The Levite pursues his concubine with gentleness, and upon arriving at her father’s house, he is received warmly, hinting at a reconciliation effort.
In Judges 19:3, Scripture tells us that “Then her husband arose and went after her to speak tenderly to her in order to bring her back, taking with him his servant and a pair of donkeys. So she brought him into her father’s house, and when the girl’s father saw him, he was glad to meet him” (v.3). This verse takes place during the time of the Judges, a period generally dated between about 1375 BC and 1050 BC, when Israel was ruled by various judges rather than a central monarchy (see commentary passages about the era of Judges). The man in this story is traditionally understood as a Levite, having taken a concubine from Bethlehem in Judah, located around six miles south of Jerusalem, the very same Bethlehem later known as the birthplace of Jesus Christ (Matthew 2:1). She had left him, returning to her father’s house, and now he rises to pursue her lovingly.
Scripture says he desired “to speak tenderly to her in order to bring her back,” showing that his intent was reconciliation rather than rejection. Leaving with “his servant and a pair of donkeys” (v.3) suggests a planned journey equipped for travel, and emphasizes that the husband (most likely this Levite) was resolved to retrieve her (reflects knowledge of the Levite’s pursuit of his concubine). Upon arrival, the concubine “brought him into her father’s house” (v.3). Hospitality in the ancient Near East was prized (see references to hospitality in Judges 19:2-25), so when “the girl’s father saw him, he was glad to meet him.” Likely, the father was grateful that the Levite showed compassion, hoping to reunite with his daughter. Geographically, this highlights the city of Bethlehem and the father’s household there, offering a glimpse into familial structures, in which fathers retained oversight of their daughters until marriages were fully established.
What we learn here is that even in an era when “everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25), there were moments of grace and reconciliation. The father’s gladness suggests that he supported reuniting the couple, and it sets the stage for subsequent verses where hospitality and repeated invitations to linger at the father’s home become a significant plot point.
Set to dark mode
Judges 19:3 meaning
In Judges 19:3, Scripture tells us that “Then her husband arose and went after her to speak tenderly to her in order to bring her back, taking with him his servant and a pair of donkeys. So she brought him into her father’s house, and when the girl’s father saw him, he was glad to meet him” (v.3). This verse takes place during the time of the Judges, a period generally dated between about 1375 BC and 1050 BC, when Israel was ruled by various judges rather than a central monarchy (see commentary passages about the era of Judges). The man in this story is traditionally understood as a Levite, having taken a concubine from Bethlehem in Judah, located around six miles south of Jerusalem, the very same Bethlehem later known as the birthplace of Jesus Christ (Matthew 2:1). She had left him, returning to her father’s house, and now he rises to pursue her lovingly.
Scripture says he desired “to speak tenderly to her in order to bring her back,” showing that his intent was reconciliation rather than rejection. Leaving with “his servant and a pair of donkeys” (v.3) suggests a planned journey equipped for travel, and emphasizes that the husband (most likely this Levite) was resolved to retrieve her (reflects knowledge of the Levite’s pursuit of his concubine). Upon arrival, the concubine “brought him into her father’s house” (v.3). Hospitality in the ancient Near East was prized (see references to hospitality in Judges 19:2-25), so when “the girl’s father saw him, he was glad to meet him.” Likely, the father was grateful that the Levite showed compassion, hoping to reunite with his daughter. Geographically, this highlights the city of Bethlehem and the father’s household there, offering a glimpse into familial structures, in which fathers retained oversight of their daughters until marriages were fully established.
What we learn here is that even in an era when “everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25), there were moments of grace and reconciliation. The father’s gladness suggests that he supported reuniting the couple, and it sets the stage for subsequent verses where hospitality and repeated invitations to linger at the father’s home become a significant plot point.