Judges 19 14

Judges 19:14 kjv

And they passed on and went their way; and the sun went down upon them when they were by Gibeah, which belongeth to Benjamin.

Judges 19:14 nkjv

And they passed by and went their way; and the sun went down on them near Gibeah, which belongs to Benjamin.

Judges 19:14 niv

So they went on, and the sun set as they neared Gibeah in Benjamin.

Judges 19:14 esv

So they passed on and went their way. And the sun went down on them near Gibeah, which belongs to Benjamin,

Judges 19:14 nlt

So they went on. The sun was setting as they came to Gibeah, a town in the land of Benjamin,

Judges 19 verses

Judges 19 14 Meaning

The verse details a critical decision by the traveling Levite and his companions to deviate from their main route and seek lodging for the night in the town of Gibeah, specifically noted as belonging to the tribe of Benjamin. This choice is presented as a deliberate turn from their journey towards the shocking acts of violence and sexual depravity that define the remainder of the chapter. It highlights the vulnerability of the travelers and sets the geographical stage for the profound moral decay and inter-tribal conflict that subsequently unfold.

Judges 19 14 Context

Judges chapter 19 stands as one of the Bible's most chilling narratives, a grim portrayal of moral chaos within ancient Israel during the period described by the recurring refrain: "In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes." The chapter introduces a Levite and his concubine journeying homeward. They encounter increasing darkness and, despite the Levite's reluctance to stop in a "city of foreigners" (Jebus/Jerusalem), they decide to proceed further, hoping to find more suitable lodging among fellow Israelites. Judges 19:14 marks the point of this pivotal decision. Their conscious "turn" into Gibeah, a city of the tribe of Benjamin, immediately precedes a grotesque violation of the most fundamental principles of hospitality and human dignity. This decision to stop in Gibeah precipitates a crime so heinous that it provokes a near-civil war, almost leading to the extermination of an entire tribe of Israel, serving as a powerful illustration of the deep spiritual and social decay afflicting the nation in the absence of righteous leadership and adherence to God's covenant.

Judges 19 14 Word analysis

• So: (Hebrew: וַיָּסֻרוּ, vayyasuru, 'and they turned aside'). This word introduces the consequence of their earlier choices and circumstances (delay, impending darkness), directly leading into the new action.

• they turned aside: (Hebrew: וַיָּסֻרוּ, vayyasuru). Derived from the verb סוּר (sur), meaning "to turn away, depart, deviate." This is a crucial action: a deliberate departure from the direct or main route. It carries a subtle theological implication, as "turning aside" is often used in the Old Testament for departing from God's commandments (e.g., Deut 17:20, 1 Kgs 15:5). Here, it's a literal turning that leads to moral deviation.

• there: A locative adverb specifying the exact point on their journey where the detour to Gibeah commenced. It highlights a conscious decision at a particular junction.

• to go in to spend the night: This phrase articulates their specific intention: to find shelter and rest. It underscores their vulnerable status as travelers and their reasonable expectation of customary hospitality. The stark contrast between this innocent intent and the horror that ensued heightens the tragedy.

• in Gibeah: (Hebrew: גִּבְעָה, Gib'ah). The name itself means "hill" or "height." It refers to a prominent city within the territory of Benjamin. This geographic identification is vital for the narrative's trajectory. Its mention evokes a known, distinct location to the original audience.

• which belongs to Benjamin: This precise tribal attribution is not merely geographical; it carries profound significance. It emphasizes that the forthcoming abomination occurred not among pagan foreigners, but within an Israelite tribe, a part of the covenant community. This detail amplifies the shock and shame of the subsequent events, underscoring the severe spiritual decline within God's chosen people, contrasting with the Levite's initial avoidance of Jebus because it was a "city of foreigners."

• "So they turned aside there": This phrase underlines the decisive, conscious action of diverging from their path. It marks the moment where the tragic chain of events is set in motion by a seemingly benign choice of lodging. This turning highlights the initial, perhaps innocent, deviation from the "path," foreshadowing the more profound moral deviation to come.

• "to go in to spend the night in Gibeah": This group of words clarifies their objective: to seek basic human necessities—shelter and rest. The irony is severe, as their search for safety in an Israelite town ultimately leads them into a situation of unprecedented depravity and danger, showcasing the tragic failure of covenant hospitality.

• "Gibeah, which belongs to Benjamin": This specific designation of location and tribal ownership is crucial. It firmly establishes that the subsequent acts of wickedness transpired not in a foreign, ungodly city but within the very fabric of Israel, identifying a particular tribe (Benjamin) as responsible. This directly sets up the tribal conflict and national reckoning that unfolds in the succeeding chapters.

Judges 19 14 Bonus section

The detailed geographical and tribal specification in this verse underscores a pervasive theme in Judges: the land itself becomes a witness and a participant in Israel's moral degradation. Gibeah, meaning "hill," is a city situated on high ground, yet it becomes a symbol of the profound low point in Israel's moral and spiritual life. This historical episode linked to Gibeah would later resonate through prophetic writings, especially in Hosea, who uses "the days of Gibeah" as a proverbial expression for the depths of Israelite sin (Hos 9:9, 10:9). The narrative highlights the severe consequences not just of individual transgression, but of communal and tribal complicity, failure to administer justice, and a complete disregard for covenant principles. The "turning aside" in this verse, therefore, represents more than a physical detour; it symbolizes Israel's collective departure from the straight path of God's commands into a wilderness of anarchy and sin.

Judges 19 14 Commentary

Judges 19:14 serves as the ominous pivot point in one of the most horrifying accounts in the Old Testament. The choice of the Levite and his company to "turn aside" into Gibeah, a city identified specifically as "belonging to Benjamin," is charged with dramatic irony and tragic foreboding. While the Levite had earlier refused to lodge in a foreign city (Jebus/Jerusalem), assuming greater safety among his own people, Gibeah ultimately proved to harbor a level of depravity mirroring or even exceeding that of Sodom. This verse sets the stage for a narrative that exposes the profound breakdown of the Mosaic covenant, hospitality, justice, and inter-tribal solidarity. It reveals the terrifying consequences when, as repeatedly stated in Judges, "everyone did what was right in his own eyes" without adherence to God's laws or proper spiritual and civic leadership. The geographical pinpointing of Gibeah in Benjamin is vital, as the resulting inter-tribal conflict, sparked by the Benjaminites' collective complicity and refusal to yield the wicked men, nearly annihilates the entire tribe, illustrating the devastating ripple effect of unchecked sin within the covenant community.