A Levite and His Concubine
1In those days Israel had no king.
Now a Levite who lived in a remote area in the hill country of Ephraim took a concubine from Bethlehem in Judah. 2But she was unfaithful to him. She left him and went back to her parents’ home in Bethlehem, Judah. After she had been there four months, 3her husband went to her to persuade her to return. He had with him his servant and two donkeys. She took him into her parents’ home, and when her father saw him, he gladly welcomed him. 4His father-in-law, the woman’s father, prevailed on him to stay; so he remained with him three days, eating and drinking, and sleeping there.
5On the fourth day they got up early and he prepared to leave, but the woman’s father said to his son-in-law, “Refresh yourself with something to eat; then you can go.” 6So the two of them sat down to eat and drink together. Afterward the woman’s father said, “Please stay tonight and enjoy yourself.” 7And when the man got up to go, his father-in-law persuaded him, so he stayed there that night. 8On the morning of the fifth day, when he rose to go, the woman’s father said, “Refresh yourself. Wait till afternoon!” So the two of them ate together.
9Then when the man, with his concubine and his servant, got up to leave, his father-in-law, the woman’s father, said, “Now look, it’s almost evening. Spend the night here; the day is nearly over. Stay and enjoy yourself. Early tomorrow morning you can get up and be on your way home.” 10But, unwilling to stay another night, the man left and went toward Jebus (that is, Jerusalem), with his two saddled donkeys and his concubine.
11When they were near Jebus and the day was almost gone, the servant said to his master, “Come, let’s stop at this city of the Jebusites and spend the night.”
12His master replied, “No. We won’t go into any city whose people are not Israelites. We will go on to Gibeah.” 13He added, “Come, let’s try to reach Gibeah or Ramah and spend the night in one of those places.” 14So they went on, and the sun set as they neared Gibeah in Benjamin. 15There they stopped to spend the night. They went and sat in the city square, but no one took them in for the night.
16That evening an old man from the hill country of Ephraim, who was living in Gibeah (the inhabitants of the place were Benjamites), came in from his work in the fields. 17When he looked and saw the traveler in the city square, the old man asked, “Where are you going? Where did you come from?”
18He answered, “We are on our way from Bethlehem in Judah to a remote area in the hill country of Ephraim where I live. I have been to Bethlehem in Judah and now I am going to the house of the Lord.19:18 Hebrew, Vulgate, Syriac and Targum; Septuagint going home No one has taken me in for the night. 19We have both straw and fodder for our donkeys and bread and wine for ourselves your servants—me, the woman and the young man with us. We don’t need anything.”
20“You are welcome at my house,” the old man said. “Let me supply whatever you need. Only don’t spend the night in the square.” 21So he took him into his house and fed his donkeys. After they had washed their feet, they had something to eat and drink.
22While they were enjoying themselves, some of the wicked men of the city surrounded the house. Pounding on the door, they shouted to the old man who owned the house, “Bring out the man who came to your house so we can have sex with him.”
23The owner of the house went outside and said to them, “No, my friends, don’t be so vile. Since this man is my guest, don’t do this outrageous thing. 24Look, here is my virgin daughter, and his concubine. I will bring them out to you now, and you can use them and do to them whatever you wish. But as for this man, don’t do such an outrageous thing.”
25But the men would not listen to him. So the man took his concubine and sent her outside to them, and they raped her and abused her throughout the night, and at dawn they let her go. 26At daybreak the woman went back to the house where her master was staying, fell down at the door and lay there until daylight.
27When her master got up in the morning and opened the door of the house and stepped out to continue on his way, there lay his concubine, fallen in the doorway of the house, with her hands on the threshold. 28He said to her, “Get up; let’s go.” But there was no answer. Then the man put her on his donkey and set out for home.
29When he reached home, he took a knife and cut up his concubine, limb by limb, into twelve parts and sent them into all the areas of Israel. 30Everyone who saw it was saying to one another, “Such a thing has never been seen or done, not since the day the Israelites came up out of Egypt. Just imagine! We must do something! So speak up!”
Ọmọ Lefi kan àti àlè rẹ̀
1Ní ọjọ́ wọ̀n-ọn-nì Israẹli kò ní ọba.
Ọ̀kan nínú àwọn ọmọ Lefi tí ń gbé ibi tí ó sápamọ́ nínú àwọn agbègbè òkè Efraimu, mú àlè kan láti Bẹtilẹhẹmu ní Juda. 2Ṣùgbọ́n àlè rẹ̀ náà sì ṣe panṣágà sí i, òun fi sílẹ̀, ó sì padà lọ sí ilé baba rẹ̀ ní Bẹtilẹhẹmu ti Juda, ó sì wà ní ibẹ̀ ní ìwọ̀n oṣù mẹ́rin, 3ọkọ rẹ̀ lọ sí ibẹ̀ láti rọ̀ ọ́ pé kí ó padà sí ọ̀dọ̀ òun. Nígbà tí ó ń lọ ó mú ìránṣẹ́ àti kẹ́tẹ́kẹ́tẹ́ méjì lọ́wọ́, obìnrin náà mú un wọ inú ilé baba rẹ̀ lọ, nígbà tí baba obìnrin náà rí i ó fi tayọ̀tayọ̀ gbà á. 4Àna rẹ̀, baba ọmọbìnrin náà rọ̀ ọ́, ó sì borí rẹ̀ láti dá a dúró fún ìgbà díẹ̀, òun sì dúró fún ọjọ́ mẹ́ta, ó ń jẹ, ó ń mu, ó sì ń sùn níbẹ̀.
