Judges 19:9

9 And the young man rose to go forth with his wife, and with the servant; to whom the father of his wife spake again, Behold thou, that the day is far forth gone toward the [sun] going down, and it nigheth to the eventide; dwell thou with me also today, and lead thou with me a glad day, and tomorrow thou shalt go forth, that thou go into thine house. (And then the young man rose up to go forth with his concubine, and with his servant; but his wife's father spoke to him again, and said, See thou, that the day hath gone far toward the sun going down, and it nigheth to the evening; stay thou here with me also this night, and have thou a happy evening with me, and tomorrow thou shalt go forth, and go to thy house.)

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 And he rose, and began to desire to go; and nevertheless, his wife's father held him again meekly, and made him to dwell with him. (And the Levite rose up, and desired to go; but his wife's father meekly held onto him again, and made him stay there with him.)
8 And when the morrowtide was made, the deacon made him(self) ready to go (on) his way; to whom his wife's father said again, I beseech thee, that thou take a little meat, and make thee strong till the day increase, and afterward go thou forth. Then they ate together (And so they ate together again).
9 And the young man rose to go forth with his wife, and with the servant; to whom the father of his wife spake again, Behold thou, that the day is far forth gone toward the [sun] going down, and it nigheth to the eventide; dwell thou with me also today, and lead thou with me a glad day, and tomorrow thou shalt go forth, that thou go into thine house. (And then the young man rose up to go forth with his concubine, and with his servant; but his wife's father spoke to him again, and said, See thou, that the day hath gone far toward the sun going down, and it nigheth to the evening; stay thou here with me also this night, and have thou a happy evening with me, and tomorrow thou shalt go forth, and go to thy house.)
10 (But) The daughter's husband would not assent to his words; but he went forth at once, and came (over) against Jebus, which by another name is called Jerusalem; and he led with him two asses charged, and his [secondary] wife (and he went with his two laden donkeys, and his concubine, and his servant).
11 And now they were beside Jebus, and the day was changed into night. And the servant said to his lord, Come thou, I beseech thee, bow we [down] to the city of Jebus, and dwell we therein (let us turn in to the city of Jebus, and stay we there).
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.