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The Mistress on the hill

in those days, when there was no king in Israel, a Levite residing at the other end of the hill country of Ephraim took to himself a concubine from Bethlehem in Judah.

2 Once his concubine deserted him, leaving him for her father’s house in Bethlehem in Judah; and she stayed there a full four months.

3 Then her husband set out, with an attendant and a pair of donkeys, and went after her to woo her and to win her back. She admitted him into her father’s house; and when the girl’s father saw him, he received him warmly.

4 His father-in-law, the girl’s father, pressed him, and he stayed with him three days; they ate and drank and lodged there.

5 Early in the morning of the fourth day, he started to leave; but the girl’s father said to his son-in-law, “Eat something to give you strength, then you can leave.”

6 So the two of them sat down and they feasted together. Then the girl’s father said to the man, “Won’t you stay overnight and enjoy yourself?”

7 The man started to leave, but his father-in-law kept urging him until he turned back and spent the night there.

8 Early in the morning of the fifth day, he was about to leave, when the girl’s father said, “Come, have a bite.” The two of them ate, dawdling until past noon.

9 Then the man, his concubine, and his attendant started to leave. His father-in-law, the girl’s father, said to him, “Look, the day is waning toward evening; do stop for the night. See, the day is declining; spend the night here and enjoy yourself. You can start early tomorrow on your journey and head for home.”

10 But the man refused to stay for the night. He set out and traveled as far as the vicinity of Jebus—that is, Jerusalem; he had with him a pair of laden donkeys, and his concubine was with him.

11 Since they were close to Jebus, and the day was very far spent, the attendant said to his master, “Let us turn aside to this town of the Jebusites and spend the night in it.”

12 But his master said to him, “We will not turn aside to a town of aliens who are not of Israel, but will continue to Gibeah.

13 Come,” he said to his attendant, “let us approach one of those places and spend the night either in Gibeah or in Ramah.”

14 So they traveled on, and the sun set when they were near Gibeah of Benjamin.

15They turned off there and went in to spend the night in Gibeah. He went and sat down in the town square, but nobody took them indoors to spend the night.

16 In the evening, an old man came along from his property outside the town. (This man hailed from the hill country of Ephraim and resided at Gibeah, where the townspeople were Benjaminites.)

17 He happened to see the wayfarer in the town square. “Where,” the old man inquired, “are you going to, and where do you come from?”

18 He replied, “We are traveling from Bethlehem in Judah to the other end of the hill country of Ephraim. That is where I live. I made a journey to Bethlehem of Judah, and now I am on my way to the House of the LORD, and nobody has taken me indoors.

19 We have both bruised straw and feed for our donkeys, and bread and wine for me and your handmaid, and for the attendant with your servants. We lack nothing.”

20 “Rest easy,” said the old man. “Let me take care of all your needs. Do not on any account spend the night in the square.”

21 And he took him into his house. He mixed fodder for the donkeys; then they bathed their feet and ate and drank.

22 While they were enjoying themselves, the men of the town, a depraved lot, had gathered about the house and were pounding on the door. They called to the aged owner of the house, “Bring out the man who has come into your house, so that we can be intimate with him.”

23 The owner of the house went out and said to them, “Please, my friends, do not commit such a wrong. Since this man has entered my house, do not perpetrate this outrage.

Look, here is my virgin daughter, and his concubine. Let me bring them out to you. Have your pleasure of them, do what you like with them; but don’t do that outrageous thing to this man.”

But the men would not listen to him, so the man seized his concubine and pushed her out to them. They raped her and abused her all night long until morning; and they let her go when dawn broke.

Toward morning the woman came back; and as it was growing light, she collapsed at the entrance of the man’s house where her husband was.

When her husband arose in the morning, he opened the doors of the house and went out to continue his journey; and there was the woman, his concubine, lying at the entrance of the house, with her hands on the threshold.

“Get up,” he said to her, “let us go.” But there was no reply. So the man placed her on the donkey and set out for home.

When he came home, he picked up a knife, and took hold of his concubine and cut her up limb by limb into twelve parts. He sent them throughout the territory of Israel.

And everyone who saw it cried out, “Never has such a thing happened or been seen from the day the Israelites came out of the land of Egypt to this day! Put your mind to this; take counsel and decide.”

