The Crime of the Benjamites
(Genesis 19:1–11)

1  וַיְהִי֙ (And it came to pass) בַּיָּמִ֣ים (in the days) הָהֵ֔ם (those), וּמֶ֖לֶךְ (and king) אֵ֣ין (not was) בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (in Israel), וַיְהִ֣י׀ (that there was) אִ֣ישׁ (a certain) לֵוִ֗י (Levite) גָּ֚ר (staying) בְּיַרְכְּתֵ֣י (in the sides) הַר־ (of the hill country) אֶפְרַ֔יִם (of Ephraim), וַיִּֽקַּֽח־ (and He took) לוֹ֙ (for himself) אִשָּׁ֣ה (a woman), פִילֶ֔גֶשׁ (a concubine) מִבֵּ֥ית (from Beth-) לֶ֖חֶם (lehem) יְהוּדָֽה׃ (in Judah). 2  וַתִּזְנֶ֤ה (And committed prostitution) עָלָיו֙ (against him) פִּֽילַגְשׁ֔וֹ (his concubine) וַתֵּ֤לֶךְ (and went away) מֵֽאִתּוֹ֙ (from him) אֶל־ (to) בֵּ֣ית (house) אָבִ֔יהָ (of her father) אֶל־ (at) בֵּ֥ית (Beth-) לֶ֖חֶם (lehem) יְהוּדָ֑ה (in Judah).

וַתְּהִי־ (And she was) שָׁ֕ם (there) יָמִ֖ים (days)— אַרְבָּעָ֥ה (four) חֳדָשִֽׁים׃ (months). 3  וַיָּ֨קָם (And arose) אִישָׁ֜הּ (her husband) וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ (and went) אַחֲרֶ֗יהָ (after her) לְדַבֵּ֤ר (to speak) עַל־ (to) לִבָּהּ֙ (kindly her) לַהֲשִׁיבוֹ (and bring her back), וְנַעֲר֥וֹ (and his young man) עִמּ֖וֹ (was with him), וְצֶ֣מֶד (and a couple) חֲמֹרִ֑ים (of donkeys). וַתְּבִיאֵ֙הוּ֙ (And she brought him into) בֵּ֣ית (the house) אָבִ֔יהָ (of her father), וַיִּרְאֵ֙הוּ֙ (and saw him) אֲבִ֣י (the father) הַֽנַּעֲרָ֔ה (of the young woman), וַיִּשְׂמַ֖ח (and he was glad) לִקְרָאתֽוֹ׃ (to meet him). 4  וַיֶּחֱזַק־ (And prevailed) בּ֤וֹ (upon him) חֹֽתְנוֹ֙ (his father-in-law), אֲבִ֣י (the father) הַֽנַּעֲרָ֔ה (of the young woman), וַיֵּ֥שֶׁב (and he stayed) אִתּ֖וֹ (with him) שְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת (three) יָמִ֑ים (days), וַיֹּאכְלוּ֙ (and they ate) וַיִּשְׁתּ֔וּ (and drank) וַיָּלִ֖ינוּ (and lodged) שָֽׁם׃ (there).

5  וַֽיְהִי֙ (And it came to pass) בַּיּ֣וֹם (on the day) הָרְבִיעִ֔י (fourth), וַיַּשְׁכִּ֥ימוּ (that they arose early) בַבֹּ֖קֶר (in the morning), וַיָּ֣קָם (and he stood) לָלֶ֑כֶת (to depart). וַיֹּאמֶר֩ (And said) אֲבִ֨י (the father) הַֽנַּעֲרָ֜ה (of the young woman) אֶל־ (to) חֲתָנ֗וֹ (his son-in-law), סְעָ֧ד (Refresh) לִבְּךָ֛ (your heart) פַּת־ (with a morsel) לֶ֖חֶם (of bread), וְאַחַ֥ר (and afterward) תֵּלֵֽכוּ׃ (go your⁺ way). 6  וַיֵּשְׁב֗וּ (And they sat down) וַיֹּאכְל֧וּ (and ate), שְׁנֵיהֶ֛ם (the two of them) יַחְדָּ֖ו (together), וַיִּשְׁתּ֑וּ (and they drank). וַיֹּ֜אמֶר (And said) אֲבִ֤י (the father) הַֽנַּעֲרָה֙ (of the young woman) אֶל־ (to) הָאִ֔ישׁ (the man), הֽוֹאֶל־ (Be content), נָ֥א (please), וְלִ֖ין (and lodge), וְיִטַ֥ב (and let be merry) לִבֶּֽךָ׃ (your heart). 7  וַיָּ֥קָם (And stood) הָאִ֖ישׁ (the man) לָלֶ֑כֶת (to depart), וַיִּפְצַר־ (and urged) בּוֹ֙ (him) חֹתְנ֔וֹ (his father-in-law) וַיָּ֖שָׁב (and again), וַיָּ֥לֶן (and he lodged) שָֽׁם׃ (there).

