God’s kindness toward travelers highlights the Biblical call to hospitality.
In this narrative found in the time before Israel had kings (around 1375-1050 BC), we read how “The old man said, ‘Peace be to you. Only let me take care of all your needs; however, do not spend the night in the open square.’” (Judges 19:20). This welcoming statement is directed toward a traveling Levite and his companions, showing the old man’s concern for their welfare. The old man himself comes from the hill country of Ephraim, but he is sojourning in Gibeah, a Benjaminite city located a few miles north of Jerusalem. Gibeah was an ancient settlement of the tribe of Benjamin, and it would eventually play a role in several significant events in Israel’s history.
The hospitality expressed in the words “Only let me take care of all your needs” (v.20) hints at an ancient Near Eastern custom: caring for travelers who arrive at the city gate. The old man’s offer stands out even more starkly against the apparent lack of welcome the Levite found among the Benjamites of Gibeah, suggesting a dramatic contrast meant to underscore the dire spiritual condition of Israel during the period of the Judges. This particular passage also reminds us of the broader biblical theme of extending kindness to strangers, which finds a notable echo in the New Testament’s exhortation to show hospitality to others (Hebrews 13:2).
When the old man urges the Levite not to “spend the night in the open square” (v.20), he foreshadows that there is trouble lurking in the streets of Gibeah. Although the older man’s name is not provided, his compassionate act stands out as a glimmer of righteousness in a society otherwise described as doing “what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25). This sense of foreboding will culminate in the tragic events that follow, continuing the overarching message of the Book of Judges about Israel’s need for faithful leadership, ultimately fulfilled in the redemption brought by Jesus Christ in the New Testament.
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Judges 19:20 meaning
In this narrative found in the time before Israel had kings (around 1375-1050 BC), we read how “The old man said, ‘Peace be to you. Only let me take care of all your needs; however, do not spend the night in the open square.’” (Judges 19:20). This welcoming statement is directed toward a traveling Levite and his companions, showing the old man’s concern for their welfare. The old man himself comes from the hill country of Ephraim, but he is sojourning in Gibeah, a Benjaminite city located a few miles north of Jerusalem. Gibeah was an ancient settlement of the tribe of Benjamin, and it would eventually play a role in several significant events in Israel’s history.
The hospitality expressed in the words “Only let me take care of all your needs” (v.20) hints at an ancient Near Eastern custom: caring for travelers who arrive at the city gate. The old man’s offer stands out even more starkly against the apparent lack of welcome the Levite found among the Benjamites of Gibeah, suggesting a dramatic contrast meant to underscore the dire spiritual condition of Israel during the period of the Judges. This particular passage also reminds us of the broader biblical theme of extending kindness to strangers, which finds a notable echo in the New Testament’s exhortation to show hospitality to others (Hebrews 13:2).
When the old man urges the Levite not to “spend the night in the open square” (v.20), he foreshadows that there is trouble lurking in the streets of Gibeah. Although the older man’s name is not provided, his compassionate act stands out as a glimmer of righteousness in a society otherwise described as doing “what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25). This sense of foreboding will culminate in the tragic events that follow, continuing the overarching message of the Book of Judges about Israel’s need for faithful leadership, ultimately fulfilled in the redemption brought by Jesus Christ in the New Testament.