There was a Levite who lived deep in the hill country of Ephraim. He got a concubine from Bethlehem in Judah. She left him. She stayed there for four months.
He tried to talk her into coming back with him. He had his servant and two donkeys with him. When her father saw him, he gladly welcomed him. So the Levite remained with him for three days. He ate, drank and slept there. The Levite prepared to leave. It will give you strength. Then you can go on your way. They ate and drank together. Enjoy yourself. But his father-in-law talked him into staying. So he stayed there that night.
Wait until this afternoon! His concubine and his servant got up when he did. The day is nearly over. So spend another night here. Please stay. Early tomorrow morning you can get up and go back home. So he left.
He went toward Jebus. Jebus is also called Jerusalem. The Levite had his two donkeys and his concubine with him. The donkeys had saddles on them. We can spend the night in one of those places. As they came near Gibeah in Benjamin, the sun went down. But no one took them home for the night. He had been working in the fields. He was from the hill country of Ephraim. But he was living in Gibeah. The people who lived there were from the tribe of Benjamin. Where did you come from? I live deep in the hill country there.
But no one has taken me home for the night. We have food and wine for ourselves. We have enough for me, the woman and the young man with us. After the travelers had washed their feet, they had something to eat and drink.
