The Levite and his concubine. CHAP. XIX. He is entertained at Gibeah. way: and when Micah saw that they were thee. And they tarried until afternoon, too strong for him, he turned and went and they did eat both of them. back unto his house. 9 And when the man rose up to depart, 27 And they took the things which Mi-he, and his concubine, and his servant, his cah had made, and the priest which he father-in-law, the damsel's father, said had, and came unto Laish, unto a people unto him, Behold, now the day draweth that were at quiet and secure and they toward evening, I pray you tarry all smote them with the edge of the sword, night: behold, the day groweth to an end, and burnt the city with fire. lodge here, that thy heart may be merry; and to-morrow get you early on your way, that thou mayest go home. 28 And there was no deliverer, because it was far from Zidon, and they had no business with any man; and it was in the valley that lieth by Beth-rehob. And they built a city, and dwelt therein. 29 And they called the name of the city Dan, after the name of Dan their father, who was born unto Israel: howbeit the name of the city was Laish at the first. 30 And the children of Dan set up the graven image: and Jonathan, the son of Gershom, the son of Manasseh, he and his sons were priests to the tribe of Dan until the day of the captivity of the land. 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 unto this city of the Jebusites, and lodge in it. 31 And they set them up Micah's graven a image which he made, all the time that the house of God was in Shiloh. CHAP. XIX. A 12 And his master said unto him, We will not turn aside hither into the city of 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 ND it came to pass in those days, to lodge all night, in Gibeah, or in Ramah. when there was no king in Israel, 14 And they passed on and went their that there was a certain Levite sojourning way; and the sun went down upon them on the side of mount Ephraim, who took to when they were by Gibeah, which belonghim a concubine out of Beth-lehem-ju- eth to Benjamin. dah. 15 And they turned aside thither, to go 2 And his concubine played the whore in and to lodge in Gibeah: and when he against him, and went away from him unto went in, he sat him down in a street of the her father's house to Beth-lehem-judah, city for there was no man that took them and was there four whole months. into his house to lodging. 3 And her husband arose, and went af- 16 And behold, there came an old ter her, to speak friendly unto her, and to man from his work out of the field at even, bring her again, having his servant with which was also of mount Ephraim; and he him, and a couple of asses: and she sojourned in Gibeah; but the men of the brought him into her father's house: and place were Benjamites. when the father of the damsel saw him, he rejoiced to meet him. 17 And when he had lifted up his eyes, he saw a wayfaring man in the street of 4 And his father-in-law, the damsel's the city: and the old man said, Whither father, retained him; and he abode with goest thou? and whence comest thou? him three days: so they did eat and drink, 18 And he said unto him, We are passand lodged there. ing from Beth-lehem-judah toward the 5 And it came to pass on the fourth day, side of mount Ephraim; from thence am when they arose early in the morning, I: and I went to Beth-lehem-judah, but I that he rose up to depart: and the dam-am now going to the house of the LORD; sel's father said unto his son-in-law, Com- and there is no man that receiveth me to fort thy heart with a morsel of bread, house. and afterward go your way. 19 Yet there is both straw and proven 6 And they sat down, and did eat and der for our asses; and there is bread and drink both of them together: for the dam- wine also for me, and for thy handmaid, sel's father had said unto the man, Be con- and for the young man which is with thy tent, I pray thee, and tarry all night, and servants: there is no want of any thing. let thy heart be merry. 20 And the old man said, Peace be with 7 And when the man rose up to depart, thee; howsoever, let all thy wants lie upon his father-in-law urged him: therefore he me; only lodge not in the street. lodged there again. 21 So he brought him into his house, and 8 And he arose early in the morning on gave provender unto the asses: and they the fifth day to depart: and the damsel's washed their feet, and did eat and drink. father said, Comfort thy heart, I pray 22 ¶ Now as they were making their The Levite declares his wrong. JUDGES. Decree against Gibeah. nearts merry, behold, the men of the city, Benjamin, I and my concubine, to lodge. certain sons of Belial, beset the house 5 And the men of Gibeah rose against round about, and beat at the door, and me, and beset the house round about spake to the master of the house, the old me by night, and thought to have slain man, saying, Bring forth the man that came me and my concubine have they forced, into thy h se, that we may know him. that she is dead. upon 23 An. the man, the master of the house, 6 And I took my concubine, and cut went out unto them, and said unto them, her in pieces, and sent her throughout all Nay, my brethren, nay, I pray you, do the country of the inheritance of Israel: not so wickedly; seeing that this man is for they have committed lewdness and come into my house, do not this folly. folly in Israel. 