8  וַיַּשְׁכֵּ֨ם (And he arose early) בַּבֹּ֜קֶר (in the morning) בַּיּ֣וֹם (on the day) הַחֲמִישִׁי֮ (fifth) לָלֶכֶת֒ (to depart). וַיֹּ֣אמֶר׀ (And said) אֲבִ֣י (the father) הַֽנַּעֲרָ֗ה (of the young woman), סְעָד־ (Refresh), נָא֙ (please). לְבָ֣בְךָ֔ (Your heart). וְהִֽתְמַהְמְה֖וּ (And they delayed) עַד־ (until) נְט֣וֹת (the stretching) הַיּ֑וֹם (of the day), וַיֹּאכְל֖וּ (and ate) שְׁנֵיהֶֽם׃ (the two of them). 9  וַיָּ֤קָם (And stood) הָאִישׁ֙ (the man) לָלֶ֔כֶת (to depart), ה֥וּא (he) וּפִילַגְשׁ֖וֹ (and his concubine) וְנַעֲר֑וֹ (and his servant), וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (and said) ל֣וֹ (to him) חֹתְנ֣וֹ (his father-in-law), אֲבִ֣י (the father) הַֽנַּעֲרָ֡ה (of the young woman), הִנֵּ֣ה (Behhold), נָא֩ (now) רָפָ֨ה (is drawing) הַיּ֜וֹם (the day) לַעֲרֹ֗ב (toward evening). לִֽינוּ־ (Spend the night), נָ֞א (please). הִנֵּ֨ה (Behold), חֲנ֤וֹת (is coming to an end) הַיּוֹם֙ (the day). לִ֥ין (Lodge) פֹּה֙ (here), וְיִיטַ֣ב (that may be merry) לְבָבֶ֔ךָ (your heart), וְהִשְׁכַּמְתֶּ֤ם (and go early) מָחָר֙ (tomorrow) לְדַרְכְּכֶ֔ם (your⁺ way), וְהָלַכְתָּ֖ (so that you may get) לְאֹהָלֶֽךָ׃ (home).

10  וְלֹֽא־ (Not) אָבָ֤ה (was willing) הָאִישׁ֙ (the man) לָל֔וּן (that to spend night). וַיָּ֣קָם (And he rose) וַיֵּ֗לֶךְ (and departed), וַיָּבֹא֙ (and came) עַד־ (to) נֹ֣כַח (opposite) יְב֔וּס (Jebus), הִ֖יא (that is) יְרוּשָׁלִָ֑ם (Jerusalem). וְעִמּ֗וֹ (And with him were) צֶ֤מֶד (two) חֲמוֹרִים֙ (the donkeys) חֲבוּשִׁ֔ים (saddled), וּפִילַגְשׁ֖וֹ (and his concubine was) עִמּֽוֹ׃ (with him). 11  הֵ֣ם (They were) עִם־ (near) יְב֔וּס (Jebus), וְהַיּ֖וֹם (and the day) רַ֣ד (had gone down) מְאֹ֑ד (greatly). וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (And said) הַנַּ֜עַר (the servant) אֶל־ (to) אֲדֹנָ֗יו (his master), לְכָה־ (Come), נָּ֛א (please), וְנָס֛וּרָה (and let us turn aside) אֶל־ (into) עִֽיר־ (city) הַיְבוּסִ֥י (of the Jebusite) הַזֹּ֖את (this), וְנָלִ֥ין (and lodge) בָּֽהּ׃ (in it).

