And when they were by Iebus, the day was farre spent, and the seruant said vnto his master, Come, I pray thee, and let vs turne in into this citie of the Iebusites, and lodge in it. Judges 19:11 (KJV)
This verse is part of a larger narrative found in Judges 19, which recounts a tragic and disturbing event involving a Levite and his concubine.
The chapter begins by introducing a Levite from the hill country of Ephraim who takes a concubine from Bethlehem. After an extended stay at her father’s house, they decide to return to the Levite’s home.
As they travel, they approach Jebus (also known as Jerusalem), which was still inhabited by the Jebusites at that time, and later stop at the city of Gibeah, a town of the tribe of Benjamin.
In Judges 19:11, the verse highlights the time of day when the Levite and his servant arrived near Jebus and at Gibeah. The text states that the day was far spent, implying that it was late in the afternoon or early evening.
The servant suggests to his master that they should turn in and lodge in the city for the night.
However, the Levite declines this suggestion and continues to Gibeah, where they eventually find lodging with a hospitable old man.
Later in the chapter, a wicked mob of men from Gibeah surrounds the house, demanding that the Levite be handed over to them for their immoral desires. Ultimately, the Levite sends out his concubine to the mob, who abuses her throughout the night, resulting in her death.
Judges 19 as a whole paints a dark picture of the moral decay and lawlessness prevalent during that time in Israel’s history. The events described highlight the absence of righteous leadership and the consequences of such societal breakdown.
While Judges 19:11 itself does not convey a moral or theological lesson explicitly, it serves as a link in the chain of events that leads to the tragedy and subsequent consequences detailed in the chapter. This passage reminds readers of the desperate need for righteous leaders and a society grounded in God’s principles, as outlined in the rest of the Bible.
