Judges 19:1-18
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 19
1Now it came about in those days, when there was no king in Israel, that there was a certain Levite staying in the remote part of the hill country of Ephraim, who took a concubine for himself from Bethlehem in Judah. 2But his concubine found him repugnant, and she left him and went to her father’s house in Bethlehem in Judah, and remained there for a period of four months. 3Then her husband set out and went after her to speak gently to her in order to bring her back, taking with him his servant and a pair of donkeys. And she brought him into her father’s house, and when the girl’s father saw him, he was glad to meet him. 4His father-in-law, the girl’s father, prevailed upon him, and he remained with him for three days. So they ate and drank and stayed there. 5Now on the fourth day they got up early in the morning, and he prepared to go; but the girl’s father said to his son-in-law, 'Strengthen yourself with a piece of bread, and afterward you may go.' 6So both of them sat down and ate and drank together; and the girl’s father said to the man, 'Please be so kind as to spend the night, and let your heart be cheerful.' 7However, the man got up to go; but his father-in-law urged him, and he spent the night there again. 8Now on the fifth day he got up to go early in the morning, but the girl’s father said, 'Please strengthen yourself, and wait until late afternoon'; so both of them ate. 9When the man got up to go, along with his concubine and servant, his father-in-law, the girl’s father, said to him, 'Behold now, the day has drawn to a close; please spend the night. Behold, the day is coming to an end; spend the night here so that your heart may be cheerful. Then tomorrow you may arise early for your journey and go home.'
10But the man was unwilling to spend the night, so he got up and left, and came to a place opposite Jebus (that is, Jerusalem). And with him was a pair of saddled donkeys; his concubine also was with him.
11When they were near Jebus, the day was almost gone; and the servant said to his master, 'Please come, and let’s turn aside into this city of the Jebusites and spend the night in it.'
12However, his master said to him, 'We will not turn aside into a city of foreigners who are not of the sons of Israel; instead, we will go on as far as Gibeah.'
13And he said to his servant, 'Come, and let’s approach one of these places; and we will spend the night in Gibeah or Ramah.'
14So they passed along and went their way, and the sun set on them near Gibeah which belongs to Benjamin.
15They turned aside there to enter and spend the night in Gibeah. When they entered, they sat down in the public square of the city, for no one took them into his house to spend the night.
16Then behold, an old man was coming out of the field from his work at evening. Now the man was from the hill country of Ephraim, and he was staying in Gibeah, but the men of the place were Benjaminites.
17And he raised his eyes and saw the traveler in the public square of the city; and the old man said, 'Where are you going, and where do you come from?'
18And he said to him, 'We are passing from Bethlehem in Judah to the remote part of the hill country of Ephraim, for I am from there, and I went to Bethlehem in Judah. But I am now going to my house, and no one will take me into his house.
King James Version
Chapter 19
1And it came to pass in those days, when there was no king in Israel, that there was a certain Levite sojourning on the side of mount Ephraim, who took to him a concubine out of Bethlehemjudah. 2And his concubine played the whore against him, and went away from him unto her father's house to Bethlehemjudah, and was there four whole months. 3And her husband arose, and went after her, to speak friendly unto her, and to bring her again, having his servant with him, and a couple of asses: and she brought him into her father's house: and when the father of the damsel saw him, he rejoiced to meet him. 4And his father in law, the damsel's father, retained him; and he abode with him three days: so they did eat and drink, and lodged there. 5And it came to pass on the fourth day, when they arose early in the morning, that he rose up to depart: and the damsel's father said unto his son in law, Comfort thine heart with a morsel of bread, and afterward go your way. 6And they sat down, and did eat and drink both of them together: for the damsel's father had said unto the man, Be content, I pray thee, and tarry all night, and let thine heart be merry. 7And when the man rose up to depart, his father in law urged him: therefore he lodged there again. 8And he arose early in the morning on the fifth day to depart: and the damsel's father said, Comfort thine heart, I pray thee. And they tarried until afternoon, and they did eat both of them. 9And when the man rose up to depart, he, and his concubine, and his servant, his father in law, the damsel's father, said unto him, Behold, now the day draweth toward evening, I pray you tarry all night: behold, the day groweth to an end, lodge here, that thine heart may be merry; and to morrow get you early on your way, that thou mayest go home. 10But the man would not tarry that night, but he rose up and departed, and came over against Jebus, which is Jerusalem; and there were with him two asses saddled, his concubine also was with him.
