Judges 19:2-12

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.

Judges 19:2-12 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JUDGES 19

This chapter gives an account of a sad affair of a Levite and his concubine, and of the bad consequence of it, how that she played the whore, and went away from him to her father's house, whither he followed her, and where he was kindly entertained by her father several days, Jud 19:1-9 and then set out on his journey to his own country; and passing by Jebus or Jerusalem, he came to Gibeah, and could get no lodging, Jud 19:10-15, but at length was taken in by an old man, an Ephraimite, Jud 19:16-21 when the house where he was beset by some wicked men in Gibeah, with the same intent as the men of Sodom beset the house of Lot, Jud 19:22-24 and after some expostulation of the old man with them, the concubine was brought out to them and abused by them even unto death, Jud 19:25-28 upon which the Levite her husband cut her into twelve pieces, and sent them into all the coasts of Israel, which was shocking and surprising, Jud 19:29,30 the consequence of which is related in the next chapter.

Footnotes

• [a]. friendly...: Heb. to her heart
• [b]. Comfort: Heb. Strengthen
• [c]. until afternoon: Heb. till the day declined
• [d]. draweth: Heb. is weak
• [e]. over against: Heb. to over against