A Levite and His Concubine

Judges 19

1 And it came to pass in those days, a when there was no king in Israel, that there was a certain Levite staying in the remote mountains of Ephraim. He took for himself a concubine from b Bethlehem in Judah. 2 But his concubine played the harlot against him, and went away from him to her father's house at Bethlehem in Judah, and was there four whole months. 3 Then her husband arose and went after her, to c speak 1 kindly to her and bring her back, having his servant and a couple of donkeys with him. So she brought him into her father's house; and when the father of the young woman saw him, he was glad to meet him. 4 Now his father-in-law, the young woman's father, detained him; and he stayed with him three days. So they ate and drank and lodged there. 5 Then it came to pass on the fourth day that they arose early in the morning, and he stood to depart; but the young woman's father said to his son-in-law, d "Refresh your heart with a morsel of bread, and afterward go your way." 6 So they sat down, and the two of them ate and drank together. Then the young woman's father said to the man, "Please be content to stay all night, and let your heart be merry." 7 And when the man stood to depart, his father-in-law urged him; so he lodged there again. 8 Then he arose early in the morning on the fifth day to depart, but the young woman's father said, "Please refresh your heart." So they delayed until afternoon; and both of them ate. 9 And when the man stood to depart - he and his concubine and his servant - his father-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 heart may be merry. Tomorrow go your way early, so that you may get 2 home."

10 However, the man was not willing to spend that night; so he rose and departed, and came to opposite e Jebus (that is, Jerusalem). With him were the two saddled donkeys; his concubine was also with him. 11 They were near Jebus, and the day was far spent; and the servant said to his master, "Come, please, and let us turn aside into this city f of the Jebusites and lodge in it." 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 g to Gibeah." 13 So he said to his servant, "Come, let us draw near to one of these places, and spend the night in Gibeah or in h Ramah." 14 And they passed by and went their way; and the sun went down on them near Gibeah, which belongs to Benjamin. 15 They turned aside there to go in to lodge in Gibeah. And when he went in, he sat down in the open square of the city, for no one would i take them into his house to spend the night.

16 Just then an old man came in from j his work in the field at evening, who also was from the mountains of Ephraim; he was staying in Gibeah, whereas the men of the place were Benjamites. 17 And when he raised his eyes, he 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?" 18 So he said to him, "We are passing from Bethlehem in Judah toward the remote mountains of Ephraim; I am from there. I went to Bethlehem in Judah; now I am going to k the house of the LORD. But there is no one who will take me into his house, 19 "although we have both straw and fodder for our donkeys, and bread and wine for myself, for your female servant, and for the young man who is with your servant; there is no lack of anything." 20 And the old man said, l "Peace be with you! However, let all your needs be my responsibility; m only do not spend the night in the open square." 21 n So he brought him into his house, and gave fodder to the donkeys. o And they washed their feet, and ate and drank.

  1. Cross References
    Judges 17:6
    In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.
    Judges 18:1
    In those days there was no king in Israel. And in those days the tribe of the Danites was seeking an inheritance for itself to dwell in; for until that day their inheritance among the tribes of Israel had not fallen to them.
    Judges 21:25
    In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.
  2. Cross References
    Judges 17:7
    Now there was a young man from Bethlehem in Judah, of the family of Judah; he was a Levite, and was staying there.
    Ruth 1:1
    Now it came to pass, in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem, Judah, went to dwell in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons.
  3. Cross References
    Genesis 34:3
    His soul was strongly attracted to Dinah the daughter of Jacob, and he loved the young woman and spoke kindly to the young woman.
    Genesis 50:21
    Now therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones." And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.
  4. Cross References
    Genesis 18:5
    "And I will bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh your hearts. After that you may pass by, inasmuch as you have come to your servant." They said, "Do as you have said."
    Judges 19:8
    Then he arose early in the morning on the fifth day to depart, but the young woman's father said, "Please refresh your heart." So they delayed until afternoon; and both of them ate.
    Psalms 104:15
    And wine that makes glad the heart of man, Oil to make his face shine, And bread which strengthens man's heart.
  5. Cross References
    Joshua 18:28
    Zelah, Eleph, Jebus (which is Jerusalem), Gibeath, and Kirjath: fourteen cities with their villages. This was the inheritance of the children of Benjamin according to their families.
    1 Chronicles 11:4
    And David and all Israel went to Jerusalem, which is Jebus, where the Jebusites were, the inhabitants of the land.
    1 Chronicles 11:5
    But the inhabitants of Jebus said to David, "You shall not come in here!" Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion (that is, the City of David).
  6. Cross References
    Joshua 15:8
    And the border went up by the Valley of the Son of Hinnom to the southern slope of the Jebusite city (which is Jerusalem). The border went up to the top of the mountain that lies before the Valley of Hinnom westward, which is at the end of the Valley of Rephaim northward.
    Joshua 15:63
    As for the Jebusites, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the children of Judah could not drive them out; but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Judah at Jerusalem to this day.
    Judges 1:21
    But the children of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites who inhabited Jerusalem; so the Jebusites dwell with the children of Benjamin in Jerusalem to this day.
    2 Samuel 5:6
    And the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who spoke to David, saying, "You shall not come in here; but the blind and the lame will repel you," thinking, "David cannot come in here.
  7. Cross References
    Joshua 18:28
    Zelah, Eleph, Jebus (which is Jerusalem), Gibeath, and Kirjath: fourteen cities with their villages. This was the inheritance of the children of Benjamin according to their families.
  8. Cross References
    Joshua 18:25
    Gibeon, Ramah, Beeroth.
  9. Cross References
    Matthew 25:43
    'I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.'
  10. Cross References
    Psalms 104:23
    Man goes out to his work And to his labor until the evening.
  11. Cross References
    Joshua 18:1
    Now the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled together at Shiloh, and set up the tabernacle of meeting there. And the land was subdued before them.
    Judges 18:31
    So they set up for themselves Micah's carved image which he made, all the time that the house of God was in Shiloh.
    Judges 20:18
    Then the children of Israel arose and went up to the house of God to inquire of God. They said, "Which of us shall go up first to battle against the children of Benjamin?" The LORD said, "Judah first!
    1 Samuel 1:3
    This man went up from his city yearly to worship and sacrifice to the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. Also the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD, were there.
    1 Samuel 1:7
    So it was, year by year, when she went up to the house of the LORD, that she provoked her; therefore she wept and did not eat.
  12. Cross References
    Genesis 43:23
    But he said, "Peace be with you, do not be afraid. Your God and the God of your father has given you treasure in your sacks; I had your money." Then he brought Simeon out to them.
    Judges 6:23
    Then the LORD said to him, "Peace be with you; do not fear, you shall not die.
    1 Samuel 25:6
    And thus you shall say to him who lives in prosperity: 'Peace be to you, peace to your house, and peace to all that you have!
  13. Cross References
    Genesis 19:2
    And he said, "Here now, my lords, please turn in to your servant's house and spend the night, and wash your feet; then you may rise early and go on your way." And they said, "No, but we will spend the night in the open square.
  14. Cross References
    Genesis 24:32
    Then the man came to the house. And he unloaded the camels, and provided straw and feed for the camels, and water to wash his feet and the feet of the men who were with him.
    Genesis 43:24
    So the man brought the men into Joseph's house and gave them water, and they washed their feet; and he gave their donkeys feed.
  15. Cross References
    Genesis 18:4
    Please let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree.
    John 13:5
    After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
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