The Levite now retells the tragic story from his own perspective. However, it seems noteworthy that he refers to himself three times (me) before mentioning his concubine! This could show his lack of concern for her as well as the fact that he is trying very hard to defend himself. He wants to emphasize how aggressive his attackers were, what danger he himself was in, and why he did not protect his concubine. The repetitive use of the first person singular suffix for me and my in Hebrew communicates his own terror, but in a very ironic way. His explanations are full of detail and often exaggerated (if not untruthful), finally leading to the short and simple truth: “and she [his concubine] died.”

And the men of Gibe-ah rose against me: The Hebrew waw conjunction rendered And introduces the next event. But it is striking that the Levite does not tell the whole story, as he skips the whole account of the old man’s welcome. The men of Gibe-ah is literally “the lords of Gibeah.” The Hebrew word for “lords” is baʿal, the same word used for the god Baal, which figures prominently in the introductory passages (verse 2.11; verse 3.7), at the beginning of the story of Gideon (verse 6.25), and in the account of Abimelech (see comments on verse 9.2). Throughout this book it is clear that the people of Israel abandoned Yahweh for the worship of Baal, the god of the Canaanites. It would appear that the Levite uses this term in an ironic or sarcastic way, since these men are not “lords” but “base fellows” (verse 20.13). Like Revised Standard Version, many other versions say simply “the men of Gibeah” (Contemporary English Version, New International Version). Revised English Bible is similar with “the townsmen of Gibeah,” and so is New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh with “The citizens of Gibeah.” However, New Revised Standard Version is more literal with “The lords of Gibeah,” thus preserving the sarcasm and link back to the previous passages. If possible, translators should try to do the same.

Rose against me uses the key Hebrew verb qum, which in the first and second parts of the book describes the LORD “raising up” the victorious deliverers of Israel (see comments on verse 2.16), but here describes the despicable men of Gibe-ah. In this context rose does not refer to any upward movement, but means “attack.” New International Version renders this phrase well with “came after me.” Ideally, however, the verb rose should be used here in order to maintain the irony.

And beset the house round about me by night renders an unusual expression in Hebrew, which is literally “and surrounded upon me the house at night.” Here the emphasis is on the pronoun me. For beset the house round about, see verse 19.22. Again this account ties back to the story of Lot and the men who surrounded his house, wanting to sexually assault his guests, the angels (Gen 19.4-9). By night emphasizes the peril. Most of the townspeople were sleeping, so there was no one to come to the Levite’s rescue. For by night, see verse 6.27. Some languages may prefer to reorder these clauses by saying “During that night the men of Gibeah rose and surrounded the house I was in to attack me.” Again the audience sees the irony here, since though the men of Gibeah threatened the Levite, they did not attack him.

They meant to kill me: The Levite seems to be explaining what the men of Gibeah wanted to do to him, but it is important to note that he is exaggerating. The men meant to rape him, not kill him. This clause is literally “me they thought to kill.” Once again the word order in Hebrew puts emphasis on the pronoun me. The Levite embellishes the story to show how much danger he was in, justifying his cowardly act of giving his concubine over to the rowdy crowd. Throughout this passage, he is focused on himself. Meant renders a Hebrew verb that usually means “think,” “imagine,” or “plan.” Kill translates a different Hebrew verb than the one rendered “murdered” in the previous verse, but in some languages the same verb will be used.

And they ravished my concubine is literally “and my concubine they raped.” The Levite finally comes to the point. In Hebrew my concubine occurs at the beginning of this clause for emphasis. And is a good rendering of the Hebrew waw conjunction here, since the Levite recounts the events in quick succession. However, in some languages it may be better rendered “but” or “instead” (Good News Translation) in this context. For the Hebrew verb translated ravished, see verse 19.24. New Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation say they “raped” her, but “abused” her might be closer to the Hebrew. Translators should find a good equivalent. Merely saying they had sexual relations with her would be far too weak. Some languages might say “and they forced my wife.”

And she is dead renders a brief statement in Hebrew, which is literally “and she died” (Good News Translation). The Levite does not want to dwell on his concubine’s death or be accused of it. Revised English Bible says “so that she died,” and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh has “until she died.”

Suggested translation models for this verse are:

• The men of Gibeah rose to attack me, surrounding me in the house that night. They planned to kill me. But they took my wife and raped her until she died.

• Those big men of Gibeah came to attack me. They surrounded the house I was in that night, planning to kill me. Then they took my wife and abused her. And now she is dead.

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 .