 19:25 the man took his concubine...to them.
18 So he said to him, “We are passing from This is unthinkable weakness and cowardice
Bethlehem in Judah toward the remote moun- for any man, especially a priest of God.
tains of Ephraim; I am from there. I went to Apparently he even slept through the night or
stayed in bed out of fear, since he didn’t see
Bethlehem in Judah; now I am going to the her again until he awakened and prepared to
house of the LORD. But there is no one who leave (see vv. 27,28).
will take me into his house, although we have
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both straw and fodder for our donkeys, and
bread and wine for myself, for your female ser-
vant, and for the young man who is with your 26 Then the woman came as the day was
servant; there is no lack of anything.” dawning, and fell down at the door of the
20 And the old man said, “Peace be with you! man’s house where her master was, till it was
However, let all your needs be my responsibili- light.
ty; only do not spend the night in the open 27 When her master arose in the morning,
square.” So he brought him into his house, and opened the doors of the house and went
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and gave fodder to the donkeys. And they out to go his way, there was his concubine,
washed their feet, and ate and drank. fallen at the door of the house with her hands
22 As they were enjoying themselves, sud- on the threshold. And he said to her, “Get up
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denly certain men of the city, perverted men, and let us be going.” But there was no answer.
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