Judges 19:1-10
A Levite and His Concubine
Read the passage
1Now in those days, when there was no king in Israel, a Levite who lived in the remote hill country of Ephraim took for himself a concubine from Bethlehem in Judah.
2But she was unfaithful to him and left him to return to her father’s house in Bethlehem in Judah. After she had been there four months,
3her husband got up and went after her to speak kindly to her and bring her back, taking his servant and a pair of donkeys. So the girl brought him into her father’s house, and when her father saw him, he gladly welcomed him.
4His father-in-law, the girl’s father, persuaded him to stay, so he remained with him three days, eating, drinking, and lodging there.
5On the fourth day, they got up early in the morning and prepared to depart, but the girl’s father said to his son-in-law, “Refresh your heart with a morsel of bread, and then you can go.”
6So they sat down and the two of them ate and drank together. Then the girl’s father said to the man, “Please agree to stay overnight and let your heart be merry.”
7The man got up to depart, but his father-in-law persuaded him, so he stayed there that night.
8On the fifth day, he got up early in the morning to depart, but the girl’s father said, “Please refresh your heart.” So they waited until late afternoon and the two of them ate.
9When the man got up to depart with his concubine and his servant, his father-in-law, the girl’s father, said to him, “Look, the day is drawing to a close. Please spend the night. See, the day is almost over. Spend the night here, that your heart may be merry. Then you can get up early tomorrow for your journey home.”
10But the man was unwilling to spend the night. He got up and departed, and arrived opposite Jebus (that is, Jerusalem), with his two saddled donkeys and his concubine.
Berean Standard Bible
Read aloud
A Levite living in the hill country of Ephraim has a concubine from Bethlehem in Judah. The passage says she is unfaithful to him and returns to her father's house. Four months later, the Levite goes there with a servant and two donkeys, intending to speak kindly to her and bring her back.
Her father welcomes him warmly and persuades him to stay three days. On the fourth morning, a planned departure becomes a meal, and another invitation keeps him overnight. On the fifth day, food and conversation delay them again until late afternoon.
Her father urges one more night's stay, but this time the Levite refuses. He leaves with the woman and his servant and reaches a point opposite Jebus, or Jerusalem. The next decision about lodging lies ahead.
The repeated meals give us the men's conversation and decisions in detail. We are told that the woman brings the Levite into her father's house, but we hear no words from her about returning. We should not fill that silence with an invented account of reconciliation. Kind intentions and a warm welcome do not tell us everything about what has been repaired.
Questions
1 Why does the Levite go to Bethlehem?
AnswerAfter the woman has spent four months at her father’s house, he goes to speak kindly to her and bring her back.
2 What repeatedly delays the departure?
AnswerHer father invites him to eat, drink, and stay longer. He remains beyond the first three days and leaves late on the fifth.
3 Where does this passage leave the travelers?
AnswerThey arrive opposite Jebus, also called Jerusalem. Their choice of where to spend the night comes in the following account.
4 What should we avoid assuming after a strained relationship resumes?
AnswerWe should not assume that returning or sharing a meal means every hurt is resolved. Listening to each person matters more than an appearance of normality.
What This Means for Us
When a relationship has been strained, make room for the people involved to speak for themselves. A polite gathering can be a beginning, but it is not proof that trust has been restored. Ask rather than assume. No earlier failure by a vulnerable person makes later mistreatment acceptable or removes others' duty to treat them with care.
Prayer
Lord, give us patience to listen when a relationship needs repair. Keep us from assuming that appearances tell the whole story, and make our kindness attentive to each person. Amen.