Judges 19:15 - They went over there, to go in to stay in Gibeah. He went in, and sat down in the street of the city; for there was no one who took them into his house to stay.
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What does "Judges 19:15" mean?
This verse from Judges 19:15 highlights a critical point about the breakdown of social hospitality and morality in Israel during the time of the Judges. Let's break it down:
"They went over there, to go in to stay in Gibeah." "They" refers to the Levite, his concubine, and his servant. They were traveling and needed a place to stay overnight in Gibeah, a city of the tribe of Benjamin.
"He went in, and sat down in the street of the city;" The Levite, likely the one in charge of finding accommodations, entered the city and, unable to find anyone to offer them hospitality, sat down in the city's main street or square. This action indicates that he was waiting, hoping someone would invite them in.
"for there was no one who took them into his house to stay." This is the key point. In ancient Near Eastern culture, hospitality to travelers was a sacred duty. Offering food, shelter, and protection to strangers was considered a fundamental social obligation. The fact that no one in Gibeah offered them a place to stay indicates a severe breach of this custom and a deep moral failing of the city's inhabitants.
Meaning and Significance:
Lack of Hospitality: The verse emphasizes the shocking absence of basic human kindness and hospitality.
Moral Decay: It underscores the moral decay and lawlessness that characterized the period of the Judges, as described in the recurring phrase "In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes" (Judges 17:6, 21:25).
Foreshadowing: It foreshadows the horrific events that are about to unfold in Gibeah. The lack of hospitality sets the stage for the even more egregious acts of violence and depravity that will follow.
Contrast with the Old Man: The subsequent arrival of an old man from the hill country of Ephraim, who does offer them hospitality (Judges 19:16-21), highlights the stark contrast between the wickedness of the native Benjamites and the remaining pockets of righteousness within Israel. This also sets the stage for the tragic irony that hospitality to the Levite and his concubine ultimately leads to the brutal abuse and death of the concubine at the hands of the men of Gibeah.
In essence, this verse is not merely a detail about their journey. It's a crucial element in the narrative that exposes the profound social and moral corruption within Gibeah, and by extension, within Israel as a whole during the time of the Judges. It serves as a chilling indictment of a society that has abandoned its core values and obligations.
Judges 19:15 - They went over there, to go in to stay in Gibeah. He went in, and sat down in the street of the city; for there was no one who took them into his house to stay.
What does "Judges 19:15" mean?
This verse from Judges 19:15 highlights a critical point about the breakdown of social hospitality and morality in Israel during the time of the Judges. Let's break it down:
"They went over there, to go in to stay in Gibeah." "They" refers to the Levite, his concubine, and his servant. They were traveling and needed a place to stay overnight in Gibeah, a city of the tribe of Benjamin.
"He went in, and sat down in the street of the city;" The Levite, likely the one in charge of finding accommodations, entered the city and, unable to find anyone to offer them hospitality, sat down in the city's main street or square. This action indicates that he was waiting, hoping someone would invite them in.
"for there was no one who took them into his house to stay." This is the key point. In ancient Near Eastern culture, hospitality to travelers was a sacred duty. Offering food, shelter, and protection to strangers was considered a fundamental social obligation. The fact that no one in Gibeah offered them a place to stay indicates a severe breach of this custom and a deep moral failing of the city's inhabitants.
Meaning and Significance:
Lack of Hospitality: The verse emphasizes the shocking absence of basic human kindness and hospitality.
Moral Decay: It underscores the moral decay and lawlessness that characterized the period of the Judges, as described in the recurring phrase "In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes" (Judges 17:6, 21:25).
Foreshadowing: It foreshadows the horrific events that are about to unfold in Gibeah. The lack of hospitality sets the stage for the even more egregious acts of violence and depravity that will follow.
Contrast with the Old Man: The subsequent arrival of an old man from the hill country of Ephraim, who does offer them hospitality (Judges 19:16-21), highlights the stark contrast between the wickedness of the native Benjamites and the remaining pockets of righteousness within Israel. This also sets the stage for the tragic irony that hospitality to the Levite and his concubine ultimately leads to the brutal abuse and death of the concubine at the hands of the men of Gibeah.
In essence, this verse is not merely a detail about their journey. It's a crucial element in the narrative that exposes the profound social and moral corruption within Gibeah, and by extension, within Israel as a whole during the time of the Judges. It serves as a chilling indictment of a society that has abandoned its core values and obligations.