The Book of Judges, Chapter 19שפטים 19

וַיְהִי֙ בַּיָּמִ֣ים הָהֵ֔ם וּמֶ֖לֶךְ אֵ֣ין בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיְהִ֣י אִ֣ישׁ לֵוִ֗י גָּ֚ר בְּיַרְכְּתֵ֣י הַר אֶפְרַ֔יִם וַיִּֽקַּֽח לוֹ֙ אִשָּׁ֣ה פִילֶ֔גֶשׁ מִבֵּ֥ית לֶ֖חֶם יְהוּדָֽה

And it was in those days, and there was no king in Israel, and there was a man, a Levite, sojourning in the remote parts of the hill country of Ephraim, and he took for himself a concubine-wife from Bethlehem of Judah.

וַתִּזְנֶ֤ה עָלָיו֙ פִּֽילַגְשׁ֔וֹ וַתֵּ֤לֶךְ מֵֽאִתּוֹ֙ אֶל בֵּ֣ית אָבִ֔יהָ אֶל בֵּ֥ית לֶ֖חֶם יְהוּדָ֑ה וַתְּהִי שָׁ֕ם יָמִ֖ים אַרְבָּעָ֥ה חֳדָשִֽׁים

And his concubine whored against him, and she went from him to her father's house, to Bethlehem of Judah, and she was there some days, four months.

וַיָּ֨קָם אִישָׁ֜הּ וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ אַחֲרֶ֗יהָ לְדַבֵּ֤ר עַל לִבָּהּ֙ להשיבו לַהֲשִׁיבָ֔הּ וְנַעֲר֥וֹ עִמּ֖וֹ וְצֶ֣מֶד חֲמֹרִ֑ים וַתְּבִיאֵ֨הוּ֙ בֵּ֣ית אָבִ֔יהָ וַיִּרְאֵ֨הוּ֙ אֲבִ֣י הַֽנַּעֲרָ֔ה וַיִּשְׂמַ֖ח לִקְרָאתֽוֹ

And her husband arose and went after her, to speak to her heart to bring her back, and his young man was with him, and a pair of donkeys. And she brought him into her father's house, and the girl's father saw him and was glad to meet him.

וַיֶּחֱזַק בּ֤וֹ חֹֽתְנוֹ֙ אֲבִ֣י הַֽנַּעֲרָ֔ה וַיֵּ֥שֶׁב אִתּ֖וֹ שְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת יָמִ֑ים וַיֹּאכְלוּ֙ וַיִּשְׁתּ֔וּ וַיָּלִ֖ינוּ שָֽׁם

And his father-in-law, the girl's father, held him, and he stayed with him three days, and they ate and drank and lodged there.

וַֽיְהִי֙ בַּיּ֣וֹם הָרְבִיעִ֔י וַיַּשְׁכִּ֥ימוּ בַבֹּ֖קֶר וַיָּ֣קָם לָלֶ֑כֶת וַיֹּאמֶר֩ אֲבִ֨י הַֽנַּעֲרָ֜ה אֶל חֲתָנ֗וֹ סְעָ֧ד לִבְּךָ֛ פַּת לֶ֖חֶם וְאַחַ֥ר תֵּלֵֽכוּ

And on the fourth day they rose early in the morning, and he arose to go, and the girl's father said to his son-in-law, Sustain your heart with a bit of bread, and afterward you may go.

וַיֵּשְׁב֗וּ וַיֹּאכְל֧וּ שְׁנֵיהֶ֛ם יַחְדָּ֖ו וַיִּשְׁתּ֑וּ וַיֹּ֜אמֶר אֲבִ֤י הַֽנַּעֲרָה֙ אֶל הָאִ֔ישׁ הֽוֹאֶל נָ֥א וְלִ֖ין וְיִטַ֥ב לִבֶּֽךָ

And they sat and ate, the two of them together, and drank, and the girl's father said to the man, Please be willing, and lodge, and let your heart be glad.

וַיָּ֥קָם הָאִ֖ישׁ לָלֶ֑כֶת וַיִּפְצַר בּוֹ֙ חֹתְנ֔וֹ וַיָּ֖שָׁב וַיָּ֥לֶן שָֽׁם

And the man arose to go, and his father-in-law pressed him, and he turned back and lodged there.

וַיַּשְׁכֵּ֨ם בַּבֹּ֜קֶר בַּיּ֣וֹם הַחֲמִישִׁי֮ לָלֶכֶת֒ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֲבִ֣י הַֽנַּעֲרָ֗ה סְעָד נָא֙ לְבָ֣בְךָ֔ וְהִֽתְמַהְמְה֖וּ עַד נְט֣וֹת הַיּ֑וֹם וַיֹּאכְל֖וּ שְׁנֵיהֶֽם

And he rose early in the morning on the fifth day to go, and the girl's father said, Please sustain your heart, and linger until the day declines. And the two of them ate.

