Judges 19:8

8 And on the fifth day he arose early in the morning to depart. And the girl's father said, 1"Strengthen your heart and wait until the day declines." So they ate, both of them.

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 the two of them sat and ate and drank together. And the girl's father said to the man, "Be pleased to spend the night, and let your heart be merry."
7 And when the man rose up to go, his father-in-law pressed him, till he spent the night there again.
8 And on the fifth day he arose early in the morning to depart. And the girl's father said, "Strengthen your heart and wait until the day declines." So they ate, both of them.
9 And when the man and his concubine and his servant rose up to depart, his father-in-law, the girl's father, said to him, "Behold, now the day has waned toward evening. Please, spend the night. Behold, the day draws to its close. Lodge here and let your heart be merry, and tomorrow you shall arise early in the morning for your journey, and go home."
10 But the man would not spend the night. He rose up and departed and arrived opposite Jebus (that is, Jerusalem). He had with him a couple of saddled donkeys, and his concubine was with him.

Cross References 1

The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.