Judges 19 - Study the King James Bible

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.

when there: Judges 17:6, Judges 18:1, Judges 21:25
mount: Judges 17:1, Judges 17:8, Joshua 24:30, Joshua 24:33
a concubine: Heb. a woman or, a wife. Genesis 22:24, Genesis 25:6, 2 Samuel 3:7, 2 Samuel 5:13, 2 Samuel 16:22, 2 Samuel 19:5, 2 Samuel 20:3, 1 Kings 11:3, 2 Chronicles 11:21, Esther 2:14, Song of Solomon 6:8, Song of Solomon 6:9, Daniel 5:3, Malachi 2:15, Beth-lehem-judah, Judges 17:8, Genesis 35:19, Matthew 2:6
Reciprocal: Genesis 16:3 - his Judges 3:27 - mountain Judges 17:7 - General Judges 18:2 - mount Judges 18:13 - mount Ephraim Ruth 1:1 - a famine 1 Samuel 1:1 - mount 1 Samuel 9:4 - mount 1 Kings 4:8 - The son of Hur 2 Chronicles 19:4 - mount

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.

played: Leviticus 21:9, Deuteronomy 22:21, Ezekiel 16:28
four whole months: or, a year and four months, Heb. days, four months
Reciprocal: Genesis 25:6 - concubines Genesis 38:24 - played the harlot Judges 17:7 - General Ruth 1:1 - a famine Jeremiah 3:1 - but thou hast 1 Corinthians 7:11 - or

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.

went: Judges 15:1
speak: Genesis 50:21, Leviticus 19:17, Leviticus 20:10, Hosea 2:14, Matthew 1:19, John 8:4, John 8:5, John 8:11, Galatians 6:1
friendly unto her: Heb. to her heart, Genesis 34:3
to bring: Jeremiah 3:1
his servant: Numbers 22:22
Reciprocal: Judges 19:26 - her lord was Ruth 2:13 - friendly 1 Corinthians 7:11 - or

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.

Reciprocal: Genesis 25:6 - concubines

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.

Comfort: Heb. Srengthen, Judges 19:8, Genesis 18:5, 1 Samuel 14:27-29, 1 Samuel 30:12, 1 Kings 13:7, Psalms 104:15, John 4:34, Acts 9:19
with a morsel: Judges 19:22
Reciprocal: Judges 19:18 - receiveth

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.

let thine heart: Judges 19:9, Judges 19:21, Judges 9:27, Judges 16:25, Ruth 3:7, 1 Samuel 25:36, Esther 1:10, Psalms 104:15, Luke 12:19, 1 Thessalonians 5:3, Revelation 11:10, Revelation 11:13, until afternoon, Heb. till the day declined, Merely that they might avoid the heat of the day, which would have been very inconvenient in travelling.
Reciprocal: Judges 19:22 - they were 2 Samuel 13:28 - heart is merry 2 Kings 6:3 - Be content

And when the man rose up to depart, his father in law urged him: therefore he lodged there again.

Reciprocal: Judges 19:22 - they were 2 Samuel 13:25 - pressed

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.

Reciprocal: Judges 19:5 - Comfort

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.

the day: Luke 24:29
draweth: etc. Heb. is weak
the day groweth to an end: Heb. it is the pitching time of the day, Jeremiah 6:4. That is, it was near the time in which travellers ordinarily pitched their tents, to take up their lodging for the night. In the latter part of the afternoon, eastern travellers begin to look out for a place for this purpose. So Dr. Shaw observes, "Our constant practice was to rise at break of day, set forward with the sun, and travel to the middle of the afternoon; at which time we began to look out for encampments of Arabs; who, to prevent such parties as ours from living at free charges upon them, take care to pitch in woods, valleys, or places the least conspicuous."
to morrow: Proverbs 27:1, James 4:13, James 4:14
home: Heb. to thy tent
Reciprocal: Exodus 18:27 - General Judges 16:25 - their hearts Judges 19:6 - let thine heart Ruth 3:7 - his heart 2 Samuel 13:28 - heart is merry

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.

over against: Heb. to over against
Jebus: Judges 1:8, Joshua 15:8, Joshua 15:63, Joshua 18:28, 2 Samuel 5:6
Reciprocal: Joshua 18:16 - Jebusi Judges 1:21 - General Judges 19:11 - the Jebusites 1 Chronicles 11:4 - Jebus

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.

the Jebusites: Judges 19:10, Judges 1:21, Genesis 10:16, Joshua 15:63, 2 Samuel 5:6
Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 24:16 - the Jebusite 1 Chronicles 1:14 - Jebusite

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.

