Judges 19:6

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 they sat down {H3427}, and did eat {H398} and drink {H8354} both {H8147} of them together {H3162}: for the damsel's {H5291} father {H1} had said {H559} unto the man {H376}, Be content {H2974}, I pray thee, and tarry all night {H3885}, and let thine heart {H3820} be merry {H3190}.

So the two of them sat down and ate and drank together. Then the girl's father said to the man, "Please stay one more night, and have a good time."

So they sat down and the two of them ate and drank together. Then the girl’s father said to the man, “Please agree to stay overnight and let your heart be merry.”

So they sat down, and did eat and drink, both of them together: and the damsel’s father said unto the man, Be pleased, I pray thee, to tarry all night, and let thy heart be merry.

Context of Judges 19:6

Judges 19:6 is situated within one of the Bible's most disturbing and tragic narratives, detailing the Levite and his concubine. This chapter opens with a Levite from Mount Ephraim retrieving his concubine who had left him and returned to her father's house in Bethlehem-judah. The verse itself describes the father-in-law's persistent and overwhelming hospitality, urging the Levite and his concubine to stay longer than intended. This period of feasting and merriment, though seemingly pleasant, creates a significant delay in their journey, inadvertently setting the stage for the horrific events that unfold later in Gibeah. It highlights the cultural importance of hospitality in ancient Israel, even when taken to an extreme that complicates travel plans.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Insistent Hospitality: The father's repeated pleas ("Be content, I pray thee, and tarry all night") showcase a cultural expectation of generous hosting, almost to the point of compulsion. This insistence prevents the travelers from departing at a safer time.
  • False Sense of Security: The command "let thine heart be merry" suggests a moment of ease and comfort. However, this fleeting joy stands in stark contrast to the immense suffering and moral decay that immediately follows their departure, serving as a chilling dramatic irony.
  • Delay and Consequences: The prolonged stay, driven by the father's hospitality, directly contributes to their late departure and subsequent exposure to danger. This narrative choice underscores how seemingly innocuous delays can have profound, unforeseen consequences.
  • Human Frailty and Moral Decline: While not immediately evident in this verse, the entire narrative of Judges 19 illustrates the profound moral and spiritual decline in Israel during a period when "there was no king in Israel" (Judges 21:25), and every man did what was right in his own eyes.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "Be content, I pray thee" translates the Hebrew word shalom (שָׁלוֹם) in its imperative form, meaning "be at peace" or "be at ease." While commonly translated as "peace," here it conveys a sense of urging someone to settle down and relax. The phrase "let thine heart be merry" comes from the Hebrew yatav lev (יטב לב), literally meaning "let your heart be good" or "feel good." These expressions emphasize a desire for comfort and enjoyment, making the impending tragedy even more jarring.

Practical Application

Judges 19:6, though part of a dark story, offers a subtle lesson. It reminds us that appearances can be deceiving; a moment of comfort or merriment can precede great difficulty. It encourages discernment, not just in external circumstances, but also in the timing of our actions. While hospitality is a virtue, this passage subtly warns against complacency or delays that might expose us to unnecessary risks. It also serves as a stark reminder of the importance of righteous leadership and moral standards, which were sorely lacking in Israel during the period of the Judges, leading to widespread chaos and depravity.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Judges 19:9

    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.

  • Judges 16:25

    And it came to pass, when their hearts were merry, that they said, Call for Samson, that he may make us sport. And they called for Samson out of the prison house; and he made them sport: and they set him between the pillars.

  • Ruth 3:7

    And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of corn: and she came softly, and uncovered his feet, and laid her down.

  • Esther 1:10

    ¶ On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven chamberlains that served in the presence of Ahasuerus the king,

  • Judges 9:27

    And they went out into the fields, and gathered their vineyards, and trode [the grapes], and made merry, and went into the house of their god, and did eat and drink, and cursed Abimelech.

  • Psalms 104:15

    And wine [that] maketh glad the heart of man, [and] oil to make [his] face to shine, and bread [which] strengtheneth man's heart.

  • Luke 12:19

    And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, [and] be merry.
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