12  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) אֵלָיו֙ (to him) אֲדֹנָ֔יו (his master), לֹ֤א (Not) נָסוּר֙ (we will turn aside) אֶל־ (into) עִ֣יר (a city) נָכְרִ֔י (of foreigners), אֲשֶׁ֛ר (who) לֹֽא־ (not) מִבְּנֵ֥י (of the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (of Israel) הֵ֑נָּה (are); וְעָבַ֖רְנוּ (and we will go on) עַד־ (to) גִּבְעָֽה׃ (Gibeah). 13  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And he said) לְנַעֲר֔וֹ (to his servant), לְךָ֥ (Come), וְנִקְרְבָ֖ה (and let us draw near) בְּאַחַ֣ד (to one) הַמְּקֹמ֑וֹת (of these places) וְלַ֥נּוּ (and we shall lodge) בַגִּבְעָ֖ה (in Gibeah), א֥וֹ (or) בָרָמָֽה׃ (in Ramah).

14  וַיַּעַבְר֖וּ (And they passed by) וַיֵּלֵ֑כוּ (and went their way). וַתָּבֹ֤א (And went down) לָהֶם֙ (on them) הַשֶּׁ֔מֶשׁ (the sun) אֵ֥צֶל (near) הַגִּבְעָ֖ה (Gibeah), אֲשֶׁ֥ר (which belongs) לְבִנְיָמִֽן׃ (to Benjamin). 15  וַיָּסֻ֣רוּ (And they turned aside) שָׁ֔ם (there) לָב֖וֹא (to go in) לָל֣וּן (to lodge) בַּגִּבְעָ֑ה (in Gibeah). וַיָּבֹ֗א (And he went in) וַיֵּ֙שֶׁב֙ (and he sat down) בִּרְח֣וֹב (in the open square) הָעִ֔יר (of the city), וְאֵ֥ין (and for no) אִ֛ישׁ (one) מְאַסֵּֽף־ (would take) אוֹתָ֥ם (them) הַבַּ֖יְתָה (into the house) לָלֽוּן׃ (to spend the night).

16  וְהִנֵּ֣ה׀ (And behold), אִ֣ישׁ (a man) זָקֵ֗ן (old) בָּ֣א (came in) מִֽן־ (from) מַעֲשֵׂ֤הוּ (his work) מִן־ (in) הַשָּׂדֶה֙ (the field) בָּעֶ֔רֶב (at the evening). וְהָאִישׁ֙ (And the man was) מֵהַ֣ר (from the mountains) אֶפְרַ֔יִם (of Ephraim), וְהוּא־ (and he) גָ֖ר (was staying) בַּגִּבְעָ֑ה (in Gibeah), וְאַנְשֵׁ֥י (and the men) הַמָּק֖וֹם (of the place) בְּנֵ֥י (were Ben-) יְמִינִֽי׃ (jaminites). 17  וַיִּשָּׂ֣א (And he raised) עֵינָ֗יו (his eyes), וַיַּ֛רְא (and he saw) אֶת־ (-) הָאִ֥ישׁ (the) הָאֹרֵ֖חַ (traveler) בִּרְחֹ֣ב (in the open square) הָעִ֑יר (of the city), וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (and said) הָאִ֧ישׁ (the man) הַזָּקֵ֛ן (old), אָ֥נָה (Where) תֵלֵ֖ךְ (are you going), וּמֵאַ֥יִן (and from where) תָּבֽוֹא׃ (do you come).

18  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And he said) אֵלָ֗יו (to him), עֹבְרִ֨ים (Are passing) אֲנַ֜חְנוּ (we) מִבֵּֽית־ (from Beth-) לֶ֣חֶם (lehem) יְהוּדָה֮ (in Judah) עַד־ (toward) יַרְכְּתֵ֣י (the far reaches) הַר־ (of the hill country) אֶפְרַיִם֒ (of Ephraim). מִשָּׁ֣ם (From there) אָנֹ֔כִי (I am), וָאֵלֵ֕ךְ (and I went) עַד־ (to) בֵּ֥ית (Beth-) לֶ֖חֶם (lehem) יְהוּדָ֑ה (in Judah) וְאֶת־ (and to), בֵּ֤ית (to the house) יְהוָה֙ (of YHWH). אֲנִ֣י (I) הֹלֵ֔ךְ (am going), וְאֵ֣ין (and not) אִ֔ישׁ (is a man) מְאַסֵּ֥ף (who will take) אוֹתִ֖י (me) הַבָּֽיְתָה׃ (into his house). 19  וְגַם־ (And) תֶּ֤בֶן (straw) גַּם־ (and) מִסְפּוֹא֙ (fodder) יֵ֣שׁ (there is) לַחֲמוֹרֵ֔ינוּ (for our donkeys), וְ֠גַם (and) לֶ֣חֶם (bread) וָיַ֤יִן (and wine) יֶשׁ־ (there is) לִי֙ (for myself), וְלַֽאֲמָתֶ֔ךָ (and for your maidservant), וְלַנַּ֖עַר (and for the young man) עִם־ (with) עֲבָדֶ֑יךָ (your servant). אֵ֥ין (There is no) מַחְס֖וֹר (lack) כָּל־ (of any) דָּבָֽר׃ (thing).