11And when they were by Jebus, the day was far spent; and the servant said unto his master, Come, I pray thee, and let us turn in into this city of the Jebusites, and lodge in it.
12And his master said unto him, We will not turn aside hither into the city of a stranger, that is not of the children of Israel; we will pass over to Gibeah.
13And he said unto his servant, Come, and let us draw near to one of these places to lodge all night, in Gibeah, or in Ramah.
14And they passed on and went their way; and the sun went down upon them when they were by Gibeah, which belongeth to Benjamin.
15And they turned aside thither, to go in and to lodge in Gibeah: and when he went in, he sat him down in a street of the city: for there was no man that took them into his house to lodging.
16And, behold, there came an old man from his work out of the field at even, which was also of mount Ephraim; and he sojourned in Gibeah: but the men of the place were Benjamites.
17And when he had lifted up his eyes, he saw a wayfaring man in the street of the city: and the old man said, Whither goest thou? and whence comest thou?
18And he said unto him, We are passing from Bethlehemjudah toward the side of mount Ephraim; from thence am I: and I went to Bethlehemjudah, but I am now going to the house of the Lord; and there is no man that receiveth me to house.
Christian Standard Bible
Chapter 19
1In those days, when there was no king in Israel, a Levite staying in a remote part of the hill country of Ephraim acquired a woman from Bethlehem in Judah as his concubine. 2But she was unfaithful to him and left him for her father’s house in Bethlehem in Judah. She was there for four months. 3Then her husband got up and followed her to speak kindly to her and bring her back. He had his servant with him and a pair of donkeys. So she brought him to her father’s house, and when the girl’s father saw him, he gladly welcomed him. 4His father-in-law, the girl’s father, detained him, and he stayed with him for three days. They ate, drank, and spent the nights there.
5On the fourth day, they got up early in the morning and prepared to go, but the girl’s father said to his son-in-law, "Have something to eat to keep up your strength and then you can go."
6So they sat down and the two of them ate and drank together. Then the girl’s father said to the man, "Please agree to stay overnight and enjoy yourself."
7The man got up to go, but his father-in-law persuaded him, so he stayed and spent the night there again.
8He got up early in the morning of the fifth day to leave, but the girl’s father said to him, "Please keep up your strength." So they waited until late afternoon and the two of them ate.
9The man got up to go with his concubine and his servant, when his father-in-law, the girl’s father, said to him, "Look, night is coming. Please spend the night. See, the day is almost over. Spend the night here, enjoy yourself, then you can get up early tomorrow for your journey and go home."
10But the man was unwilling to spend the night. He got up, departed, and arrived opposite Jebus (that is, Jerusalem ). The man had his two saddled donkeys and his concubine with him.
11When they were near Jebus and the day was almost gone, the servant said to his master, "Please, why not let us stop at this Jebusite city and spend the night here?"
12But his master replied to him, "We will not stop at a foreign city where there are no Israelites. Let’s move on to Gibeah."
13"Come on," he said, "let’s try to reach one of these places and spend the night in Gibeah or Ramah."
14So they continued on their journey, and the sun set as they neared Gibeah in Benjamin.
15They stopped to go in and spend the night in Gibeah. The Levite went in and sat down in the city square, but no one took them into their home to spend the night.
16In the evening, an old man came in from his work in the field. He was from the hill country of Ephraim, but he was residing in Gibeah where the people were Benjaminites.
17When he looked up and saw the traveler in the city square, the old man asked, "Where are you going, and where do you come from?"
New Living Translation
2But she became angry with him and returned to her father’s home in Bethlehem. After about four months,
3her husband set out for Bethlehem to speak personally to her and persuade her to come back. He took with him a servant and a pair of donkeys. When he arrived at her father’s house, her father saw him and welcomed him.
4Her father urged him to stay awhile, so he stayed three days, eating, drinking, and sleeping there.
5On the fourth day the man was up early, ready to leave, but the woman’s father said to his son-in-law, 'Have something to eat before you go.'
6So the two men sat down together and had something to eat and drink. Then the woman’s father said, 'Please stay another night and enjoy yourself.'
7The man got up to leave, but his father-in-law kept urging him to stay, so he finally gave in and stayed the night.
8On the morning of the fifth day he was up early again, ready to leave, and again the woman’s father said, 'Have something to eat; then you can leave later this afternoon.' So they had another day of feasting.
9Later, as the man and his concubine and servant were preparing to leave, his father-in-law said, 'Look, it’s almost evening. Stay the night and enjoy yourself. Tomorrow you can get up early and be on your way.'
