The scene now changes from that of the night of horror and abuse and the woman near death lying at the doorstep to the people inside the old man’s house who seem unconcerned about her fate. This is yet another ironic contrast, certainly intended to shock the audience. Some people might qualify this passage as one of the saddest in the Old Testament.

And her master rose up in the morning: And renders the Hebrew waw conjunction. Some languages may prefer to omit it at this high point in the story. Others may prefer to cast this clause as a dependent one by saying “When her husband rose in the morning,” adding to the suspense. For the ironic use of her master, see verse 19.26. Once again the Hebrew verb qum rendered rose up appears. Used throughout this book to describe how Yahweh “raised up” a deliverer for his people (verse 2.16), here the Levite ironically rose up to discover his wife brutalized by his fellow Israelites. However, he seems oblivious to his own responsibility in the events leading to civil war in Israel. If at all possible, the same verb should be used here as used previously in the book, thus preserving this important literary link. If this is not possible, then we might say he “woke up” (Contemporary English Version), “got up” (Good News Translation), or “got out of bed.”

And when he opened the doors of the house renders an independent clause in Hebrew, literally “and he opened the doors of the house.” New Revised Standard Version and Contemporary English Version maintain an independent clause here. However, like the previous clause, this one and the next lead up to the climax of this episode, which is the discovery of the dead concubine. In many languages the use of subordinate clauses here and even in the first three clauses of this verse will be effective in building suspense. New International Version‘s rendering is especially striking: “When her master got up in the morning and opened the door of the house and stepped out to continue on his way.” The Hebrew word for doors is plural, suggesting a door with two sides (see comments on verse 19.26, where a different Hebrew word is used). Of the house is a repetitive expression that slows down the story right before the climax, which is typical of Hebrew narrative.

And went out to go on his way (literally “and went out to go on his road”) means the Levite left the old man’s house ready to continue on his journey. He had no concern for his concubine. The Hebrew verb rendered went out (yatsaʾ) occurs often in this section. The men who surrounded the house asked the old man to “bring out” the Levite (verse 19.22), but his concubine was “put out” in his place (verse 19.25). Now the Levite “goes out.” In many languages different verbs may need to be used in each of these contexts.

Behold, there was his concubine … is literally “and behold the woman, his concubine….” Here the Hebrew word hinneh rendered behold marks the high point of the story, as the Levite discovers his concubine on the doorstep. It expresses his surprise at finding her there. Translators should look for some way of expressing this important word. Some will use a word such as “Look!” or an equivalent of the French word voici. In other languages a conjunction or an ideophone expressing surprise may be used. In the Hebrew text there is repetition and heavy emphasis on his concubine, literally “the woman, his concubine.” Many versions omit one of these expressions, but if possible, both of them should be kept for emphasis, as in New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh. The use of this phrase also shows the impersonality of this entire account. Neither the Levite, his concubine, nor the old man are given names.

Lying at the door of the house: Lying renders the Hebrew verb nafal meaning “fall,” this keyword that most often describes the enemies of Israel as they lay dead, defeated by the Israelites (see verse 19.26). Here ironically it is used to describe an Israelite woman raped and murdered by her own people. Lying renders a Hebrew participle, a verb form that often occurs with hinneh (behold). The woman was probably lying face down. At the door of the house is another repetitive phrase (see verse 19.26), possibly emphasizing the breach of hospitality.

With her hands on the threshold is literally “and her hands upon the doorsill.” These are powerful words and they paint a pitiful picture. Throughout this book, the Hebrew word for hands occurs continually to describe how the heroes of Israel defeat their enemies, starting with Ehud, the left-handed man, and continuing with Jael, Gideon, and Samson. Here the woman’s hands are inert, stretched out in a pitiful appeal for help. The woman, overcome by the abuse, was lying face down with her hands outstretched, grasping the threshold, which refers to the piece of wood at the bottom of the doorframe. If she could have made a sound, presumably someone would have heard her. Translators must try to maintain the keyword hands. In some languages it may be necessary to supply a verb by saying “her hands grabbed the threshold” or “with her hands she grabbed the door opening.” Clearly the narrator is trying to paint a picture of her agony and suffering, and translators should try to convey the emotion here. For example, Good News Translation says “he found his concubine lying in front of the house with her hands reaching for the door.”

Translation models for this verse are:

• Her husband arose the next morning and opened the doors to go out and continue his journey. To his surprise, he found the woman—his concubine—lying in the entrance, her hands reaching out toward the threshold.

• The next morning the Levite got up and opened the door, ready to go on his way. Surprise! There was his wife, lying there with her hands clutching the doorsill.

Quoted with permission from Zogbo, Lynell and Ogden, Graham S. A Handbook on Judges. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2019. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .