Study Desk

Now it came about in those days, when ^(C1)there was no king in Israel, that there was a certain Levite ^(F1)staying in the remote part of the hill country of Ephraim, who took a concubine for himself from Bethlehem in Judah.

But his concubine ^(F1)found him repugnant, and she left him and went to her father's house in Bethlehem in Judah, and remained there for a period of four months.

Then her husband set out and went after her to ^(C1)speak ^(F1)gently to her in order to bring her back, ^(F2)taking with him his servant and a pair of donkeys. And she brought him into her father's house, and when the girl's father saw him, he was glad to meet him.

His father-in-law, the girl's father, prevailed upon him, and he remained with him for three days. So they ate and drank and stayed there.

Now on the fourth day they got up early in the morning, and he ^(F1)prepared to go; but the girl's father said to his son-in-law, "^(C1)Strengthen ^(F2)yourself with a piece of bread, and afterward you may go."

So both of them sat down and ate and drank together; and the girl's father said to the man, "Please ^(F1)be so kind as to spend the night, and ^(C1)let your heart be cheerful."

However, the man got up to go; but his father-in-law urged him, and he spent the night there again.

Now on the fifth day he got up to go early in the morning, but the girl's father said, "Please strengthen ^(F1)yourself, and wait until ^(F2)late afternoon"; so both of them ate.

When the man got up to go, along with his concubine and servant, his father-in-law, the girl's father, said to him, "Behold now, the day has drawn ^(F1)to a close; please spend the night. Behold, the day is ^(F2)coming to an end; spend the night here so that your heart may be cheerful. Then tomorrow you may arise early for your journey and go ^(F3)home."

But the man was unwilling to spend the night, so he got up and left, and came to a place opposite ^(C1)Jebus (that is, Jerusalem). And with him was a pair of saddled donkeys; his concubine also was with him.

When they were near Jebus, the day was almost gone; and ^(C1)the servant said to his master, "Please come, and let's turn aside into this city of the Jebusites and spend the night in it."

However, his master said to him, "We will not turn aside into a city of foreigners who are not of the sons of Israel; instead, we will go on as far as Gibeah."

And he said to his servant, "Come, and let's approach one of these places; and we will spend the night in Gibeah or Ramah."

So they passed along and went their way, and the sun set on them near Gibeah which belongs to Benjamin.