1 Nesse tempo, em que ainda não havia rei em Israel, havia um homem da tribo de Levi, vivendo num extremo da região das colinas de Efraim, que trouxe para sua casa uma rapariga de Belém para ficar a viver com ele como concubina.2 Porém a certa altura ela abandonou-o por outro e regressou para casa do pai, em Belém, lá ficando por uns quatro meses. O marido pegou num criado e preparou-se para ir a Belém; aparelhou também mais um jumento, que levou sem ninguém. O seu intuito era trazer a rapariga para casa de volta. Quando chegou a casa dela, ela recebeu-o, apresentou-o ao pai, e mostrou-se alegre de o tornar a ver.4 O pai pediu-lhe muito que ficasse lá uns tempos, e ele aceitou, ficando três dias, mostrando-se satisfeitos de estarem juntos.5 No quarto dia levantaram-se cedo, prontos para partir, mas o pai insistiu para que tomassem ao menos o pequeno almoço antes da viagem. Entretanto fez pressão sobre ele para que ficasse mais um dia, visto que tinham passado uns bons tempos juntos. A princípio o levita recusou, mas o pai da moça tanto fez que ele acabou por aceitar. Na manhã seguinte, tornaram a levantar-se cedo e novamente o pai instou: Fiquem mais hoje, e partam esta tarde, ao fim do dia. E foi mais um dia de festa lá em casa.9 De tarde, quando o casal mais o criado se preparavam para a viagem, chega-se outra vez o pai: Não vêem que já é tarde. Fiquem mais esta noite. Fazemos um belo serão e amanhã cedo podem iniciar a viagem.10 Mas desta feita o homem foi inflexível e partiram mesmo, tendo chegado a Jerusalém (também chamada Jebus) já muito tarde.11 O criado disse-lhe: Já é muito tarde para viajar; fiquemos aqui esta noite.12 Não. Não podemos ficar aqui numa cidade pagã, onde não há ninguém israelita. Vamos continuar até Gibeá, ou mesmo se possível até Ramá.14 E assim continuaram a viagem. O Sol tinha-se posto há muito quando atingiram Gibeá, uma povoação da tribo de Benjamim; por isso resolveram entrar e passar ali a noite. Mas como ninguém os convidou para os recolher em casa, decidiram dormir ali mesmo no meio da praça.16 Nessa altura chegou-se um homem idoso, que regressava do trabalho no campo, a caminho de casa. Era originário das colinas de Efraim, mas vivia agora em Gibeá, apesar daquele ser o território de Benjamim.17 Quando viu aqueles viajantes assim acampados em plena praça, perguntou-lhes donde eram e para onde iam.18 Estamos a caminho da nossa casa em Belém de Judá, respondeu o levita. Vivo no extremo da região das colinas de Efraim, perto de Silo. Ficámos aqui porque ninguém fez o gesto de nos recolher para passar a noite, ainda que tenhamos suficiente alimento para os nossos jumentos e comida e vinho que baste para nós próprios.20 Não se preocupem. Vocês serão meus hóspedes. Mas aqui é que não vão ficar. É demasiado perigoso.21 E assim levou-os para casa. Deu de comer aos animais e depois foram todos juntos jantar.22 Quando o ambiente começava a aquecer, na alegria daquele convívio, um bando de gente pervertida começou a juntar-se em frente da casa, batendo na porta, gritando para o velho dono da casa que trouxesse para fora o homem que estava com eles, para que o levassem.23 O homem idoso veio cá fora falar com eles: Não, meus irmãos, não façam um tal acto de tamanha loucura! Ele é meu hóspede. Ouçam.24 Levem a minha filha, que é virgem, e a mulher dele. Trago-as aqui e façam delas o que quiserem, mas não levem por diante uma coisas dessas com este homem.25 Os outros contudo não aceitaram. Então o levita trouxe a sua concubina para fora, e empurrou-a para junto deles; aquela gente abusou dela a noite inteira; pela madrugada deixaram-na. Ela arrastou-se até à entrada da casa e ali ficou até o dia clarear.27 Quando o levita ia a abrir a porta para seguir viagem, viu-a caída, com as mãos sobre o limiar da moradia.28 Levanta-te, disse-lhe, vamos embora.Mas não obteve resposta; estava morta. Então pô-la sobre o jumento e levou-a para casa.29 Chegado ao seu destino pegou num cutelo, partiu o corpo em pedaços, e enviou um pedaço a cada uma das tribos de Israel. A nação inteira ficou escandalizada. Nunca se ouviu falar em tal crime, desde que Israel saiu do Egipto, dizia toda a gente. Temos de fazer qualquer coisa.

