Judges 19 11

Judges 19:11 kjv

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.

Judges 19:11 nkjv

They were near Jebus, and the day was far spent; and the servant said to his master, "Come, please, and let us turn aside into this city of the Jebusites and lodge in it."

Judges 19:11 niv

When they were near Jebus and the day was almost gone, the servant said to his master, "Come, let's stop at this city of the Jebusites and spend the night."

Judges 19:11 esv

When they were near Jebus, the day was nearly over, and the servant said to his master, "Come now, let us turn aside to this city of the Jebusites and spend the night in it."

Judges 19:11 nlt

It was late in the day when they neared Jebus, and the man's servant said to him, "Let's stop at this Jebusite town and spend the night there."

Judges 19 verses

Judges 19 11 Meaning

Judges 19:11 describes the Levite, his concubine, and his servant nearing Jebus (ancient Jerusalem) as dusk approaches. The servant suggests they find lodging for the night in this city, despite it being inhabited by Jebusites, a non-Israelite people who had not yet been fully dispossessed. This seemingly practical suggestion sets the stage for the dramatic and tragic events that unfold later in the narrative, highlighting the increasing urgency for shelter as day fades.

Judges 19 11 Context

Judges chapter 19 initiates one of the most graphic and disturbing narratives in the Bible, portraying the profound moral decay and social disintegration during the period of the Judges. This verse appears as the Levite and his entourage, traveling from Bethlehem of Judah, are journeying northward towards Ephraim, his home territory. The journey itself highlights the desperate need for shelter as evening falls. Historically, Jebus (later Jerusalem) at this time was still controlled by the Jebusites, a Canaanite people, rather than being part of the Israelite inheritance fully possessed. This verse, therefore, places the Levite party at a crucial crossroads: bypassing an unholy, yet seemingly viable, non-Israelite city in favor of what should be a safe Israelite one. The larger narrative frequently reminds the reader that "there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes" (Judg 19:1, echoing 17:6, 18:1, 21:25), providing the overall context for the spiritual and moral anarchy that enabled the horrific events that follow this travel decision.

Judges 19 11 Word analysis

• When they were near Jebus (וַהֵם֙ עִם־יְב֔וּס, vahem im-Yevus):

  • Jebus: The ancient name for Jerusalem before its conquest by King David (2 Sam 5:6-9). This indicates a pagan, non-Israelite city. The geographical detail is crucial, as the Levite consciously avoids it for an Israelite town, yet the irony is that the Israelite town proves far more dangerous.
  • Near: Signifies their proximity to a major settlement at a critical time of day.

• and the day was far spent (וְהַיּוֹם֙ רָ֤ד מְאֹד֙, vehayYom rad me'od):

  • Day was far spent: Literally "the day descended greatly." This phrase indicates that the sun was setting, twilight had arrived, or it was approaching night. It conveys urgency and the common necessity of finding lodging for safe travel in the ancient Near East.

• the servant said to his master (וַיֹּ֥אמֶר הַנַּ֖עַר אֶל־אֲדֹנָ֑יו, vayYomer hanNa'ar el-Adonav):

  • Servant: A na'ar, indicating a young male attendant or helper. The servant takes the initiative to speak, offering practical advice concerning their immediate need for shelter. This suggests a common trust in such relationships for logistical matters.

• "Come, please, and let us turn aside into this city of the Jebusites and spend the night in it." (לְכָה־נָּ֗א וְנָסוּרָה֙ אֶל־הָעִ֣יר הַזֹּ֔את הַיְבוּסִ֔י וְנָלִ֥ין בָּֽהּ):

  • Come, please (לְכָה־נָּא, lekha-na): An earnest invitation or plea.
  • Turn aside (וְנָסוּרָה, venasurah): To divert from their direct path to find lodging. This action implies seeking a refuge.
  • This city of the Jebusites (הָעִ֣יר הַזֹּ֔את הַיְבוּסִ֔י, ha'Ir hazZot haYevusi): Explicitly identifies the city as non-Israelite, emphasizing its foreign and possibly pagan nature. The servant's suggestion reveals a practical assessment without considering spiritual implications.
  • Spend the night in it (וְנָלִ֥ין בָּֽהּ, venalin bah): The goal is immediate safety and rest for the night. The proposed action seems logical and reasonable given the fading light.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "near Jebus" and "city of the Jebusites": Repeated emphasis on the foreign identity of the place, crucial for the literary irony that unfolds when they bypass it for Gibeah, an Israelite town that proves far more corrupt than expected from a pagan city.
  • "day was far spent" and "spend the night": The passage of time dictates their actions, forcing a decision on where to lodge, highlighting a point of vulnerability and the common practice of seeking secure overnight lodging in the ancient world.

Judges 19 11 Bonus section

The journey from Bethlehem of Judah, past Jebus (Jerusalem), to Gibeah of Benjamin is a carefully crafted literary device. The geographical progression mirrors the deepening moral darkness. Bethlehem, though of Judah, appears unable or unwilling to host them further. Jebus is the 'non-Israelite' city which the Levite passes over, possibly from a desire to maintain ritual purity or national identity by avoiding association with the uncircumcised. Yet, the shocking twist reveals that the true horror lies not with the Jebusites but within Gibeah, a city of Israel, demonstrating a reversal of covenant values. This setup heightens the tension and reveals that the chaos of the Judges period extended to the most basic expectations of Israelite society, like hospitality, turning common safe havens into pits of depravity. The Levite's decision to press on to "our people" proves fatal.

Judges 19 11 Commentary

Judges 19:11 serves as a critical turning point in a narrative that lays bare the spiritual and moral bankruptcy of Israel during the period of the Judges. The servant's seemingly pragmatic suggestion to shelter in Jebus, an unconquered Jebusite city, is notable. While the Levite's refusal to stop in a foreign, "pagan" city appears righteous on the surface, choosing instead to push on to an Israelite town, it tragically foreshadows a greater danger. The narrative ironies here are stark: an Israelite man (a Levite, no less) is in Bethlehem (House of Bread, but here, of spiritual famine for him), bypasses a pagan city (which, contrary to the Levite's likely assumption of its danger, never directly harmed them), only to suffer horrific abuse in a fellow Israelite city, Gibeah, populated by the tribe of Benjamin. This choice underscores the profound moral decay in Israel, suggesting that the "darkness" of the spiritual state of God's people surpassed that of the Gentiles they were commanded to dispossess. It implies that true danger was no longer just from outside the covenant, but from within the covenant community itself when "everyone did what was right in his own eyes."