Judges 19:15 kjv
And they turned aside thither, to go in and to lodge in Gibeah: and when he went in, he sat him down in a street of the city: for there was no man that took them into his house to lodging.
Judges 19:15 nkjv
They turned aside there to go in to lodge in Gibeah. And when he went in, he sat down in the open square of the city, for no one would take them into his house to spend the night.
Judges 19:15 niv
There they stopped to spend the night. They went and sat in the city square, but no one took them in for the night.
Judges 19:15 esv
and they turned aside there, to go in and spend the night at Gibeah. And he went in and sat down in the open square of the city, for no one took them into his house to spend the night.
Judges 19:15 nlt
so they stopped there to spend the night. They rested in the town square, but no one took them in for the night.
Judges 19 15 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 19:1-8 | "The two angels came to Sodom...Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom..." | Sodom's failed hospitality to visitors |
| Lev 19:33-34 | "When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong." | Command to be hospitable to sojourners |
| Deut 10:18-19 | "...He loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing. Love the sojourner, therefore..." | God's care for sojourners and command to Israel |
| Job 31:32 | "(The sojourner has not lodged in the street; I have opened my doors to the traveler)" | Righteousness includes hospitality |
| Isa 58:7 | "...is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house?" | True worship includes practical hospitality |
| Matt 25:35 | "For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me," | Jesus' teaching on welcoming strangers |
| Heb 13:2 | "Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares." | Exhortation to practice hospitality |
| Rom 12:13 | "Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality." | Call to generosity and hospitality |
| 1 Pet 4:9 | "Show hospitality to one another without grumbling." | Imperative for believers' conduct |
| 3 John 1:5-8 | "Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the brothers, especially for strangers..." | Commendation for hospitality to ministers/strangers |
| Tit 1:8 | "but hospitable, a lover of good..." | Qualification for elders in the church |
| 1 Tim 3:2 | "Therefore an overseer must be above reproach...hospitable..." | Requirement for church leadership |
| Gen 18:1-8 | "The LORD appeared to Abraham...and he ran from the tent door to meet them..." | Abraham's exemplary hospitality |
| Judg 19:20 | "And the old man said, 'Peace be with you...do not spend the night in the public square.'" | Later act of hospitality by a non-Benjamite |
| Luke 10:38-42 | Jesus visiting Martha and Mary's house | Example of hospitality given to Jesus |
| Acts 16:15 | "When she and her household were baptized, she urged us, saying, 'If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house...'" | Lydia's compelling invitation for lodging |
| Judg 17:6 | "In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes." | General moral decay in Judges era |
| Judg 21:25 | "In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes." | Repeated motif of moral anarchy |
| Hos 9:9 | "They have sunk deep into corruption as in the days of Gibeah; he will remember their iniquity; he will punish their sins." | Prophet's condemnation of Gibeah's sin |
| Rom 1:28-32 | "And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind..." | Divine judgment for moral decline |
| Luke 9:58 | "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” | Echo of homelessness/lack of lodging |
| Gen 19:1 | "...Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom..." | The city gate as a place of public life/waiting |
Judges 19 verses
Judges 19 15 Meaning
Judges 19:15 describes the Levite and his companions turning aside in their journey to lodge for the night in the Benjaminite city of Gibeah. Upon entering, the Levite sat down in the city's public square, a common gathering place, but faced a shocking and immediate refusal of basic hospitality, as no resident of Gibeah extended an invitation to host them in their home. This complete lack of welcoming sets a grim prelude for the terrible events that unfold.
Judges 19 15 Context
Judges chapter 19 is one of the most disturbing narratives in the Bible, depicting extreme moral depravity. It falls within the appendix of the book of Judges (chapters 17-21), which serves to illustrate the complete breakdown of covenant fidelity and social order in Israel after the conquest. The recurring phrase "In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes" (Judg 17:6; 21:25) is the overarching theme, explaining the chaos and wickedness. This specific verse (19:15) opens the dark segment of the Levite's night in Gibeah, revealing a critical moral deficiency within the Benjaminites—a profound failure in ancient Near Eastern hospitality, a virtue mandated by Mosaic Law. This initial lack of welcome directly precipitates the horrifying gang-rape and murder that follows, indicating a society that has lost its ethical bearings and respect for divine and human laws.