1 And it came to pass in those days, when there was no king in Israel, that there was a certain Levite dwelling on the side of mount Ephraim, who took to him a concubine out of Beth-lehem-judah.2 And his concubine played the harlot against him, and went away from him to her father's house to Beth-lehem-judah, and was there four whole months.3 And her husband arose, and went after her, to speak kindly to her, and to bring her again, having his servant with him, and a couple of asses: and she brought him into her father's house: and when the father of the damsel saw him, he rejoiced to meet him.4 And his father-in-law, the damsel's father, retained him; and he abode with him three days: so they ate and drank, and lodged there.5 And it came to pass on the fourth day, when they arose early in the morning, that he arose to depart: and the damsel's father said to his son-in-law, Comfort thy heart with a morsel of bread, and afterward depart.6 And they sat down, and ate and drank both of them together: for the damsel's father had said to the man, Be content, I pray thee, and tarry all night, and let thy heart be merry.7 And when the man rose to depart, his father-in-law urged him: therefore he lodged there again.8 And he arose early in the morning on the fifth day to depart: and the damsel's father said, Comfort thy heart, I pray thee. And they tarried until afternoon, and they ate both of them.9 And when the man arose to depart, he, and his concubine, and his servant, his father-in-law, the damsel's father, said to him, Behold now the day draweth towards evening, I pray you tarry all night: behold, the day is coming to an end, lodge here, that thy heart may be merry; and to-morrow get you early on your way, that thou mayest go home.10 But the man would not tarry that night, but he arose and departed, and came over against Jebus, which is Jerusalem; and there were with him two asses saddled, his concubine also was with him.11 And when they were by Jebus, the day was far spent; and the servant said to his master, Come, I pray thee, and let us turn in to this city of the Jebusites, and lodge in it.12 And his master said to him, We will not turn aside hither into the city of a stranger, that is not of the children of Israel; we will pass over to Gibeah.13 And he said to his servant, Come, and let us draw near to one of these places to lodge all night, in Gibeah, or in Ramah.14 And they passed on and went their way; and the sun went down upon them when they were by Gibeah, which belongeth to Benjamin.15 And they turned aside thither, to go in and to lodge in Gibeah: and when he went in, he sat down in a street of the city: for there was no man that took them into his house to lodge.16 And, behold, there came an old man from his work out of the field at evening, who was also of mount Ephraim; and he dwelt in Gibeah: but the men of the place were Benjaminites.17 And when he had lifted up his eyes, he saw a way-faring man in the street of the city: and the old man said, Whither goest thou? and whence comest thou?18 And he said to him, We are passing from Beth-lehem-Judah towards the side of mount Ephraim; from thence am I: and I went to Beth-lehem-judah, but I am now going to the house of the LORD; and there is no man that receiveth me into his house.19 Yet there is both straw and provender for our asses; and there is bread and wine also for me, and for thy handmaid, and for the young man which is with thy servants: there is no want of any thing:20 And the old man said, Peace be with thee; however, let all thy wants lie upon me; only lodge not in the street.21 So he brought him into his house, and gave provender to the asses: and they washed their feet and ate and drank.22 Now as they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, certain sons of Belial, beset the house on all sides, and beat at the door, and spoke to the master of the house, the old man, saying, Bring forth the man that came into thy house, that we may know him.23 And the man, the master of the house, went out to them, and said to them, Nay, my brethren, nay, I pray you, do not so wickedly; seeing that this man is come into my house, do not this folly.24 Behold, here is my daughter, a maiden, and his concubine; them I will bring out now, and humble ye them, and do with them what seemeth good to you: but to this man do not so vile a thing.25 But the men would not hearken to him: so the man took his concubine, and brought her forth to them; and they knew her, and abused her all the night until the morning: and when the day began to spring, they let her go.26 Then came the woman in the dawning of the day, and fell down at the door of the man's house where her lord was, till it was light.27 And her lord rose in the morning, and opened the doors of the house, and went out to go his way: and behold, the woman his concubine had fallen down at the door of the house, and her hands were upon the threshhold.28 And he said to her, Rise, and let us be going. But none answered. Then the man took her upon an ass, and the man rose, and went to his place.29 And when he was come into his house, he took a knife, and laid hold on his concubine, and divided her, with her bones, into twelve pieces, and sent her into all the borders of Israel.30 And it was so, that all that saw it, said, There hath been no such deed done nor seen from the day that the children of Israel came from the land of Egypt to this day: consider of it, take advice, and speak your minds.