10But this time the man was determined to leave. So he took his two saddled donkeys and his concubine and headed in the direction of Jebus (that is, Jerusalem).
11It was late in the day when they neared Jebus, and the man’s servant said to him, 'Let’s stop at this Jebusite town and spend the night there.'
12No,' his master said, 'we can’t stay in this foreign town where there are no Israelites. Instead, we will go on to Gibeah.
13Come on, let’s try to get as far as Gibeah or Ramah, and we’ll spend the night in one of those towns.'
14So they went on. The sun was setting as they came to Gibeah, a town in the land of Benjamin,
15so they stopped there to spend the night. They rested in the town square, but no one took them in for the night.
16That evening an old man came home from his work in the fields. He was from the hill country of Ephraim, but he was living in Gibeah, where the people were from the tribe of Benjamin.
17When he saw the travelers sitting in the town square, he asked them where they were from and where they were going.
English Standard Version
Chapter 19
1In 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. 2And his concubine was unfaithful to him, and she went away from him to her father 's house at Bethlehem in Judah, and was there some four months. 3Then 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. 4And 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. 5And 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." 6So 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." 7And when the man rose up to go, his father-in-law pressed him, till he spent the night there again. 8And 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. 9And 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."
10But the man would not spend the night. He rose up and departed and arrived opposite Jebus (that is, Jerusalem). He had with him a couple of saddled donkeys, and his concubine was with him.
11When 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."
12And 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 Gibeah."
13And 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 Ramah."
14So they passed on and went their way. And the sun went down on them near Gibeah, which belongs to Benjamin,
15and 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.
16And behold, an old man was coming from his work in the field at evening. The man was from the hill country of Ephraim, and he was sojourning in Gibeah. The men of the place were Benjaminites.
17And 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?"
18And 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.
New International Version
Chapter 19
1In those days Israel had no king. Now a Levite who lived in a remote area in the hill country of Ephraim took a concubine from Bethlehem in Judah. 2But she was unfaithful to him. She left him and went back to her parents’ home in Bethlehem, Judah. After she had been there four months, 3her husband went to her to persuade her to return. He had with him his servant and two donkeys. She took him into her parents’ home, and when her father saw him, he gladly welcomed him. 4His father-in-law, the woman’s father, prevailed on him to stay; so he remained with him three days, eating and drinking, and sleeping there.
5On the fourth day they got up early and he prepared to leave, but the woman’s father said to his son-in-law, "Refresh yourself with something to eat; then you can go."
6So the two of them sat down to eat and drink together. Afterward the woman’s father said, "Please stay tonight and enjoy yourself."
7And when the man got up to go, his father-in-law persuaded him, so he stayed there that night.
8On the morning of the fifth day, when he rose to go, the woman’s father said, "Refresh yourself. Wait till afternoon!" So the two of them ate together.
9Then when the man, with his concubine and his servant, got up to leave, his father-in-law, the woman’s father, said, "Now look, it’s almost evening. Spend the night here; the day is nearly over. Stay and enjoy yourself. Early tomorrow morning you can get up and be on your way home."
10But, unwilling to stay another night, the man left and went toward Jebus (that is, Jerusalem), with his two saddled donkeys and his concubine.
12His master replied, "No. We won’t go into any city whose people are not Israelites. We will go on to Gibeah."
13He added, "Come, let’s try to reach Gibeah or Ramah and spend the night in one of those places."
14So they went on, and the sun set as they neared Gibeah in Benjamin.
15There they stopped to spend the night. They went and sat in the city square, but no one took them in for the night.
New King James Version
Chapter 19
1And it came to pass in those days, 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 Bethlehem in Judah. 2But 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. 3Then her husband arose and went after her, to speak 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. 4Now 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.
6So 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.”
7And when the man stood to depart, his father-in-law urged him; so he lodged there again.
8Then 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.
10However, the man was not willing to spend that night; so he rose and departed, and came opposite Jebus (that is, Jerusalem). With him were the two saddled donkeys; his concubine was also with him.
11They 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 of the Jebusites and lodge in it.”
12But 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 to Gibeah.”
13So he said to his servant, “Come, let us draw near to one of these places, and spend the night in Gibeah or in Ramah.”
14And they passed by and went their way; and the sun went down on them near Gibeah, which belongs to Benjamin.
15They 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 take them into his house to spend the night.
16Just then an old man came in from 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.
17And 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?”
