Judges 19 - 21

A Levite and His Concubine

1 In those days, x when there was no king in Israel, a certain Levite was sojourning in the remote parts of y the hill country of Ephraim, who took to himself a concubine from z Bethlehem in Judah. 2 And his concubine was unfaithful to 1 him, and she went away from him to her father's house at Bethlehem in Judah, and was there some four months. 3 Then her husband arose and went after her, to speak kindly to her and bring her back. He had with him his servant and a couple of donkeys. And she brought him into her father's house. And when the girl's father saw him, he came with joy to meet him. 4 And his father-in-law, the girl's father, made him stay, and he remained with him three days. So they ate and drank and spent the night there. 5 And on the fourth day they arose early in the morning, and he prepared to go, but the girl's father said to his son-in-law, a "Strengthen your heart with a morsel of bread, and after that you may go." 6 So the two of them sat and ate and drank together. And the girl's father said to the man, "Be pleased to spend the night, and b let your heart be merry." 7 And when the man rose up to go, his father-in-law pressed him, till he spent the night there again. 8 And on the fifth day he arose early in the morning to depart. And the girl's father said, c "Strengthen your heart and wait until the day declines." So they ate, both of them. 9 And when the man and his concubine and his servant rose up to depart, his father-in-law, the girl's father, said to him, "Behold, now the day has waned toward evening. Please, spend the night. Behold, the day draws to its close. Lodge here and let your heart be merry, and tomorrow you shall arise early in the morning for your journey, and go home."

10 But the man would not spend the night. He rose up and departed and arrived opposite d Jebus (that is, Jerusalem). He had with him a couple of saddled donkeys, and his concubine was with him. 11 When they were near Jebus, the day was nearly over, and the servant said to his master, "Come now, let us turn aside to this city of the Jebusites and spend the night in it." 12 And his master said to him, "We will not turn aside into the city of foreigners, who do not belong to the people of Israel, but we will pass on to e Gibeah." 13 And he said to his young man, "Come and let us draw near to one of these places and spend the night at Gibeah or at f 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 spend the night at Gibeah. And he went in and sat down in the open square of the city, g for no one 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. The man was from h the hill country of Ephraim, and he was sojourning in Gibeah. i The men of the place were Benjaminites. 17 And he lifted up his eyes and 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 And he said to him, "We are passing from Bethlehem in Judah to the remote parts of the hill country of Ephraim, from which I come. I went to Bethlehem in Judah, and I am going j to the house of the Lord, 2 g but no one has taken me into his house. 19 We have straw and feed for our donkeys, with bread and wine for me and your female servant and the young man with your servants. k There is no lack of anything." 20 And the old man said, l "Peace be to you; I will care for all your wants. m Only, do not spend the night in the square." 21 So he brought him into his house and gave the donkeys feed. n And they washed their feet, and ate and drank.

Gibeah's Crime

22 As they were o making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, worthless fellows, p surrounded the house, beating on the door. And they said to the old man, the master of the house, "Bring out the man who came into your house, that we may know him." 23 And the man, the master of the house, went out to them and said to them, "No, my brothers, q do not act so wickedly; since this man has come into my house, r do not do this vile thing. 24 s Behold, here are my virgin daughter and his concubine. Let me bring them out now. t Violate them and do with them what seems good to you, but against this man r do not do this outrageous thing." 25 But the men would not listen to him. So the man seized his concubine and made her go out to them. And they knew her and abused her all night until the morning. And as the dawn began to break, they let her go. 26 And as morning appeared, the woman came and fell down at the door of the man's house where her master was, until it was light.

27 And her master rose up in the morning, and when he opened the doors of the house and went out to go on his way, behold, there was his concubine lying at the door of the house, with her hands on the threshold. 28 He said to her, "Get up, let us be going." u But there was no answer. Then he put her on the donkey, and the man rose up and went away to his home. 29 And when he entered his house, he took a knife, and taking hold of his concubine he v divided her, limb by limb, into twelve pieces, and sent her throughout all the territory of Israel. 30 w And all who saw it said, "Such a thing has never happened or been seen from the day that the people of Israel came up out of the land of Egypt until this day; x consider it, take counsel, and speak."

Judges 20

Israel's War with the Tribe of Benjamin

1 Then y all the people of Israel came out, z from Dan to Beersheba, including the land of Gilead, and the congregation assembled as one man to the Lord at a Mizpah. 2 And the b chiefs of all the people, of all the tribes of Israel, presented themselves in the assembly of the people of God, 400,000 men on foot c that drew the sword. 3 (Now the people of Benjamin heard that the people of Israel had gone up to Mizpah.) And the people of Israel said, "Tell us, how did this evil happen?" 4 And the Levite, the husband of the woman who was murdered, answered and said, d "I came to Gibeah that belongs to Benjamin, I and my concubine, to spend the night. 5 e And the leaders of Gibeah rose against me and surrounded the house against me by night. They meant to kill me, and they violated my concubine, and she is dead. 6 f So I took hold of my concubine and cut her in pieces and sent her throughout all the country of the inheritance of Israel, for they have committed abomination and g outrage in Israel. 7 Behold, you people of Israel, all of you, h give your advice and counsel here."