5Ní ọjọ́ kẹrin, wọ́n dìde ní òwúrọ̀ kùtùkùtù òun sì múra láti padà lọ, ṣùgbọ́n baba ọmọbìnrin náà wí fún àna rẹ̀ pé, “Fi ohun jíjẹ díẹ̀ gbé inú ró nígbà náà kí ìwọ máa lọ.” 6Àwọn méjèèjì sì jùmọ̀ jókòó láti jọ jẹun àti láti jọ mu. Lẹ́yìn èyí ni baba ọmọbìnrin wí pé, “Jọ̀wọ́ dúró ní alẹ́ yìí kí o sì gbádùn ara rẹ.” 7Nígbà tí ọkùnrin náà dìde láti máa lọ, baba ìyàwó rẹ̀ rọ̀ ọ́, torí náà ó sùn níbẹ̀ ní alẹ́ ọjọ́ náà. 8Ní òwúrọ̀ ọjọ́ karùn-ún nígbà tí ó dìde láti lọ, baba ọmọbìnrin wí pé, “Fi oúnjẹ gbé ara ró. Dúró de ọ̀sán!” Àwọn méjèèjì sì jùmọ̀ jọ jẹun.
9Nígbà tí ọkùnrin náà, pẹ̀lú àlè àti ìránṣẹ́ rẹ̀, dìde láti máa lọ, àna rẹ̀, baba ọmọbìnrin náà ní, “Wò ó ilẹ̀ ti ń ṣú lọ, dúró níbí, ọjọ́ ti lọ. Dúró kí o sì gbádùn ara rẹ. Ìwọ lè jí ní àárọ̀ kùtùkùtù ọ̀la kí ìwọ sì máa lọ ilé.” 10Ṣùgbọ́n nítorí pé òun kò fẹ́ dúró mọ́ níbẹ̀ ní òru náà ọkùnrin náà kúrò ó sì gba ọ̀nà Jebusi: ọ̀nà Jerusalẹmu pẹ̀lú àwọn kẹ́tẹ́kẹ́tẹ́ rẹ̀ méjèèjì tí ó fi dì í ní gàárì àti àlè rẹ̀.
11Nígbà tí wọ́n súnmọ́ Jebusi tí ilẹ̀ ti fẹ́ ṣú tan, ìránṣẹ́ náà sọ fún ọ̀gá rẹ̀ pé, “Ẹ wá, ẹ jẹ́ kí a dúró ní ìlú yìí tí í ṣe ti àwọn ará Jebusi kí a sì sùn níbẹ̀.”
12Ọ̀gá rẹ̀ dá a lóhùn pé, “Rárá o, àwa kì yóò wọ ìlú àwọn àjèjì, àwọn tí olùgbé ibẹ̀ kì í ṣe ọmọ Israẹli, a yóò dé Gibeah.” 13Ó fi kún un pé, ẹ wá ẹ jẹ́ kí a gbìyànjú kí a dé Gibeah tàbí Rama kí a sùn ní ọ̀kan nínú wọn. 14Wọ́n sì tẹ̀síwájú nínú ìrìnàjò wọn, oòrùn wọ̀ bí wọ́n ti súnmọ́ Gibeah tí ṣe ti àwọn Benjamini. 15Wọ́n yípadà wọ́n lọ sí inú ìlú Gibeah láti wọ̀ síbẹ̀ ní òru náà, wọ́n lọ wọ́n sì jókòó níbi gbọ̀ngàn ìlú náà, ṣùgbọ́n kò sí ẹni tí ó gbà wọ́n sínú ilé rẹ̀ láti wọ̀ sí.
16Ní alẹ́ ọjọ́ náà ọkùnrin arúgbó kan láti àwọn òkè Efraimu, ṣùgbọ́n tí ń gbé ní Gibeah (ibẹ̀ ni àwọn ẹ̀yà Benjamini ń gbé) ń ti ibi iṣẹ́ rẹ̀ bọ̀ láti inú oko. 17Nígbà tí ó wòkè ó rí arìnrìn-àjò náà ní gbọ̀ngàn ìlú náà, ọkùnrin arúgbó yìí bi í léèrè pé, “Níbo ni ò ń lọ? Níbo ni o ti ń bọ̀?”
