וַיְהִי בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם וּמֶלֶךְ אֵין בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל וַיְהִי אִישׁ לֵוִי גָּר בְּיַרְכְּתֵי הַר אֶפְרַיִם וַיִּקַּח לוֹ אִשָּׁה פִילֶגֶשׁ מִבֵּית לֶחֶם יְהוּדָה

It was in those days, and there was no king in Israel. The reiteration of this statement (see 17:6, 18:1) serves to emphasize that there was a situation approximating anarchy. In those times there was a Levite man residing at the southern edge of the highlands of Ephraim, and he took for himself a concubine from Bethlehem of Judah.

וַתִּזְנֶה עָלָיו פִּילַגְשׁוֹ וַתֵּלֶךְ מֵאִתּוֹ אֶל בֵּית אָבִיהָ אֶל בֵּית לֶחֶם יְהוּדָה וַתְּהִי שָׁם יָמִים אַרְבָּעָה חֳדָשִׁים

His concubine strayed from him. It can be inferred from the continuation of the story that the word vatizneh does not have its usual sexual connotation here but simply means that she left him. And she went from him back to her father’s house, to Bethlehem of Judah, and she was there for a period [yamim] of four months. Some interpret the word yamim as a year; if so, she remained there for a year and four months.

וַיָּקָם אִישָׁהּ וַיֵּלֶךְ אַחֲרֶיהָ לְדַבֵּר עַל לִבָּהּ לַהֲשִׁיבָהּ וְנַעֲרוֹ עִמּוֹ וְצֶמֶד חֲמֹרִים וַתְּבִיאֵהוּ בֵּית אָבִיהָ וַיִּרְאֵהוּ אֲבִי הַנַּעֲרָה וַיִּשְׂמַח לִקְרָאתוֹ

Her husband decided that it was time to end the quarrel. He rose and went after her, to speak tenderly to her and to bring her back; his lad with him, and a pair of donkeys for riding, and possibly to bear presents in order to placate the woman and her family. Apparently, she too had forgotten the reason for the quarrel. In any case, she saw no reason to remain separated from him, and therefore, when he came to her, she brought him into her father’s house, and the father of the young woman saw him, and he rejoiced to meet him. Although he was not involved in the dispute, when he met the Levite, he liked the man and was pleased that his daughter was returning to him.

וַיַּחֲזֶק בּוֹ חֹתְנוֹ אֲבִי הַנַּעֲרָה וַיֵּשֶׁב אִתּוֹ שְׁלֹשֶׁת יָמִים וַיֹּאכְלוּ וַיִּשְׁתּוּ וַיָּלִינוּ שָׁם

His father-in-law, the father of the young woman, detained him. He is referred to as a father-in-law despite the fact that the couple was not formally married. He, the Levite man, stayed with him three days, and they ate and they drank, and stayed the night there.

וַיְהִי בַּיּוֹם הָרְבִיעִי וַיַּשְׁכִּימוּ בַבֹּקֶר וַיָּקָם לָלֶכֶת וַיֹּאמֶר אֲבִי הַנַּעֲרָה אֶל חֲתָנוֹ סְעָד לִבְּךָ פַּת לֶחֶם וְאַחַר תֵּלֵכוּ

It was on the fourth day, and they arose early in the morning, and he got up to go; the father of the young woman said to his son-in-law: First sustain your heart with a portion of bread, and then you will go. Do not leave before eating something.

וַיֵּשְׁבוּ וַיֹּאכְלוּ שְׁנֵיהֶם יַחְדָּו וַיִּשְׁתּוּ וַיֹּאמֶר אֲבִי הַנַּעֲרָה אֶל הָאִישׁ הוֹאֶל נָא וְלִין וְיִטַב לִבֶּךָ

They sat down, the father-in-law and his son-in-law, and the two of them ate and drank together. They enjoyed each other’s company, and the meal dragged on. The father of the young woman said to the man: Please agree and stay the night, for one more night, and your heart will be gladdened.

וַיָּקָם הָאִישׁ לָלֶכֶת וַיִּפְצַר בּוֹ חֹתְנוֹ וַיָּשָׁב וַיָּלֶן שָׁם

The man rose to go, but his father-in-law implored him to stay, and he acquiesced and again stayed the night there, for a fourth night.

