Basic HTML Version
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 L
ORD
; 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
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KJV Bible