וַיָּ֤קָם הָאִישׁ֙ לָלֶ֔כֶת ה֥וּא וּפִילַגְשׁ֖וֹ וְנַעֲר֑וֹ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר ל֣וֹ חֹתְנ֣וֹ אֲבִ֣י הַֽנַּעֲרָ֡ה הִנֵּ֣ה נָא֩ רָפָ֨ה הַיּ֜וֹם לַעֲרֹ֗ב לִֽינוּ נָ֞א הִנֵּ֨ה חֲנ֤וֹת הַיּוֹם֙ לִ֥ין פֹּה֙ וְיִיטַ֣ב לְבָבֶ֔ךָ וְהִשְׁכַּמְתֶּ֤ם מָחָר֙ לְדַרְכְּכֶ֔ם וְהָלַכְתָּ֖ לְאֹהָלֶֽךָ

And the man arose to go, he and his concubine and his young man, and his father-in-law, the girl's father, said to him, Behold now, the day has sunk toward evening; please lodge here. Behold, the day is lodging; lodge here, and let your heart be glad, and you shall rise early tomorrow for your way and go to your tent.

וְלֹֽא אָבָ֤ה הָאִישׁ֙ לָל֔וּן וַיָּ֣קָם וַיֵּ֗לֶךְ וַיָּבֹא֙ עַד נֹ֣כַח יְב֔וּס הִ֖יא יְרוּשָׁלִָ֑ם וְעִמּ֗וֹ צֶ֤מֶד חֲמוֹרִים֙ חֲבוּשִׁ֔ים וּפִילַגְשׁ֖וֹ עִמּֽוֹ

And the man was not willing to lodge, and he arose and went and came as far as opposite Jebus — that is, Jerusalem — and with him a pair of saddled donkeys, and his concubine with him.

הֵ֣ם עִם יְב֔וּס וְהַיּ֖וֹם רַ֣ד מְאֹ֑ד וַיֹּ֨אמֶר הַנַּ֜עַר אֶל אֲדֹנָ֗יו לְכָה נָּ֛א וְנָס֛וּרָה אֶל עִֽיר הַיְבוּסִ֥י הַזֹּ֖את וְנָלִ֥ין בָּֽהּ

They were by Jebus, and the day was far spent, and the young man said to his master, Come now, please, and let us turn aside to this city of the Jebusite and lodge in it.

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֵלָיו֙ אֲדֹנָ֔יו לֹ֤א נָסוּר֙ אֶל עִ֣יר נָכְרִ֔י אֲשֶׁ֛ר לֹֽא מִבְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל הֵ֑נָּה וְעָבַ֖רְנוּ עַד גִּבְעָֽה

And his master said to him, We will not turn aside to a city of a foreigner, who is not of the sons of Israel; we will pass on as far as Gibeah.

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לְנַעֲר֔וֹ לְךָ֥ וְנִקְרְבָ֖ה בְּאַחַ֣ד הַמְּקֹמ֑וֹת וְלַ֥נּוּ בַגִּבְעָ֖ה א֥וֹ בָרָמָֽה

And he said to his young man, Come, and let us draw near to one of the places and lodge in Gibeah or in Ramah.

וַיַּעַבְר֖וּ וַיֵּלֵ֑כוּ וַתָּבֹ֤א לָהֶם֙ הַשֶּׁ֔מֶשׁ אֵ֥צֶל הַגִּבְעָ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר לְבִנְיָמִֽן

And they passed on and went, and the sun went down on them beside Gibeah which belongs to Benjamin.

וַיָּסֻ֣רוּ שָׁ֔ם לָב֖וֹא לָל֣וּן בַּגִּבְעָ֑ה וַיָּבֹ֗א וַיֵּ֨שֶׁב֙ בִּרְח֣וֹב הָעִ֔יר וְאֵ֥ין אִ֛ישׁ מְאַסֵּֽף אוֹתָ֥ם הַבַּ֖יְתָה לָלֽוּן

And they turned aside there to enter to lodge in Gibeah, and he went in and sat in the square of the city, and there was no man gathering them into the house to lodge.

וְהִנֵּ֣ה אִ֣ישׁ זָקֵ֗ן בָּ֣א מִֽן מַעֲשֵׂ֤הוּ מִן הַשָּׂדֶה֙ בָּעֶ֔רֶב וְהָאִישׁ֙ מֵהַ֣ר אֶפְרַ֔יִם וְהוּא גָ֖ר בַּגִּבְעָ֑ה וְאַנְשֵׁ֥י הַמָּק֖וֹם בְּנֵ֥י יְמִינִֽי

And behold, an old man was coming from his work from the field in the evening, and the man was from the hill country of Ephraim, and he was sojourning in Gibeah, and the men of the place were Benjaminites.

