Judges 19

 

וַיְהִי בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם וּמֶלֶךְ אֵין בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל וַיְהִי אִישׁ לֵוִי גָּר בְּיַרְכְּתֵי הַר־אֶפְרַיִם וַיִּקַּח־לוֹ אִשָּׁה פִילֶגֶשׁ    19:1

מִבֵּית לֶחֶם יְהוּדָה׃

Judg. 19:1   And it came to pass in those days when a king was not in Israel, that there was a certain Levite sojourning on the far side of the hill country of Ephraim and he took a woman concubine to himself from Beth-lehem of Judah.

וַתִּזְנֶה עָלָיו פִּילַגְשׁוֹ וַתֵּלֶךְ מֵאִתּוֹ אֶל־בֵּית אָבִיהָ אֶל־בֵּית לֶחֶם יְהוּדָה וַתְּהִי־שָׁם יָמִים אַרְבָּעָה   19:2

חֳדָשִׁים׃

Judg. 19:2   And his concubine played a harlot against him and she went away from him to the house of her father, to Beth-lehem of Judah, and she was there a time of four months.

וַיָּקָם אִישָׁהּ וַיֵּלֶךְ אַחֲרֶיהָ לְדַבֵּר עַל־לִבָּהּ (לַהֲשִׁיבוֹ) [לַהֲשִׁיבָהּ] וְנַעֲרוֹ עִמּוֹ וְצֶמֶד חֲמֹרִים וַתְּבִיאֵהוּ   19:3

בֵּית אָבִיהָ וַיִּרְאֵהוּ אֲבִי הַנַּעֲרָה וַיִּשְׂמַח לִקְרָאתוֹ׃

Judg. 19:3   And her husband arose and went after her to speak about her heart, to bring her back, and his servant was with him, and two asses.  And she brought him into the house of her father.  When the father of the damsel saw him, then he was glad to meet him.

The eighth word in the top line contains an error.  It has a masculine pronoun suffix which should be feminine instead.  The correction appears in the brackets.

וַיֶּחֱזַק־בּוֹ חֹתְנוֹ אֲבִי הַנַּעֲרָה וַיֵּשֶׁב אִתּוֹ שְׁלֹשֶׁת יָמִים וַיֹּאכְלוּ וַיִּשְׁתּוּ וַיָּלִינוּ שָׁם׃   19:4

Judg. 19:4   And his father-in-law, father of the damsel, prevailed upon him, and he stayed with him three days, and they ate and drank and tarried there.

וַיְהִי בַּיּוֹם הָרְבִיעִי וַיַּשְׁכִּימוּ בַבֹּקֶר וַיָּקָם לָלֶכֶת וַיֹּאמֶר אֲבִי הַנַּעֲרָה אֶל־חֲתָנוֹ סְעָד לִבְּךָ פַּת־לֶחֶם   19:5

וְאַחַר תֵּלֵכוּ׃

Judg. 19:5   And it was on the fourth day that they rose early in the morning and he arose to leave, but the father of the damsel said to his son-in-law, “Strengthen your heart with a piece of bread, and afterward you shall go.”

וַיֵּשְׁבוּ וַיֹּאכְלוּ שְׁנֵיהֶם יַחְדָּו וַיִּשְׁתּוּ וַיֹּאמֶר אֲבִי הַנַּעֲרָה אֶל־הָאִישׁ הוֹאֶל־נָא וְלִין וְיִטַב לִבֶּךָ׃   19:6

Judg. 19:6   So they sat and ate, both of them together, and drank.  Then the father of the damsel said to the man, “Be content, I pray you, and tarry all night and your heart will be merry.

וַיָּקָם הָאִישׁ לָלֶכֶת וַיִּפְצַר־בּוֹ חֹתְנוֹ וַיָּשָׁב וַיָּלֶן שָׁם׃   19:7

Judg. 19:7   And the man rose to go but his father-in-law pressed on him and he turned again and lodged there.

וַיַּשְׁכֵּם בַּבֹּקֶר בַּיּוֹם הַחֲמִישִׁי לָלֶכֶת וַיֹּאמֶר אֲבִי הַנַּעֲרָה סְעָד־נָא לְבָבְךָ וְהִתְמַהְמְהוּ עַד־נְטוֹת   19:8

הַיּוֹם וַיֹּאכְלוּ שְׁנֵיהֶם׃

Judg. 19:8   And he rose early in the morning on the fifth day to go, but the father of the damsel said, “Strengthen, I pray you, your heart, and you both linger until the decline of the day.”  So both of them ate.

