Judges 19:11

[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 when they were by Jebus {H2982}, the day {H3117} was far {H3966} spent {H7286}; and the servant {H5288} said {H559} unto his master {H113}, Come {H3212}, I pray thee, and let us turn in {H5493} into this city {H5892} of the Jebusites {H2983}, and lodge {H3885} in it.

By the time they arrived at Y'vus it was nearly evening; and the servant said to his master, "Why don't we go on into this city of the Y'vusi and stay there?"

When they were near Jebus and the day was almost gone, the servant said to his master, โ€œPlease, let us stop at this Jebusite city and spend the night here.โ€

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 aside into this city of the Jebusites, and lodge in it.

Commentary

Judges 19:11 opens a pivotal moment in one of the Bible's most disturbing narratives, setting the stage for the tragic events that follow. The verse describes a Levite, his concubine, and his servant on their journey home, facing the onset of night.

Context

This verse is part of the infamous account in Judges chapters 19-21, often cited as one of the darkest periods in Israelite history. The Levite and his entourage are traveling north from Bethlehem in Judah, having retrieved his concubine who had left him. As evening approaches, they reach Jebus, the ancient name for Jerusalem, a city not yet under Israelite control. The servant, observing the "day was far spent," suggests they seek lodging within this foreign city.

Historical and Cultural Significance

  • Jebus (Jerusalem): At this time in the period of the Judges, Jerusalem was still inhabited by the Jebusites, a Canaanite people whom the Israelites had not yet dispossessed. This highlights the incomplete nature of the conquest of Canaan, a recurring theme in the book of Judges (see Judges 1:21). The city's non-Israelite status would have presented a dilemma for travelers seeking safe haven.
  • Travel at Dusk: In ancient times, travel after sunset was dangerous due to robbers, wild animals, and the general lack of visibility. Finding shelter before nightfall was crucial for safety and security. The servant's suggestion reflects this practical need.
  • Hospitality: The custom of offering hospitality to travelers was deeply ingrained in ancient Near Eastern culture. While the servant proposes seeking it from the Jebusites, the master's subsequent decision (in Judges 19:12) to bypass Jebus and head to an Israelite town underscores the preference for lodging among one's own people, despite the immediate peril of nightfall.

Key Themes

  • The Peril of the Journey: The fading light emphasizes the vulnerability of the travelers and the urgency of finding shelter.
  • Incomplete Conquest: The presence of the Jebusites in Jerusalem serves as a stark reminder of Israel's failure to fully obey God's command to drive out the inhabitants of the land, leading to ongoing challenges and moral compromises.
  • Decision-Making Under Pressure: The servant's pragmatic suggestion contrasts with the master's eventual decision, which ultimately leads to disastrous consequences, highlighting the critical nature of choices made in difficult circumstances.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "the day was far spent" translates the Hebrew ื”ึทื™ึผื•ึนื ืจึธื“ ืžึฐืึนื“ (hayyom rad me'od), literally "the day had gone down greatly" or "descended very much." This vividly conveys the advanced hour, emphasizing the urgency and the rapidly approaching darkness, a motif that foreshadows the moral darkness of the events to come.

Practical Application

This verse, though seemingly simple, sets the stage for a profound lesson on the consequences of human choices, particularly in a society where divine authority is neglected and "every man did that which was right in his own eyes" (Judges 21:25). The decision to bypass Jebus for an Israelite city, while seemingly pious, ironically leads them to the abhorrent acts in Gibeah. It serves as a reminder that even well-intentioned decisions can have unforeseen and tragic outcomes, especially when made within a morally compromised environment. This contrasts sharply with the later lack of hospitality encountered in Gibeah, an Israelite town, which proves far more dangerous than the foreign city they avoided.

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Cross-References

  • Joshua 15:63 (2 votes)

    As for the Jebusites the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the children of Judah could not drive them out: but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Judah at Jerusalem unto this day.

  • Genesis 10:16 (2 votes)

    And the Jebusite, and the Amorite, and the Girgasite,

  • Judges 1:21 (2 votes)

    ยถ And the children of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites that inhabited Jerusalem; but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Benjamin in Jerusalem unto this day.

  • 2 Samuel 5:6 (2 votes)

    ยถ And the king and his men went to Jerusalem unto the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land: which spake unto David, saying, Except thou take away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in hither: thinking, David cannot come in hither.

  • Judges 19:10 (2 votes)

    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.