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Judges Chapter
Nineteen
Judges 19
Outlines
New King James Version (NKJV)
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
Judges 19:1 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
Judges 19:10
but
at length was taken in by an old man
an Ephraimite
Judges 19:16 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
Judges 19:22 and
after some expostulation of the old man with them
the concubine was brought
out to them and abused by them even unto death
Judges 19:25 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
Judges 19:29 the
consequence of which is related in the next chapter.
Judges 19:1 And
it came to pass in those days
when there was no king in Israel
that
there was a certain Levite staying in the remote mountains of Ephraim. He took
for himself a concubine from Bethlehem in Judah.
YLT
1And it cometh to pass
in
those days
when there is no king in Israel
that there is a man a Levite
a
sojourner in the sides of the hill-country of Ephraim
and he taketh to him a
wife
a concubine
out of Beth-Lehem-Judah;
And it came to pass in those days
when there was no king in
Israel
.... The same is observed in Judges 17:6 and
refers to the same times
the times before the judges
between them and the
death of Joshua
during which time there was no supreme magistrate or ruler in
Israel
which is meant; and this is observed
as before
to account for
wickedness being committed with impunity
such as adultery
sodomy
murder
&c. afterwards related:
that there was a certain Levite sojourning on the side of Mount
Ephraim; in a city that was on one side of that mountain; it seems not to
have been a Levitical city
because he was only a sojourner in it; perhaps he
chose to reside there
as being near to the tabernacle of Shiloh
which was in
that tribe;
who took to him a concubine out of Bethlehemjudah; the same
place from whence the wicked Levite came
spoken of in the preceding chapters
and who was the means of spreading idolatry in Israel; and here a wicked
concubine of a Levite comes from the same
and was the cause of great effusion
of blood in Israel; which two instances may seem to reflect dishonour and
disgrace on Bethlehem
which were wiped off by the birth of some eminent
persons in it
as Boaz
Jesse
David
and especially the Messiah. The woman the
Levite took from hence is in the Hebrew called
"a wife
a concubine"F8So
Pagninus
Tigurine version
Drusius. ; for a concubine was a secondary wife
taken without espousals and a dowry: some think they were espoused
though
there was no dowry
and were reckoned truly wives
though they had not all the
honour and privilege as others; and that this woman was accounted the wife of
the Levite
appears from his being called her husband frequently; and her
father is said to be his father-in-law
and he his son-in-law; nor could she
have been chargeable with adultery otherwise.
Judges 19:2 2 But his concubine played
the harlot against him
and went away from him to her father’s house at
Bethlehem in Judah
and was there four whole months.
YLT
2and commit whoredom against
him doth his concubine
and she goeth from him unto the house of her father
unto Beth-Lehem-Judah
and is there days -- four months.
And his concubine played the whore against him
.... Was
unfaithful to him and his bed
and broke the covenant and agreement between
them; or "with him"F9עליו
"apud eum"
Pagninus
Piscator; "cum eo"
Junius &
Tremellius.
while she was with him in the house; or "before him"F11"Conspectu
ejus"
Vatablus; "coram eo"
Drusius.
of which he had
knowledge and proof; though some think this is not to be understood of whoredom
or adultery
but of her ill usage of him
and departure from him. The Targum
is
she despised him; so Kimchi and Ben Gersom interpret it of her declining
and turning aside from him
and returning to her father's house
as follows:
and indeed
had she been guilty of such a crime
one would think he would never
have sought after her to reconcile her
and take her again
since she not only
deserved to be put away
but to be put to death according to the law of God:
and went away from him to her father's house to Bethlehemjudah; where she was
received
as she knew she should
having a parent perhaps too indulgent
and
which was an encouragement to her to leave her husband:
and was there some whole months or a year and four whole
months
according to Ben Gersom; so Kimchi and Ben Melech observe the
copulative "and" is wanting
which is expressed in 1 Samuel 27:7 and
"yamim
days"
is so the times used for a year
Judges 14:8.
Judges 19:3 3 Then her husband arose and
went after her
to speak kindly to her and bring her back
having his
servant and a couple of donkeys with him. So she brought him into her father’s
house; and when the father of the young woman saw him
he was glad to meet him.
YLT
3And her husband riseth and
goeth after her
to speak unto her heart
to bring her back
and his young man
[is] with him
and a couple of asses; and she bringeth him into the house of
her father
and the father of the young woman seeth him
and rejoiceth to meet
him.