וַיָּקָם הָאִישׁ לָלֶכֶת הוּא וּפִילַגְשׁוֹ וְנַעֲרוֹ וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ חֹתְנוֹ אֲבִי הַנַּעֲרָה הִנֵּה נָא רָפָה הַיּוֹם לַעֲרֹב   19:9

לִינוּ־נָא הִנֵּה חֲנוֹת הַיּוֹם לִין פֹּה וְיִיטַב לְבָבֶךָ וְהִשְׁכַּמְתֶּם מָחָר לְדַרְכְּכֶם וְהָלַכְתָּ לְאֹהָלֶךָ׃

Judg. 19:9   Then the man rose to go, he and his concubine and his servant, when his father-in-law, the father of the damsel said to him, “Behold, now, the day has drawn toward evening; remain, I pray you; behold, the day is waning.  Lodge here so your heart will be merry, and you both can rise early tomorrow for your journey and you may leave for your home.”

וְלֹא־אָבָה הָאִישׁ לָלוּן וַיָּקָם וַיֵּלֶךְ וַיָּבֹא עַד־נֹכַח יְבוּס הִיא יְרוּשָׁלִָם וְעִמּוֹ צֶמֶד חֲמוֹרִים חֲבוּשִׁים   19:10

וּפִילַגְשׁוֹ עִמּוֹ׃

Judg. 19:10   But the man was not willing to stay the night, and he rose and departed.  And he came over against Jebus -- it is Jerusalem -- and with him were the two saddled asses, and his concubine was with him.

הֵם עִם־יְבוּס וְהַיּוֹם רַד מְאֹד וַיֹּאמֶר הַנַּעַר אֶל־אֲדֹנָיו לְכָה־נָּא וְנָסוּרָה אֶל־עִיר־הַיְבוּסִי הַזֹּאת וְנָלִין   19:11

בָּהּ׃

Judg. 19:11   They were close by Jebus and the day was far spent, when the servant said to his master, “Come, I pray you, and let us turn aside to this city of the Jebusites and lodge in it.”

                                                                                                                              [Return to Judg. 20:28]

וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו אֲדֹנָיו לֹא נָסוּר אֶל־עִיר נָכְרִי אֲשֶׁר לֹא־מִבְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל הֵנָּה וְעָבַרְנוּ עַד־גִּבְעָה׃   19:12

Judg. 19:12   But his master said to him, “We will not turn aside to a city of foreigners that they are not from the children of Israel.  And we will go as far as Gibeah.”

וַיֹּאמֶר לְנַעֲרוֹ לְךָ וְנִקְרְבָה בְּאַחַד הַמְּקֹמוֹת וְלַנּוּ בַגִּבְעָה אוֹ בָרָמָה׃   19:13

Judg. 19:13   And he said to his servant, “Come and we will draw near to one of the places and lodge in Gibeah or in Ramah.”

וַיַּעַבְרוּ וַיֵּלֵכוּ וַתָּבֹא לָהֶם הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ אֵצֶל הַגִּבְעָה אֲשֶׁר לְבִנְיָמִן׃   19:14

Judg. 19:14   So they passed on and went their way.  And the sun went down for them near Gibeah, which was Benjamin's.

וַיָּסֻרוּ שָׁם לָבוֹא לָלוּן בַּגִּבְעָה וַיָּבֹא וַיֵּשֶׁב בִּרְחוֹב הָעִיר וְאֵין אִישׁ מְאַסֵּף־אוֹתָם הַבַּיְתָה לָלוּן׃   19:15

Judg. 19:15   And they turned aside there to come in to lodge in Gibeah.  Then he went in and sat down in the broad place of the city, but there was no man who would take them home to lodge.

וְהִנֵּה אִישׁ זָקֵן בָּא מִן־מַעֲשֵׂהוּ מִן־הַשָּׂדֶה בָּעֶרֶב וְהָאִישׁ מֵהַר אֶפְרַיִם וְהוּא־גָר בַּגִּבְעָה וְאַנְשֵׁי   19:16

הַמָּקוֹם בְּנֵי יְמִינִי׃

Judg. 19:16   Then, behold, an old man came from his work from the field in the evening.  Now the man was from the hill country of Ephraim, but he sojourned in Gibeah, and the men of the place were sons of Benjamites.

