1 IN THOSE days, when there was no king in Israel, a certain Levite was living temporarily in the most remote part of the hill district of Ephraim, who took to himself a concubine [of inferior status than a wife] from Bethlehem in Judah. 2 And his concubine was untrue to him and went away from him to her father's house at Bethlehem of Judah and stayed there the space of four months. 3 Then her husband arose and went after her to speak kindly to her [to her heart] and to bring her back, having with him his servant and a couple of donkeys. And she brought him into her father's house, and when her father saw him, he rejoiced to meet him. 4 And his father-in-law, the girl's father, [insistently] detained him, and he remained with him three days. So they ate and drank, and he lodged there. 5 On the fourth day they arose early in the morning, and the [Levite] prepared to leave, but the girl's father said to his son-in-law, Strengthen your heart with a morsel of bread and afterward go your way. 6 So both men sat down and ate and drank together, and the girl's father said to the man, Consent to stay all night and let your heart be merry. 7 And when the man rose up to depart, his father-in-law urged him; so he lodged there again. 8 And he arose early in the morning on the fifth day to depart, but the girl's father said, Strengthen your heart and tarry until toward evening. So they ate, both of them. 9 And when the man and his concubine and his servant rose up to leave, his father-in-law, the girl's father, said to him, Behold, now the day draws toward evening, I pray you stay all night. Behold, now the day grows to an end, lodge here and let your heart be merry, and tomorrow get early on your way and go home.
10 But the man would not stay that night; so he rose up and departed and came opposite to Jebus, which is Jerusalem. With him were two saddled donkeys [and his servant] and his concubine. 11 When they were near Jebus, it was late, and the servant said to his master, Come I pray, and let us turn into this Jebusite city and lodge in it. 12 His master said to him, We will not turn aside into the city of foreigners where there are no Israelites. We will go on to Gibeah. 13 And he said to his servant, Come and let us go to one of these places and spend the night in Gibeah or in Ramah. 14 So they passed on and went their way, and the sun went down on them near Gibeah, which belongs to Benjamin, 15 And they turned aside there to go in and lodge at Gibeah. And the Levite went in and sat down in the open square of the city, for no man took them into his house to spend the night.
16 And behold, an old man was coming from his work in the field at evening. He was from the hill country of Ephraim but was living temporarily in Gibeah, but the men of the place were Benjamites. 17 And when he looked up, he saw the wayfarer in the city square, and the old man said, Where are you going? And from where did you come? 18 The Levite replied, We are passing from Bethlehem of Judah to the rear side of the hill country of Ephraim; I am from there. I went to Bethlehem of Judah, but I am [now] going [home] to the house of the Lord [where I serve], and there is no man who receives me into his house. 19 Yet we have both straw and provender for our donkeys and bread and wine also for me, your handmaid, and the young man who is with your servants; there is no lack of anything. 20 And the old man said, Peace be to you, but leave all your wants to me; only do not lodge in the street. 21 So he brought him into his house and gave provender to the donkeys. And the guests washed their feet and ate and drank.