It happened in those days, when there was no king in Yisroel, that there was a Levite man who dwelt in the foothills of Mount Ephraim. He took a concubine from Beis Lechem, in Yehudah.

His concubine strayed from him, and went from him to her father's home—to Beis Lechem, in Yehudah. She remained there for a time—four months.

Her husband rose, and followed her, to entice her into returning. He was accompanied by his servant, and a couple of donkeys. She brought him to her father's home. When the girl's father saw him, he approached him joyfully.

His father-in-law, the girl's father, detained him. and he remained with him for three days. They ate and drank, and lodged there overnight.

It happened, on the fourth day, that they arose early, and he rose to leave. The girl's father told his son-in-law, "Nourish yourself with a piece of bread; then you can depart."

They seated themselves, and both ate and drank together. The girl's father told the man, "Please give your assent, and remain overnight and let your heart be glad."

The man rose to depart, but his father-in-law insisted, so he returned, and remained there overnight.

He arose early on the fifth day, to leave. The girl's father said, "Please, nourish yourself." They dallied until the sun's descent, and they both ate.

The man rose to depart, he, his concubine, and his servant. His father-in-law, the girl's father, told him, "Look, please, the sun has waned, and is setting. Please remain overnight. It is the time of day for encamping. Remain here overnight, and let your heart be glad. Tomorrow you may rise early, be on your way, and proceed homeward."

The man had no desire to remain overnight, so he rose, and departed. He arrived at an area facing Yevus, or Yerushalayim. He had with him a couple of saddled donkeys. His concubine was with him.

They were at Yevus, and the sun had virtually set. The servant said to his master, "Come, please, let us turn in to this Yevusite city, and spend the night there."

His master told him, "Let us not turn in to an alien city of non-Jews. Let us cross to Givoh."

He told his servant, "Come and let us draw near to one of these places. We will spend the night at Givoh, or at Ramah."

They crossed, and proceeded. the sun went down for them at Givoh of Binyomin.

They turned in there, in order to enter Givoh and spend the night. He proceeded, and stationed himself in the city square, but not a single person invited them home to spend the night.

Then an elderly man came from his business in the field during the evening. The man was from Mount Efraim, and lived at Givoh. The townspeople were Binyominites.

He looked up, and noticed the visitor in the city square. The elderly man said, "Where are you going? Where are you from?"

He said to him, "We are passing through, from Bais Lechem of Yehudah to the foothills of Mount Efraim. I am from there, but I travelled to Beis Lechem of Yehudah, and I am going to the Sanctuary of Adonoy. Not a single person has invited me home.

There is ample straw and fodder for our donkeys; there is also bread and wine for me and for your maidservant, and for the lad accompanying your servant. Not a thing is lacking."

The elderly man said, "Peace be with you! Just, whatever you lack is my responsibilty, only do not spend the night in the square."

He brought him to his home, and fed produce to the donkeys. They washed their feet, and ate and drank.

They were enjoying themselves, when the townspeople — scoundrels—surrounded the house, pounded at the door, and spoke to the elderly householder, saying, "Bring out the man visiting your home, we want to have relations with him."

The man, the householder, went out to them, and told them, "Don't, my brothers, don't be sinful, please. As this man has visited my home, do not commit this loathsome act.

Here is my virgin daughter and his concubine; please, let me bring them out to you—torment them, do with them as you see fit, but do not commit, against this man, this loathsome act."

But the men had no desire to listen to him, so the man took hold of his concubine and brought her out to them. They had relations with her, and molested her all night long, until morning. They released her at daybreak.

The woman returned toward morning. She collapsed at the entrance to the man's house where her husband was, until daylight.

Her husband rose in the morning, opened the doors of the house, and stepped out to proceed on his way, but there was a woman—his concubine—lying prostrate at the entrance to the house, with her hands on the threshold.

He said to her, "Come, let us go!" but there was no answer. He took her and placed her on the donkey. The man got up and went to his place.

He returned to his home. He took a knife, grasped his concubine, and dismembered her into twelve pieces. He sent them to all the borders of Yisroel.

It happened then, that everyone who saw declared, "Nothing has happened or been seen to compare with this from the day that the Bnei Yisroel went up from the land of Egypt until this day. Consider this, take counsel and speak!"