Judges 19:8

8 On the fifth day, he was again up early, ready to go. The girl's father said, "You need some breakfast." They went back and forth, and the day slipped on as they ate and drank together.

Judges 19:8 Meaning and Commentary

Judges 19:8

And he rose early in the morning on the fifth day to depart,
&c.] With a full intention to take his leave of his father, and be gone:

and the damsel's father said, comfort thine heart, I pray thee;
with a meal's meat, with a breakfast, before he set out on his journey, that he might be heartier and stronger for it:

and they tarried until afternoon;
or "until the decline of the day" {m}, when the sun had passed the meridian, and was declining, as it immediately does when noon is past:

and they did eat both of them;
the man stayed and took a dinner with his father-in-law; and though no mention is made of the concubine, neither in this, nor in the other instances, no doubt she ate with them.


FOOTNOTES:

F13 (Mwyh twjn de) "usque ad declinare diem", Montanus; to the same purpose Pagninus, Tigurine version, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator.

Judges 19:8 In-Context

6 So they sat down and ate breakfast together.
7 The man got up to go, but his father-in-law kept after him, so he ended up spending another night.
8 On the fifth day, he was again up early, ready to go. The girl's father said, "You need some breakfast." They went back and forth, and the day slipped on as they ate and drank together.
9 But the man and his concubine were finally ready to go. Then his father-in-law, the girl's father, said, "Look, the day's almost gone - why not stay the night? There's very little daylight left; stay another night and enjoy yourself. Tomorrow you can get an early start and set off for your own place."
10 But this time the man wasn't willing to spend another night. He got things ready, left, and went as far as Jebus (Jerusalem) with his pair of saddled donkeys, his concubine, and his servant.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.