20  וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (And said) הָאִ֤ישׁ (the man) הַזָּקֵן֙ (old), שָׁל֣וֹם (Peace be) לָ֔ךְ (with you). רַ֥ק (Only) כָּל־ (all) מַחְסוֹרְךָ֖ (your needs) עָלָ֑י (is on me). רַ֥ק (Only) בָּרְח֖וֹב (in the open square) אַל־ (not) תָּלַֽן׃ (do spend the night). 21  וַיְבִיאֵ֣הוּ (And he brought him) לְבֵית֔וֹ (into his house), וַיָּ֖בָול (and gave fodder) לַחֲמוֹרִ֑ים (to the donkeys), וַֽיִּרְחֲצוּ֙ (and they washed) רַגְלֵיהֶ֔ם (their feet) וַיֹּאכְל֖וּ (and ate) וַיִּשְׁתּֽוּ׃ (and drank).

22  הֵמָּה֮ (They) מֵיטִיבִ֣ים (were enjoying) אֶת־ (-) לִבָּם֒ (themselves) וְהִנֵּה֩ (and suddenly) אַנְשֵׁ֨י (men) הָעִ֜יר (of the city), אַנְשֵׁ֣י (certain) בְנֵֽי־ (men) בְלִיַּ֗עַל (perverted), נָסַ֙בּוּ֙ (surrounded) אֶת־ (-) הַבַּ֔יִת (the house) מִֽתְדַּפְּקִ֖ים (and beat) עַל־ (on) הַדָּ֑לֶת (the door), וַיֹּאמְר֗וּ (and they spoke) אֶל־ (to) הָ֠אִישׁ (the) בַּ֣עַל (master) הַבַּ֤יִת (of the house), הַזָּקֵן֙ (the old man), לֵאמֹ֔ר (saying), הוֹצֵ֗א (Bring out) אֶת־ (-) הָאִ֛ישׁ (the man) אֲשֶׁר־ (who) בָּ֥א (came) אֶל־ (to) בֵּיתְךָ֖ (your house), וְנֵדָעֶֽנּוּ׃ (that we may know him).

23  וַיֵּצֵ֣א (And went out) אֲלֵיהֶ֗ם (to them) הָאִישׁ֙ (the man), בַּ֣עַל (the master) הַבַּ֔יִת (of the house), וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (and said) אֲלֵהֶ֔ם (to them), אַל־ (No), אַחַ֖י (my brothers), אַל־ (not) תָּרֵ֣עוּ (do act wickedly), נָ֑א (please), אַ֠חֲרֵי (after) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) בָּ֞א (has come in) הָאִ֤ישׁ (the man) הַזֶּה֙ (this) אַל־ (not) בֵּיתִ֔י (my house), אַֽל־ (not) תַּעֲשׂ֖וּ (do commit) אֶת־ (-) הַנְּבָלָ֥ה (the outrage) הַזֹּֽאת׃ (this). 24  הִנֵּה֩ (Behold), בִתִּ֨י (my daughter) הַבְּתוּלָ֜ה (the virgin) וּפִֽילַגְשֵׁ֗הוּ (and his concubine), אוֹצִֽיאָה־ (let me bring out) נָּ֤א (now) אוֹתָם֙ (to them), וְעַנּ֣וּ (and you⁺ may humble) אוֹתָ֔ם (them) וַעֲשׂ֣וּ (and do) לָהֶ֔ם (with them) הַטּ֖וֹב (what is good) בְּעֵינֵיכֶ֑ם (in your⁺ eyes). וְלָאִ֤ישׁ (And to the man) הַזֶּה֙ (this) לֹ֣א (not) תַעֲשׂ֔וּ (do) דְּבַ֖ר (thing) הַנְּבָלָ֥ה (vile) הַזֹּֽאת׃ (this).