18Ọmọ Lefi náà dá a lóhùn pé, “Bẹtilẹhẹmu ti Juda ni àwa ti ń bọ̀, àwa sì ń lọ sí agbègbè tí ó sápamọ́ ní àwọn òkè Efraimu níbi ti mo ń gbé. Mo ti lọ sí Bẹtilẹhẹmu ti Juda, èmi sì ń lọ sí ilé Olúwa nísinsin yìí. Kò sí ẹni tí ó gbà mí sí ilé rẹ̀. 19Àwa ní koríko àti oúnjẹ tó tó fún àwọn kẹ́tẹ́kẹ́tẹ́ wa àti oúnjẹ àti wáìnì fún àwa ìránṣẹ́ rẹ—èmi, ìránṣẹ́bìnrin rẹ àti ọ̀dọ́mọkùnrin tí ó wà pẹ̀lú wa. A ò ṣe aláìní ohun kankan.”
20Ọkùnrin arúgbó náà sì wí pé. “Àlàáfíà fún ọ, bí ó ti wù kí ó rí, èmi yóò pèsè gbogbo ohun tí o nílò, kìkì pé kí ìwọ má ṣe sun ní ìgboro.” 21Òun sì mú wa sí ilé rẹ̀, ó ń bọ́ àwọn kẹ́tẹ́kẹ́tẹ́ rẹ̀. Lẹ́yìn ìgbà tí wọ́n ti wẹ ẹsẹ̀ wọn, àwọn àlejò náà jẹ, wọ́n mu.
22Ǹjẹ́ bí wọ́n ti ń ṣe àríyá, kíyèsi i, àwọn ọkùnrin ìlú náà, àwọn ọmọ Beliali kan, yí ilé náà ká, wọ́n sì ń lu ìlẹ̀kùn; wọ́n sì sọ fún baálé ilé náà ọkùnrin arúgbó náà pé, “Mú ọkùnrin tí ó wọ̀ sínú ilé rẹ wá, kí àwa lè mọ̀ ọ́n.”
23Ọkùnrin, baálé ilé náà sì jáde tọ̀ wọ́n lọ, ó sì wí fún un pé, “Bẹ́ẹ̀ kọ́ ẹ̀yin arákùnrin mi, èmi bẹ̀ yín, ẹ má ṣe hùwà búburú; nítorí tí ọkùnrin yìí ti wọ ilé mi, ẹ má ṣe hùwà òmùgọ̀ yìí. 24Kíyèsi i, ọmọbìnrin mi ni èyí, wúńdíá, àti àlè rẹ̀; àwọn ni èmi ó mú jáde wá nísinsin yìí, kí ẹ̀yin tẹ̀ wọ́n lógo, kí ẹ̀yin ṣe sí wọn bí ó ti tọ́ lójú yín: ṣùgbọ́n ọkùnrin yìí ni kí ẹ̀yin má ṣe hùwà òmùgọ̀ yìí sí.”
25Ṣùgbọ́n àwọn ọkùnrin náà kò fetí sí tirẹ̀. Nítorí náà ọkùnrin náà mú àlè rẹ̀ ó sì tari rẹ̀ jáde sí wọn, wọ́n sì bá a fi ipá lòpọ̀, wọ́n sì fi gbogbo òru náà bá a lòpọ̀, nígbà tí ó di àfẹ̀mọ́júmọ́ wọ́n jọ̀wọ́ rẹ̀ lọ́. 26Nígbà tí ojúmọ́ bẹ̀rẹ̀ sí là obìnrin náà padà lọ sí ilé tí ọ̀gá rẹ̀ wà, ó ṣubú lulẹ̀ lọ́nà, ó sì wà níbẹ̀ títí ó fi di òwúrọ̀.
27Nígbà tí ọ̀gá rẹ̀ jí tí ó sì dìde ní òwúrọ̀ tí ó sì ṣí ìlẹ̀kùn ilé náà, tí ó sì bọ́ sí òde láti tẹ̀síwájú nínú ìrìnàjò rẹ̀, kíyèsi i àlè rẹ̀ wà ní ṣíṣubú ní iwájú ilé, tí ọwọ́ rẹ̀ sì di òpó ẹnu-ọ̀nà ibẹ̀ mú, 28òun sì wí fún obìnrin náà pé, “Dìde jẹ́ kí a máa bá ọ̀nà wa lọ.” Ṣùgbọ́n òun kò dá a lóhùn. Nígbà náà ni ọkùnrin náà gbé e lé orí kẹ́tẹ́kẹ́tẹ́ rẹ̀, ó sì kọjá lọ sí ilé e rẹ̀.
29Nígbà tí ó dé ilé, ó mú ọ̀bẹ ó sì gé àlè rẹ̀ ní oríkeríke sí ọ̀nà méjìlá, ó sì fi wọ́n ránṣẹ́ sí gbogbo agbègbè Israẹli. 30Gbogbo ẹni tí ó rí i sì wí pé, “A kò ti rí i, bẹ́ẹ̀ a kò tí ì ṣe irú nǹkan yìí rí, kì í ṣe láti ọjọ́ tí Israẹli ti jáde tí Ejibiti wá títí di òní olónìí. Ẹ rò ó wò, ẹ gbìmọ̀ràn, kí ẹ sọ fún wa ohun tí a yóò ṣe!”