8 And all the people arose as one man, saying, "None of us will go to his tent, and none of us will return to his house. 9 But now this is what we will do to Gibeah: we will go up against it by lot, 10 and we will take ten men of a hundred throughout all the tribes of Israel, and a hundred of a thousand, and a thousand of ten thousand, to bring provisions for the people, that when they come they may repay Gibeah of Benjamin, for all the outrage that they have committed in Israel." 11 So all the men of Israel gathered against the city, united as one man.

12 i And the tribes of Israel sent men through all the tribe of Benjamin, saying, "What evil is this that has taken place among you? 13 Now therefore give up the men, j the worthless fellows in Gibeah, that we may put them to death k and purge evil from Israel." But the Benjaminites would not listen to the voice of their brothers, the people of Israel. 14 Then the people of Benjamin came together out of the cities to Gibeah to go out to battle against the people of Israel. 15 And the people of Benjamin mustered out of their cities on that day l 26,000 men m who drew the sword, besides the inhabitants of Gibeah, who mustered 700 chosen men. 16 Among all these were 700 chosen men who were n left-handed; every one could sling a stone at a hair and not miss. 17 And the men of Israel, apart from Benjamin, mustered m 400,000 men who drew the sword; all these were men of war.

18 The people of Israel arose and went up to o Bethel and inquired of God, p "Who shall go up first for us to fight against the people of Benjamin?" And the Lord said, p "Judah shall go up first."

19 Then the people of Israel rose in the morning and encamped against Gibeah. 20 And the men of Israel went out to fight against Benjamin, and the men of Israel drew up the battle line against them at Gibeah. 21 q The people of Benjamin came out of Gibeah and destroyed on that day 22,000 men of the Israelites. 22 But the people, the men of Israel, took courage, and again formed the battle line in the same place where they had formed it on the first day. 23 r And the people of Israel went up and wept before the Lord until the evening. And they inquired of the Lord, "Shall we again draw near to fight against our brothers, the people of Benjamin?" And the Lord said, "Go up against them."

24 So the people of Israel came near against the people of Benjamin the second day. 25 And Benjamin s went against them out of Gibeah the second day, and destroyed 18,000 men of the people of Israel. All these were men who t drew the sword. 26 Then all the people of Israel, the whole army, went up and came to u Bethel and wept. They sat there before the Lord and fasted that day until evening, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord. 27 And the people of Israel inquired of the Lord v (for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days, 28 and w Phinehas the son of Eleazar, son of Aaron, x ministered before it in those days), saying, "Shall we go out once more to battle against our brothers, the people of Benjamin, or shall we cease?" And the Lord said, "Go up, for tomorrow I will give them into your hand."

29 y So Israel set men in ambush around Gibeah. 30 And the people of Israel went up against the people of Benjamin on the third day and set themselves in array against Gibeah, as at other times. 31 And the people of Benjamin went out against the people and were drawn away from the city. And as at other times they began to strike and kill some of the people in the highways, z one of which goes up to a Bethel and the other to Gibeah, and in the open country, about thirty men of Israel. 32 And the people of Benjamin said, b "They are routed before us, as at the first." But the people of Israel said, "Let us flee and draw them away from the city to the highways." 33 And all the men of Israel rose up out of their place and set themselves in array at Baal-tamar, and the men of Israel who were in ambush rushed out of their place from Maareh-geba. 3 34 And there came against Gibeah 10,000 chosen men out of all Israel, and the battle was hard, c but the Benjaminites did not know that disaster was close upon them. 35 And the Lord defeated Benjamin before Israel, and the people of Israel destroyed 25,100 men of Benjamin that day. All these were men who d drew the sword.