Gibeah: Gibeah, a city of Benjamin, and the birth-place of Saul, was situated near Rama and Gibeon, according to Josephus, thirty furlongs north from Jerusalem; or, according to Jerome, about two leagues. Judges 19:12
Reciprocal: Joshua 18:28 - Gibeath 1 Samuel 10:26 - Gibeah 1 Samuel 13:2 - in Gibeah Isaiah 10:29 - Gibeah Hosea 5:8 - 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.

Gibeah: Joshua 18:25, Joshua 18:26, Joshua 18:28, 1 Samuel 10:26, Isaiah 10:29, Hosea 5:8
Reciprocal: Judges 20:31 - the house of God

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.

Reciprocal: Judges 20:31 - the house of God 2 Chronicles 13:2 - Gibeah

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.

no man: There was probably no inn, or house of public entertainment in this place; and therefore they could not have a lodging unless furnished by mere hospitality. But these Benjamites seem to have added to their other vices, avarice and inhospitality, like the inhabitants of Akoura in mount Lebanon, mentioned by Burckhardt. Judges 19:18, Genesis 18:2-8, Genesis 19:2, Genesis 19:3, Matthew 25:35, Matthew 25:43, Hebrews 13:2
Reciprocal: Judges 20:4 - I came Job 31:32 - The stranger

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.

his work: Genesis 3:19, Psalms 104:23, Psalms 128:2, Proverbs 13:11, Proverbs 14:23, Proverbs 24:27, Ecclesiastes 1:13, Ecclesiastes 5:12, Ephesians 4:28, 1 Thessalonians 4:11, 1 Thessalonians 4:12, 2 Thessalonians 3:10
Reciprocal: 2 Chronicles 13:2 - Gibeah Matthew 10:11 - inquire

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?

whither: Genesis 16:8, Genesis 32:17
Reciprocal: Genesis 19:2 - Nay Jeremiah 14:8 - a wayfaring

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 LORD; and there is no man that receiveth me to house.

I am now: The LXX read, ויע פןם ןיךןם לןץ ודש נןסוץןלבי· "I am going to my own house;" which is probably the true reading, as we find - Judges 19:29 that he really went home; yet he might have gone previously to Shiloh, or to "the house of the Lord," because that was also in mount Ephraim.
the house: Judges 18:31, Judges 20:18, Joshua 18:1, 1 Samuel 1:3, 1 Samuel 1:7
receiveth: Heb. gathereth, Judges 19:5, Psalms 26:9, John 15:6
Reciprocal: Judges 18:2 - mount Judges 19:15 - no man Proverbs 25:17 - Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour's

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.

straw and provender: In those countries principally devoted to pasturage, they made little or no hay, but as they raised corn, they took great care of their straw for cattle, which by their mode of threshing was chopped very small. See note on Genesis 24:32.
Reciprocal: Genesis 24:25 - General Exodus 5:7 - straw Acts 10:23 - and lodged Acts 16:15 - come

20.

And the old man said, Peace be with thee; howsoever let all thy wants lie upon me; only lodge not in the street.

Peace be: Judges 6:23, Genesis 43:23, Genesis 43:24, 1 Samuel 25:6, 1 Chronicles 12:18, Luke 10:5, Luke 10:6, John 14:27, 1 Corinthians 1:3
let all thy wants: Here was genuine hospitality: "Keep your bread and wine for yourselves, and your straw and provender for your asses; you may need them before you finish your journey: I will supply all your wants for this night; only do not lodge in the street." Romans 12:13, Galatians 6:6, Hebrews 13:2, James 2:15, James 2:16, 1 Peter 4:9, 1 John 3:18
lodge not: Genesis 19:2, Genesis 19:3, Genesis 24:31-33
Reciprocal: 2 Kings 4:8 - she constrained him Job 31:32 - The stranger Isaiah 58:7 - bring Acts 16:15 - come

21.

So he brought him into his house, and gave provender unto the asses: and they washed their feet, and did eat and drink.

So he brought: Genesis 24:32, Genesis 43:24
they washed: Genesis 18:4, 1 Samuel 25:41, 2 Samuel 11:8, Luke 7:44, John 13:4, John 13:5, John 13:14, John 13:15, 1 Timothy 5:10
Reciprocal: Judges 19:6 - let thine heart 1 Kings 13:7 - refresh Job 31:32 - The stranger Isaiah 58:7 - bring Acts 16:15 - And she

22.