25  וְלֹֽא־ (Not) אָב֤וּ (would) הָאֲנָשִׁים֙ (the men) לִשְׁמֹ֣עַֽ (listen) ל֔וֹ (him). וַיַּחֲזֵ֤ק (And took) הָאִישׁ֙ (the man) בְּפִ֣ילַגְשׁ֔וֹ (his concubine) וַיֹּצֵ֥א (and brought her out) אֲלֵיהֶ֖ם (to them) הַח֑וּץ (outside). וַיֵּדְע֣וּ (And they knew) א֠וֹתָהּ (her) וַיִּֽתְעַלְּלוּ־ (and abused) בָ֤הּ (her) כָּל־ (all) הַלַּ֙יְלָה֙ (the night) עַד־ (until) הַבֹּ֔קֶר (the morning), וַֽיְשַׁלְּח֖וּהָ (and sent her away) בַּעֲלוֹת (at the rising) הַשָּֽׁחַר׃ (of the dawn). 26  וַתָּבֹ֥א (And came) הָאִשָּׁ֖ה (the woman) לִפְנ֣וֹת (as was dawning) הַבֹּ֑קֶר (the day), וַתִּפֹּ֞ל (and she fell down) פֶּ֧תַח (at the door) בֵּית־ (of house) הָאִ֛ישׁ (of the man) אֲשֶׁר־ (where) אֲדוֹנֶ֥יהָ (her master was) שָּׁ֖ם (there), עַד־ (until) הָאֽוֹר׃ (the light).

27  וַיָּ֨קָם (And arose) אֲדֹנֶ֜יהָ (her master) בַּבֹּ֗קֶר (in the morning), וַיִּפְתַּח֙ (and opened) דַּלְת֣וֹת (the doors) הַבַּ֔יִת (of the house), וַיֵּצֵ֖א (and went out) לָלֶ֣כֶת (to go) לְדַרְכּ֑וֹ (his way), וְהִנֵּ֧ה (and there was) הָאִשָּׁ֣ה (the women) פִֽילַגְשׁ֗וֹ (his concubine), נֹפֶ֙לֶת֙ (fallen) פֶּ֣תַח (at the door) הַבַּ֔יִת (of the house), וְיָדֶ֖יהָ (and her hands were) עַל־ (on) הַסַּֽף׃ (the threshold). 28  וַיֹּ֧אמֶר (And he said) אֵלֶ֛יהָ (to her) ק֥וּמִי (Get up), וְנֵלֵ֖כָה (and let us be going). וְאֵ֣ין (And there was no) עֹנֶ֑ה (answer). וַיִּקָּחֶ֙הָ֙ (And the man lifted her) עַֽל־ (onto) הַחֲמ֔וֹר (the donkey), וַיָּ֣קָם (and got up) הָאִ֔ישׁ (the man) וַיֵּ֖לֶךְ (and went) לִמְקֹמֽוֹ׃ (to his place).

29  וַיָּבֹ֣א (And he entered) אֶל־ (into) בֵּית֗וֹ (his house), וַיִּקַּ֤ח (and he took) אֶת־ (-) הַֽמַּאֲכֶ֙לֶת֙ (a knife) וַיַּחֲזֵ֣ק (and laid hold) בְּפִֽילַגְשׁ֔וֹ (of his concubine), וַֽיְנַתְּחֶ֙הָ֙ (and divided her) לַעֲצָמֶ֔יהָ (limb by limb) לִשְׁנֵ֥ים (into two) עָשָׂ֖ר (and ten) נְתָחִ֑ים (pieces), וַֽיְשַׁלְּחֶ֔הָ (and he sent her) בְּכֹ֖ל (into all) גְּב֥וּל (the territory) יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (of Israel). 30  וְהָיָ֣ה (And so it was that) כָל־ (all) הָרֹאֶ֗ה (who saw it) וְאָמַר֙ (and said), לֹֽא־ (Nothing) נִהְיְתָ֤ה (has been done) וְלֹֽא־ (and not) נִרְאֲתָה֙ (seen) כָּזֹ֔את (as this) לְמִיּ֞וֹם (from the day) עֲל֤וֹת (that came up) בְּנֵֽי־ (the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ (of Israel) מֵאֶ֣רֶץ (from the land) מִצְרַ֔יִם (of Egypt) עַ֖ד (until) הַיּ֣וֹם (the day) הַזֶּ֑ה (this). שִֽׂימוּ־ (Set) לָכֶ֥ם (you⁺) עָלֶ֖יהָ (upon it), עֻ֥צוּ (take counsel), וְדַבֵּֽרוּ׃פ (and speak).