1 And 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.
2 And 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.
3 And 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.
4 And 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.
5 And 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.
6 And 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.
7 And when the man rose up to depart, his father in law urged him: therefore he lodged there again.
8 And 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.
9 And 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.
10 But 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.
11 And 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.
12 And 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.
13 And 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.
14 And they passed on and went their way; and the sun went down upon them when they were by Gibeah, which belongeth to Benjamin.
15 And 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.
16 And, 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.
17 And 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?
18 And 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.
19 Yet there is both straw and provender for our asses; and there is bread and wine also for me, and for thy handmaid, and for the young man which is with thy servants: there is no want of any thing.
20 And the old man said, Peace be with thee; howsoever let all thy wants lie upon me; only lodge not in the street.
21 So he brought him into his house, and gave provender unto the asses: and they washed their feet, and did eat and drink.
22 Now as they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, certain sons of Belial, beset the house round about, and beat at the door, and spake to the master of the house, the old man, saying, Bring forth the man that came into thine house, that we may know him.
23 And the man, the master of the house, went out unto them, and said unto them, Nay, my brethren, nay, I pray you, do not so wickedly; seeing that this man is come into mine house, do not this folly.
24 Behold, here is my daughter a maiden, and his concubine; them I will bring out now, and humble ye them, and do with them what seemeth good unto you: but unto this man do not so vile a thing.
25 But the men would not hearken to him: so the man took his concubine, and brought her forth unto them; and they knew her, and abused her all the night until the morning: and when the day began to spring, they let her go.
26 Then came the woman in the dawning of the day, and fell down at the door of the man's house where her lord was, till it was light.
27 And her lord rose up in the morning, and opened the doors of the house, and went out to go his way: and, behold, the woman his concubine was fallen down at the door of the house, and her hands were upon the threshold.
28 And he said unto her, Up, and let us be going. But none answered. Then the man took her up upon an ass, and the man rose up, and gat him unto his place.
29 And when he was come into his house, he took a knife, and laid hold on his concubine, and divided her, together with her bones, into twelve pieces, and sent her into all the coasts of Israel.
30 And it was so, that all that saw it said, There was no such deed done nor seen from the day that the children of Israel came up out of the land of Egypt unto this day: consider of it, take advice, and speak your minds.
The book of Judges is the seventh book of the Old Testament in the KJV Holy Bible and it covers the period of Israel's history from the death of Joshua to the establishment of the monarchy. Chapter 19 of the book of Judges is a disturbing and tragic account of a Levite and his concubine that highlights the moral decay and spiritual darkness of Israel during this time. This chapter serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of disobedience and the importance of seeking God's guidance and following His laws.
The main themes of chapter 19 of the book of Judges include the consequences of disobedience, the importance of seeking God's guidance, and the depravity of human nature.
The first theme, the consequences of disobedience, is seen throughout the entire book of Judges. The Israelites were constantly turning away from God and disobeying His laws, which led to a cycle of oppression, repentance, and deliverance by a judge. In this chapter, the Levite's actions are a direct result of his disobedience to God's commandments. Instead of following God's laws and staying in the land of Israel, he goes to live among the tribe of Ephraim in the hill country of Ephraim.
The second theme, the importance of seeking God's guidance, is highlighted by the Levite's lack of guidance from God. He does not consult with God or seek His will before making decisions, which ultimately leads to disastrous consequences. This serves as a warning to the Israelites and readers alike, emphasizing the importance of seeking God's guidance and following His laws.
The third theme, the depravity of human nature, is evident throughout this chapter. The Levite's concubine is brutally raped and murdered by the men of Gibeah, and the Levite himself shows no compassion or concern for her well-being. This serves as a stark reminder of the corrupt nature of humanity without the guidance and influence of God.
The chapter begins with a Levite and his concubine leaving the hill country of Ephraim and traveling to Bethlehem in Judah. The Levite's concubine leaves him and returns to her father's house in Bethlehem, and the Levite follows her and tries to persuade her to return. After four days, they leave her father's house and begin their journey back to the hill country of Ephraim.
On their journey, they stop in the city of Gibeah, which is inhabited by the tribe of Benjamin. They are welcomed into the house of an old man, but the men of the city surround the house and demand that the Levite be brought out to them. The Levite's concubine is then brutally raped by the men of the city all night until she dies.
The next morning, the Levite finds his concubine lying at the doorstep and he takes her body and cuts it into twelve pieces, sending a piece to each of the tribes of Israel as a message of the horrific crime that was committed. The Israelites are outraged and gather together to confront the tribe of Benjamin, who refuse to hand over the men responsible for the crime.
The Israelites then go to war against the tribe of Benjamin, and after three days of fighting, the tribe of Benjamin is almost completely wiped out. The remaining men of Benjamin flee to the wilderness, and the Israelites destroy their cities and burn them with fire.
After the war, the Israelites realize that they have completely wiped out one of their tribes and they mourn and weep for their actions. They then come up with a plan to provide wives for the remaining men of Benjamin so that the tribe can continue to exist. They do this by taking the women of Jabesh-gilead, who had not participated in the war, and giving them to the men of Benjamin.
Chapter 19 of the book of Judges serves as a warning to the Israelites and readers alike about the consequences of disobedience and the importance of seeking God's guidance. The Levite's actions are a direct result of his disobedience to God's laws and his lack of guidance from God. This chapter also highlights the depravity of human nature without the influence and guidance of God.
The gruesome and tragic events in this chapter also serve as a reminder of the importance of following God's laws and living a righteous life. The actions of the men of Gibeah and the tribe of Benjamin show the devastating consequences of a society that has turned away from God and His laws.
Furthermore, this chapter also serves as a foreshadowing of the moral decay and spiritual darkness that will continue to plague Israel in the future. It is a warning that without obedience to God and His laws, society will continue to spiral into chaos and depravity.
In conclusion, chapter 19 of the book of Judges is a tragic and disturbing account that highlights the consequences of disobedience, the importance of seeking God's guidance, and the depravity of human nature. It serves as a cautionary tale for the Israelites and readers alike, emphasizing the importance of following God's laws and living a righteous life.
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