24 Behold, here is my daughter, a 7 Behold, ye are all children of Israel; maiden, and his concubine; them I will give here your advice and counsel. bring out now, and humble ye them, and do 8 And all the people arose as one with them what seemeth good unto you: man, saying, We will not any of us go but unto this man do not so vile a thing. to his tent, neither will we any of us turn 25 But the men would not hearken into his house: to him so the man took his concubine, : 10 And we will take ten men of a hun 9 But now this shall be the thing which and brought her forth unto them; and we will do to Gibeah: we will go up by they knew her, and abused her all the lot against it; night until the morning and when the : day began to spring, they let her go. dred throughout all the tribes of Israel, 26 Then came the woman in the dawn- and a hundred of a thousand, and a thouing of the day, and fell down at the door sand out of ten thousand, to fetch victual of the man's house where her lord was, for the people, that they may do, when till it was light. they come to Gibeah of Benjamin, according to all the folly that they have wrought in Israel. 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. 11 So all the men of Israel were gathered against the city, knit together as one man. 12 And the tribes of Israel sent men through all the tribe of Benjamin, saying, 28 And he said unto her, Up, and let What wickedness is this that is done us be going. But none answered. Then among you? the man took her up upon an ass, and the 13 Now therefore deliver us the men man rose up, and gat him unto his place. the children of Belial, which are in Gibeah, 29 And when he was come into his that we may put them to death, and put house, he took a knife, and laid hold on away evil from Israel. But the children of his concubine, and divided her, together Benjamin would not hearken to the voice with her bones, into twelve pieces, and of their brethren the children of Israel: sent her into all the coasts of Israel. 14 But the children of Benjamin ga30 And it was so, that all that saw it, thered themselves together out of the cisaid, There was no such deed done nor ties unto Gibeah, to go out to battle seen from the day that the children of against the children of Israel. Israel came up out of the land of Egypt unto this day consider of it, take advice, and speak your minds. THE : CHAP. XX. 15 And the children of Benjamin were numbered at that time out of the cities twenty and six thousand men that drew sword, besides the inhabitants of Gibeah, which were numbered seven hundred HEN all the children of Israel went thered together as one man, from Dan 16 Among all this people there were 2 And the chief of all the people, even breadth, and not miss. of all the tribes of Israel, presented them- 17 And the men of Israel, besides Benselves in the assembly of the people of jamin, were numbered four hundred thouGod, four hundred thousand footmen that sand men that drew sword: all these were drew sword. men of war. 3 (Now the children of Benjamin heard 18 And the children of Israel arose, that the children of Israel were gone up and went up to the house of God, and to Mizpeh.) Then said the children of asked counsel of God, and said, Which of Israel, Tell us, how was this wickedness? us shall go up first to the battle against 4 And the Levite, the husband of the the children of Benjamin? And the LORD woman that was slain, answered and said, said, Judah shall go up first. I came into Gibeah that belongeth to 19 And the children of Israel rose up in The Benjamttes slain. CHAP. XX. Gibeah burnt. the morning, and encamped against Gibeah. of Israel came forth out of their places, 20 And the men of Israel went out to even out of the meadows of Gibeah. battle against Benjamin; and the men of 34 And there came against Gibeah ten Israel put themselves in array to fight thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and against them at Gibeah. the battle was sore: but they knew not that evil was near them. 21 And the children of Benjamin came forth out of Gibeah, and destroyed down to the ground of the Israelites that day twenty and two thousand men. 22 And the people of the men of Israel encouraged themselves, and set their battle again in array in the place where they put themselves in array the first day. 23 (And the children of Israel went up and wept before the LORD until even, and asked counsel of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up again to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother? And the LORD said, go up against him.) 24 And the children of Israel came near against the children of Benjamin the second day. 35 And the LORD smote Benjamin before Israel and the children of Israel destroyed of the Benjamites that day twenty and five thousand and a hundred men: all these drew the sword. 36 So the children of Benjamin saw that they were smitten: for the men of Israel gave place to the Benjamites, because they trusted unto the liers in wait which they had set beside Gibeah. 37 And the liers in wait hasted, and rushed upon Gibeah; and the liers in wait drew themselves along, and smote all the city with the edge of the sword. 38 Now there was an appointed sign between the men of Israel and the liers in 25 And Benjamin went forth against wait, that they should make a great flame them out of Gibeah the second day, and with smoke to rise up out of the city. destroyed down to the ground of the chil- 39 And when the men of Israel retired dren of Israel again eighteen thousand in the battle, Benjamin began to smite men; all these drew the sword. and kill of the men of Israel about thirty 26 Then all the children of Israel, persons: for they said, Surely they are smitand all the people, went up, and came ten down before us, as in the first battle. unto the house of God, and wept, and sat 40 But when the flame began to arise there before the LORD, and fasted that up out of the city with a pillar of smoke, day until even, and offered burnt-offerings the Benjamites looked behind them, and and peace-offerings before the LORD. behold, the flame of the city ascended up 27 And the children of Israel inquired to heaven. of the LORD, (for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days, 41 And when the men of Israel turned again, the men of Benjamin were amazed: 28 And Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, for they saw that evil was come upon them. the son of Aaron, stood before it in those 42 Therefore they turned their backs days,) saying, Shall I yet again go out to before the men of Israel unto the way of battle against the children of Benjamin the wilderness; but the battle overtook my brother, or shall I cease? And the them; and them which came out of the LORD said, Go up; for to-morrow I will cities they destroyed in the midst of them. deliver them into thy hand. 29 And Israel set liers in wait round about Gibeah. 