36 So the people of Benjamin saw that they were defeated. The men of Israel gave ground to Benjamin, because they trusted the men in ambush whom they had set against Gibeah. 37 e Then the men in ambush hurried and rushed against Gibeah; the men in ambush moved out and struck all the city with the edge of the sword. 38 Now the appointed signal between the men of Israel and the men in the main ambush was that when they made a great cloud of smoke rise up out of the city 39 the men of Israel should turn in battle. Now Benjamin had begun to strike and kill about thirty men of Israel. They said, f "Surely they are defeated before us, as in the first battle." 40 But when the signal began to rise out of the city in a column of smoke, the Benjaminites looked behind them, and behold, g the whole of the city went up in smoke to heaven. 41 Then the men of Israel turned, and the men of Benjamin were dismayed, h for they saw that disaster was close upon them. 42 Therefore they turned their backs before the men of Israel in i the direction of the wilderness, but the battle overtook them. And those who came out of the cities were destroying them in their midst. 43 Surrounding the Benjaminites, they pursued them and trod them down from Nohah 4 as far as opposite Gibeah on the east. 44 Eighteen thousand men of Benjamin fell, all of them men of valor. 45 And they turned i and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of j Rimmon. Five thousand men of them were cut down in the highways. And they were pursued hard to Gidom, and 2,000 men of them were struck down. 46 So all who fell that day of Benjamin were 25,000 men who drew the sword, all of them men of valor. 47 But 600 men turned and i fled toward the wilderness to the rock of j Rimmon and remained at the rock of Rimmon four months. 48 And the men of Israel turned back against the people of Benjamin and struck them with the edge of the sword, the city, men and beasts and all that they found. And all the towns that they found they set on fire.

Judges 21

Wives Provided for the Tribe of Benjamin

1 Now the men of Israel had sworn k at Mizpah, "No one of us shall give his daughter in marriage to Benjamin." 2 And the people came to l Bethel and sat there till evening before God, and they lifted up their voices and wept bitterly. 3 And they said, "O Lord, the God of Israel, why has this happened in Israel, that today there should be one tribe lacking in Israel?" 4 And the next day the people rose early and m built there an altar and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. 5 And the people of Israel said, "Which of all the tribes of Israel did not come up in the assembly to the Lord?" n For they had taken a great oath concerning him who did not come up to the Lord to Mizpah, saying, "He shall surely be put to death." 6 And the people of Israel o had compassion for Benjamin their brother and said, "One tribe is cut off from Israel this day. 7 p What shall we do for wives for those who are left, since we have sworn by the Lord that we will not give them any of our daughters for wives?"

8 And they said, "What one is there of the tribes of Israel that did not come up to the Lord to Mizpah?" And behold, no one had come to the camp from q Jabesh-gilead, to the assembly. 9 For when the people were mustered, behold, not one of the inhabitants of q Jabesh-gilead was there. 10 So the congregation sent 12,000 of their bravest men there and commanded them, r "Go and strike the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead with the edge of the sword; also the women and the little ones. 11 This is what you shall do: s every male and every woman that has lain with a male you shall devote to destruction." 12 And they found among the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead 400 young virgins who had not known a man by lying with him, and they brought them to the camp at t Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan.

13 Then the whole congregation sent word to the people of Benjamin who were at the u rock of Rimmon and v proclaimed peace to them. 14 And Benjamin returned at that time. And they gave them the women whom they had saved alive of the women of Jabesh-gilead, but they were not enough for them. 15 And the people w had compassion on Benjamin because the Lord had made a breach in the tribes of Israel.

16 Then the elders of the congregation said, x "What shall we do for wives for those who are left, since the women are destroyed out of Benjamin?" 17 And they said, "There must be an inheritance for the survivors of Benjamin, that a tribe not be blotted out from Israel. 18 Yet we cannot give them wives from our daughters." y For the people of Israel had sworn, "Cursed be he who gives a wife to Benjamin." 19 So they said, "Behold, there is the yearly feast of the Lord at Shiloh, which is north of Bethel, on the east of z the highway that goes up from Bethel to Shechem, and south of Lebonah." 20 And they commanded the people of Benjamin, saying, "Go and lie in ambush in the vineyards 21 and watch. If the daughters of Shiloh come out to a dance in the dances, then come out of the vineyards and snatch each man his wife from the daughters of Shiloh, and go to the land of Benjamin. 22 And when their fathers or their brothers come to complain to us, we will say to them, 'Grant them graciously to us, because we did not take for each man of them his wife in battle, neither did you give them to them, else you would now be guilty.'" 23 And the people of Benjamin did so and took their wives, according to their number, from the dancers whom they carried off. Then they went and returned to their inheritance b and rebuilt the towns and lived in them. 24 And the people of Israel departed from there at that time, every man to his tribe and family, and they went out from there every man to his inheritance.

