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Thursday, September 11th, 2025
the Week of Proper 18 / Ordinary 23
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Easy-to-Read Version

Judges 19:12

But his master, the Levite man, said, "No, we will not go inside a strange city. Those people are not Israelites. We will go to the city of Gibeah."

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Gibeah;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Garments;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Sexuality, Human;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Micah;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Jerusalem;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Gibeah;   Hospitality;   Judges, Book of;   Transportation and Travel;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Benjamin;   Bethlehem;   Gibeah;   Marriage;   Priests and Levites;   Samson;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Gibeah ;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Concubine;   Gibeah;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Reign of the Judges;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Hill;   Hill;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Aliens;   Gibeah;   Jerusalem;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
But his master replied to him, “We will not stop at a foreign city where there are no Israelites. Let’s move on to Gibeah.”
Hebrew Names Version
His master said to him, We won't turn aside into the city of a foreigner, that is not of the children of Yisra'el; but we will pass over to Gevah.
King James Version
And his master said unto 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.
Lexham English Bible
But his master said to him, "We will not turn aside to the city of foreigners, who are not from the Israelites; we will cross over up to Gibeah."
English Standard Version
And his master said to him, "We will not turn aside into the city of foreigners, who do not belong to the people of Israel, but we will pass on to Gibeah."
New Century Version
But his master said, "No. We won't go inside a foreign city. Those people are not Israelites. We will go on to the city of Gibeah."
New English Translation
But his master said to him, "We should not stop at a foreign city where non-Israelites live. We will travel on to Gibeah."
Amplified Bible
But his master said to him, "We will not turn aside into a city of foreigners who are not of the sons (descendants) of Israel. We will go on as far as Gibeah."
New American Standard Bible
However, his master said to him, "We will not turn aside into a city of foreigners who are not of the sons of Israel; instead, we will go on as far as Gibeah."
Geneva Bible (1587)
And his master answered him, We will not turne into the citie of strangers that are not of the children of Israel, but we will goe forth to Gibeah.
Legacy Standard Bible
Maar sy heer sê aan hom: Ons kan nie uitdraai na 'n vreemde stad waar nie van die kinders van Israel is nie, maar ons moet verbytrek tot by Gíbea.
Contemporary English Version
"No," the Levite answered. "They aren't Israelites, and I refuse to spend the night there. We'll stop for the night at Gibeah,
Complete Jewish Bible
But his master said to him, "We won't go into a city of foreigners which doesn't belong to the people of Isra'el. We'll go on across to Giv‘ah."
Darby Translation
But his master said to him, We will not turn aside into the city of a stranger, which is not of the children of Israel, but we will pass on to Gibeah.
George Lamsa Translation
And his master said to him, We will not turn aside into a strange city that does not belong to the house of Israel; but we will pass on to Gibeah.
Good News Translation
But his master said, "We're not going to stop in a city where the people are not Israelites. We'll pass on by and go a little farther and spend the night at Gibeah or Ramah."
Literal Translation
And his master said to him, Let us not turn to the city of an alien that is not of the sons of Israel, but we shall pass over to Gibeah.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Not withstondinge his master sayde vnto him: I wil not turne in to ye cite of the aleauntes, that are not of the children of Israel, but I wyl go ouer vnto Gibea.
American Standard Version
And his master said unto him, We will not turn aside into the city of a foreigner, that is not of the children of Israel; but we will pass over to Gibeah.
Bible in Basic English
But his master said to him, We will not go out of our way into a strange town, whose people are not of the children of Israel; but we will go on to Gibeah.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
His maister aunswered him: We wyll not turne into a straunge citie that are not of the children of Israel, we will go foorth to Gibea.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And his master said unto him: 'We will not turn aside into the city of a foreigner, that is not of the children of Israel; but we will pass over to Gibeah.'
King James Version (1611)
And his master said vnto him, We will not turne aside hither into the citie of a stranger, that is not of the children of Israel, we will passe ouer to Gibeah.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And his master said to him, We will not turn aside to a strange city, where there is not one of the children of Israel, but we will pass on as far as Gabaa.
English Revised Version
And his master said unto him, We will not turn aside into the city of a stranger, that is not of the children of Israel; but we will pass over to Gibeah.
Berean Standard Bible
But his master replied, "We will not turn aside to the city of foreigners, where there are no Israelites. We will go on to Gibeah."
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
To whom the lord answeride, Y schal not entre in to the citee of an alien folc, which is not of the sones of Israel, but Y schal passe `til to Gabaa;
Young's Literal Translation
And his lord saith unto him, `Let us not turn aside unto the city of a stranger, that is not of the sons of Israel, thither, but we have passed over unto Gibeah.'
Update Bible Version
And his master said to him, We will not turn aside into a city of the foreigner, that is not of the sons of Israel; but we will pass over to Gibeah.
Webster's Bible Translation
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.
World English Bible
His master said to him, We won't turn aside into the city of a foreigner, that is not of the children of Israel; but we will pass over to Gibeah.
New King James Version
But his master said to him, "We will not turn aside here into a city of foreigners, who are not of the children of Israel; we will go on to Gibeah."
New Living Translation
"No," his master said, "we can't stay in this foreign town where there are no Israelites. Instead, we will go on to Gibeah.
New Life Bible
But his owner said to him, "We will not go into the city of strangers who are not of the people of Israel. We will go as far as Gibeah."
New Revised Standard
But his master said to him, "We will not turn aside into a city of foreigners, who do not belong to the people of Israel; but we will continue on to Gibeah."
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And his lord said unto him, We will not turn aside into a city of aliens, who are, not of the sons of Israel, - but will pass on as far as Gibeah.
Douay-Rheims Bible
His master answered him: I will not go into the town of another nation, who are not of the children of Israel, but I will pass over to Gabaa:
Revised Standard Version
And his master said to him, "We will not turn aside into the city of foreigners, who do not belong to the people of Israel; but we will pass on to Gib'e-ah."
THE MESSAGE
But his master said, "We're not going into any city of foreigners. We'll go on to Gibeah." He directed his servant, "Keep going. Let's go on ahead. We'll spend the night either at Gibeah or Ramah."
New American Standard Bible (1995)
However, his master said to him, "We will not turn aside into the city of foreigners who are not of the sons of Israel; but we will go on as far as Gibeah."