And her husband arose
.... From the place where
he lived:
and went after her; to Bethlehemjudah
where her father lived:
to speak comfortably to her "or to her
heart"F12על לבה
"ad cor"
Pagninus. ; having heard perhaps that she repented of her
sin
or if it was only upon a quarrel between them
his anger might cool and
subside
and therefore sought for a reconciliation; and which was the more
commendable in him
as he did not put her away
but she departed from him: and
to bring her again; to his own city
and to his own house and
bed
as before:
having his servant with him
and a couple of asses; one of them
for her to ride upon
and the other to carry provisions on:
and she brought him into her father's house; it seems she
met with him before he came thither
in the fields
or in the street; and by
this it appears that she was glad to see him
and received him in a loving
manner
and introduced him into her father's house
so that things looked well
and promised success:
and when the father of the damsel saw him
he rejoiced to meet him; having a good
opinion of him
and perhaps understood
even by his daughter's story
that she
was most in fault
and therefore was well pleased to see him come after her;
though he ought before this time to have sent her home
or sought for a
reconciliation of her to her husband.
Judges 19:4 4 Now his father-in-law
the
young woman’s father
detained him; and he stayed with him three days. So they
ate and drank and lodged there.
YLT
4And keep hold on him doth
his father-in-law
father of the young woman
and he abideth with him three
days
and they eat and drink
and lodge there.
And his father in law
the damsel's father
retained him
.... Prevailed
upon him to stay some time with him:
and he abode with him three days; it seems as if he agreed
to stay with him so long
and that time he stayed contentedly:
so they did eat and drink
and lodged there; the Levite
and his servant were very handsomely entertained
and had everything provided
for them convenient for meat
drink
and lodging.
Judges 19:5 5 Then it came to pass on
the fourth day that they arose early in the morning
and he stood to depart;
but the young woman’s father said to his son-in-law
“Refresh your heart with a
morsel of bread
and afterward go your way.”
YLT
5And it cometh to pass
on
the fourth day
that they rise early in the morning
and he riseth to go
and
the father of the young woman saith unto his son-in-law
`Support thy heart
with a morsel of bread
and afterward ye go on.'
And it came to pass on the fourth day
.... The time
the Levite had agreed to stay being up:
when they arose early in the morning the Levite
his concubine and servant
in order to set out on their journey: that he arose
to depart; the Levite rose up from his seat to take his leave of his
father-in-law
and depart from his house
and proceed on his way homeward; for
rising out of his bed is before expressed:
and the damsel's father said to his son in law
comfort thy heart
with a morsel of bread; take a breakfast first
that he might be fitter for his journey
for bread comforts or strengthens men's hearts
Psalm 104:15 though
here it may be put for any and all sorts of provisions
whatever might be
proper to take early in a morning
and before setting out on a journey: and
afterwards go your way; he seemed as if he was willing he should set forward
after he had refreshed him with a meal.
Judges 19:6 6 So they sat down
and the
two of them ate and drank together. Then the young woman’s father said to the
man
“Please be content to stay all night
and let your heart be merry.”
YLT
6And they sit and eat both
of them together
and drink
and the father of the young woman saith unto the
man
`Be willing
I pray thee
and lodge all night
and let thy heart be glad.'
And they sat down
.... Not only sat down upon their seats
again
the Levite having rose up in order to go away
but sat down at table:
and did eat and drink both of them together; both the
Levite and his father-in-law; and it appears by this
and what follows
that
the Levite did not take only a short repast
or breakfast with him
but stayed
and dined with him
when they ate a plentiful meal
and drank freely after
dinner:
for the damsel's father had said to the man
be content
I pray
thee
and tarry all night
and let thine heart be merry; let us spend
a pleasant evening together
in drinking freely
though not to excess
in
cheerful conversation
and innocent mirth. This he proposed to him
and hoped
he would agree to it.
Judges 19:7 7 And when the man stood to
depart
his father-in-law urged him; so he lodged there again.
YLT
7And the man riseth to go
and his father-in-law presseth on him
and he turneth back and lodgeth there.
And when the man rose up to depart
.... Rose up from table
having ate and drank sufficiently
in order to depart the house
and proceed on
his journey:
his father in law urged him; with much entreaty
and
earnest solicitations
that he would stay all night with him:
therefore he lodged there again; another night
being
prevailed upon through his father's importunity.
Judges 19:8 8 Then he arose early in the
morning on the fifth day to depart
but the young woman’s father said
“Please
refresh your heart.” So they delayed until afternoon; and both of them ate.
YLT
8And he riseth early in the
morning
on the fifth day
to go
and the father of the young woman saith
`Support
I pray thee
thy heart;' and they have tarried till the turning of
the day
and they eat
both of them.
