Judges 19:11-21
No One Took Them In
Read the passage
11When they were near Jebus and the day was almost gone, the servant said to his master, “Please, let us stop at this Jebusite city and spend the night here.”
12But his master replied, “We will not turn aside to the city of foreigners, where there are no Israelites. We will go on to Gibeah.”
13He continued, “Come, let us try to reach one of these towns to spend the night in Gibeah or Ramah.”
14So they continued on their journey, and the sun set as they neared Gibeah in Benjamin.
15They stopped to go in and lodge in Gibeah. The Levite went in and sat down in the city square, but no one would take them into his home for the night.
16That evening an old man from the hill country of Ephraim, who was residing in Gibeah (the men of that place were Benjamites), came in from his work in the field.
17When he looked up and saw the traveler in the city square, the old man asked, “Where are you going, and where have you come from?”
18The Levite replied, “We are traveling from Bethlehem in Judah to the remote hill country of Ephraim, where I am from. I went to Bethlehem in Judah, and now I am going to the house of the LORD; but no one has taken me into his home,
19even though there is both straw and feed for our donkeys, and bread and wine for me and the maidservant and young man with me. There is nothing that we, your servants, lack.”
20“Peace to you,” said the old man. “Let me supply everything you need. Only do not spend the night in the square.”
21So he brought him to his house and fed his donkeys. And they washed their feet and ate and drank.
Berean Standard Bible
Read aloud
Near Jebus, with daylight fading, the servant suggests stopping for the night. The Levite refuses because it is a city of foreigners rather than Israelites. They continue toward Gibeah or Ramah and reach Gibeah in Benjamin at sunset.
No one takes them in. They sit in the square until an old man returns from working in the fields. He is from Ephraim and lives among Gibeah's Benjamites. Seeing the travelers, he asks where they have come from and where they are going.
The Levite explains their journey and says they have food and animal feed but no lodging. The old man offers to supply their needs and insists that they should not spend the night in the square. He brings them home, feeds the donkeys, and the travelers wash their feet and eat.
The contrast is concrete. The Levite has preferred a city of his own people, yet that belonging has not secured a welcome. One man returning from an ordinary day's work notices them and provides the lodging the rest of the city has not offered.
Questions
1 Why does the Levite refuse to stop at Jebus?
AnswerHe does not want to stay in a city of foreigners without Israelites. He chooses to continue toward Gibeah or Ramah.
2 Who finally welcomes the travelers?
AnswerAn old man originally from Ephraim, now living in Gibeah, sees them after returning from his field work and brings them home.
3 What help does the old man provide?
AnswerHe offers lodging and supplies, feeds the donkeys, and gives the travelers a place to wash and eat. He insists they not remain in the square.
4 What practical help could we offer when someone’s arrangements fall through?
AnswerDepending on the situation, we could help find safe lodging, arrange a ride, provide a meal, or contact someone able to help. Useful welcome attends to the actual need.
What This Means for Us
Notice the person who is left waiting after everyone else has gone home. Help need not begin with a grand plan; it may begin by asking what is missing. Offer what you can responsibly provide and seek other help when needed. Shared identity or a friendly setting should never replace attention to a person's actual safety.
Prayer
Lord, help us notice people whose needs have gone unanswered. Give us practical generosity and sound judgment, so our welcome offers useful care rather than words alone. Amen.