25 c In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

  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 people of Dan was seeking for itself an inheritance to dwell in, for until then no inheritance among the tribes of Israel had 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
    Joshua 24:33
    And Eleazar the son of Aaron died, and they buried him at Gibeah, the town of Phinehas his son, which had been given him in the hill country of Ephraim.
  3. Cross References
    Judges 17:7
    Now there was a young man of Bethlehem in Judah, of the family of Judah, who was a Levite, and he sojourned there.
  4. Cross References
    Judges 19:8
    And on the fifth day he arose early in the morning to depart. And the girl's father said, "Strengthen your heart and wait until the day declines." So they ate, both of them.
    Genesis 18:5
    While I bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on - since you have come to your servant." So they said, "Do as you have said.
  5. Cross References
    Judges 19:9
    And when the man and his concubine and his servant rose up to depart, his father-in-law, the girl's father, said to him, "Behold, now the day has waned toward evening. Please, spend the night. Behold, the day draws to its close. Lodge here and let your heart be merry, and tomorrow you shall arise early in the morning for your journey, and go home.
    Judges 19:22
    As they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, worthless fellows, surrounded the house, beating on the door. And they said to the old man, the master of the house, "Bring out the man who came into your house, that we may know him.
    Judges 16:25
    And when their hearts were merry, they said, "Call Samson, that he may entertain us." So they called Samson out of the prison, and he entertained them. They made him stand between the pillars.
    Ruth 3:7
    And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain. Then she came softly and uncovered his feet and lay down.
    2 Samuel 13:28
    Then Absalom commanded his servants, "Mark when Amnon's heart is merry with wine, and when I say to you, 'Strike Amnon,' then kill him. Do not fear; have I not commanded you? Be courageous and be valiant.
  6. Cross References
    Judges 19:5
    And on the fourth day they arose early in the morning, and he prepared to go, but the girl's father said to his son-in-law, "Strengthen your heart with a morsel of bread, and after that you may go.
  7. Cross References
    Joshua 15:8
    Then the boundary goes up by the Valley of the Son of Hinnom at the southern shoulder of the Jebusite ( that is, Jerusalem). And the boundary goes up to the top of the mountain that lies over against the Valley of Hinnom, on the west, at the northern end of the Valley of Rephaim.
    Joshua 15:63
    But the Jebusites, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the people of Judah could not drive out, so the Jebusites dwell with the people of Judah at Jerusalem to this day.
  8. Cross References
    Joshua 18:28
    Zela, Haeleph, Jebus (that is, Jerusalem), Gibeah and Kiriath-jearim - fourteen cities with their villages. This is the inheritance of the people of Benjamin according to its clans.
  9. Cross References
    Joshua 18:25
    Gibeon, Ramah, Beeroth.
  10. Cross References
    Judges 19:18
    And he said to him, "We are passing from Bethlehem in Judah to the remote parts of the hill country of Ephraim, from which I come. I went to Bethlehem in Judah, and I am going to the house of the Lord, but no one has taken me into his house.
  11. Cross References
    Judges 19:1
    In those days, when there was no king in Israel, a certain Levite was sojourning in the remote parts of the hill country of Ephraim, who took to himself a concubine from Bethlehem in Judah.
    Joshua 24:33
    And Eleazar the son of Aaron died, and they buried him at Gibeah, the town of Phinehas his son, which had been given him in the hill country of Ephraim.
  12. Cross References
    Judges 19:14
    So they passed on and went their way. And the sun went down on them near Gibeah, which belongs to Benjamin.
    Judges 20:4
    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.
  13. Cross References
    Judges 18:31
    So they set up Micah's carved image that he made, as long as the house of God was at Shiloh.
  14. Cross References
    Judges 19:15
    And they turned aside there, to go in and spend the night at Gibeah. And he went in and sat down in the open square of the city, for no one took them into his house to spend the night.
  15. Cross References
    Judges 18:10
    As soon as you go, you will come to an unsuspecting people. The land is spacious, for God has given it into your hands, a place where there is no lack of anything that is in the earth.
  16. Cross References
    Genesis 43:23
    He replied, "Peace to you, do not be afraid. Your God and the God of your father has put treasure in your sacks for you. I received your money." Then he brought Simeon out to them.
  17. Cross References
    Genesis 19:2
    And said, "My lords, please turn aside to your servant's house and spend the night and wash your feet. Then you may rise up early and go on your way." They said, "No; we will spend the night in the town square.
  18. Cross References
    Genesis 18:4
    Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree.
    Genesis 24:32
    So the man came to the house and unharnessed the camels, and gave straw and fodder to the camels, and there was water to wash his feet and the feet of the men who were with him.
    Genesis 43:24
    And when the man had brought the men into Joseph's house and given them water, and they had washed their feet, and when he had given their donkeys fodder.
    John 13:5
    Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
  19. Cross References
    Judges 19:6
    So the two of them sat and ate and drank together. And the girl's father said to the man, "Be pleased to spend the night, and let your heart be merry.
  20. Cross References
    Judges 20:5
    And the leaders of Gibeah rose against me and surrounded the house against me by night. They meant to kill me, and they violated my concubine, and she is dead.
    Genesis 19:4
    But before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both young and old, all the people to the last man, surrounded the house.
  21. Cross References
    Genesis 19:7
    And said, "I beg you, my brothers, do not act so wickedly.
  22. Cross References
    Judges 20:6
    So I took hold of my concubine and cut her in pieces and sent her throughout all the country of the inheritance of Israel, for they have committed abomination and outrage in Israel.
    Genesis 34:7
    The sons of Jacob had come in from the field as soon as they heard of it, and the men were indignant and very angry, because he had done an outrageous thing in Israel by lying with Jacob's daughter, for such a thing must not be done.
    Deuteronomy 22:21
    Then they shall bring out the young woman to the door of her father's house, and the men of her city shall stone her to death with stones, because she has done an outrageous thing in Israel by whoring in her father's house. So you shall purge the evil from your midst.
    2 Samuel 13:12
    She answered him, "No, my brother, do not violate me, for such a thing is not done in Israel; do not do this outrageous thing.
    Joshua 7:15
    And he who is taken with the devoted things shall be burned with fire, he and all that he has, because he has transgressed the covenant of the Lord, and because he has done an outrageous thing in Israel.'
  23. Cross References
    Genesis 19:8
    Behold, I have two daughters who have not known any man. Let me bring them out to you, and do to them as you please. Only do nothing to these men, for they have come under the shelter of my roof.
  24. Cross References
    Genesis 34:2
    And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, the prince of the land, saw her, he seized her and lay with her and humiliated her.
    Deuteronomy 21:14
    But if you no longer delight in her, you shall let her go where she wants. But you shall not sell her for money, nor shall you treat her as a slave, since you have humiliated her.
  25. Cross References
    Judges 19:23
    And the man, the master of the house, went out to them and said to them, "No, my brothers, do not act so wickedly; since this man has come into my house, do not do this vile thing.
  26. Cross References
    Judges 20:5
    And the leaders of Gibeah rose against me and surrounded the house against me by night. They meant to kill me, and they violated my concubine, and she is dead.
  27. Cross References
    Judges 20:6
    So I took hold of my concubine and cut her in pieces and sent her throughout all the country of the inheritance of Israel, for they have committed abomination and outrage in Israel.
    1 Samuel 11:7
    He took a yoke of oxen and cut them in pieces and sent them throughout all the territory of Israel by the hand of messengers, saying, "Whoever does not come out after Saul and Samuel, so shall it be done to his oxen!" Then the dread of the Lord fell upon the people, and they came out as one man.
  28. Cross References
    Hosea 9:9
    They have deeply corrupted themselves as in the days of Gibeah: he will remember their iniquity; he will punish their sins.
    Hosea 10:9
    From the days of Gibeah, you have sinned, O Israel; there they have continued. Shall not the war against the unjust overtake them in Gibeah?
  29. Cross References
    Judges 20:7
    Behold, you people of Israel, all of you, give your advice and counsel here.
  30. Cross References
    Judges 21:5
    And the people of Israel said, "Which of all the tribes of Israel did not come up in the assembly to the Lord ?" For they had taken a great oath concerning him who did not come up to the Lord to Mizpah, saying, "He shall surely be put to death.
    Joshua 22:12
    And when the people of Israel heard of it, the whole assembly of the people of Israel gathered at Shiloh to make war against them.
    1 Samuel 11:7
    He took a yoke of oxen and cut them in pieces and sent them throughout all the territory of Israel by the hand of messengers, saying, "Whoever does not come out after Saul and Samuel, so shall it be done to his oxen!" Then the dread of the Lord fell upon the people, and they came out as one man.
  31. Cross References
    1 Samuel 3:20
    And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established as a prophet of the Lord.
    2 Samuel 3:10
    To transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan to Beersheba.
    2 Samuel 24:2
    So the king said to Joab, the commander of the army, who was with him, "Go through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, and number the people, that I may know the number of the people.
  32. Cross References
    1 Samuel 7:5
    Then Samuel said, "Gather all Israel at Mizpah, and I will pray to the Lord for you.
    1 Samuel 10:17
    Now Samuel called the people together to the Lord at Mizpah.
  33. Cross References
    1 Samuel 14:38
    And Saul said, "Come here, all you leaders of the people, and know and see how this sin has arisen today.
  34. Cross References
    Judges 20:15
    And the people of Benjamin mustered out of thei...
    Judges 20:17
    And the men of Israel, apart from Benjamin, mus...
    Judges 20:25
    And Benjamin went against them out of Gibeah th...
    Judges 20:35
    And the Lord defeated Benjamin before Israel, a...
    Judges 20:46