Contextual Overview

1 At that time the Israelites did not have a king. There was a Levite who lived far back in the hill country of Ephraim. He had taken as a wife a slave woman. She was from the city of Bethlehem in the country of Judah. 2 But his slave woman had an argument with him. She left him and went back to her father's house in Bethlehem in Judah. She stayed there for four months. 3 Then her husband went after her. He wanted to speak kindly to her so that she would come back to him. He took with him his servant and two donkeys. The Levite came to her father's house. Her father saw the Levite and came out to greet him. The father was very happy. 4 The woman's father led the Levite into his house. The Levite's father-in-law invited him to stay. So he stayed for three days. He ate, drank, and slept in his father-in-law's house. 5 On the fourth day, they got up early in the morning. The Levite was getting ready to leave. But the young woman's father said to his son-in-law, "Eat something first. After you eat, you can go." 6 So the Levite and his father-in-law sat down to eat and drink together. After that the young woman's father said to the Levite, "Please stay tonight. Relax and enjoy yourself." So the two men ate together. 7 The Levite got up to leave, but his father-in-law persuaded him to stay the night again. 8 Then, on the fifth day, the Levite got up early in the morning. He was ready to leave. But the woman's father said to his son-in-law, "Eat something first. Relax and stay until this afternoon." So they both ate together again. 9 Then the Levite, his slave woman, and his servant got up to leave. But the young woman's father said, "It is almost dark. The day is almost gone. So stay the night here and enjoy yourself. Tomorrow morning you can get up early and go on your way." 10 But the Levite did not want to stay another night. He took his two donkeys and his slave woman. He traveled as far as the city of Jebus (that is, Jerusalem).

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Gibeah: Gibeah, a city of Benjamin, and the birth-place of Saul, was situated near Rama and Gibeon, according to Josephus, thirty furlongs north from Jerusalem; or, according to Jerome, about two leagues. Judges 19:12

Reciprocal: Joshua 18:28 - Gibeath 1 Samuel 10:26 - Gibeah 1 Samuel 13:2 - in Gibeah Isaiah 10:29 - Gibeah Hosea 5:8 - Gibeah

Cross-References

Genesis 7:1
Then the Lord said to Noah, "I have seen that you are a good man, even among the evil people of this time. So gather your family, and all of you go into the boat.
Genesis 19:14
So Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, the men who had married his other daughters. He said, "Hurry and leave this city! The Lord will soon destroy it!" But they thought he was joking.
Genesis 19:17
So after the two men brought Lot and his family out of the city, one of the men said, "Now run to save your life! Don't look back at the city, and don't stop anywhere in the valley. Run until you are in the mountains. If you stop, you will be destroyed with the city!"
Genesis 19:22
But run there quickly. I cannot destroy Sodom until you are safely in that town." (That town is named Zoar, because it is a small town.)
Genesis 19:23
Lot was entering the town as the sun came up,
Numbers 16:26
Moses warned the people, "Move away from the tents of these evil men. Don't touch anything that belongs to them! If you do, you will be destroyed because of their sins."
Jeremiah 32:39
I will give them the desire to be one, united people. They will have one goal—to worship me all their lives. They and their children will want to do this.
2 Peter 2:7
But he saved Lot, a good man who lived there. Lot was greatly troubled by the morally bad lives of those evil people.
2 Peter 2:9
So you see that the Lord God knows how to save those who are devoted to him. He will save them when troubles come. And the Lord will hold evil people to punish them on the day of judgment.
Revelation 18:4
Then I heard another voice from heaven say, "Come out of that city, my people, so that you will not share in her sins. Then you will not suffer any of the terrible punishment she will get.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And his master said unto him, we will not turn aside hither into the city of a stranger,.... A city of the children of the Gentiles, as the Targum, as the Jebusites were, being one of the seven nations of the land of Canaan, who were to be dispossessed and destroyed; and which, one would think, he would not have so called, had it been inhabited, though but in part, by the children of Judah and Benjamin: by this it appears, that this Levite was a good man, and conscientious, and shunned all appearance of evil, and the company of wicked men, as became his character and profession: and it is added,

that is not of the children of Israel; which further confirms the above conjecture, that this city was not as yet at all in the hands of the Israelites; or if it had been, was retaken, and now in the hands of the Jebusites:

we will pass over to Gibeah; which was in the tribe of Benjamin, and inhabited by men of that tribe, and so more agreeable to this Levite, though it proved fatal to him; this was, as Josephus says r thirty furlongs, or near four miles from Jebus or Jerusalem; and though it was near sun setting, he chose rather to proceed on to this place, than to lodge at Jebus, and the rather it may be, as it was a Levitical city,

Joshua 21:17.

r De Bello Jud. l. 5. c. 2. sect. 1.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

City of a stranger - This shows how completely, even in these early days, the Jebusite population had excluded both the tribes of Judah and Benjamin.


 
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