eady thirty furlongs, the
servant advised them to take up their lodgings some where, lest some
misfortune should befall them if they traveled in the night, especially
since they were not far off enemies, that season often giving reason for
suspicion of dangers from even such as are friends; but the husband was
not pleased with this advice, nor was he willing to take up his lodging
among strangers, for the city belonged to the Canaanites, but desired
rather to go twenty furlongs farther, and so to take their lodgings in
some Israelite city. Accordingly, he obtained his purpose, and came
to Gibeah, a city of the tribe of Benjamin, when it was just dark; and
while no one that lived in the market-place invited him to lodge with
him, there came an old man out of the field, one that was indeed of the
tribe of Ephraim, but resided in Gibeah, and met him, and asked him
who he was, and for what reason he came thither so late, and why he
was looking out for provisions for supper when it was dark? To which
he replied, that he was a Levite, and was bringing his wife from her
parents, and was going home; but he told him his habitation was in the
tribe of Ephraim: so the old man, as well because of their kindred as
because they lived in the same tribe, and also because they had thus
accidentally met together, took him in to lodge with him. Now certain
young men of the inhabitants of Gibeah, having seen the woman in the
market-place, and admiring her beauty, when they understood that she
lodged with the old man, came to the doors, as contemning the weakness
and fewness of the old man's family; and when the old man desired them
to go away, and not to offer any violence or abuse there, they desired
him to yield them up the strange woman, and then he should have no harm
done to him: and when the old man alleged that the Levite was of his
kindred, and that they would be guilty of horrid wickedness if they
suffered themselves to be overcome by their pleasures, and so offend
against their laws, they despised his righteous admonition, and laughed
him to scorn. They also threatened to kill him if he became an obstacle
to their inclinations; whereupon, when he found himself in great
distress, and yet was not willing to overlook his guests, and see them
abused, he produced his own daughter to them; and told them that it
was a smaller breach of the law to satisfy their lust upon her, than to
abuse his guests, supposing that he himself should by th