And he rose early in the morning on the fifth day to depart
.... With a
full intention to take his leave of his father
and be gone:
and the damsel's father said
comfort thine heart
I pray thee; with a meal's
meat
with a breakfast
before he set out on his journey
that he might be
heartier and stronger for it:
and they tarried until afternoon; or "until the
decline of the day"F13עד נטות היום "usque ad
declinare diem"
Montanus; to the same purpose Pagninus
Tigurine version
Junius & Tremellius
Piscator.
when the sun had passed the meridian
and
was declining
as it immediately does when noon is past:
and they did eat both of them; the man stayed and took
a dinner with his father-in-law; and though no mention is made of the
concubine
neither in this
nor in the other instances
no doubt she ate with
them.
Judges 19:9 9 And when the man stood to
depart—he and his concubine and his servant—his father-in-law
the young
woman’s father
said to him
“Look
the day is now drawing toward evening;
please spend the night. See
the day is coming to an end; lodge here
that your
heart may be merry. Tomorrow go your way early
so that you may get home.”
YLT
9And the man riseth to go
he and his concubine
and his young man
and his father-in-law
father of the
young woman
saith to him
`Lo
I pray thee
the day hath fallen toward
evening
lodge all night
I pray thee; lo
the declining of the day! lodge
here
and let thine heart be glad -- and ye have risen early to-morrow for your
journey
and thou hast gone to thy tent.'
And when the man rose up to depart
he and his concubine
and his
servant
.... Rose up from table
having comfortably refreshed themselves:
his father in law
the damsel's father
said unto him
behold
now
the day draweth towards evening; or is "remiss"
or
"weak"F14רפה "debilitata
est"
Pagninus
Vatablus; "remissus est"
Junius &
Tremellius. ; that is
the heat
light
and strength of the sun abated
and
became weaker and more remiss
as it does the more it declines
and is nearer
setting:
I pray you tarry all night; suggesting
it was a
very improper time to set out in on a journey:
behold
the day groweth to an end; or "behold
it is
the encampment of the day"F15הנות היום "castrametatio diei"
Drusius.
when the
day or sun seems to be pitching its tent
and going to rest; or it being the
time when an army on the march stops and pitches their tents
in order to
continue all night; or when men go to their tents and habitations
and lie down
and take their rest:
lodge here
that thine heart may be merry; and let us
have another pleasant evening together
which cannot be had in an inn upon the
road; you cannot be comfortable there
as here
and therefore be persuaded to
stay
since it is not possible to get home tonight:
and tomorrow get you early on your way
that thou mayest go home; to thy city
as the Targum; signifying
that he should not insist upon their staying any
longer
and then they might set out on their journey as soon as they pleased.
Judges 19:10 10 However
the man was not
willing to spend that night; so he rose and departed
and came opposite Jebus
(that is
Jerusalem). With him were the two saddled donkeys; his
concubine was also with him.
YLT 10And the man hath not been
willing to lodge all night
and he riseth
and goeth
and cometh in till
over-against Jebus (It [is] Jerusalem)
and with him [are] a couple of asses
saddled; and his concubine [is] with him.
But the man would not tarry that night
.... He was
determined upon his journey; he perceived there was no end of the solicitations
of his father-in-law
and did not know how long he intended to detain him
and
therefore was resolved not to hearken to him any longer:
but he rose up and departed; rose up from his seat
took his leave of his father-in-law
and proceeded on his journey:
and came over against Jebus
which is Jerusalem; which was
then called Jebus
because inhabited by the Jebusites
as appears from the
following verse; this was about six miles from BethlehemF16Hieron.
de loc. Heb. fol. 89. E. ; so far they were come on in their journey homewards:
and there were with him two asses saddled; which he
brought with him when he came to Bethlehem
Judges 19:3 now
said to be "saddled"
either for him and his concubine to ride on; or
they were bound or girt
as the word signifies
being loaded with bread
and
wine
and provender; or it may be one of them was for him and his concubine to
ride on by turns
and the other to carry the provisions:
and his concubine also was with him; matters being now made
up between them
she had agreed to go with him
and did
which was the end of
his coming to her father's house; and therefore this is observed on that
account
as well as for what follows in the tragical part of this history.
Judges 19:11 11 They were near
Jebus
and the day was far spent; and the servant said to his master
“Come
please
and let us turn aside into this city of the Jebusites and lodge in it.”
YLT
11They [are] near Jebus
and
the day hath gone greatly down
and the young man saith unto his lord
`Come
I
pray thee
and we turn aside unto this city of the Jebusite
and lodge in it.'
