Judges 19:9

9 And the man got up to go--he, his concubine, and his servant--but his father-in-law, the father of the young woman, said to him, "Please, the day has worn on to evening; please, spend the night, the day has drawn to a close. Spend the night here and {enjoy yourself}. You can rise early tomorrow for your journey and {go to your home}."

Judges 19:9 Meaning and Commentary

Judges 19:9

And when the man rose up to depart, he and his concubine, and
his servant
Rose up from table, having comfortably refreshed themselves:

his father in law, the damsel's father, said unto him, behold, now the
day draweth towards evening;
or is "remiss", or "weak" ^F14; that is, the heat, light, and strength of the sun abated, and became weaker and more remiss, as it does the more it declines, and is nearer setting:

I pray you tarry all night;
suggesting, it was a very improper time to set out in on a journey:

behold, the day groweth to an end;
or "behold, it is the encampment of the day" ^F15, when the day or sun seems to be pitching its tent, and going to rest; or it being the time when an army on the march stops and pitches their tents, in order to continue all night; or when men go to their tents and habitations, and lie down and take their rest:

lodge here, that thine heart may be merry;
and let us have another pleasant evening together, which cannot be had in an inn upon the road; you cannot be comfortable there, as here, and therefore be persuaded to stay, since it is not possible to get home tonight:

and tomorrow get you early on your way, that thou mayest go home;
to thy city, as the Targum; signifying, that he should not insist upon their staying any longer, and then they might set out on their journey as soon as they pleased.

---

FOOTNOTES:

F14 (hpr) "debilitata est", Pagninus, Vatablus; "remissus est", Junius & Tremellius.
F15 (Mwyh twnh) "castrametatio diei", Drusius.

Judges 19:9 In-Context

7 The man got up to go, but his father-in-law urged him, and he returned and spent the night there.

8 On the fifth day he rose early in the morning to go, and the father of the young woman said, "Please, {enjoy yourself}," and they lingered until the day declined, and the two of them ate.

9 And the man got up to go--he, his concubine, and his servant--but his father-in-law, the father of the young woman, said to him, "Please, the day has worn on to evening; please, spend the night, the day has drawn to a close. Spend the night here and {enjoy yourself}. You can rise early tomorrow for your journey and {go to your home}."

10 But the man was not willing to spend the night, and he got up and went; and he arrived opposite Jebus (that is, Jerusalem). [He had] with him a pair of saddled donkeys and his concubine.

11 They [were] near Jebus, and {the day was far spent}, and the servant said to his master, "Please, come, let us turn aside to this city of the Jebusites, and let us spend the night in it."

Footnotes

• [a] Literally "and let your heart be good"
• [b] Literally "go to your tent"