וַיַּשְׁכֵּם בַּבֹּקֶר בַּיּוֹם הַחֲמִישִׁי לָלֶכֶת וַיֹּאמֶר אֲבִי הַנַּעֲרָה סְעָד נָא לְבָבְךָ וְהִתְמַהְמְהוּ עַד נְטוֹת הַיּוֹם וַיֹּאכְלוּ שְׁנֵיהֶם

He arose early in the morning on the fifth day to go, but the father of the young woman said: Please sustain your heart, and linger until the afternoon, as one should not depart on a journey without first eating. And the two of them ate, and the conversation continued.

וַיָּקָם הָאִישׁ לָלֶכֶת הוּא וּפִילַגְשׁוֹ וְנַעֲרוֹ וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ חֹתְנוֹ אֲבִי הַנַּעֲרָה הִנֵּה נָא רָפָה הַיּוֹם לַעֲרֹב לִינוּ נָא הִנֵּה חֲנוֹת הַיּוֹם לִין פֹּה וְיִיטַב לְבָבֶךָ וְהִשְׁכַּמְתֶּם מָחָר לְדַרְכְּכֶם וְהָלַכְתָּ לְאֹהָלֶךָ

The man eventually rose to go, he, his concubine, and his lad; and then his father-in-law, the father of the young woman, said to him: Behold, now the day is dimming toward evening, and therefore you will be unable to get home before nightfall. Rather than staying overnight in an unfamiliar place, please stay the night. Behold, the day is ending; stay the night here, and your heart will be gladdened, and you will awaken early tomorrow for your way, and you will go to your tent, without needing to stay elsewhere.

וְלֹא אָבָה הָאִישׁ לָלוּן וַיָּקָם וַיֵּלֶךְ וַיָּבֹא עַד נֹכַח יְבוּס הִיא יְרוּשָׁלִָם וְעִמּוֹ צֶמֶד חֲמוֹרִים חֲבוּשִׁים וּפִילַגְשׁוֹ עִמּוֹ

Despite the outpouring of love that his father-in-law had shown him, the man wanted to go home, and he saw no end to this situation. He was unwilling to stay the night, and he rose and went. He came to opposite the city of Yevus, which is Jerusalem. At that time, Jerusalem was a Yevusite city. With him was a pair of saddled donkeys, ready for travel, presumably loaded with presents from his affectionate father-in-law, and his concubine was with him.

הֵם עִם יְבוּס וְהַיּוֹם רַד מְאֹד וַיֹּאמֶר הַנַּעַר אֶל אֲדֹנָיו לְכָה נָּא וְנָסוּרָה אֶל עִיר הַיְבוּסִי הַזֹּאת וְנָלִין בָּהּ

They were near Yevus, and the daylight was very low on the horizon; the lad said to his master: Let us now go and turn aside to this Yevusite city and stay the night in it and continue our journey tomorrow.

וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו אֲדֹנָיו לֹא נָסוּר אֶל עִיר נָכְרִי אֲשֶׁר לֹא מִבְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל הֵנָּה וְעָבַרְנוּ עַד גִּבְעָה

His master said to him: We will not turn aside into a city of foreigners, who are not of the children of Israel. Rather, let us pass and continue to the city of Giva.

וַיֹּאמֶר לְנַעֲרוֹ לְךָ וְנִקְרְבָה בְּאַחַד הַמְּקֹמוֹת וְלַנּוּ בַגִּבְעָה אוֹ בָרָמָה

He said to his lad: Go, and we will approach one of the places, and we will stay the night in Giva or in Rama, in the inheritance of the tribe of Benjamin, north of Jerusalem.

וַיַּעַבְרוּ וַיֵּלֵכוּ וַתָּבֹא לָהֶם הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ אֵצֶל הַגִּבְעָה אֲשֶׁר לְבִנְיָמִן

They passed and they went, and the sun set on them when they were by Giva, which is of Benjamin.

וַיָּסֻרוּ שָׁם לָבוֹא לָלוּן בַּגִּבְעָה וַיָּבֹא וַיֵּשֶׁב בִּרְחוֹב הָעִיר וְאֵין אִישׁ מְאַסֵּף אוֹתָם הַבַּיְתָה לָלוּן

They turned aside there to go stay the night in Giva. He, the Levite, came and sat in the city square, and there was no man to take them home to stay the night.

וְהִנֵּה אִישׁ זָקֵן בָּא מִן מַעֲשֵׂהוּ מִן הַשָּׂדֶה בָּעֶרֶב וְהָאִישׁ מֵהַר אֶפְרַיִם וְהוּא גָר בַּגִּבְעָה וְאַנְשֵׁי הַמָּקוֹם בְּנֵי יְמִינִי

Behold, an elderly man came into the city from his work from the field in the evening. The man was from the highlands of Ephraim, and he lived in Giva. The rest of the men of the place were Benjamites. Nevertheless, they did not object to individuals from other tribes living in their city.

