Judges 19

A Levite travelled from mount Ephraim to Bethlehem to fetch back his concubines that was gone from him verse 1 &c. is kindly entertained by her father and detained until the fifth day 3 Then he departed and came to Gibea of Benjamin 10 where he at length was lodged by an old man that was of mount Ephraim 16 but the man of the city compass the house round but will offer horrible violence to the Levites who through necessity delivers unto them with concubines whom they abuse till they killed her22 her husband carrieth her home dead divideth her into twelve parts and sendeth them round into borders of Israel 28.

1. Also it came to pass in those days when there was no king [that is no lawful supreme magistrates or governors that punished malefactors see above chapter 17 on verse 6 hence arose the looseness of the Levites wife who was neither punished in Ephraim nor in Judah and the subsequent abominable fact of the inhabitants in Gibea] in Israel that there was a Levitish man sourjoning at the sides [that is at one of the sides see above chapter 12 on verse 7] of mount Ephraim who took him a wife a concubine [see Genesis 22 on verse 24] from Bethlehem Judah [see Genesis 35 on verse 19 and above chapter 12 on verse8.]

2. But his concubines played the whore being with him [or against him that is she committed adultery with others against the faith of marriage which she had promised him for although the concubines in the old testament were not held in that honor and esteem as the chief wives and mothers of the family yet they were accounted legitimate children see below chapter 20.4] and went away from him[viz. either through fear of her husband or out of some dislike or distaste that she had taken against him [to her fathers house at Bethlehem Judah and she was there certain days to wit four months [others a year and four months or the days of four months that is four complete months Heb. Days four months.]

3. and her husband arose and went after her to speak according to her heart [or Topeka to upon at her that is to move her with friendly speeches which might work upon her heart to repent and to return to him again desiring rather to be reconciled to her then forsake her if it were possible see of this phrase Genesis 34 on verse 3] and to fetch her back and his servants was with him and a couple of asses and she [viz. his concubines] brought him into her fathers house and when the young woman’s father saw him he rejoiced at his meeting.

4. And father in law the young woman’s father retained him so that he abode with him three days and they ate and drank and overnighter there.

5. now it came to pass on the forth day that they were early up in the morning and he [viz. the Levite] rose up to depart then said the young woman’s father unto his son in law strengthen thine heart with a morset of bread and afterward ye shall depart [that is take a little breakfast and depart see Genesis 18 on verse 5 and 1 Kings 13:7.]

6. So they sate down and they did both eat and they drank together and then they said the young woman’s father unto mans consent I pray thee and overnight and let thine heart be merry. [Heb. Good that is merry cheerful see above chapter 16 on verse 25 so below on verse 9.22.]

7. But the man rose up to depart then his father in law urged him so that he overnighter there again [Heb. returned and overnighter there.]

8. When he was up early in the morning on the fifth day to depart then said the young woman’s father strengthen thine heart I pray thee and they tarried until the day declined [that is until the sun began to go down and it was near towards the evening] and they did both eat together.

9. Then the man arose to depart he and his concubines and his servants and his father in law the young woman’s father said behold I pray thee the day is far spent so that it will be evening overnight I pray thee behold the day campeth itself[Heb. Behold camping of the day that is the day declineth draweth toan end or about this time of the day are travelling people wont to camp themselves or as if they should say wilt thou now begin to travel ? others camp thyself at thios day today that is let thy camping place be here today]overnight here and let that night be merry an dtomorrow get ye early on your wayandgo thy tent [that is thy dwelling place.]

10. but the man would not overnight but rose up and departed and came over against Jebus which is Jerusalem [afterwards so called at this time inhabitated by the Jebusite [see the two following verse and Joshua 15:63 2 Samuel 5:6] and with him the coupler of asses saddled [or bound up and also laden as may be gathered from verse 19] also his concubines was with him.

11. Now when they were at Jebus the day was much declined and the servant said unto his Lord go on I pray thee and let us turn into this city of Jebusite [see Genesis 10 on verse 16] and overnight in it.

12. But his Lord said unto him we will not turn hither unto a strange city [Heb. City of stranger that is some city of heathen which were enstranged from God and his people hence may be gathered that Jerusalem at the time when this happened was not inhabitant of that Israelite or at least not so that they were masters of the city compare Joshua 15:63 and above chapter 1 on verse 8,21 and 2 Samuel 5on verse 6 its possible that tehisraelites now and then were provoking God did as well lose Jerusalem as other places againalthough it was given them of the Lord by inheritance and made choice of by him to set his name there and afterwards happened in the time of David Solomon &c.] which is not of the children of Israel but we will not go on unto Gibea.

13. Moreover he said unto his servants go before that we may draw near unto one of those places and overnight at Gibea or at Ram [both these cities lay on mountains not far from Jerusalem northwards on the day towards mount Ephraim nowhere the Levites then dwealt see verse 1.]

