Judges 19:15

Judges 19:15 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And they turned aside thither, to go in and to lodge in Gibeah: and when he went in, he sat him down in a street of the city: for there was no man that took them into his house to lodging.
• New International Version (NIV)There they stopped to spend the night. They went and sat in the city square, but no one took them in for the night.
• English Standard Version (ESV)and they turned aside there, to go in and spend the night at Gibeah. And he went in and sat down in the open square of the city, for no one took them into his house to spend the night.
• New King James Version (NKJV)They turned aside there to go in to lodge in Gibeah. And when he went in, he sat down in the open square of the city, for no one would take them into his house to spend the night.

Context of Judges 19:15

13And he said to his servant, “Come and let us approach one of these places: and we will spend the night in Gibeah or in Ramah.” 14So they passed by and went on their way, and the sun set on them near Gibeah, which belongs to [the tribe of] Benjamin, and they turned aside there to go in and spend the night in Gibeah. And the Levite went in and sat down in the open square of the city, because no man invited them into his house to spend the night. 16Then behold, there was an old man who was coming out of the field from his work at evening. He was from the hill country of Ephraim but was staying in Gibeah, and the men of the place were sons (descendants) of Benjamin. 17When he looked up, he saw the traveler [and his companions] in the city square; and the old man said, “Where are you going, and where do you come from?”

Judges 19:15 word by word

וַיָּסֻ֣רוּ שָׁ֔ם לָב֖וֹא לָל֣וּן בַּגִּבְעָ֑ה וַיָּבֹ֗א וַיֵּ֙שֶׁב֙ בִּרְח֣וֹב הָעִ֔יר וְאֵ֥ין אִ֛ישׁ מְאַסֵּֽף־אוֹתָ֥ם הַבַּ֖יְתָה לָלֽוּן׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And they turned asideסוּרsûr ώûr · to turn aside: turn asideH5493
• thither, to go inבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
• to lodgeלוּןlûn lîyn · to lodgeH3885
• in Gibeahגִּבְעָהgib‛âh · GibeahH1390
• he sat him downיָשַׁבyâshab · to dwellH3427
• in a streetרְחוֹבrechôb rechôb · street/plazaH7339
• of the cityעִיר‛îyr ‛âr ‛âyar · cityH5892
• no manאִישׁ'îysh · man: anyoneH376
• that tookאָסַף'âsaph · to gatherH622
• them into his houseבַּ֫יִתbayith · house: homeH1004

Cross-references for Judges 19:15

• Judges 19:18The Levite replied, “We are passing through from Bethlehem [in the territory] of Judah to the most remote part of the hill country of Ephraim; I am from there. I went to Bethlehem of Judah, but I am now going [home] to my house, and there is no man [in the city] who will take me into his house [for the night].
• Genesis 18:2When he raised his eyes and looked up, behold, three men were standing [a little distance] from him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed down [with his face] to the ground,
• Genesis 19:2And he said, “See here, my lords, please turn aside and come into your servant’s house, and spend the night, and wash your feet; then you may get up early and go on your way.” But they said, “No, we shall spend the night in the open plaza [of the city].”
• Matthew 25:35For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in;
• Hebrews 13:2Do not neglect to extend hospitality to strangers [especially among the family of believers—being friendly, cordial, and gracious, sharing the comforts of your home and doing your part generously], for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.

Commentaries on Judges 19:15

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 15No man - took them into his house to lodging - There was probably no inn or house of public entertainment in this place, and therefore they could not have a lodging unless furnished by mere hospitality. To say that there were no inns in those primitive times, is not true; there were such places, though not very frequent. Joseph's brethren found their money in their sacks when they loosed them at an inn, Genesis 42:27. The house of Rahab was an inn, Joshua…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 15A street - Probably the square or place within the gates, where courts were held, bargains made, and where the chief men and strangers congregated.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 15The usual hospitality rules in Israel and the Near East required a town citizen to offer shelter (compare Isaiah 58:7; Luke 14:13–14; Romans 12:13; 1 Timothy 3:2; 5:10; Hebrews 13:2; 1 Peter 4:9). The Levite had money and supplies (Judges 19:19), so there was even less reason not to help. This lack of basic kindness shows the social problems during the time of Judges.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1515. when he went in, he sat him down in a street of the city--The towns of Palestine at this remote period could not, it seems, furnish any establishment in the shape of an inn or public lodging-house. Hence we conclude that the custom, which is still frequently witnessed in the cities of the East, was then not uncommon, for travellers who were late in arriving and who had no introduction to a private family, to spread their bedding in the streets, or…Read the comment

Topics related to Judges 19:15

• Gibeah
• Inhospitableness

In the dictionaries

• Gibeah
• Beat
• Diligent
• Micah
• Wayfaring
• Wolf
• Bethlehem
• Hill, Hill Country
• Israel, History of
• Judges, Book of

Commentaries on Judges 19

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• Darby Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary