Judges 19 17

Judges 19:17 kjv

And when he had lifted up his eyes, he saw a wayfaring man in the street of the city: and the old man said, Whither goest thou? and whence comest thou?

Judges 19:17 nkjv

And when he raised his eyes, he saw the traveler in the open square of the city; and the old man said, "Where are you going, and where do you come from?"

Judges 19:17 niv

When he looked and saw the traveler in the city square, the old man asked, "Where are you going? Where did you come from?"

Judges 19:17 esv

And he lifted up his eyes and saw the traveler in the open square of the city. And the old man said, "Where are you going? And where do you come from?"

Judges 19:17 nlt

When he saw the travelers sitting in the town square, he asked them where they were from and where they were going.

Judges 19 verses

Judges 19 17 Meaning

Judges 19:17 describes the crucial moment when a venerable old man observes a traveling Levite and his entourage in the public square of Gibeah as evening approaches. Recognizing them as weary travelers in need of shelter, the old man, exhibiting a fading remnant of Israelite hospitality, initiates contact by asking about their destination and origin. This inquiry, seemingly simple, served as a standard cultural custom, preceding the offer of lodging and sustenance in ancient society, and sets the stage for the dramatic unfolding of the horrifying events in the city.

Judges 19 17 Context

Judges 19 details one of the darkest narratives in the Hebrew Bible, set in a period characterized by political decentralization and severe moral degradation, famously encapsulated by the phrase "in those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes" (Jdg 19:1, echoing 17:6 and 21:25). The chapter begins with a Levite journeying from Bethlehem of Judah with his concubine and servant. As evening descends, they choose to seek lodging in Gibeah, a city of Benjamin, opting for an Israelite town rather than a foreign one like Jebus (Jerusalem). Verse 17 describes their vulnerable arrival in the city square, a common gathering place, highlighting the imminent need for traditional hospitality. This scene serves as a stark contrast between the expectation of community aid and the abhorrent events that follow, laying bare the profound spiritual and moral decline of the Israelite society during the period of the Judges. The verse introduces the old man as the singular beacon of virtue in an otherwise morally desolate landscape, drawing a critical comparison to Lot in Sodom.

Judges 19 17 Word analysis

• When he looked up (וַיִּשָּׂא עֵינָיו - vayissa einav): This idiomatic Hebrew phrase literally means "and he lifted his eyes." It implies a deliberate act of surveying and observing, not a casual glance. The old man noticed the approaching group, recognizing their status as weary travelers in need. It conveys an attentiveness often associated with wisdom or watchfulness.
• and saw (וַיַּרְא - vayyar’): A direct action following the lifting of eyes, confirming that the travelers were clearly perceived.
• the traveler (אֶת־הָאִישׁ הַנֹּפֵחַ - et-ha'ish hannōfeach): The Hebrew term hannōfeach (related to nuwach - to rest, settle, encamp) signifies "the one settling" or "the one who has just come to rest" after a journey. It specifies a traveler who has reached their destination for a temporary stay, implying exhaustion and the need for lodging. This term is distinct from a mere passerby and clearly marks the Levite as seeking shelter.
• in the city square (בִּרְחֹב הָעִיר - birḥov haʿir): The rehov (public plaza or broad place) was a significant area, often near the city gate, used for community gatherings, trade, judicial proceedings, and where travelers awaited hospitality. Their presence here signifies they are waiting publicly, visible and vulnerable, relying on the city's inhabitants for an offer of shelter, as was customary.
• the old man (הָאִישׁ הַזָּקֵן - ha'ish hazzaken): Zaqen (old, elder) implies wisdom, respect, and often moral authority in ancient Israel. His age traditionally marked him as one who should exemplify and uphold community values, particularly the sacred duty of hospitality. His appearance highlights the stark contrast between his virtue and the general depravity of the city.
• asked (וַיֹּאמֶר - vayyō’mer): Simple and direct. He initiated communication.
• “Where are you going? (אֶל־אָן תֵּלֵךְ - ʾel-ʾān tēlēkh): A standard and polite inquiry made of a stranger, probing their purpose and immediate destination. It serves as an opener for conversation and determining their needs.
• And where do you come from?” (וּמֵאַיִן תָּבֹא - ūmēʾayin tāvoʾ): The complementary question, establishing their origin. Together, these questions fulfill the initial protocol for assessing a traveler’s background and need for hospitality, crucial steps before an offer of lodging would be extended.

• "When he looked up... the old man": This group of words sets the scene for a singular, righteous act amidst societal decay. The old man is specifically identified as the one exhibiting an awareness of the plight of strangers, contrasting sharply with the general indifference or malevolence of Gibeah's population. His age suggests he might represent fading, traditional Israelite values.
• "the traveler in the city square": This phrase highlights the vulnerable position of the Levite. Traveling, especially after sundown, left individuals exposed. The city square emphasizes their public display of need, implying they were hoping for and expecting an offer of hospitality from the community, as was mandated by covenantal law and social custom. This public vulnerability will intensify the subsequent moral failing of Gibeah.
• "Where are you going? And where do you come from?": These two questions encapsulate the essence of ancient hospitality customs. They are not merely inquisitive but are the traditional first steps in discerning a traveler's immediate needs, safety, and willingness to accept an offer of shelter and refreshment. They signal the host's readiness to potentially extend kindness.

Judges 19 17 Bonus section

The presence of the rehov (city square) is dramatically significant. It was a place of communal gathering and interaction, suggesting that the Levite's party was openly exposed and visible, highlighting the entire city's collective failure to offer hospitality, save for this one old man. This setting underscores the public nature of Gibeah's later outrage and the communal responsibility for the breakdown of social order. The ironic choice by the Levite to lodge among "his brothers" in an Israelite city, rather than stay in "foreign" Jebus, dramatically sets up the unfolding horror. This expectation of security and belonging within the tribal family proved tragically misplaced, demonstrating how deeply moral corruption had pervaded the very fabric of Israelite society. The old man himself, a sojourner from Ephraim, emphasizes that genuine hospitality was a personal virtue, not a guarantee within an ethnically "Israelite" city during a time of widespread spiritual apostasy.

Judges 19 17 Commentary

Judges 19:17 serves as the turning point in the tragic narrative, marking the arrival of the vulnerable travelers in Gibeah and introducing the only virtuous character in the wicked city—the old man. This verse spotlights the sharp contrast between the ingrained expectation of hospitality in ancient Israel and the profound moral deterioration gripping society. The old man, recognizing the Levite and his entourage in the vulnerable position of waiting in the city square as evening fell, demonstrates a glimmer of Israelite custom by initiating the dialogue prerequisite for extending shelter. His act echoes the ancient practices of Abraham and Lot in Genesis, presenting him as a remnant of righteousness. The specific questions, "Where are you going? And where do you come from?", are not just curious inquiries, but formal overtures designed to understand a traveler's circumstances before offering vital lodging, food, and protection. This momentary scene of proper societal interaction starkly precedes the horrendous breakdown of moral order that soon engulfs Gibeah, making the old man's integrity stand out as a lone beacon against the backdrop of total depravity and human failure in the city. The entire horrifying episode of chapter 19 turns on this pivotal point, as the presence of this kind old man ultimately fails to save the Levite and his concubine from the utter depravity of the Benjaminites, reinforcing the narrative's bleak portrayal of a time when "everyone did what was right in his own eyes."