14. So they went on and walked and the sun went down upon them by Gibea which is Benjamin’s [that is pertain to the tribe of Benjamin and lying in it.]

15. And they turned thither so that they came into overnight at Gibea now when he came in he sate down in a street of the city for there was no man that took them into the house[Heb. Gathered or assembled as we say took them up took them into his house so below verse 18 see further concerning the use of the Hebrew word Psalms 26 on verse 9]

16. And behold an old man came from his work out of the field in the evening which man was also of the mount of Ephraim [where the Levite sourjoned above verse 1]but sorjouned at Gibea ] where children of Jemini [that is of the tribe of Benjamin see Genesis 35 on verse 18 an d2Samuel 16.11 and above chapter 3.15.]

17. Now when he with the old man lift up his eyes he saw the way faring man [viz. the Levite in the street of the city and the old man said wither goest thou and from whence comest thou?

18. And he said unto him we pass through from Bethlehem Judah unto the sides of mount Ephraim from whence I am and I went towards Bethlehem Judah but now I go towards the house of the Lord which was then at Silo in Benjamin not far distant from mount Ephraim as may be gathered from verse 18.1 above chapter 18.31 1Samuel 1.3 ] and there is no man that taketh me into his house.

19. Whereas our asses have as well straw as fodder and there is also bread and wine for me and for thine hand maid [meaning his concubine] and for the boy [meaning with us ,which we have taken along with us for our journey. Or thus ,There is also bread and wine with thy servants, for me ,and for thine handmaid, and for the youth] (who) is with thy servants: [i.e. with us we and my concubine] there is no want of any thing .[save lodging.]

20. Then said the old man ,peace be unto thee all that; thou wantest is however with me [Heb. All thy want is upon with or over me that is whosoever might be wanting unto thee let it be or lie upon me or I take upon or over me or is with me] only overnight not in the street .

21. And he brought him into his house and gave asses provender and having washed their feet [see Genesis 16 on verse 4] they did eat and drink.

22. Now as they made their heart merry behold the man of that city men that were children of Belial[see Deuteronomy 13 on verse 13] compassed the house knocking at the door and they spake unto the old man the master of the house saying bring forth the man that came into thine house that we may know him[see Genesis 19 on verse 5.]

23. And the man the master of the house went out unto them and said unto them no my brethren do not so ill I pray ye seeing this man is come into mine house [see Genesis 19 on verse 7,8] do not commit such folly [see Genesis 34 on verse 7.]

24. Behold my daughter which is a virgin and his concubines [viz. the Levites] then will I bring forth that ye may violate them [compare this filthy inconsiderateness with Genesis 19 on verse 8] and do unto us them what is good in your eyes [that is seemeth good unto ye or as it pleaseth ye see also Genesis 19 on verse 8] but unto this man do note foolish a thing [Heb. a matter or thing or fact of this folly.]

25. But the man will not hearken to him then the man [viz. the Levite] took his concubine and brought her forth unto them and they knew her [see Genesis 4 on verse 1] and were busied with her [or abused her] all the night until the morning and let her go when it began to go of days.

26. And this woman came towards the dawning of the day and fell down [Heb. fell or lay there that is being fallen lay there see concerning such use of some words Genesis 12 on verse 15] at the door of the mans house where her Lord [see Genesis 18:12,27 1Peter 3.6] was till it grew light [Heb. Until the light.]

27. Now when her Lord rose up in the morning and opened the doors of the house and went to go his way behold the woman his concubine lay at the door of the house at her hands upon the threshold.

28. And he said unto her rise up and let us go but no body answered [for she was dead see chapter 20.5] then he took her upon the ass compare above on verse 26] and the man rose up and went unto his place.

29. Now when he came into his house he took a knife and he took his concubines and divided her with bones [or threw her bones that is cutting the body through in the joining together of the bones] into twelve pieces [Heb. As if one should say pierced them into twelve pieces or parted them into twelve parts] and he sent them into all the borders of Israel [because there was at that time up king that is no supreme lawful authority in Israel to whom he might make his complaint above verse1 this act of his no ways to be commended for it was a shameful thing to deal thus with the dead body of his wife.]

30. And it came to pass that all that saw it say no such thing was done nor seen from that day that the children of Israel came up out of the land of Egypt unto this day lay your heart upon it [the word heart is here inserted from 1Samuel 25.25 where the like phrase is found and here complete and perfect the meaning is take it to heart and consider of it might else be slightly taken thus lay yourselves upon it as we also speak so in our own language] give counsel [or take counsel advise] and speak [viz. one with another or tell us your judgments what think you of it what’s to be done in this case to put away such an evil from Israel as below chapter 20.13.]