וַיִּשָּׂא עֵינָיו וַיַּרְא אֶת־הָאִישׁ הָאֹרֵחַ בִּרְחֹב הָעִיר וַיֹּאמֶר הָאִישׁ הַזָּקֵן אָנָה תֵלֵךְ וּמֵאַיִן תָּבוֹא׃   19:17

Judg. 19:17   When he lifted his eyes, then he saw the wayfaring man in the broad place of the city, and the old man said, “Where are you going and from where are you coming?”

וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו עֹבְרִים אֲנַחְנוּ מִבֵּית־לֶחֶם יְהוּדָה עַד־יַרְכְּתֵי הַר־אֶפְרַיִם מִשָּׁם אָנֹכִי וָאֵלֵךְ עַד־בֵּית   19:18

לֶחֶם יְהוּדָה וְאֶת־בֵּית יְהוָה אֲנִי הֹלֵךְ וְאֵין אִישׁ מְאַסֵּף אוֹתִי הַבָּיְתָה׃

Judg. 19:18   And he said to him, “We are passing from Beth-lehem of Judah to the far side of the hill country of Ephraim.  I am from there, and I went to Beth-lehem of Judah, and I go to the house of the Lord, and there is no man who takes me home.”

וְגַם־תֶּבֶן גַּם־מִסְפּוֹא יֵשׁ לַחֲמוֹרֵינוּ וְגַם לֶחֶם וָיַיִן יֶשׁ־לִי וְלַאֲמָתֶךָ וְלַנַּעַר עִם־עֲבָדֶיךָ אֵין מַחְסוֹר   19:19

כָּל־דָּבָר׃

Judg. 19:19   “Yet there is both straw and provender for our asses, and there is also bread and wine for me, and for your handmaid and for the young man, with your servants; there is no lack of any thing.”

וַיֹּאמֶר הָאִישׁ הַזָּקֵן שָׁלוֹם לָךְ רַק כָּל־מַחְסוֹרְךָ עָלָי רַק בָּרְחוֹב אַל־תָּלַן׃   19:20

Judg. 19:20   Then said the old man, “Peace to you.  Surely all your needs are on me, only do not remain in the broad place.”

וַיְבִיאֵהוּ לְבֵיתוֹ (וַיִבּול) [וַיָּבָל] לַחֲמוֹרִים וַיִּרְחֲצוּ רַגְלֵיהֶם וַיֹּאכְלוּ וַיִּשְׁתּוּ׃   19:21

Judg. 19:21   So he brought him to his house and he gave fodder to the asses, and they washed their feet, and they ate and drank.

The word within the parentheses contains an extra vav.  The correction is in the brackets.

הֵמָּה מֵיטִיבִים אֶת־לִבָּם וְהִנֵּה אַנְשֵׁי הָעִיר אַנְשֵׁי בְנֵי־בְלִיַּעַל נָסַבּוּ אֶת־הַבַּיִת מִתְדַּפְּקִים עַל־   19:22

הַדָּלֶת וַיֹּאמְרוּ אֶל־הָאִישׁ בַּעַל הַבַּיִת הַזָּקֵן לֵאמֹר הוֹצֵא אֶת־הָאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר־בָּא אֶל־בֵּיתְךָ וְנֵדָעֶנּוּ׃

Judg. 19:22   They were making their heart glad when, behold, the men of the city, men born wicked, surrounded the house, beating on the door, and they spoke to the master of the house, the old man, saying, “Bring out the man who came in to your house so we may know.”

וַיֵּצֵא אֲלֵיהֶם הָאִישׁ בַּעַל הַבַּיִת וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵהֶם אַל־אַחַי אַל־תָּרֵעוּ נָא אַחֲרֵי אֲשֶׁר־בָּא הָאִישׁ הַזֶּה   19:23

אַל־בֵּיתִי׳1׳ אַל־תַּעֲשׂוּ אֶת־הַנְּבָלָה הַזֹּאת׃

Judg. 19:23   And the master of the house went out to them and said to them, “No, my brethren, do not be evil, I pray you, seeing that this man has come into my house; do not do this villainy.”

הִנֵּה בִתִּי הַבְּתוּלָה וּפִילַגְשֵׁהוּ אוֹצִיאָה־נָּא אוֹתָם וְעַנּוּ אוֹתָם וַעֲשׂוּ לָהֶם הַטּוֹב בְּעֵינֵיכֶם וְלָאִיש   19:24

הַזֶּה לֹא תַעֲשׂוּ דְּבַר הַנְּבָלָה הַזֹּאת׃

Judg. 19:24   “Behold, my daughter, the virgin, and his concubine; I will bring them out now, and you humble them and do to them what is good in your eyes, but do not do this deed of wickedness to this man.”

וְלֹא־אָבוּ הָאֲנָשִׁים לִשְׁמֹעַ לוֹ וַיַּחֲזֵק הָאִישׁ בְּפִילַגְשׁוֹ וַיֹּצֵא אֲלֵיהֶם הַחוּץ וַיֵּדְעוּ אוֹתָהּ וַיִּתְעַלְּלוּ־בָהּ   19:25

כָּל־הַלַּיְלָה עַד־הַבֹּקֶר וַיְשַׁלְּחוּהָ בַּעֲלוֹת הַשָּׁחַר׃

Judg. 19:25   But the men were not willing to listen to him, so the man laid hold on his concubine and came out to them who were outside, and they knew her; and they abused her all night until morning. Then they released her at the breaking of the dawn.

וַתָּבֹא הָאִשָּׁה לִפְנוֹת הַבֹּקֶר וַתִּפֹּל פֶּתַח בֵּית־הָאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר־אֲדוֹנֶיהָ שָּׁם עַד־הָאוֹר׃   19:26

Judg. 19:26   So the woman came at the dawning of the morning and fell down at the door of the house of the man where her lord was until the light.

וַיָּקָם אֲדֹנֶיהָ בַּבֹּקֶר וַיִּפְתַּח דַּלְתוֹת הַבַּיִת וַיֵּצֵא לָלֶכֶת לְדַרְכּוֹ וְהִנֵּה הָאִשָּׁה פִילַגְשׁוֹ נֹפֶלֶת פֶּתַח   19:27

הַבַּיִת וְיָדֶיהָ עַל־הַסַּף׃

Judg. 19:27   And her lord rose in the morning and opened the doors of the house and went out to walk, and behold, his woman concubine was lying at the door of the house with her hands on the threshold.

וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלֶיהָ קוּמִי וְנֵלֵכָה וְאֵין עֹנֶה וַיִּקָּחֶהָ עַל־הַחֲמוֹר וַיָּקָם הָאִישׁ וַיֵּלֶךְ לִמְקֹמוֹ׃   19:28

Judg. 19:28   And he said to her, “Arise and let us go.”  But there was no answer. Then he placed her on the ass; then the man rose up and went to his place.

וַיָּבֹא אֶל־בֵּיתוֹ וַיִּקַּח אֶת־הַמַּאֲכֶלֶת וַיַּחֲזֵק בְּפִילַגְשׁוֹ וַיְנַתְּחֶהָ לַעֲצָמֶיהָ לִשְׁנֵים עָשָׂר נְתָחִים   19:29

וַיְשַׁלְּחֶהָ בְּכֹל גְּבוּל יִשְׂרָאֵל׃

Judg. 19:29   When he came to his house, then he took the knife and laid hold on his concubine and dismembered her to her bones into twelve parts, and sent her throughout all the territory of Israel.

The following discussion is kind of X-rated, so it’s not necessary to continue reading it unless you’re into gore. 

What do you suppose constituted the twelve parts?  The arms could have provided six pieces, the hands, the forearms, and the upper arms.  And the lower extremities could have provided six pieces, the feet, the legs and the thighs.  Doubtless this was not the division described here, because that’s already twelve.  Then perhaps the upper and lower extremities had been divided into eight pieces, two arms with the hands, two upper arms, two legs with the feet, and two thighs.  Now we could have the head, upper torso, and lower torso.  That makes eleven pieces.  What was the twelfth piece?  Lots of possibilities, but there’s no way to know for sure!

וְהָיָה כָל־הָרֹאֶה וְאָמַר לֹא־נִהְיְתָה וְלֹא־נִרְאֲתָה כָּזֹאת לְמִיּוֹם עֲלוֹת בְּנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵל מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם עַד   19:30

הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה שִׂימוּ־לָכֶם עָלֶיהָ עֻצוּ וְדַבֵּרוּ׃

Judg. 19:30   When anyone was who saw her, then he would say, “The like of this has not happened and has not been seen from the day of coming up of the children of Israel from the land of Egypt until this day.  Set yourselves on it; take counsel and speak.”

 

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