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Judges 19

And it came to pass in those days, when there was no king in Israel, that there was a certain Levite sojourning on the side of mount Ephraim, who took to him a concubine out of Bethlehemjudah.

And his concubine played the whore against him, and went away from him unto her father's house to Bethlehemjudah, and was there four whole months.

And her husband arose, and went after her, to speak friendly unto her, and to bring her again, having his servant with him, and a couple of asses: and she brought him into her father's house: and when the father of the damsel saw him, he rejoiced to meet him.

And his father in law, the damsel's father, retained him; and he abode with him three days: so they did eat and drink, and lodged there.

And it came to pass on the fourth day, when they arose early in the morning, that he rose up to depart: and the damsel's father said unto his son in law, Comfort thine heart with a morsel of bread, and afterward go your way.

And they sat down, and did eat and drink both of them together: for the damsel's father had said unto the man, Be content, I pray thee, and tarry all night, and let thine heart be merry.

And when the man rose up to depart, his father in law urged him: therefore he lodged there again.

And he arose early in the morning on the fifth day to depart: and the damsel's father said, Comfort thine heart, I pray thee. And they tarried until afternoon, and they did eat both of them.

And when the man rose up to depart, he, and his concubine, and his servant, his father in law, the damsel's father, said unto him, Behold, now the day draweth toward evening, I pray you tarry all night: behold, the day groweth to an end, lodge here, that thine heart may be merry; and to morrow get you early on your way, that thou mayest go home.

But the man would not tarry that night, but he rose up and departed, and came over against Jebus, which is Jerusalem; and there were with him two asses saddled, his concubine also was with him.

And when they were by Jebus, the day was far spent; and the servant said unto his master, Come, I pray thee, and let us turn in into this city of the Jebusites, and lodge in it.

And his master said unto him, We will not turn aside hither into the city of a stranger, that is not of the children of Israel; we will pass over to Gibeah.

And he said unto his servant, Come, and let us draw near to one of these places to lodge all night, in Gibeah, or in Ramah.

And they passed on and went their way; and the sun went down upon them when they were by Gibeah, which belongeth to Benjamin.

And they turned aside thither, to go in and to lodge in Gibeah: and when he went in, he sat him down in a street of the city: for there was no man that took them into his house to lodging.

And, behold, there came an old man from his work out of the field at even, which was also of mount Ephraim; and he sojourned in Gibeah: but the men of the place were Benjamites.

And when he had lifted up his eyes, he saw a wayfaring man in the street of the city: and the old man said, Whither goest thou? and whence comest thou?

And he said unto him, We are passing from Bethlehemjudah toward the side of mount Ephraim; from thence am I: and I went to Bethlehemjudah, but I am now going to the house of the LORD; and there is no man that receiveth me to house.

Yet there is both straw and provender for our asses; and there is bread and wine also for me, and for thy handmaid, and for the young man which is with thy servants: there is no want of any thing.

And the old man said, Peace be with thee; howsoever let all thy wants lie upon me; only lodge not in the street.

So he brought him into his house, and gave provender unto the asses: and they washed their feet, and did eat and drink.

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.

And the man, the master of the house, went out unto them, Nay, my brethren, nay, I pray you, do not so wickedly; seeing that this man is come into mine house, do not this folly.

Behold, here is my daughter a maiden, and his concubine; them I will bring out now, and humble ye them, and do with them what seemeth good unto you: but unto this man do not so vile a thing.

But the men would not hearken to him: so the man took his concubine, and brought her forth unto them; and they knew her, and abused her all the night until the morning: and when the day began to spring, they let her go.

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.

And her lord rose up in the morning, and opened the doors of the house, and went out to go his way: and, behold, the woman his concubine was fallen down at the door of the house, and her hands were upon the threshold.

And he said unto her, Up, and let us be going. But none answered. Then the man took her up upon an ass, and the man rose up, and gat him unto his place.

And when he was come into his house, he took a knife, and laid hold on his concubine, and divided her, together with her bones, into twelve pieces, and sent her into all the coasts of Israel.