Judges 19 15 Word analysis
- So they turned aside: The Hebrew verb is vayyasuru (וַיָּסוּרוּ), from sur, meaning "to turn aside, depart." This indicates an intentional decision to stop their journey specifically at Gibeah for the purpose of lodging.
- there: The Hebrew sham (שָׁם) emphasizes their designated stopping point in Gibeah.
- to go in to lodge: The Hebrew lavo' laleen (לָבֹוא לָלוּן) combines bo ("to go in, come") and lun ("to lodge, spend the night"). It specifies the purpose of their detour: seeking overnight shelter. This was a standard practice for travelers.
- in Gibeah: The Hebrew baggiv'ah (בַּגִּבְעָה) uses the definite article "the," likely referring to "the Hill" or "Gibeah of Benjamin," which later became infamous for this event. It marks the specific, fateful location.
- and he went in and sat down: The Hebrew vayyavo (וַיָּבֹוא) "he went in" refers to the Levite as the primary figure. Vayyeshev (וַיֵּשֶׁב) "and he sat down" from yashav, denotes taking a seat. This act was common for travelers arriving in a town, publicly signalling their presence and their need for a host, often near the city gate or public square. It was a humble and customary posture, waiting to be noticed and invited.
- in the open square of the city: The Hebrew birchov ha'ir (בִּרְחֹוב הָעִיר) literally means "in the broad place of the city." This was the public plaza, typically a wide space near the city gate where community life, commerce, and legal proceedings took place. For a traveler, this was the expected place to seek a host. Its public nature intensifies the indictment against the city, as their failure of hospitality was visible and communal.
- for there was no one who took them into his house: The Hebrew ve'ein ish me'assef otam habbaytah (וְאֵין אִישׁ מֵאַסֵּף אֹותָם הַבַּיְתָה). "No man" (ein ish) powerfully emphasizes the total absence of a single hospitable individual. The verb assef (from asaf) implies "to gather in" or "receive," conveying the common custom of welcoming travelers into one's home for shelter and protection.
- to lodge: The repetition of laleen (לָלוּן) emphasizes the fundamental, basic need for a place to spend the night.
Words-group analysis:
- "So they turned aside there to go in to lodge in Gibeah": This highlights the deliberate choice of Gibeah as a stopover, with a clear and common intent for travelers: seeking safe night shelter. Their expectation was based on standard social custom.
- "he went in and sat down in the open square of the city, for there was no one who took them into his house to lodge": This entire phrase vividly portrays the critical moment of refusal. The Levite's posture of waiting in a prominent public space underscored their vulnerability and need. The absolute failure of anyone to offer a welcome—contrary to expected covenantal hospitality and common human kindness—marks a profound spiritual and social breakdown within Gibeah, setting the chilling tone for the narrative.
Judges 19 15 Bonus section
The stark contrast between the Levite seeking lodging in the "open square" and the complete refusal from the citizens of Gibeah draws a disturbing parallel with the earlier story of Lot in Sodom (Gen 19), where visitors also sought shelter and faced threats from a depraved populace. This parallel subtly indicts Gibeah as a place that rivals Sodom in wickedness. The very role of the Levite, a priestly class set apart for service to the Lord and meant to uphold God's law, being treated with such disdain, further underscores the collapse of religious authority and reverence. This deliberate turning away from basic kindness indicates a deeply hardened heart within the community, setting the stage not merely for neglect, but for active evil and extreme violence to take root unchallenged. It illustrates how the decay of basic social virtues can be a prelude to unimaginable sin.
Judges 19 15 Commentary
Judges 19:15 serves as a potent marker of Israel's spiritual decay during the period of the Judges. The Levite and his group, representatives of a people meant to embody covenant fidelity, are denied the most basic form of hospitality in Gibeah. In ancient Near Eastern culture and under Mosaic Law, welcoming strangers was not merely politeness but a sacred obligation, a sign of righteous living, and a means of demonstrating one's adherence to God's ways (compare the story of Abraham and Lot). The public setting—the city square—accentuates Gibeah's moral bankruptcy, indicating a collective failure. No one felt compelled by compassion, community expectation, or religious duty to offer a bed or protection. This chilling rejection of a fundamental human and divine command reveals a society so morally compromised and self-centered that it has lost the capacity for kindness, foreshadowing the horrifying acts of violence that will directly stem from this initial neglect and expose the true depth of its depravity. This lack of common decency highlights the core issue that permeates the book of Judges: the absence of a shared moral compass and accountability to God.