וַיִּשָּׂ֣א עֵינָ֗יו וַיַּ֛רְא אֶת הָאִ֥ישׁ הָאֹרֵ֖חַ בִּרְחֹ֣ב הָעִ֑יר וַיֹּ֨אמֶר הָאִ֧ישׁ הַזָּקֵ֛ן אָ֥נָה תֵלֵ֖ךְ וּמֵאַ֥יִן תָּבֽוֹא

And he lifted his eyes and saw the traveling man in the square of the city, and the old man said, Where are you going, and from where do you come?

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלָ֗יו עֹבְרִ֨ים אֲנַ֜חְנוּ מִבֵּֽית לֶ֣חֶם יְהוּדָה֮ עַד יַרְכְּתֵ֣י הַר אֶפְרַיִם֒ מִשָּׁ֣ם אָנֹ֔כִי וָאֵלֵ֕ךְ עַד בֵּ֥ית לֶ֖חֶם יְהוּדָ֑ה וְאֶת בֵּ֤ית יְהוָה֙ אֲנִ֣י הֹלֵ֔ךְ וְאֵ֣ין אִ֔ישׁ מְאַסֵּ֥ף אוֹתִ֖י הַבָּֽיְתָה

And he said to him, We are passing from Bethlehem of Judah to the remote parts of the hill country of Ephraim; from there I am, and I went to Bethlehem of Judah, and I am going to the house of YHWH, and there is no man gathering me into the house.

וְגַם תֶּ֤בֶן גַּם מִסְפּוֹא֙ יֵ֣שׁ לַחֲמוֹרֵ֔ינוּ וְ֠גַם לֶ֣חֶם וָיַ֤יִן יֶשׁ לִי֙ וְלַֽאֲמָתֶ֔ךָ וְלַנַּ֖עַר עִם עֲבָדֶ֑יךָ אֵ֥ין מַחְס֖וֹר כָּל דָּבָֽר

And we have both straw and fodder for our donkeys, and there is also bread and wine for me and for your maidservant and for the young man with your servants; there is no lack of any thing.

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר הָאִ֤ישׁ הַזָּקֵן֙ שָׁל֣וֹם לָ֔ךְ רַ֥ק כָּל מַחְסוֹרְךָ֖ עָלָ֑י רַ֥ק בָּרְח֖וֹב אַל תָּלַֽן

And the old man said, Peace to you; only let all your lack be on me; only in the square do not lodge.

וַיְבִיאֵ֣הוּ לְבֵית֔וֹ וַיָּ֖בָול לַחֲמוֹרִ֑ים וַֽיִּרְחֲצוּ֙ רַגְלֵיהֶ֔ם וַיֹּאכְל֖וּ וַיִּשְׁתּֽוּ

And he brought him into his house and mixed fodder for the donkeys, and they washed their feet and ate and drank.

הֵמָּה֮ מֵיטִיבִ֣ים אֶת לִבָּם֒ וְהִנֵּה֩ אַנְשֵׁ֨י הָעִ֜יר אַנְשֵׁ֣י בְנֵֽי בְלִיַּ֗עַל נָסַ֨בּוּ֙ אֶת הַבַּ֔יִת מִֽתְדַּפְּקִ֖ים עַל הַדָּ֑לֶת וַיֹּאמְר֗וּ אֶל הָ֠אִישׁ בַּ֣עַל הַבַּ֤יִת הַזָּקֵן֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר הוֹצֵ֗א אֶת הָאִ֛ישׁ אֲשֶׁר בָּ֥א אֶל בֵּיתְךָ֖ וְנֵדָעֶֽנּוּ

They were making their heart glad, and behold, the men of the city, men, sons of Belial, surrounded the house, beating on the door, and they said to the old man, the master of the house, saying, Bring out the man who came into your house, that we may know him.

וַיֵּצֵ֣א אֲלֵיהֶ֗ם הָאִישׁ֙ בַּ֣עַל הַבַּ֔יִת וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֲלֵהֶ֔ם אַל אַחַ֖י אַל תָּרֵ֣עוּ נָ֑א אַ֠חֲרֵי אֲשֶׁר בָּ֞א הָאִ֤ישׁ הַזֶּה֙ אַל בֵּיתִ֔י אַֽל תַּעֲשׂ֖וּ אֶת הַנְּבָלָ֥ה הַזֹּֽאת

And the man, the master of the house, went out to them and said to them, Do not, my brothers, do not do evil, please; after this man has come into my house, do not do this outrage.

