Daily Tanach, Thursday: Shoftim Chapter 19-Part 2: Pilegesh Begivah-The rape and death of a concubine

Post Views: 467

1. A man of Efraim invites them to spend the night:

Arrives from work: In the evening, an elderly man originally from the mountains of Efraim arrived from his work in the field to his home, which was in the Givah. The people of the Givah were from the tribe of Benjamin.
The meeting: The man raised his eyes and saw the traveler in the streets of the city, who did not know where to stay. He asked him: Where are you going and from where do you come? He replied: We have come from Beis Lechem Yehuda, and need to reach the border of the mountains of Efraim, which is from where I am from. On the way we will stop by the house of G-d [i.e. Shiloh[1], to offer sacrifices[2]]. However, no one has invited me to stay in their home. We have enough straw and fodder for our donkeys, and have enough of our own bread and wine for myself, my woman and the lad. We lack nothing [but a place to sleep].
The invitation: The elderly man replied: Peace onto you, whatever you need is upon me, and please do not sleep in the streets. So, he brought them into his home, and prepared the food for the donkeys. They washed their feet and ate and drank.

The demand: While they were eating and drinking and making merry to their hearts content, members of the city, who were thugs and ruthless men, surrounded the home and banged on the door demanding from the elderly man that he hand them over the guest that he took in. They desired to rape the man [i.e. have homosexual relations with him[3], and then murder him[4]].
The negotiations: The elderly man came out and replied to the gang: My brothers, please do not harm my guest, and do not perform this atrocity. I will hand you my virgin daughter, and his concubine in his stead, and you can oppress them [i.e. rape] and do to them as you see fit, however, to this man do not do this great abomination. The gang however did not wish to agree to the offer.
The rape: The man who was the guest [in an attempt to save himself[5]] proceeded to forcibly take his concubine outside [and when they saw her beauty, they became satisfied with oppressing her alone[6]]. So, they raped her and sexually oppressed her [i.e. anal intercourse[7]] throughout the night, until morning. When daybreak arrived, they sent her back home.

She collapses in exhaustion: The woman arrived towards the morning to the home of her host, and she fell in exhaustion [from all the sexual intercourse[8]] by the door of the home, and remained there until the full morning arrived.
She is discovered dead: Her husband woke up in the morning ready to travel and behold upon opening the door of the home he saw his concubine lying in a fallen position by the threshold of the door, with her hand by its edge. He told her to get up as they are traveling, however there was no reply [as she was dead[9], from the injuries that she incurred from the violent sexual rape, or from the cold she experienced after the exhaustive rape[10]].
She is dismembered and her body parts are sent to all Israel: The man took her on his donkey, and he returned to his home. Upon arriving home, he took his knife and held on tight to his concubine while dismembering her limbs into twelve quarters. He sent them to all the states in Israel.

When the people saw the dismembered parts of her body they bemoaned saying: Since we left Egypt, we have never seen something so evil of this caliber. We must gather together and advise what to do.

_________________________________________________________

[1] Rashi 19:18

[2] Metzudos David 19:18

[3] Rashi 19:22

[4] See Radak 19:22

[5] Metzudos David 19:25

[6] Radak and Metzudos David 19:25

[7] Malbim 19:25

[8] Metzudos David 19:26

[9] Rashi 19:28

[10] See Ramban Vayeira 19:8