    So all who fell that day of Benjamin were 25,00...
    Judges 8:10
    Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor with thei...
  35. Cross References
    Judges 19:15
    And they turned aside there, to go in and spend the night at Gibeah. And he went in and sat down in the open square of the city, for no one took them into his house to spend the night.
  36. Cross References
    Judges 19:22
    As they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, worthless fellows, surrounded the house, beating on the door. And they said to the old man, the master of the house, "Bring out the man who came into your house, that we may know him.
    Judges 19:25 - 26
    But the men would not listen to him. So the man seized his concubine and made her go out to them. And they knew her and abused her all night until the morning. And as the dawn began to break, they let her go.
  37. Cross References
    Judges 19:29
    And when he entered his house, he took a knife, and taking hold of his concubine he divided her, limb by limb, into twelve pieces, and sent her throughout all the territory of Israel.
  38. Cross References
    Judges 19:23
    And the man, the master of the house, went out to them and said to them, "No, my brothers, do not act so wickedly; since this man has come into my house, do not do this vile thing.
  39. Cross References
    Judges 19:30
    And all who saw it said, "Such a thing has never happened or been seen from the day that the people of Israel came up out of the land of Egypt until this day; consider it, take counsel, and speak.
  40. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 13:14
    Then you shall inquire and make search and ask diligently. And behold, if it be true and certain that such an abomination has been done among you.
    Joshua 22:13
    Then the people of Israel sent to the people of Reuben and the people of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh, in the land of Gilead, Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest.
    Joshua 22:16
    Thus says the whole congregation of the Lord, 'What is this breach of faith that you have committed against the God of Israel in turning away this day from following the Lord by building yourselves an altar this day in rebellion against the Lord ?
  41. Cross References
    Judges 19:22
    As they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, worthless fellows, surrounded the house, beating on the door. And they said to the old man, the master of the house, "Bring out the man who came into your house, that we may know him.
    Deuteronomy 13:13
    That certain worthless fellows have gone out among you and have drawn away the inhabitants of their city, saying, 'Let us go and serve other gods,' which you have not known.
  42. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 13:5
    But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has taught rebellion against the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you out of the house of slavery, to make you leave the way in which the Lord your God commanded you to walk. So you shall purge the evil from your midst.
    Deuteronomy 17:2
    If there is found among you, within any of your towns that the Lord your God is giving you, a man or woman who does what is evil in the sight of the Lord your God, in transgressing his covenant.
  43. Cross References
    Numbers 1:37
    Those listed of the tribe of Benjamin were 35,400.
    Numbers 26:41
    These are the sons of Benjamin according to their clans, and those listed were 45,600.
  44. Cross References
    Judges 20:2
    And the chiefs of all the people, of all the tribes of Israel, presented themselves in the assembly of the people of God, 400,000 men on foot that drew the sword.
  45. Cross References
    Judges 3:15
    Then the people of Israel cried out to the Lord, and the Lord raised up for them a deliverer, Ehud, the son of Gera, the Benjaminite, a left-handed man. The people of Israel sent tribute by him to Eglon the king of Moab.
    1 Chronicles 12:2
    They were bowmen and could shoot arrows and sling stones with either the right or the left hand; they were Benjaminites, Saul's kinsmen.
  46. Cross References
    Judges 20:15
    And the people of Benjamin mustered out of their cities on that day 26,000 men who drew the sword, besides the inhabitants of Gibeah, who mustered 700 chosen men.
  47. Cross References
    Judges 20:26
    Then all the people of Israel, the whole army, went up and came to Bethel and wept. They sat there before the Lord and fasted that day until evening, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord.
    Judges 20:31
    And the people of Benjamin went out against the people and were drawn away from the city. And as at other times they began to strike and kill some of the people in the highways, one of which goes up to Bethel and the other to Gibeah, and in the open country, about thirty men of Israel.
  48. Cross References
    Judges 1:1
    After the death of Joshua, the people of Israel inquired of the Lord, "Who shall go up first for us against the Canaanites, to fight against them?
  49. Cross References
    Judges 1:1
    After the death of Joshua, the people of Israel inquired of the Lord, "Who shall go up first for us against the Canaanites, to fight against them?
  50. Cross References
    Judges 20:25
    And Benjamin went against them out of Gibeah the second day, and destroyed 18,000 men of the people of Israel. All these were men who drew the sword.
  51. Cross References
    Judges 20:26 - 28
    Then all the people of Israel, the whole army, went up and came to Bethel and wept. They sat there before the Lord and fasted that day until evening, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord.
  52. Cross References
    Judges 20:21
    The people of Benjamin came out of Gibeah and destroyed on that day 22,000 men of the Israelites.
  53. Cross References
    Judges 20:2
    And the chiefs of all the people, of all the tribes of Israel, presented themselves in the assembly of the people of God, 400,000 men on foot that drew the sword.
  54. Cross References
    Judges 20:18
    The people of Israel arose and went up to Bethel and inquired of God, "Who shall go up first for us to fight against the people of Benjamin?" And the Lord said, "Judah shall go up first.
    Judges 20:31
    And the people of Benjamin went out against the people and were drawn away from the city. And as at other times they began to strike and kill some of the people in the highways, one of which goes up to Bethel and the other to Gibeah, and in the open country, about thirty men of Israel.
  55. Cross References
    Joshua 18:1
    Then the whole congregation of the people of Israel assembled at Shiloh and set up the tent of meeting there. The land lay subdued before them.
    1 Samuel 4:3 - 4
    And when the troops came to the camp, the elders of Israel said, "Why has the Lord defeated us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord here from Shiloh, that it may come among us and save us from the power of our enemies.
  56. Cross References
    Numbers 25:7
    When Phinehas the son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose and left the congregation and took a spear in his hand
    Numbers 31:6
    And Moses sent them to the war, a thousand from each tribe, together with Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, with the vessels of the sanctuary and the trumpets for the alarm in his hand.
    Joshua 24:33
    And Eleazar the son of Aaron died, and they buried him at Gibeah, the town of Phinehas his son, which had been given him in the hill country of Ephraim.
  57. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 10:8
    At that time the Lord set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the covenant of the Lord to stand before the Lord to minister to him and to bless in his name, to this day.
    Deuteronomy 18:5
    For the Lord your God has chosen him out of all your tribes to stand and minister in the name of the Lord, him and his sons for all time.
    Deuteronomy 18:7
    And ministers in the name of the Lord his God, like all his fellow Levites who stand to minister there before the Lord.
  58. Cross References
    Joshua 8:4
    And he commanded them, "Behold, you shall lie in ambush against the city, behind it. Do not go very far from the city, but all of you remain ready.
  59. Cross References
    Judges 21:19
    So they said, "Behold, there is the yearly feast of the Lord at Shiloh, which is north of Bethel, on the east of the highway that goes up from Bethel to Shechem, and south of Lebonah.
  60. Cross References
    Judges 20:18
    The people of Israel arose and went up to Bethel and inquired of God, "Who shall go up first for us to fight against the people of Benjamin?" And the Lord said, "Judah shall go up first.
    Judges 20:26
    Then all the people of Israel, the whole army, went up and came to Bethel and wept. They sat there before the Lord and fasted that day until evening, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord.
  61. Cross References
    Joshua 8:5 - 6
    And I and all the people who are with me will approach the city. And when they come out against us just as before, we shall flee before them.
  62. Cross References
    Judges 20:41
    Then the men of Israel turned, and the men of Benjamin were dismayed, for they saw that disaster was close upon them.
  63. Cross References
    Judges 20:2
    And the chiefs of all the people, of all the tribes of Israel, presented themselves in the assembly of the people of God, 400,000 men on foot that drew the sword.
  64. Cross References
    Joshua 8:19
    And the men in the ambush rose quickly out of their place, and as soon as he had stretched out his hand, they ran and entered the city and captured it. And they hurried to set the city on fire.
  65. Cross References
    Judges 20:31 - 32
    And the people of Benjamin went out against the people and were drawn away from the city. And as at other times they began to strike and kill some of the people in the highways, one of which goes up to Bethel and the other to Gibeah, and in the open country, about thirty men of Israel.
  66. Cross References
    Joshua 8:20
    So when the men of Ai looked back, behold, the smoke of the city went up to heaven, and they had no power to flee this way or that, for the people who fled to the wilderness turned back against the pursuers.
  67. Cross References
    Judges 20:34
    And there came against Gibeah 10,000 chosen men out of all Israel, and the battle was hard, but the Benjaminites did not know that disaster was close upon them.
  68. Cross References
    Joshua 8:15
    And Joshua and all Israel pretended to be beaten before them and fled in the direction of the wilderness.
    Joshua 8:24
    When Israel had finished killing all the inhabitants of Ai in the open wilderness where they pursued them, and all of them to the very last had fallen by the edge of the sword, all Israel returned to Ai and struck it down with the edge of the sword.
  69. Cross References
    Judges 20:42
    Therefore they turned their backs before the men of Israel in the direction of the wilderness, but the battle overtook them. And those who came out of the cities were destroying them in their midst.
  70. Cross References
    Judges 21:13
    Then the whole congregation sent word to the people of Benjamin who were at the rock of Rimmon and proclaimed peace to them.
    Joshua 15:32
    Lebaoth, Shilhim, Ain, and Rimmon: in all, twenty-nine cities with their villages.