And when they were by Jebus the day was far spent
.... Or
"was gone down very much"F17רד מאד "descenderat valde"
Pagninus
Montanus
Tigurine version.
the sun was going down apace
and near setting:
and the servant said unto his master
come
I pray thee: he proposed
it to him in a submissive manner
and might use some entreaty for his master's
good and safety:
and let us turn in unto this city of the Jebusites
and lodge in
it; for though that part of the city which belonged to the tribe of
Judah was taken by them after the death of Joshua
yet that which belonged to
the tribe of Benjamin
part of it was still possessed by the Jebusites
whom
the Benjamites could not expel
Judges 1:21 and Ben
Gersom thinks
that this affair of this Levite
and his concubine
was before
the men of Judah fought against it
and took it; which not unlikely
seeing it
is called here a city of the Jebusites
and because the Levite objected going
into it on that account; whereas there would not have been much in his objection
if one part or it was in the session of the men of Judah
and the other in the
hands of the tribe of Benjamin
though they had some Jebusites dwelling among
them.
Judges 19:12 12 But his master said to
him
“We will not turn aside here into a city of foreigners
who are not
of the children of Israel; we will go on to Gibeah.”
YLT
12And his lord saith unto
him
`Let us not turn aside unto the city of a stranger
that is not of the
sons of Israel
thither
but we have passed over unto Gibeah.'
And his master said unto him
we will not turn aside hither into
the city of a stranger
.... A city of the children of the Gentiles
as the Targum
as
the Jebusites were
being one of the seven nations of the land of Canaan
who
were to be dispossessed and destroyed; and which
one would think
he would not
have so called
had it been inhabited
though but in part
by the children of
Judah and Benjamin: by this it appears
that this Levite was a good man
and
conscientious
and shunned all appearance of evil
and the company of wicked
men
as became his character and profession: and it is added:
that is not of the children of Israel; which further
confirms the above conjecture
that this city was not as yet at all in the
hands of the Israelites; or if it had been
was retaken
and now in the hands
of the Jebusites:
we will pass over to Gibeah; which was in the tribe
of Benjamin
and inhabited by men of that tribe
and so more agreeable to this
Levite
though it proved fatal to him; this was
as Josephus saysF18De
Bello Jud. l. 5. c. 2. sect. 1. thirty furlongs
or near four miles from Jebus
or Jerusalem; and though it was near sun setting
he chose rather to proceed on
to this place
than to lodge at Jebus
and the rather it may be
as it was a
Levitical city
Joshua 21:17.
Judges 19:13 13 So he said to his servant
“Come
let us draw near to one of these places
and spend the night in Gibeah
or in Ramah.”
YLT
13And he saith to his young
man
`Come
and we draw near to one of the places
and have lodged in Gibeah
or in Ramah.'
And he said to his servant
come
and let us draw near
.... And get
on as fast as we can:
to one of these places to lodge all night
in Gibeah
or in Ramah; which were
both in the tribe of Benjamin
and he left it to his servant to go to either
to that which was most convenient
because of the time of the day
it being
near sun setting; now
as before observed
Gibeah was not quite four miles from
Jerusalem; whereas
according to JeromF19De loc. Heb. fol. 94. B.
Ramah was six miles
and therefore we find they took up at Gibeah
as being
nearest of these two places; See Gill on Joshua 18:24
Joshua 18:25
Hosea 5:8.
Judges 19:14 14 And they passed by and
went their way; and the sun went down on them near Gibeah
which belongs to
Benjamin.
YLT
14And they pass over
and go
on
and the sun goeth in upon them near Gibeah
which is to Benjamin;
And they passed on
and went their way
.... Proceeded
on in their journey from Jebus or Jerusalem
near to which they were:
and the sun went down upon them when they were by Gibeah
which
belongeth to Benjamin; which is added
to distinguish it from another Gibeah in the
tribe of Judah
Joshua 15:57 when
they were come pretty near to this place
on the side of it
as it seems
the
sun was just setting
which determined them to take up their lodging here
as
follows.
Judges 19:15 15 They turned aside there to
go in to lodge in Gibeah. And when he went in
he sat down in the open square
of the city
for no one would take them into his house to spend the
night.
YLT
15and they turn aside there
to go in to lodge in Gibeah
and he goeth in and sitteth in a broad place of
the city
and there is no man gathering them into the house to lodge.
And they turned aside thither to go in and lodge in Gibeah
.... Instead
of going right forward
and passing by Gibeah
over against which they were
they turned out of their road
and went into the city to seek a lodging in it:
and when he went in
he sat him down in a street of the city; to see
whether any person would invite him into any of their houses
as was usual in
those hospitable times and countries
and where there were few inns for the
entertainment of travellers and strangers
or none at all
and especially in
cities; if any where
they were upon the public road:
for there was no man that took them into his house to lodging; the spirit of
hospitality being greatly declined
and even gone from among them; or as some
think
those that had such a spirit
and were willing to receive strangers
were afraid
because of their wicked neighbours
who would beset their houses
to abuse strangers
as the sequel of this history shows.
