Hospitality Refused

After three days in the home of his father-in-law, the Levite is eager to depart. He plans to return home to Ephraim by way of Shiloh (v. 18); perhaps he has Levitical duties there, or it may be that he wishes to worship God in thanks for restoring his relationship with his wayward concubine. However, the woman’s father is still eager to extend his hospitality—he urges the Levite to have some breakfast, then to stay over one more day and night, and the young man graciously consents. Then the Levite’s plans for departure early the next day are postponed by yet another long breakfast. Finally, when the father-in-law again suggests that he spend the night, the Levite insists upon leaving, even though the afternoon is wearing away. It does not appear that the father-in-law’s intent is evil, merely that he is exceedingly hospitable, a trait that contrasts strongly with what follows.

The Levite sets out with his concubine and his servant, but they are unable to get far before the day begins to wane. The traveling trio now needs a place to lodge for the night, and the servant suggests nearby Jerusalem. However, it is still in the hands of the Jebusites (Judg. 1:21), and the Levite is unwilling to go there. “The master, as became one of God’s tribe, would by no means quarter, no, not one night, in a city of strangers (v. 12), not because he questioned his safety among them, but he was not willing, if he could possibly avoid it, to have so much intimacy and familiarity with them as a night’s lodging came to, nor to be so much beholden to them,” Matthew Henry writes. “By shunning this place he would witness against the wickedness of those that contracted friendship and familiarity with those devoted nations.” The Levite decides to press on to Gibeah or Ramah, true cities of Israelites in the territory of Benjamin.

But when the party comes into Gibeah, they find no hospitality at all. This is no way for true Israelites to behave; they were commanded to be kind to strangers, having been strangers in Egypt (Ex. 23:9; Deut. 10:19), and, as Henry notes, “God had particularly commanded His people to be kind [to Levites].” But the people of Gibeah have gone to their homes, and no one takes pity on the Levite and his party. They are forced to bed down in the open square, hoping that it will be safer for them than the open road.