Judges 19:8

8 He arose early in the morning on the fifth day to depart; and the young lady's father said, Please strengthen your heart and stay until the day declines; and 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.

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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 and drink, both of them together: and the young lady's father said to the man, Please be pleased to stay all night, and let your heart be merry.

7 The man rose up to depart; but his father-in-law urged him, and he lodged there again.

8 He arose early in the morning on the fifth day to depart; and the young lady's father said, Please strengthen your heart and stay until the day declines; and they ate, both of them.

9 When the man rose up to depart, he, and his concubine, and his servant, his father-in-law, the young lady's father, said to him, Behold, now the day draws toward evening, please stay all night: behold, the day grows to an end, lodge here, that your heart may be merry; and tomorrow get you early on your way, that you may go home.

10 But the man wouldn't stay that night, but he rose up and departed, and came over against Jebus (the same is Jerusalem): and there were with him a couple of donkeys saddled; his concubine also was with him.