Study Desk

So Micah installed the Levite as his personal priest, and he lived in Micah's house.

So the men of Dan chose from their clans five capable warriors from the towns of Zorah and Eshtaol to scout out a land for them to settle in. When these warriors arrived in the hill country of Ephraim, they came to Micah's house and spent the night there.

While at Micah's house, they recognized the young Levite's accent, so they went over and asked him, "Who brought you here, and what are you doing in this place? Why are you here?"

So the five men went on to the town of Laish, where they noticed the people living carefree lives, like the Sidonians; they were peaceful and secure. The people were also wealthy because their land was very fertile. And they lived a great distance from Sidon and had no allies nearby.

So 600 men from the tribe of Dan, armed with weapons of war, set out from Zorah and Eshtaol.

The young priest was quite happy to go with them, so he took along the sacred ephod, the household idols, and the carved image.

So the men of Dan continued on their way. When Micah saw that there were too many of them for him to attack, he turned around and went home.

So Micah's carved image was worshiped by the tribe of Dan as long as the Tabernacle of God remained at Shiloh.

Her father urged him to stay awhile, so he stayed three days, eating, drinking, and sleeping there.

So the two men sat down together and had something to eat and drink. Then the woman's father said, "Please stay another night and enjoy yourself."

The man got up to leave, but his father-in-law kept urging him to stay, so he finally gave in and stayed the night.

On the morning of the fifth day he was up early again, ready to leave, and again the woman's father said, "Have something to eat; then you can leave later this afternoon." So they had another day of feasting.

But this time the man was determined to leave. So he took his two saddled donkeys and his concubine and headed in the direction of Jebus (that is, Jerusalem).

So they went on. The sun was setting as they came to Gibeah, a town in the land of Benjamin,

so they stopped there to spend the night. They rested in the town square, but no one took them in for the night.

So he took them home with him and fed the donkeys. After they washed their feet, they ate and drank together.

While they were enjoying themselves, a crowd of troublemakers from the town surrounded the house. They began beating at the door and shouting to the old man, "Bring out the man who is staying with you so we can have sex with him."

But they wouldn't listen to him. So the Levite took hold of his concubine and pushed her out the door. The men of the town abused her all night, taking turns raping her until morning. Finally, at dawn they let her go.

He said, "Get up! Let's go!" But there was no answer. So he put her body on his donkey and took her home.

So I cut her body into twelve pieces and sent the pieces throughout the territory assigned to Israel, for these men have committed a terrible and shameful crime.