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Verse

Judges 19:26

ESV And as morning appeared, the woman came and fell down at the door of the man’s house where her master was, until it was light.
NIV At daybreak the woman went back to the house where her master was staying, fell down at the door and lay there until daylight.
NASB As the day began to dawn, the woman came and fell down at the doorway of the man’s house where her master was, until full daylight.
CSB Early that morning, the woman made her way back, and as it was getting light, she collapsed at the doorway of the man's house where her master was.
NLT At daybreak the woman returned to the house where her husband was staying. She collapsed at the door of the house and lay there until it was light.
KJV 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.

What does Judges 19:26 mean?

A woman, the concubine of a Levite (Judges 19:1, 10) has been unspeakably violated by a depraved mob in Gibeah (Judges 19:22–25). She is pictured here stumbling or dragging herself back to the home of her host (Judges 19:16–21), knowing her husband, her master, is inside. She seems to be locked out. Also, she is either unable to cry for help, or her cries are ignored. She lays there as the sun rises. Her abuse was so severe that, when the door finally opens, she will have died from her injuries (Judges 19:28).

In any era of humanity, this should have been considered a crime scene. Such evil would warrant swift justice in most times and places throughout history. The people of Israel, too, will demand justice. It will not be easily won. The concubine's husband is not literally guilty of the rape, itself. Yet he is depicted as uncaring and cold towards her (Judges 19:25). Yet his response to her death shocks Israel into demanding justice against the men of Gibeah (Judges 19:29–30). That will lead to terrible consequences (Judges 20:8–10).
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