30 And the children of Israel went up against the children of Benjamin on the third day, and put themselves in array against Gibeah, as at other times. 43 Thus they enclosed the Benjamites round about, and chased them, and trode them down with ease over against Gibeah toward the sun-rising. 44 And there fell of Benjamin eighteen thousand men; all these were men of valour. 31 And the children of Benjamin went 45 And they turned and fled toward out against the people, and were drawn the wilderness unto the rock of Rimmon: away from the city; and they began to and they gleaned of them in the highways site of the people, and kill, as at other five thousand men; and pursued hard times, in the highways, of which one go- after them unto Gidom, and slew two eth up to the house of God, and the other thousand men of them. to Gibeah in the field, about thirty men 46 So that all which fell that day of Benjamin were twenty and five thousand 32 And the children of Benjamin said, men that drew the sword; all these were They are smitten down before us, as at men of valour. of Israel. the first. But the children of Israel said, 47 But six hundred men turned and fled let us flee, and draw them away from the to the wilderness unto the rock Rimmon, city unto the highways. and abode in the rock Rimmon four months. 33 And all the men of Israel rose up 48 And the men of Israel turned again out of their place, and put themselves in upon the children of Benjamin, and smote array at Baal-tamar: and the liers in wait them with the edge of the sword, as well The desolation of Benjamin. JUDGES. The virgins of Shiloh surprised. the men of every city, as the beast, and all some to speak to the children of Benjamin that came to hand: also they set on fire that were in the rock Rimmon, and to call all the cities that they came to. peaceably unto them. CHAP. XXI. 14 And Benjamin came again at that TOW the men of Israel had sworn in time; and they gave them wives which Mizpeh, saying, There shall not any they had saved alive of the women of Jaof us give his daughter unto Benjamin to besh-gilead: and yet so they sufficed them wife. Ν not. 2 And the people came to the house of 15 And the people repented them for God, and abode there till even before God, Benjamin, because that the LORD had and lifted up their voices, and wept sore; made a breach in the tribes of Israel. 3 And said, O LORD God of Israel, why 16 Then the elders of the congregation is this come to pass in Israel, that there said, How shall we do for wives for them should be to-day one tribe lacking in Is-that remain, seeing the women are derael? stroyed out of Benjamin? 4 And it came to pass on the morrow, 17 And they said, There must be an inthat the people rose early, and built there heritance for them that be escaped of Benan altar, and offered burnt-offerings, and jamin, that a tribe be not destroyed out of peace-offerings. Israel. 5 And the children of Israel said, Who 18 Howbeit, we may not give them is there among all the tribes of Israel that wives of our daughters: for the children came not up with the congregation unto of Israel have sworn, saying, Cursed be he the LORD? For they had made a great that giveth a wife to Benjamin. oath_concerning him that came not up to 19 Then they said, Behold, there is a the LORD to Mizpeh, saying, He shall feast of the LORD in Shilch yearly in a surely be put to death. place which is on the north side of Beth-el, 6 And the children of Israel repented on the east side of the highway that goeth them for Benjamin their brother, and said, up from Beth-el to Shechem, and on the There is one tribe cut off from Israel this south of Lebonah. day. 20 Therefore they commanded the chilHow shall we do for wives for them dren of Benjamin, saying, Go, and lie in that remain, seeing we have sworn by the wait in the vineyards; LORD, that we will not give them of our 21 And see, and behold, if the daughdaughters to wives? ters of Shiloh come out to dance in 8 And they said, What one is there dances, then come ye out of the vineyards, of the tribes of Israel that came not up to and catch you every man his wife of the Mizpeh to the LORD? and behold, there daughters of Shiloh, and go to the land of came none to the camp from Jabesh-gilead Benjamin. to the assembly. 