Judges 19:16 16 Just then an old man came
in from his work in the field at evening
who also was from the
mountains of Ephraim; he was staying in Gibeah
whereas the men of the place were
Benjamites.
YLT
16And lo
a man
an aged one
hath come from his work from the field in the evening
and the man [is] of the
hill-country of Ephraim
and he [is] a sojourner in Gibeah
and the men of the
place [are] Benjamites.
And
behold
there came an old man from his work out of the field
at even
.... Which is the time that men come from their labour
and take
their rest; and this man
though a man in years
and of some substance
as
appears by what follows
yet attended the business of his calling
which was
very commendable in him:
which was also of Mount Ephraim; as the Levite was
which
when the old man understood
he was the more ready no doubt to receive him into
his house:
and he sojourned in Gibeah; he was not a native of
the place
and yet more kind to strangers than such as were; nor does he appear
to be a Levite
though it was a Levitical city; on what account he sojourned
here is not manifest:
but the men of the place were Benjamites: for as yet
the number of Levites were not large
others dwelt in the cities besides them
even such as were of the tribe to which they belonged.
Judges 19:17 17 And when he raised his
eyes
he saw the traveler in the open square of the city; and the old man said
“Where are you going
and where do you come from?”
YLT
17And he lifteth up his eyes
and seeth the man
the traveller
in a broad place of the city
and the aged
man saith
`Whither goest thou? and whence comest thou?'
And when he had lifted up his eyes
.... For it may be
as he
came out of the field
he was musing and meditating with his eyes downwards
directed
but coming into the city looked up:
he saw a wayfaring man in the street of the city; whom he
supposed to be a traveller and a stranger by his dress
and other circumstances
having never seen him before
and knowing pretty well the inhabitants of the
place:
and the old man said
whither goest thou? and whence comest thou? the meaning
of the questions is
what place he was travelling to
and from whence he came last.
Judges 19:18 18 So he said to him
“We are
passing from Bethlehem in Judah toward the remote mountains of Ephraim; I am
from there. I went to Bethlehem in Judah; now I am going to the house of
the Lord.
But there is no one who will take me into his house
YLT
18And he saith unto him
`We
are passing over from Beth-Lehem-Judah unto the sides of the hill-country of
Ephraim -- thence I [am]
and I go unto Beth-Lehem-Judah; and to the house of
Jehovah I am going
and there is no man gathering me into the house
And he said unto him
we are passing from Bethlehemjudah
.... He
answers to his last question first
for this was the place from whence they
came:
towards the side of Mount Ephraim: thither they were going
which is an answer to the first question: and then adds
which is more than
what was requested:
from thence am I; that is
he was an inhabitant of a city on
one side of Mount Ephraim
but what that city was
he says not
nor is it
elsewhere said:
and I went to Bethlehemjudah; on what account he does
not declare
but the above narrative clearly shows for what reason he went
thither:
but I am now going to the house of the Lord; that is
the
tabernacle in Shiloh
there he proposed to go first to offer sacrifice for the
success of his journey
and for the reconciliation of his wife to him
and to
pray to God for happiness in his family yet to come
and where some think his
habitation was; but rather it was at some distance
not far from Mount Ephraim
and on the side of it
whither he should return when he had performed those
acts of religion and devotion
which he judged were his duty:
and there is no man that receiveth me to house: that had
invited him to his house to take a lodging there
as was common to do to
travellers
as the instances of Abraham
Lot
Job
and others
show. It was a
law with the Lucani (a people in Italy)
that if a stranger came at sun
setting
and was desirous of coming under the roof of anyone
if such an one
did not receive him
he was to be fined
and suffer the punishment of
inhospitalityF20Aelian. Var. Hist. l. 4. c. 1. .
Judges 19:19 19 although we have both
straw and fodder for our donkeys
and bread and wine for myself
for your
female servant
and for the young man who is with your servant; there
is no lack of anything.”
YLT
19and both straw and
provender are for our asses
and also bread and wine there are for me
and for
thy handmaid
and for the young man with thy servants; there is no lack of
anything.'
Yet there is both straw and provender for our asses
.... Straw to
litter them with
and provender to feed them with
which he had brought with
him on them:
and there is bread and wine also for me
and for thine handmaid; meaning
himself and his concubine; there were enough for them both
which were packed
up
and carried by the asses:
and for the young man which is with thy servants; the
supplement
which is
seems quite needless
and even impertinent; for as yet
the young man
by whom he means his servant
was not as yet in company with the
servants of the old man; but the sense is
that there was not only provisions
with him for himself
and his wife
and also for his servant
but even enough
for the servants of the old man
whether maid or manservants: there is no want
of anything; and therefore none needed to be shy of taking them in
since they
should not be burdensome to any upon any account; all they wanted was a
lodging.