And it was so, that all that saw it said, There was no such deed done nor seen from the day that the children of Israel came up out of the land of Egypt unto this day: consider of it, take advice, and speak your minds.

What does Judges 19:20 mean?

Judges 19:20

"And the old man said, Peace be with thee; howsoever let all thy wants lie upon me; only lodge not in the street."

Explanation

[Judges 19:20] Reads, "And the old man said, Peace be with thee; howsoever let all thy wants lie upon me; only lodge not in the street." In this verse, we observe an offer of hospitality from an old man to a traveling Levite and his party, which included his concubine and servant.

The Levite has journeyed far and has arrived in the city of Gibeah in the territory of the tribe of Benjamin.

The old man's words carry a message of peace and willingness to provide for the Levite's needs.

The urgency in the old man's voice suggests the potential danger or dishonor of spending the night in the open square, something that was not customary for travelers in ancient near-eastern societies if hospitality could be found.

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Historical Context

Judges 19 occurs during a tumultuous and chaotic period in Israel's history, characterized by the phrase, "In those days there was no king in Israel" (Judges 17:6; 18:1; 19:1; 21:25).

This was prior to the establishment of the monarchy, and each tribe of Israel was largely autonomous.

This was a time known for its social and moral depravity.

The lack of centralized authority led to a decline in hospitality and safety for travelers, which serves as a backdrop for the unsettling account that unfolds in Judges 19.

Theological Insights

Theologically, this verse touches on several themes.

Firstly, the principle of hospitality is significant in the Hebrew Bible, with ample emphasis on caring for strangers and travelers (e.g., Leviticus 19:34, Deuteronomy 10:19).

Secondly, the old man's offer of peace, "Peace be with thee", can be understood in the broader biblical context that peace (shalom in Hebrew) means more than the absence of conflict but relates to overall well-being.

The old man's insistence on not allowing the Levite to stay in the street underpins the importance of protecting one's guest as a sacred duty.

Practical Applications

In a practical sense, the verse exemplifies the virtue of hospitality and the moral obligation to care for others, especially strangers in need. It encourages individuals to take responsibility for the welfare of those around them and to offer generous and sincere help.

The verse reminds us to ensure that our communities are safe places for all people and not to overlook those who may seem out of place or in need of assistance.

Cross-References

Genesis 19:2-3: Lot's offer of hospitality to the angels in Sodom.
Hebrews 13:2: An admonition to show hospitality, as some have entertained angels unawares.
Deuteronomy 10:19: A command to love the stranger, for the Israelites were strangers in Egypt.

Language Study

The word "peace" translates from the Hebrew "shalom," which encompasses a range of meanings including peace, harmony, wholeness, completeness, prosperity, welfare, and tranquility.

The phrase "let all thy wants lie upon me" indicates the old man's willingness to take on the responsibility for the Levite's needs, suggesting the seriousness with which hospitality was regarded in the culture of the time.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Hospitality was a deeply ingrained value in many ancient Near Eastern cultures, evidenced in texts such as "The Odyssey" where Xenia (the ancient Greek concept of hospitality) is central to the narrative.

The Code of Hammurabi also includes laws about the treatment of strangers, showing the shared understanding across cultures of the importance of hospitality.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific perspective, the practice of hospitality can be analyzed in terms of evolutionary psychology and sociology. These fields explore how behaviors such as cooperation and altruism, which hospitality encompasses, have been essential for human survival and societal development.

Commentaries

Commentators throughout history have approached this verse from various angles:

Matthew Henry's Commentary highlights the generosity and duty of the old man extending hospitality.
The Pulpit Commentary focuses on the disgrace of the Levite possibly having to sleep in the street and the old man's compassion and understanding of this dishonor.
The Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary points out the condition of the times and the rarity of finding such hospitable individuals like the old man in Gibeah.

Judges 19

Judges 19

What does Judges 19:20 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Judges Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Judges 19:20 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Judges Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?