  71. Cross References
    Judges 20:42
    Therefore they turned their backs before the men of Israel in the direction of the wilderness, but the battle overtook them. And those who came out of the cities were destroying them in their midst.
  72. Cross References
    Judges 20:45
    And they turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon. Five thousand men of them were cut down in the highways. And they were pursued hard to Gidom, and 2,000 men of them were struck down.
  73. Cross References
    Judges 21:18
    Yet we cannot give them wives from our daughters." For the people of Israel had sworn, "Cursed be he who gives a wife to Benjamin.
    Judges 20:1
    Then all the people of Israel came out, from Dan to Beersheba, including the land of Gilead, and the congregation assembled as one man to the Lord at Mizpah.
  74. Cross References
    Judges 20:18
    The people of Israel arose and went up to Bethel and inquired of God, "Who shall go up first for us to fight against the people of Benjamin?" And the Lord said, "Judah shall go up first.
    Judges 20:26
    Then all the people of Israel, the whole army, went up and came to Bethel and wept. They sat there before the Lord and fasted that day until evening, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord.
    Judges 20:31
    And the people of Benjamin went out against the people and were drawn away from the city. And as at other times they began to strike and kill some of the people in the highways, one of which goes up to Bethel and the other to Gibeah, and in the open country, about thirty men of Israel.
  75. Cross References
    2 Samuel 24:25
    And David built there an altar to the Lord and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the Lord responded to the plea for the land, and the plague was averted from Israel.
  76. Cross References
    Judges 5:23
    Curse Meroz, says the angel of the Lord, curse its inhabitants thoroughly, because they did not come to the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the mighty.
  77. Cross References
    Judges 21:15
    And the people had compassion on Benjamin because the Lord had made a breach in the tribes of Israel.
  78. Cross References
    Judges 21:16
    Then the elders of the congregation said, "What shall we do for wives for those who are left, since the women are destroyed out of Benjamin?
  79. Cross References
    1 Samuel 11:1
    Then Nahash the Ammonite went up and besieged Jabesh-gilead, and all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, "Make a treaty with us, and we will serve you.
    1 Samuel 31:11 - 13
    But when the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul.
  80. Cross References
    Judges 21:8
    And they said, "What one is there of the tribes of Israel that did not come up to the Lord to Mizpah?" And behold, no one had come to the camp from Jabesh-gilead, to the assembly.
  81. Cross References
    Judges 21:5
    And the people of Israel said, "Which of all the tribes of Israel did not come up in the assembly to the Lord ?" For they had taken a great oath concerning him who did not come up to the Lord to Mizpah, saying, "He shall surely be put to death.
  82. Cross References
    Numbers 31:17
    Now therefore, kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman who has known man by lying with him.
  83. Cross References
    Joshua 18:1
    Then the whole congregation of the people of Israel assembled at Shiloh and set up the tent of meeting there. The land lay subdued before them.
  84. Cross References
    Judges 20:47
    But 600 men turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon and remained at the rock of Rimmon four months.
  85. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 20:10
    When you draw near to a city to fight against it, offer terms of peace to it.
  86. Cross References
    Judges 21:6
    And the people of Israel had compassion for Benjamin their brother and said, "One tribe is cut off from Israel this day.
  87. Cross References
    Judges 21:7
    What shall we do for wives for those who are left, since we have sworn by the Lord that we will not give them any of our daughters for wives?
  88. Cross References
    Judges 21:1
    Now the men of Israel had sworn at Mizpah, "No one of us shall give his daughter in marriage to Benjamin.
  89. Cross References
    Judges 20:31
    And the people of Benjamin went out against the people and were drawn away from the city. And as at other times they began to strike and kill some of the people in the highways, one of which goes up to Bethel and the other to Gibeah, and in the open country, about thirty men of Israel.
  90. Cross References
    Judges 11:34
    Then Jephthah came to his home at Mizpah. And behold, his daughter came out to meet him with tambourines and with dances. She was his only child; besides her he had neither son nor daughter.
    Exodus 15:20
    Then Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women went out after her with tambourines and dancing.
  91. Cross References
    Judges 20:48
    And the men of Israel turned back against the people of Benjamin and struck them with the edge of the sword, the city, men and beasts and all that they found. And all the towns that they found they set on fire.
  92. 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 people of Dan was seeking for itself an inheritance to dwell in, for until then no inheritance among the tribes of Israel had fallen to them.
    Judges 19:1
    In those days, when there was no king in Israel, a certain Levite was sojourning in the remote parts of the hill country of Ephraim, who took to himself a concubine from Bethlehem in Judah.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.