Judges 19:20 20 And the old man said
“Peace be with you! However
let all your needs be my
responsibility; only do not spend the night in the open square.”
YLT
20And the old man saith
`Peace to thee; only
all thy lack [is] on me
only in the broad place lodge
not.'
And the old man said
peace be with you
.... All
happiness attend thee
particularly ease and tranquillity of mind
let nothing
disturb or distress thee:
howsoever
let all thy wants lie upon me; signifying
that if he had neither bread nor wine for himself
his wife
and his servant
nor any litter nor provender for his asses
he was welcome to all from him; and
whatever his wants were
he would supply them
which was nobly and generously
said:
only lodge not in the street: that I cannot bear to
think of
as if he should say; for a stranger
an Israelite
one of my own
country
a good man
a Levite going to the house of God
to take up a lodging
in the streets
let it not be said.
Judges 19:21 21 So he brought him into his
house
and gave fodder to the donkeys. And they washed their feet
and ate and
drank.
YLT
21And he bringeth him in to
his house
and mixeth [food] for the asses
and they wash their feet
and eat
and drink.
So he brought him into his house
.... Showed him the way
to it
and in a kind and friendly manner introduced him
and bid him welcome:
and gave provender unto the asses; this is mentioned first
it being then perhaps
as now
the first thing that a careful man is concerned
for
to see that his cattle is taken care of
and then himself; and such a
method this ancient good man took with his guest:
and they washed their feet; which was commonly done
to strangers in those hot countries
and was very refreshing
see Genesis 18:4.
and did eat and drink; sat down at table and
supped with him.
Judges 19:22 22 As they were enjoying
themselves
suddenly certain men of the city
perverted men
[a] surrounded
the house and beat on the door. They spoke to the master of the house
the old man
saying
“Bring out the man who came to your house
that we may
know him carnally!”
YLT
22They are making their heart
glad
and lo
men of the city
men -- sons of worthlessness -- have gone round
about the house
beating on the door
and they speak unto the old man
the
master of the house
saying
`Bring out the man who hath come unto thine house
and we know him.'
Now as they were making their hearts merry
.... With a
glass of wine after supper
and conversing together in a cheerful manner about
their country and friends:
behold
the men of the city
certain sons of Belial; very wicked
lawless
ungovernable
worthless
and unprofitable creatures
men under the
influence of Satan
and their own lusts:
beset the house round about: that none might escape
out of it
especially the Levite
his wife and servant:
and beat at the door; to get entrance
either
by those within opening to them
or by breaking it open:
and spake to the master of the house
the old man; who
upon
this noise and clamour made
came to the door
to inquire what was the meaning
of all this: to whom they replied
saying:
bring forth the man that came into thy house
that we may know him; not what
manner of person he was
of what country and profession
whither he was going
and what business he had here; but that they might have carnal knowledge of him
in an unnatural way
or commit that sin with him which is commonly called
sodomy; and the men of Sodom expressed their lust by the same word
Genesis 19:5.
Judges 19:23 23 But the man
the master of
the house
went out to them and said to them
“No
my brethren! I beg you
do
not act so wickedly! Seeing this man has come into my house
do not
commit this outrage.
YLT
23And the man
the master of
the house
goeth out unto them
and saith unto them
`Nay
my brethren
do not
evil
I pray you
after that this man hath come in unto my house
do not this
folly;
And the man
the master of the house
went out unto them
.... Opened
the door
and went out to converse with them
and talked them after this
manner:
and said unto them
nay
my brethren
nay
I pray you
do not so
wickedly; it is plain he understood them in such sense
that they meant
not bare knowledge of the man
as who he was
&c. but to commit wickedness
the most abominable; so great
that it cannot be well said how great it is; and
to dissuade from it
he uses the most tender language
and the most earnest
entreaties:
seeing this man is come into my house
do not this folly; he argues
from the law of hospitality
which ought not to be infringed; a man being
obliged to protect a stranger under his roof; and from the nature of the crime
which was folly
stupidity
and what was abominable to the last degree.
Judges 19:24 24 Look
here is my
virgin daughter and the man’s[b] concubine;
let me bring them out now. Humble them
and do with them as you please; but to
this man do not do such a vile thing!”
YLT
24lo
my daughter
the
virgin
and his concubine
let me bring them out
I pray you
and humble ye them
and do to them that which is good in your eyes
and to this man do not this
foolish thing.'