Now as they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, certain sons of Belial, beset the house round about, and beat at the door, and spake to the master of the house, the old man, saying, Bring forth the man that came into thine house, that we may know him.

they were: Judges 19:6, Judges 19:7, Judges 16:25
the men: Judges 20:5, Genesis 19:4, Hosea 9:9, Hosea 10:9
sons of Belial: Deuteronomy 13:13, 1 Samuel 1:16, 1 Samuel 2:12, 1 Samuel 10:27, 1 Samuel 25:25, 2 Samuel 23:6, 2 Samuel 23:7, 2 Corinthians 6:15
Bring forth: Genesis 19:5, Romans 1:26, Romans 1:27, 1 Corinthians 6:9, Jude 1:7
Reciprocal: Genesis 34:7 - wrought Leviticus 18:22 - General Leviticus 20:13 - General Deuteronomy 23:17 - sodomite Judges 19:5 - with a morsel Judges 20:3 - how was Judges 20:13 - children of Belial Ruth 3:7 - his heart 1 Samuel 25:17 - a son of Belial 1 Samuel 30:22 - wicked 2 Samuel 13:28 - heart is merry 2 Samuel 20:1 - a man 1 Kings 14:24 - And there 1 Kings 21:10 - sons of Belial 1 Kings 22:46 - the remnant

23.

And the man, the master of the house, went out unto them, Nay, my brethren, nay, I pray you, do not so wickedly; seeing that this man is come into mine house, do not this folly.

the man: Genesis 19:6, Genesis 19:7
do not this folly: Judges 20:6, Genesis 34:7, Joshua 7:15, 2 Samuel 13:12
Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 30:23 - my brethren

24.

Behold, here is my daughter a maiden, and his concubine; them I will bring out now, and humble ye them, and do with them what seemeth good unto you: but unto this man do not so vile a thing.

Behold: The rites of hospitality are regarded as sacred and inviolable in the East, and a man who has admitted a stranger under his roof, is bound to protect him even at the expense of his life. On these high notions only, the influence of which an Asiatic mind alone can appreciate, can the present transaction be either excused or palliated.
them: Genesis 19:8, Romans 3:8
humble ye: Genesis 34:2, *marg. Deuteronomy 21:14
so vile a thing: Heb. the matter of this folly
Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 13:13 - Now therefore

25.

But the men would not hearken to him: so the man took his concubine, and brought her forth unto them; and they knew her, and abused her all the night until the morning: and when the day began to spring, they let her go.

knew her: Genesis 4:1
and abused: Jeremiah 5:7, Jeremiah 5:8, Hosea 7:4-7, Hosea 9:9, Hosea 10:9, Ephesians 4:19
Reciprocal: Genesis 34:2 - defiled her Judges 20:5 - and my concubine

26.

Then came the woman in the dawning of the day, and fell down at the door of the man's house where her lord was, till it was light.

her lord was: Judges 19:3, Judges 19:27, Genesis 18:12, 1 Peter 3:6
Reciprocal: Judges 20:5 - and my concubine

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.

Reciprocal: Judges 19:26 - her lord was

28.

And he said unto her, Up, and let us be going. But none answered. Then the man took her up upon an ass, and the man rose up, and gat him unto his place.

But none: Judges 20:5, 1 Kings 18:29
Reciprocal: Judges 4:14 - Up 1 Samuel 9:26 - Up

29.

And when he was come into his house, he took a knife, and laid hold on his concubine, and divided her, together with her bones, into twelve pieces, and sent her into all the coasts of Israel.

divided her: It is probable, that with the pieces he sent to each tribe a circumstantial account of the barbarity of the men of Gibeah; and that they considered each of the pieces as expressing an execration. That a similar custom prevailed in ancient times is evident from 1 Samuel 11:7. It had an inhuman appearance, thus to mangle the corpse of this unhappy woman; but it was intended to excite a keener resentment against so horrible a crime, which called for a punishment proportionally severe. Judges 20:6, Judges 20:7, Romans 10:2
with her bones: Deuteronomy 21:22, Deuteronomy 21:23
Reciprocal: Judges 19:18 - I am now Proverbs 6:34 - General

30.

And it was so, that all that saw it said, There was no such deed done nor seen from the day that the children of Israel came up out of the land of Egypt unto this day: consider of it, take advice, and speak your minds.

consider: Judges 20:7, Proverbs 11:14, Proverbs 13:10, Proverbs 15:22, Proverbs 20:18, Proverbs 24:6
Reciprocal: Job 34:4 - choose Proverbs 6:34 - General Jeremiah 2:10 - and see