שופטים יט

א וַיְהִי בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם וּמֶלֶךְ אֵין בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל וַיְהִי אִישׁ לֵוִי גָּר בְּיַרְכְּתֵי הַר-אֶפְרַיִם וַיִּקַּח-לוֹ אִשָּׁה פִילֶגֶשׁ מִבֵּית לֶחֶם יְהוּדָה. ב וַתִּזְנֶה עָלָיו פִּילַגְשׁוֹ וַתֵּלֶךְ מֵאִתּוֹ אֶל-בֵּית אָבִיהָ אֶל-בֵּית לֶחֶם יְהוּדָה וַתְּהִי-שָׁם יָמִים אַרְבָּעָה חֳדָשִׁים. ג וַיָּקָם אִישָׁהּ וַיֵּלֶךְ אַחֲרֶיהָ לְדַבֵּר עַל-לִבָּהּ להשיבו (לַהֲשִׁיבָהּ) וְנַעֲרוֹ עִמּוֹ וְצֶמֶד חֲמֹרִים וַתְּבִיאֵהוּ בֵּית אָבִיהָ וַיִּרְאֵהוּ אֲבִי הַנַּעֲרָה וַיִּשְׂמַח לִקְרָאתוֹ. ד וַיַּחֲזֶק-בּוֹ חֹתְנוֹ אֲבִי הַנַּעֲרָה וַיֵּשֶׁב אִתּוֹ שְׁלֹשֶׁת יָמִים וַיֹּאכְלוּ וַיִּשְׁתּוּ וַיָּלִינוּ שָׁם. ה וַיְהִי בַּיּוֹם הָרְבִיעִי וַיַּשְׁכִּימוּ בַבֹּקֶר וַיָּקָם לָלֶכֶת וַיֹּאמֶר אֲבִי הַנַּעֲרָה אֶל-חֲתָנוֹ סְעָד לִבְּךָ פַּת-לֶחֶם וְאַחַר תֵּלֵכוּ. ו וַיֵּשְׁבוּ וַיֹּאכְלוּ שְׁנֵיהֶם יַחְדָּו וַיִּשְׁתּוּ וַיֹּאמֶר אֲבִי הַנַּעֲרָה אֶל-הָאִישׁ הוֹאֶל-נָא וְלִין וְיִיטַב לִבֶּךָ. ז וַיָּקָם הָאִישׁ לָלֶכֶת וַיִּפְצַר-בּוֹ חֹתְנוֹ וַיָּשָׁב וַיָּלֶן שָׁם. חוַיַּשְׁכֵּם בַּבֹּקֶר בַּיּוֹם הַחֲמִישִׁי לָלֶכֶת וַיֹּאמֶר אֲבִי הַנַּעֲרָה סְעָד-נָא לְבָבְךָ וְהִתְמַהְמְהוּ עַד-נְטוֹת הַיּוֹם וַיֹּאכְלוּ שְׁנֵיהֶם. ט וַיָּקָם הָאִישׁ לָלֶכֶת הוּא וּפִילַגְשׁוֹ וְנַעֲרוֹ וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ חֹתְנוֹ אֲבִי הַנַּעֲרָה הִנֵּה נָא רָפָה הַיּוֹם לַעֲרוֹב לִינוּ-נָא הִנֵּה חֲנוֹת הַיּוֹם לִין פֹּה וְיִיטַב לְבָבֶךָ וְהִשְׁכַּמְתֶּם מָחָר לְדַרְכְּכֶם וְהָלַכְתָּ לְאֹהָלֶךָ. י וְלֹא-אָבָה הָאִישׁ לָלוּן וַיָּקָם וַיֵּלֶךְ וַיָּבֹא עַד-נֹכַח יְבוּס הִיא יְרוּשָׁלִָם וְעִמּוֹ צֶמֶד חֲמוֹרִים חֲבוּשִׁים וּפִילַגְשׁוֹ עִמּוֹ. יאהֵם עִם-יְבוּס וְהַיּוֹם רַד מְאֹד וַיֹּאמֶר הַנַּעַר אֶל-אֲדֹנָיו לְכָה-נָּא וְנָסוּרָה אֶל-עִיר-הַיְבוּסִי הַזֹּאת וְנָלִין בָּהּ. יב וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו אֲדֹנָיו לֹא נָסוּר אֶל-עִיר נָכְרִי אֲשֶׁר לֹא-מִבְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל הֵנָּה וְעָבַרְנוּ עַד-גִּבְעָה. יג וַיֹּאמֶר לְנַעֲרוֹ לְךָ וְנִקְרְבָה בְּאַחַד הַמְּקֹמוֹת וְלַנּוּ בַגִּבְעָה אוֹ בָרָמָה. יד וַיַּעַבְרוּ וַיֵּלֵכוּ וַתָּבֹא לָהֶם הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ אֵצֶל הַגִּבְעָה אֲשֶׁר לְבִנְיָמִן. טו וַיָּסֻרוּ שָׁם לָבוֹא לָלוּן בַּגִּבְעָה וַיָּבֹא וַיֵּשֶׁב בִּרְחוֹב הָעִיר וְאֵין אִישׁ מְאַסֵּף-אוֹתָם הַבַּיְתָה לָלוּן. טז וְהִנֵּה אִישׁ זָקֵן בָּא מִן-מַעֲשֵׂהוּ מִן-הַשָּׂדֶה בָּעֶרֶב וְהָאִישׁ מֵהַר אֶפְרַיִם וְהוּא-גָר בַּגִּבְעָה וְאַנְשֵׁי הַמָּקוֹם בְּנֵי יְמִינִי. יז וַיִּשָּׂא עֵינָיו וַיַּרְא אֶת-הָאִישׁ הָאֹרֵחַ בִּרְחֹב הָעִיר וַיֹּאמֶר הָאִישׁ הַזָּקֵן אָנָה תֵלֵךְ וּמֵאַיִן תָּבוֹא. יח וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו עֹבְרִים אֲנַחְנוּ מִבֵּית-לֶחֶם יְהוּדָה עַד-יַרְכְּתֵי הַר-אֶפְרַיִם מִשָּׁם אָנֹכִי וָאֵלֵךְ עַד-בֵּית לֶחֶם יְהוּדָה וְאֶת-בֵּית יְהוָה אֲנִי הֹלֵךְ וְאֵין אִישׁ מְאַסֵּף אוֹתִי הַבָּיְתָה. יט וְגַם-תֶּבֶן גַּם-מִסְפּוֹא יֵשׁ לַחֲמוֹרֵינוּ וְגַם לֶחֶם וָיַיִן יֶשׁ-לִי וְלַאֲמָתֶךָ וְלַנַּעַר עִם-עֲבָדֶיךָ אֵין מַחְסוֹר כָּל-דָּבָר. כ וַיֹּאמֶר הָאִישׁ הַזָּקֵן שָׁלוֹם לָךְ רַק כָּל-מַחְסוֹרְךָ עָלָי רַק בָּרְחוֹב אַל-תָּלַן. כא וַיְבִיאֵהוּ לְבֵיתוֹ ויבול (וַיָּבָל) לַחֲמוֹרִים וַיִּרְחֲצוּ רַגְלֵיהֶם וַיֹּאכְלוּ וַיִּשְׁתּוּ. כב 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. כג וַיֵּצֵא אֲלֵיהֶם הָאִישׁ בַּעַל הַבַּיִת וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵהֶם אַל-אַחַי אַל-תָּרֵעוּ נָא אַחֲרֵי אֲשֶׁר-בָּא הָאִישׁ הַזֶּה אֶל-בֵּיתִי אַל-תַּעֲשׂוּ אֶת-הַנְּבָלָה הַזֹּאת. כד הִנֵּה בִתִּי הַבְּתוּלָה וּפִילַגְשֵׁהוּ אוֹצִיאָה-נָּא אוֹתָם וְעַנּוּ אוֹתָם וַעֲשׂוּ לָהֶם הַטּוֹב בְּעֵינֵיכֶם וְלָאִישׁ הַזֶּה לֹא תַעֲשׂוּ דְּבַר הַנְּבָלָה הַזֹּאת. כה וְלֹא-אָבוּ הָאֲנָשִׁים לִשְׁמֹעַ לוֹ וַיַּחֲזֵק הָאִישׁ בְּפִילַגְשׁוֹ וַיֹּצֵא אֲלֵיהֶם הַחוּץ וַיֵּדְעוּ אוֹתָהּ וַיִּתְעַלְּלוּ-בָהּ כָּל-הַלַּיְלָה עַד-הַבֹּקֶר וַיְשַׁלְּחוּהָ בעלות (כַּעֲלוֹת) הַשָּׁחַר. כו וַתָּבֹא הָאִשָּׁה לִפְנוֹת הַבֹּקֶר וַתִּפֹּל פֶּתַח בֵּית-הָאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר-אֲדוֹנֶיהָ שָּׁם עַד-הָאוֹר. כז וַיָּקָם אֲדֹנֶיהָ בַּבֹּקֶר וַיִּפְתַּח דַּלְתוֹת הַבַּיִת וַיֵּצֵא לָלֶכֶת לְדַרְכּוֹ וְהִנֵּה הָאִשָּׁה פִילַגְשׁוֹ נֹפֶלֶת פֶּתַח הַבַּיִת וְיָדֶיהָ עַל-הַסַּף. כח וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלֶיהָ קוּמִי וְנֵלֵכָה וְאֵין עֹנֶה וַיִּקָּחֶהָ עַל-הַחֲמוֹר וַיָּקָם הָאִישׁ וַיֵּלֶךְ לִמְקֹמוֹ. כט וַיָּבֹא אֶל-בֵּיתוֹ וַיִּקַּח אֶת-הַמַּאֲכֶלֶת וַיַּחֲזֵק בְּפִילַגְשׁוֹ וַיְנַתְּחֶהָ לַעֲצָמֶיהָ לִשְׁנֵים עָשָׂר נְתָחִים וַיְשַׁלְּחֶהָ בְּכֹל גְּבוּל יִשְׂרָאֵל. ל וְהָיָה כָל-הָרֹאֶה וְאָמַר לֹא-נִהְיְתָה וְלֹא-נִרְאֲתָה כָּזֹאת לְמִיּוֹם עֲלוֹת בְּנֵי-יִשְׂרָאֵל מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה שִׂימוּ-לָכֶם עָלֶיהָ עֻצוּ וְדַבֵּרוּ. {פ}

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