Behold
here is my daughter
a maiden
and his concubine
.... His own
daughter
a virgin
and the concubine of the Levite his guest:
them I will bring out now
and humble ye them
and do with them
what seemeth good unto you; those he proposed to bring out
and deliver
to them
to lie with
to do with as they pleased to gratify their raging lust
which to do was more than he ought
or had power to do: he had no right to
prostitute his own daughter
and much less the concubine or wife of another
man
though perhaps it might be with the consent of the Levite; but all this he
said in a hurry and surprise
in a fright and terror
and of two evils choosing
the least
and perhaps in imitation of Lot
whose case might come to
remembrance:
but unto this man do not so vile a thing; as he
apprehended that to be which they were desirous of
whether to kill him
as he
himself says
Judges 20:5 or to
commit the unnatural sin
and which
rather than comply with
he should have
chosen to have been slain.
Judges 19:25 25 But the men would not heed
him. So the man took his concubine and brought her out to them. And they
knew her and abused her all night until morning; and when the day began to
break
they let her go.
YLT
25And the men have not been
willing to hearken to him
and the man taketh hold on his concubine
and
bringeth [her] out unto them without
and they know her
and roll themselves
upon her all the night
till the morning
and send her away in the ascending of
the dawn;
But the men would not hearken to him
....
Especially with respect to his daughter
whom they knew very well
and had no
affection for
perhaps was not handsome enough for them:
so the man took his concubine
and brought her forth unto them; that is
not
the old man
but the Levite took his own wife or concubine
and put her forth
to them
very probably with her consent
to try if that would pacify them
she
being a fair and beautiful woman
as Ben Gersom and Abarbinel suggest; and
JosephusF21Antiqu. l. 5. c. 2. sect. 8. intimates
that some young
men of the city had seen her in the street
and were captivated with her
beauty
and came on purpose for her
and would not be satisfied unless she was
delivered to them; and upon which her husband
perceiving this
laid hold on
her by main strength
as the word signifies
and brought her out whether she
would or not
as Kimchi notes:
and they knew her
and abused her all night until the morning; had carnal
knowledge of her
and used her in a most shocking manner one after another
all
the night long
until the morning appeared:
and when the day began to spring; at break of day
when the light
dawned: they let her go; their works being works of darkness
and would not bear the
light.
Judges 19:26 26 Then the woman came as the
day was dawning
and fell down at the door of the man’s house where her master was
till it was light.
YLT
26and the woman cometh in at
the turning of the morning
and falleth at the opening of the man's house
where her lord [is]
till the light.
Then came the woman in the dawning of the day
.... When
those wicked wretches who had abused her had left her
having had her from
place to place
at some distance from the house out of which she was put
and
to which she got again
as well as she could:
and fell down at the door of the man's house where her lord was; her husband
so called
not because she had been his servant
but because she was his wife;
and at the door of the old man's house
where he was
which she knew
and had
found out by one means or another; she fell down
either purposely for her
ease
and to lie and wait there
until the time of opening the door in the
morning; or rather through weakness
not being able to stand
nor so much as to
knock at the door to get admittance: and there she lay
till it was light; broad daylight.
Judges 19:27 27 When her master arose in
the morning
and opened the doors of the house and went out to go his way
there was his concubine
fallen at the door of the house with her hands
on the threshold.
YLT
27And her lord riseth in the
morning
and openeth the doors of the house
and goeth out to go on his way
and lo
the woman
his concubine
is fallen at the opening of the house
and
her hands [are] on the threshold
And her lord rose up in the morning
.... Very early no doubt
and it is scarcely reasonable to think he should sleep quietly after such a
riot
and his concubine or wife delivered up to the lust of such brutish
creatures:
and opened the doors of the house
and went out to go his way; either in
search of her
or rather to make the best of his way on his journey
to
preserve his own life
having given her up for lost:
and
behold the woman his concubine was fallen down at the door of
the house
and her hands were upon the threshold; in a posture that
persons are when they fall
stretching out their hands to save themselves what
they can; or of such who lay themselves down to sleep with their hands under
their heads
and which her husband thought was her case
by what follows.
Judges 19:28 28 And he said to her
“Get
up and let us be going.” But there was no answer. So the man lifted her onto
the donkey; and the man got up and went to his place.
