שופטים, פרק י״ט, פסוק כ״ה

The tension reaches a breaking point as the angry mob outside the house stands firm, completely rejecting the host's desperate attempts to calm them. Their refusal to listen to reason stems from different motivations. They may have been determined to specifically assault the guest himself [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Alternatively, their rejection was rooted in a reluctance to bring shame upon the elderly host's own daughter [מלבי״ם].

Realizing that a choice had to be made between his own safety and the women in the house, the guest took drastic and violent action. Because his concubine refused to leave, he physically grabbed her and forced her outside against her will. The primary approach among commentators is that he did this out of self-preservation, hoping that her beauty would satisfy the mob and prompt them to leave him alone [רד״ק, מצודת דוד]. However, another perspective suggests a motive rooted in gratitude toward his host. Seeing that the homeowner was prepared to sacrifice his own daughter to protect his guest, the man decided it was more appropriate to surrender his own concubine rather than allow the host's daughter to suffer on his account [אלשיך].

Once the woman was pushed outside, the crowd's intentions became entirely clear. Even though the men had initially demanded the guest, the sight of the concubine shifted their focus. They desired her, accepted her in his place, and abandoned their original demand. This sudden change proves that their ultimate goal was simply to satisfy their base lust [רד״ק, מלבי״ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

The ensuing horror unfolded in two distinct phases. First, the men violated her through natural means, assaulting her one after another. This was followed by a second stage of severe abuse and unnatural violation [מצודת דוד, מצודת ציון, מלבי״ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. The relentless torture continued throughout the entire night. It was only at the break of dawn, the precise moment when the first glimmer of light appeared in the eastern sky just before sunrise, that they finally released her [מצודת דוד].