וַיִּשָּׂא עֵינָיו וַיַּרְא אֶת הָאִישׁ הָאֹרֵחַ בִּרְחֹב הָעִיר וַיֹּאמֶר הָאִישׁ הַזָּקֵן אָנָה תֵלֵךְ וּמֵאַיִן תָּבוֹא

He lifted his eyes, and saw the wayfaring man in the city square. This apparently occurred in the summer, when it was possible, albeit uncomfortable, to sleep in the streets. The elderly man said: Evidently, you are a passerby; where are you going, and from where did you come?

וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו עֹבְרִים אֲנַחְנוּ מִבֵּית לֶחֶם יְהוּדָה עַד יַרְכְּתֵי הַר אֶפְרַיִם מִשָּׁם אָנֹכִי וָאֵלֵךְ עַד בֵּית לֶחֶם יְהוּדָה וְאֶת בֵּית ה' אֲנִי הֹלֵךְ ואֵין אִישׁ מְאַסֵּף אוֹתִי הַבָּיְתָה

He, the Levite, said to him: We are passing from Bethlehem of Judah to the edge of the highlands of Ephraim; I am from there. I went to Bethlehem of Judah, and I am going back to the House of the Lord in Ephraim. And I am left in the street because no man is taking me into his home. The mention of the House of the Lord might indicate that the Levite served in the Tabernacle in Shilo.

וְגַם תֶּבֶן גַּם מִסְפּוֹא יֵשׁ לַחֲמוֹרֵינוּ וְגַם לֶחֶם וָיַיִן יֶשׁ לִי וְלַאֲמָתֶךָ וְלַנַּעַר עִם עֲבָדֶיךָ אֵין מַחְסוֹר כָּל דָּבָר

We would not be a burden upon our host, as there is both straw and feed for our donkeys, and there is no need to provide for them. And there is bread and wine for me, for your maidservant, the woman with me, and for the lad who is with your servants. This was a respectful form of address to the elderly man. There is no lack of anything. We merely wish to sleep under a roof.

וַיֹּאמֶר הָאִישׁ הַזָּקֵן שָׁלוֹם לָךְ רַק כָּל מַחְסוֹרְךָ עָלָי רַק בָּרְחוֹב אַל תָּלַן

The elderly man said: Peace be with you; do not worry. However, all your needs are upon me. I will supply all your needs, as it is not right for you to eat your own food in my house. Just do not stay the night in the square.

וַיְבִיאֵהוּ לְבֵיתוֹ וַיָּבָל לַחֲמוֹרִים וַיִּרְחֲצוּ רַגְלֵיהֶם וַיֹּאכְלוּ וַיִּשְׁתּוּ

He took him to his house, and he gave the donkeys feed, he prepared fodder for the donkeys, and they washed their feet, and ate and drank in a relaxed state.

הֵמָּה מֵיטִיבִים אֶת לִבָּם וְהִנֵּה אַנְשֵׁי הָעִיר אַנְשֵׁי בְנֵי בְלִיַּעַל נָסַבּוּ אֶת הַבַּיִת מִתְדַּפְּקִים עַל הַדָּלֶת וַיֹּאמְרוּ אֶל הָאִישׁ בַּעַל הַבַּיִת הַזָּקֵן לֵאמֹר הוֹצֵא אֶת הָאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר בָּא אֶל בֵּיתְךָ וְנֵדָעֶנּוּ

They were gladdening their hearts, and behold, many of the people of the city, wicked people, surrounded the house, banging at the door; they said to the elderly master of the house, saying: Bring out the man who has come into your house, and we will be intimate with him. We want to exploit the young man in your house for homosexual relations.

וַיֵּצֵא אֲלֵיהֶם הָאִישׁ בַּעַל הַבַּיִת וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵהֶם אַל אַחַי אַל תָּרֵעוּ נָא אַחֲרֵי אֲשֶׁר בָּא הָאִישׁ הַזֶּה אֶל בֵּיתִי אַל תַּעֲשׂוּ אֶת הַנְּבָלָה הַזֹּאת

The man, master of the house, went out to them and said to them: Please, my brethren, do not do evil. Once this man has come to my house, do not commit this depravity. This is an immoral and disgraceful act under any circumstances, but to do so to a guest whom I invited into my house would be especially appalling.