YLT
28and he saith unto her
`Rise
and we go;' and there is none answering
and he taketh her on the ass
and the man riseth and goeth to his place
And he said unto her
up
and let us be going
.... He spoke
to her as supposing her asleep
in order to awake her
and prepare for their
journey with all the haste they could
lest greater mischief should befall
them:
but none answered; for she was dead; and her death was
occasioned
as JosephusF23Ut supra. (Antiqu. l. 5. c. 2. sect. 8.)
says
partly through grief at what she had suffered
and partly through shame
not daring to come into the sight of her husband; but chiefly through the
injuries done her by the number of persons that had lain with her: so it is
reportedF24Herodot. Urania
sive
l. 8. c. 33. of the Thessalonians
when they took Phocis
many women were destroyed through the abundance of rapes
committed upon them. To these Abarbinel adds
the cold of the night
being
without her clothes
or anything to cover her:
then the man took her up upon an ass; and carried
off her dead body
without making any remonstrance to the inhabitants
from
whom he could not expect that any justice would be done him:
and the man rose up
and got him unto his place; to his city
on one side Mount Ephraim
to which he made as much haste as he could
instead
of going to the house of God at Shiloh
as he proposed; for now the
circumstances of things were changed with him
and instead of sacrificing and
giving praise to God in his house
his business was to seek for justice from
the tribes of Israel.
Judges 19:29 29 When he entered his house
he took a knife
laid hold of his concubine
and divided her into twelve
pieces
limb by limb
[c] and sent
her throughout all the territory of Israel.
YLT
29and cometh in unto his
house
and taketh the knife
and layeth hold on his concubine
and cutteth her
in pieces to her bones -- into twelve pieces
and sendeth her into all the
border of Israel.
And when he was come into his house
.... Having taken the
dead body of his wife from off the ass
and brought it in thither
and laid it
in a proper place and order:
he took a knife; a carving knife
such as food is cut with
as the word signifies; the Targum is
a sword:
and laid hold on his concubine
and divided her
together with her
bones
into twelve pieces; cut off her limbs at the joints of her
bones
and made twelve pieces of them
according to the number of the tribes of
Israel:
and sent her into all the coasts of Israel; that is
to
every tribe
as Josephus saysF25Ut supra. (Antiqu. l. 5. c. 2. sect.
8.) : there was now no supreme magistrate to apply unto for justice
nor the
court of seventy elders
and therefore he took this strange and unheard of
method to acquaint each of the tribes with the fact committed; this he did not
out of disrespect to his wife
but to express the vehement passion he was in on
account of her death
in the way it was
and to raise their indignation at the
perpetrators of it. Ben Gersom thinks he did not send to the tribe of Benjamin
where the evil was done; but Abarbinel is of another mind
and as Levi was not a
tribe that lay together in one part of the land
but was scattered in it
pieces might be sent to the two half tribes of Manasseh
as the one lay on the
one side Jordan
and the other on the other
and so there were twelve for the
twelve pieces to be sent unto. So Ptolemy king of Egypt killed his eldest son
and divided his members
and put them in a box
and sent them to his mother on
his birthdayF26Justia. e Trogo
l. 38. c. 8. . ChytraeusF1Apud
Quistorp. in loc. writes
that about A. C. 140
a citizen of Vicentia
his
daughter being ravished by the governor Carrarius
and cut to pieces
who had
refused to send her to him
being sent back again
he put up the carcass in a
vessel
and sent it to the senate of Venice
and invited them to punish the
governor
and seize upon the city.
Judges 19:30 30 And so it was that all who
saw it said
“No such deed has been done or seen from the day that the children
of Israel came up from the land of Egypt until this day. Consider it
confer
and speak up!”
YLT
30And it hath come to pass
every one who seeth hath said
`There hath not been -- yea
there hath not been
seen like this
from the day of the coming up of the sons of Israel out of the
land of Egypt till this day; set your [heart] upon it
take counsel
and
speak.'
And it was so
that all that saw it
.... The dismembered
pieces of the dead body
and were made acquainted with the cause of it; for so
JosephusF2Ut supra. (Antiqu. l. 5. c. 2. sect. 8.) says
he gave the
messengers a command to declare what was the cause of her death:
said
there was no such deed done nor seen
from the day that the
children of Israel came out of Egypt
unto this day; meaning not
so much the cutting in pieces the dead body
and sending it to different parts;
though that was awful and shocking
as the complicated wickedness committed at
Gibeah
which was the cause of it
to which reference is had
Hosea 9:9 this is
an observation of the writer of this book
Samuel; but what follows are the
words either of those the Levite sent
who were bid to deliver them to those to
whom the pieces were sent
or else of the persons present at the time of the
delivery of the pieces to them
or whom they got together to disclose the
matter to:
consider of it
take advice
and speak your minds; well weigh
and think of the matter within yourselves
consult with one another what is
proper to be done
and give your opinion freely without any reserve.
──《John Gill’s
Exposition of the Bible》
New King James
Version (NKJV)