22 And it shall be, when their fathers 9 For the people were numbered, and or their brethren come unto us to com behold there were none of the inhabitants plain, that we will say unto them, Be fa of Jabesh-gilead there. vourable unto them for our sakes: because 10 And the congregation sent thither we reserved not to each man his wife in twelve thousand men of the valiantest, and the war: for ye did not give unto them at commanded them, saying, Go and smite this time, that ye should be guilty. the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead with the 23 And the children of Benjamin did edge of the sword, with the women and so, and took them wives, according to their the children. number, of them that danced, whom they 11 And this is the thing that ye shall caught: and they went and returned unto do, Ye shall utterly destroy every male, their inheritance, and repaired the cities, and every woman that hath lain by man. and dwelt in them. 12 And they found among the inhabit- 24 And the children of Israel departed ants of Jabesh-gilead four hundred young thence at that time, every man to his tribe virgins that had known no man by lying and to his family, and they went out from with any male: and they brought them thence every man to his inheritance. unto the camp to Shiloh, which is in the 25 In those days there was no king in land of Canaan. Israel: every man did that which was right 13 And the whole congregation sent in his own eyes. ¶ The Book of RUTH. CHAP. I. of Beth-lehem-judah went to sojourn in the No OW it came to pass in the days when country of Moab, he, and his wife, and the judges ruled, that there was a his two sons. famine in the land. And a certain man 2 And the name of the man was Elime Ruth's constancy to Boaz. CHAP. II. She gleans in the field of Boaz lech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and] 18 When she saw that she was steadfastthe name of his two sons Mahlon and Chi-ly minded to go with her, then she left lion, Ephrathites of Beth-lehem-judah. speaking unto her. And they came into the country of Moab, 19 So they two went until they came and continued there. to Beth-lehem. And it came to pass, when they were come to Beth-lehem, that all the city was moved about them, and they 20 And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me. 21 I went out full, and the LORD hath 3 And Elimelech Naomi's husband died; and she was left, and her two sons. 4 And they took them wives of the wo-said, Is this Naomi? men of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years. 5 And Mahlon and Chilion died alsol both of them; and the woman was left of brought me home again empty: why then her two sons and her husband. call ye me Naomi, seeing the LORD hath 6 Then she arose with her daughters-testified against me, and the Almighty in-law, that she might return from the hath afflicted me? country of Moab: for she had heard in the country of Moab how that the LORD had visited his people in giving them bread. 22 So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess her daughter-in-law with her, which returned out of the country of Moab: 7 Wherefore she went forth out of the and they came to Beth-lehem in the beginplace where she was, and her two daugh-ning of barley-harvest. ters-in-law with her; and they went on the way to return unto the land of Judah. CHAP. II. ND Naomi had a kinsman of her hus 8 And Naomi said unto her two daughters-in-law, Go, return each to her mo- the family of Elimelech; and his name ther's house: the LORD deal kindly with was Boaz. with me. you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and 2 And Ruth the Moabitess said unte Naomi, Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight shall find grace. And she said unto her, Go, my daughter. 9 The LORD grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her hus-I band. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice, and wept. 10 And they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy people. 3 And she went, and came, and gleaned in the field after the reapers: and her hap was to light on a part of the field belonging 11 And Naomi said, Turn again, my unto Boaz, who was of the kindred of Elidaughters: why will ye go with me? are melech. there yet any more sons in my womb, that 4 And behold, Boaz came from Beththey may be your husbands? lehem, and said unto the reapers, The 12 Turn again, my daughters, go your LORD be with you. And they answered way; for I am too old to have a husband. him, The LORD bless thee. If I should say, I have hope, if I should 5 Then said Boaz unto his servant that have a husband also to-night, and should was set over the reapers, Whose damsel also bear sons; is this? 13 Would ye tarry for them till they 6 And the servant that was set over the were grown? would ye stay for them from reapers answered and said, It is the Mohaving husbands? nay, my daughters; for abitish damsel that came back with Naomi it grieveth me much for your sakes, that out of the country of Moab: the hand of the LORD is gone out against me. 7 And she said, I pray you, let me glean 14 And they lifted up their voice, and and gather after the reapers among the wept again. And Orpah kissed her mo- sheaves: so she came, and hath continued ther-in-law; but Ruth clave unto her. even from the morning until now, tarried a little in the house. that she 15 And she said, Behold, thy sister-inlaw is gone back unto her people, and unto 8 Then said Boaz unto Ruth, Hearest her gods: return thou after thy sister-in-thou not, my daughter? Go not to glean law. in another field, neither go from hence, 16 And Ruth said, Entreat me not to but abide here fast by my maidens: leave thee, or to return from following after 9 Let thine eyes be on the field that thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; they do reap, and go thou after them: have and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy I not charged the young men that they shall people shall be my people, and thy God not touch thee? and when thou art athirst, my God: go unto the vessels, and drink of that which 17 Where thou diest, will I die, and the young men have drawn. there will I be buried: the LORD do so to 10 Then she fell on her face, and bowed me, and more also, if aught but death part herself to the ground, and said unto him, thee and me. Why have I found grace in thine eyes, |