הִנֵּה בִתִּי הַבְּתוּלָה וּפִילַגְשֵׁהוּ אוֹצִיאָה נָּא אוֹתָם וְעַנּוּ אוֹתָם וַעֲשׂוּ לָהֶם הַטּוֹב בְּעֵינֵיכֶם ולָאִישׁ הַזֶּה לֹא תַעֲשׂוּ דְּבַר הַנְּבָלָה הַזֹּאת

If you must satisfy your desires, behold, my virgin daughter and his, the guest’s, concubine; I will bring them out now; rape them and do with them that which is good in your eyes. You will receive two women, but to this man do not commit this abomination.

וְלֹא אָבוּ הָאֲנָשִׁים לִשְׁמֹעַ לוֹ וַיַּחֲזֵק הָאִישׁ בְּפִילַגְשׁוֹ וַיֹּצֵא אֲלֵיהֶם הַחוּץ וַיֵּדְעוּ אוֹתָהּ וַיִּתְעַלְּלוּ בָהּ כָּל הַלַּיְלָה עַד הַבֹּקֶר וַיְשַׁלְּחוּהָ כַּעֲלוֹת הַשָּׁחַר

The men were unwilling to heed him, as they wanted the young man. When the young man saw that he must choose between the women and himself, he forcibly seized his concubine and brought her out to them. The men apparently settled for her. They, all those men, were intimate with her, raped her one after another, and they abused her all night until the morning; they sent her away at dawn.

וַתָּבֹא הָאִשָּׁה לִפְנוֹת הַבֹּקֶר וַתִּפֹּל פֶּתַח בֵּית הָאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר אֲדוֹנֶיהָ שָּׁם עַד הָאוֹר

The text does not specify how many men were involved, but it was a crowd that raped and assaulted the poor woman to death. The woman came at dawn, so drained and wounded that she did not even have the strength to knock on the door, and she fell at the entrance of the man’s house where her master was, until it was light.

וַיָּקָם אֲדֹנֶיהָ בַּבֹּקֶר וַיִּפְתַּח דַּלְתוֹת הַבַּיִת וַיֵּצֵא לָלֶכֶת לְדַרְכּוֹ וְהִנֵּה הָאִשָּׁה פִילַגְשׁוֹ נֹפֶלֶת פֶּתַח הַבַּיִת וְיָדֶיהָ עַל הַסַּף

Her master arose in the morning and opened the doors of the house; he went out to continue on his way and behold, the woman, his concubine, fallen at the entrance of the house, and her hands were on the threshold. It is possible that she attempted to enter, but she remained lying there.

וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלֶיהָ קוּמִי וְנֵלֵכָה וְאֵין עֹנֶה וַיִּקָּחֶהָ עַל הַחֲמוֹר וַיָּקָם הָאִישׁ וַיֵּלֶךְ לִמְקֹמוֹ

He said to her: Rise and we will go on our way; but there was no one responding, as she was dead. He took her on the donkey, and the man rose and went to his place. He took her corpse back home with him.

וַיָּבֹא אֶל בֵּיתוֹ וַיִּקַּח אֶת הַמַּאֲכֶלֶת וַיַּחֲזֵק בְּפִילַגְשׁוֹ וַיְנַתְּחֶהָ לַעֲצָמֶיהָ לִשְׁנֵים עָשָׂר נְתָחִים וַיְשַׁלְּחֶהָ בְּכֹל גְּבוּל יִשְׂרָאֵל

This was not merely gang rape; it was a most abhorrent act of murder. The man was clearly filled with rage. He came to his house, and he took a knife used for slaughter, grasped the corpse of his concubine, and cut her with her bones into twelve pieces; he sent her, the dismembered corpse, together with an account of the harrowing story, throughout the entire border of Israel.

וְהָיָה כָל הָרֹאֶה וְאָמַר לֹא נִהְיְתָה וְלֹא נִרְאֲתָה כָּזֹאת לְמִיּוֹם עֲלוֹת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה שִׂימוּ לָכֶם עָלֶיהָ עֻצוּ וְדַבֵּרוּ

This method of spreading the story together with parts of the woman’s corpse caused widespread shock; it was that everyone who saw would say: Something so horrific of this sort has not been and has not been seen in our land since the day of the ascent of the children of Israel from the land of Egypt to this day. Consider it, take counsel, and speak. We cannot countenance this matter in silence; we must consider the appropriate response.