הִנֵּה֩ בִתִּ֨י הַבְּתוּלָ֜ה וּפִֽילַגְשֵׁ֗הוּ אוֹצִֽיאָה נָּ֤א אוֹתָם֙ וְעַנּ֣וּ אוֹתָ֔ם וַעֲשׂ֣וּ לָהֶ֔ם הַטּ֖וֹב בְּעֵינֵיכֶ֑ם וְלָאִ֤ישׁ הַזֶּה֙ לֹ֣א תַעֲשׂ֔וּ דְּבַ֖ר הַנְּבָלָ֥ה הַזֹּֽאת

Behold my virgin daughter and his concubine; please let me bring them out, and you may humble them and do to them what is good in your eyes, but to this man do not do the thing of this outrage.

וְלֹֽא אָב֤וּ הָאֲנָשִׁים֙ לִשְׁמֹ֣עַֽ ל֔וֹ וַיַּחֲזֵ֤ק הָאִישׁ֙ בְּפִ֣ילַגְשׁ֔וֹ וַיֹּצֵ֥א אֲלֵיהֶ֖ם הַח֑וּץ וַיֵּדְע֣וּ א֠וֹתָהּ וַיִּֽתְעַלְּלוּ בָ֤הּ כָּל הַלַּ֨יְלָה֙ עַד הַבֹּ֔קֶר וַֽיְשַׁלְּח֖וּהָ בעלות כַּעֲל֥וֹת הַשָּֽׁחַר

And the men were not willing to listen to him, and the man seized his concubine and brought her out to them outside, and they knew her and abused her all night until the morning, and they sent her away at the rising of the dawn.

וַתָּבֹ֥א הָאִשָּׁ֖ה לִפְנ֣וֹת הַבֹּ֑קֶר וַתִּפֹּ֞ל פֶּ֧תַח בֵּית הָאִ֛ישׁ אֲשֶׁר אֲדוֹנֶ֥יהָ שָּׁ֖ם עַד הָאֽוֹר

And the woman came at the turning of the morning and fell at the entrance of the man's house where her lord was, until the light.

וַיָּ֨קָם אֲדֹנֶ֜יהָ בַּבֹּ֗קֶר וַיִּפְתַּח֙ דַּלְת֣וֹת הַבַּ֔יִת וַיֵּצֵ֖א לָלֶ֣כֶת לְדַרְכּ֑וֹ וְהִנֵּ֧ה הָאִשָּׁ֣ה פִֽילַגְשׁ֗וֹ נֹפֶ֨לֶת֙ פֶּ֣תַח הַבַּ֔יִת וְיָדֶ֖יהָ עַל הַסַּֽף

And her lord arose in the morning and opened the doors of the house and went out to go on his way, and behold, the woman, his concubine, was fallen at the entrance of the house, and her hands were on the threshold.

וַיֹּ֧אמֶר אֵלֶ֛יהָ ק֥וּמִי וְנֵלֵ֖כָה וְאֵ֣ין עֹנֶ֑ה וַיִּקָּחֶ֨הָ֙ עַֽל הַחֲמ֔וֹר וַיָּ֣קָם הָאִ֔ישׁ וַיֵּ֖לֶךְ לִמְקֹמֽוֹ

And he said to her, Get up, and let us go. And there was no answer. And he took her on the donkey, and the man arose and went to his place.

וַיָּבֹ֣א אֶל בֵּית֗וֹ וַיִּקַּ֤ח אֶת הַֽמַּאֲכֶ֨לֶת֙ וַיַּחֲזֵ֣ק בְּפִֽילַגְשׁ֔וֹ וַֽיְנַתְּחֶ֨הָ֙ לַעֲצָמֶ֔יהָ לִשְׁנֵ֥ים עָשָׂ֖ר נְתָחִ֑ים וַֽיְשַׁלְּחֶ֔הָ בְּכֹ֖ל גְּב֥וּל יִשְׂרָאֵֽל

And he came to his house and took the knife and seized his concubine and cut her up, limb by limb, into twelve pieces, and sent her throughout all the territory of Israel.

וְהָיָ֣ה כָל הָרֹאֶ֗ה וְאָמַר֙ לֹֽא נִהְיְתָ֤ה וְלֹֽא נִרְאֲתָה֙ כָּזֹ֔את לְמִיּ֞וֹם עֲל֤וֹת בְּנֵֽי יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֔יִם עַ֖ד הַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֑ה שִֽׂימוּ לָכֶ֥ם עָלֶ֖יהָ עֻ֥צוּ וְדַבֵּֽרוּ

And everyone who saw it said, Such a thing has not happened and has not been seen from the day the sons of Israel came up from the land of Egypt to this day. Set it for yourselves upon her; take counsel, and speak.