JUDGES 19:22 — KING JAMES VERSION 0 0
“Now as they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, certain sons of Belial, beset the house round about, and beat at the door, and spake to the master of the house, the old man, saying, Bring forth the man that came into thine house, that we may know him.”
As they were making merry, behold, the men of the city, certain sons of Belial, surrounded the house and beat on the door; and they said to the old man, the master of the house: 'Bring out the man who came into your house, that we may know him' (וְהֵנָּה אַנְשֵׁי הָעִיר אַנְשֵׁי בְנֵי־בְלִיַּעַל נַסְּבוּ אֶת־הַבַּיִת סָבִיב וַיִּדְפְּקוּ הַדֶּלֶת וַיֹּאמְרוּ לַזָּקֵן בַּעַל־הַבַּיִת הוֹצִא אֶת־הָאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר־בָּא אֶל־בֵּיתְךָ וְנֵדָעֶנּוּ) — while the household enjoys a meal, the men of Gibeah—described as ``sons of Belial'' (בְנֵי־בְלִיַּעַל, lawless and evil men)—surround the house. Their demand to ``know'' the man (וְנֵדָעֶנּוּ) is a euphemism for sexual assault. The narrative suddenly shifts from hospitality to violation and violence. The men of the city demand that the old man hand over his guest for rape.
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