Judges 19 8

Judges 19:8 kjv

And he arose early in the morning on the fifth day to depart; and the damsel's father said, Comfort thine heart, I pray thee. And they tarried until afternoon, and they did eat both of them.

Judges 19:8 nkjv

Then he arose early in the morning on the fifth day to depart, but the young woman's father said, "Please refresh your heart." So they delayed until afternoon; and both of them ate.

Judges 19:8 niv

On the morning of the fifth day, when he rose to go, the woman's father said, "Refresh yourself. Wait till afternoon!" So the two of them ate together.

Judges 19:8 esv

And on the fifth day he arose early in the morning to depart. And the girl's father said, "Strengthen your heart and wait until the day declines." So they ate, both of them.

Judges 19:8 nlt

On the morning of the fifth day he was up early again, ready to leave, and again the woman's father said, "Have something to eat; then you can leave later this afternoon." So they had another day of feasting.

Judges 19 verses

Judges 19 8 Meaning

This verse details the persistent efforts of the Levite’s father-in-law to delay his son-in-law's departure. Despite the Levite arising early on the fifth day, intending to leave for his home, the father-in-law successfully persuades him to stay until evening. They both share a meal, marking another extension of the Levite's visit. This scene highlights the cultural significance of hospitality, but also sets the stage for the subsequent perilous journey due to delayed departure.

Judges 19 8 Context

Judges 19:8 is part of a dark narrative detailing the moral decline of Israel during a period when "there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes" (Judg 19:1). The verse describes the morning of the fifth day of a Levite's visit to his concubine's father in Bethlehem Judah. Earlier in the chapter, the father-in-law had repeatedly used extreme hospitality, urging the Levite to stay for three days (v.4), then "tarry today also" on the fourth day (v.6), and now again on the fifth. This seemingly benevolent delay is crucial to the tragic events that unfold: the Levite and his entourage ultimately leave Gibeah very late in the day (Judg 19:9), forcing them to seek lodging in the hostile Benjaminite town of Gibeah for the night. This timing leads directly to the abhorrent acts committed against the concubine, setting off the intertribal civil war described in Judges 20 and 21. The protracted departure in verse 8 thus becomes a critical link in the chain of fateful decisions and the ensuing national tragedy.

Judges 19 8 Word analysis

• And he arose early (וַיַּשְׁכֵּם, vayyashkem): The Hebrew verb shakam (שָׁכַם) means to "rise early," often with the intention to perform an action diligently or to set out on a journey. It conveys the Levite's determined initiative to begin his journey homeward at a sensible time. This act indicates his original, sound judgment for a long journey.
• on the fifth day (בַּיּוֹם הַחֲמִישִׁי, bayyom hakhămiši): This specific temporal marker underscores the prolonged nature of the stay. The father-in-law had successfully convinced them to stay on the third day and again on the fourth. This emphasizes a pattern of repeated procrastination and the father-in-law's strong, perhaps excessive, desire for the guests to remain. The number 'five' points to an unusual extension beyond normal courtesy, typically two or three days.
• to depart (לָלֶכֶת, lalekhet): From the verb halakh (הָלַךְ), meaning "to walk, go, depart." It reinforces the Levite’s purpose in rising early. His clear intention was to leave his host's house and travel.
• and the young man’s father (אֲבִי הַנַּעֲרָה, ʾavi hannaʿarāh): Literally "the father of the girl" or "the father of the young woman," referring to the concubine's father. The phrase specifies the familial relationship, highlighting that this is a family matter and not a stranger imposing on the Levite.
• said (וַיֹּאמֶר, vayyōʾmer): A common Hebrew verb for "to say." It signifies the father-in-law’s direct address and initiative in the conversation.
• Comfort your heart (סְעַד לִבְּךָ, səʿad libbəkhā): An idiomatic phrase meaning "support your spirit," "strengthen yourself," or "refresh yourself (with food)." It’s an invitation to eat, presenting itself as hospitality. While often genuinely kind (Gen 18:5), in this context, it functions as a persuasive tactic to delay departure. The heart (לב, lev) in Hebrew thought often referred to the entire inner person—mind, will, and emotions.
• and tarry until the evening (וְהִתְמַהְמְהוּ עַד לָעֶרֶב, vəhithmahmehu ʿad laʿerev): The verb mahmah (מָהְמַהּ) means "to delay, linger, tarry." The Hithpael conjugation (הִתְמַהְמְהוּ) denotes causing oneself to delay or hesitating. It is a direct appeal to both the Levite and his concubine (indicated by the plural form) to prolong their stay further, until nightfall. This is a critical point in the narrative, as leaving late at dusk will be catastrophic.
• And they ate, both of them (וַיֹּאכְלוּ שְׁנֵיהֶם, vayyōʾkhlu shənehem): This simple statement confirms the father-in-law's successful persuasion and the Levite's acquiescence. Eating together also implied agreement and fellowship.

• "And he arose early... to depart": This phrase sets up the Levite's original, sensible intention, which will then be thwarted. It indicates that the Levite was not inherently lazy or uncaring about the journey, but rather his will was overridden.
• "on the fifth day... Comfort your heart, and tarry until the evening": This cluster of phrases powerfully illustrates the extreme, persistent, and ultimately perilous nature of the delay. The progression of days from the Levite's intended third-day departure, now extended to the fifth, combined with the insistence on waiting until "evening," underscores the father-in-law's excessive hospitality or controlling nature and the Levite’s yielding disposition, which will directly lead them into the darkness of both literal night and spiritual evil in Gibeah.

Judges 19 8 Bonus section

• The narrative’s detailed repetition of the father-in-law's insistence for the Levite to "tarry" ("today also," "until the evening") functions as a literary device to build suspense and to emphasize the tragic irony of their later fate. What began as an offer of comfort leads to ultimate horror.
• The father-in-law's excessive hospitality may also be interpreted as a means to extend his time with his daughter, highlighting a paternal attachment rather than purely altruistic guest care, particularly as he seems oblivious to the dangers outside.
• This verse foreshadows the "deep darkness" both literal and spiritual that the Levite, his concubine, and the nation are about to enter, rooted in poor choices about time and safety. The refusal to leave at an appropriate time makes them vulnerable.
• The "fifth day" reinforces the exceptional nature of the delay. Typically, ancient Near Eastern hospitality lasted two to three days before the host was expected to release guests gracefully.

Judges 19 8 Commentary

Judges 19:8 presents a moment of seemingly benign hospitality that is fraught with tragic implications. The father-in-law's relentless persuasion to delay the Levite's departure, now into the fifth day and specifically "until the evening," highlights an obsessive form of hospitality that overrides the guest's sensible judgment and urgency to travel. While generous provision and comfort are virtues, the extreme length and persistent timing of this delay reveal an element of unhealthy attachment or a lack of discernment from the host regarding the practical dangers of a late journey in an unpoliced land. The Levite, by repeatedly yielding to this "comfort," exhibits a weakness of will or an inability to assert prudent action. His choice to prioritize momentary comfort over the dictates of wise travel timing culminates in their arrival in Gibeah under cover of night, a circumstance that precipitates the horrifying events that follow. This verse therefore underscores the fine line between admirable hospitality and an indulgence that inadvertently leads to danger and severe consequences in a morally decaying society.