Judges 19:5

5. The doublets and repetitions in this and the following verses may at first sight appear to be due to the carelessness of a narrator who did not pay much attention to literary correctness; more probably, however, they are to be accounted for, as in similar cases elsewhere, by the combination of two sources. Although other parts of this chapter seem to be fairly homogeneous, yet at this point indications of fusion become apparent. Thus the same request is repeated four times Jdg_19:5-6; Jdg_19:8-9; father of the damsel (Jdg_19:3; Jdg_19:6; Jdg_19:8) seems to be a duplicate of his father in law (Jdg_19:7), both being combined in Jdg_19:4; a similar doubling of phraseology appears in comfort thine heart (Jdg_19:5; Jdg_19:8) and let thine heart be merry (Jdg_19:6; Jdg_19:9); in they did eat and drink (Jdg_19:4) and they did eat, both of them (Jdg_19:8), combined in Jdg_19:6; in Behold, now the day draweth toward evening and behold, the day groweth to an end in Jdg_19:9. This last verse, the text of which is open to question here and there, shews a curious alternation of singular and plural, not always apparent in English; tarry all night is plural, lodge here, the same word in Hebrew, is singular; get you early on your way and that thou mayest go to thy tents; the one account seems to have used singular verbs and pronouns, the other plural; similarly here, Jdg_19:5, they arose early and he rose up. Again, it would appear that according to one version the Levite was persuaded to stay for three days (Jdg_19:4) and then for a fourth (Jdg_19:5), while the other version seems to imply that he intended to leave on the day of his arrival, but remained for one night as his father in law urged him (Jdg_19:6 b, 7); on the fifth day (Jdg_19:8) may then be due to the editor who united the documents (Moore). Fortunately these redundancies do not obscure the purpose of this part of the story, which is to explain how it happened that the Levite and his belongings arrived at Gibeah so late in the day.

Comfort thine heart with a morsel of bread] The same expressions as in Gen_18:5 J; comfort in the old English sense of strengthen, as the verb is rendered in Psa_104:15.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Jdg 19:5 And it came to pass on the fourth day, when they arose early in the morning, that he rose up to depart: and the damsel’s father said unto his son in law, Comfort thine heart with a morsel of bread, and afterward go your way.

Ver. 5. That he rose up to depart.] It is good hearing, saith a reverend man, {a} when the Levite maketh haste home. An honest man’s heart is the place of his calling. Such a one, when he is abroad, is like a fish in the air; whereinto if it leap for recreation or necessity, yet it soon returneth to to its own element. This charge by how much more sacred it is, so much the more attendance it expecteth. Even a day breaketh square with the conscionable.

{a} Bp. Hall.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Or, strengthen.

Hebrew, rose up.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

(5) Early in the morning.—Except in winter, most journeys are performed in the early morning or late evening, in order to avoid the burning heat.

Comfort thine heart.—Literally, Prop up thy heart, as in Gen_18:5. This resembles the Latin expression cor fulcire.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

And it came to pass on the fourth day,.... The time the Levite had agreed to stay being up:

when they arose early in the morning the Levite, his concubine and servant, in order to set out on their journey: that he arose to depart; the Levite rose up from his seat to take his leave of his father-in-law, and depart from his house, and proceed on his way homeward; for rising out of his bed is before expressed:

and the damsel's father said to his son in law, comfort thy heart with a morsel of bread; take a breakfast first, that he might be fitter for his journey, for bread comforts or strengthens men's hearts, Psa 104:15 though here it may be put for any and all sorts of provisions, whatever might be proper to take early in a morning, and before setting out on a journey: and afterwards go your way; he seemed as if he was willing he should set forward, after he had refreshed him with a meal.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Comfort thine heart, etc. Compare Gen_18:5.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Also on the fourth day, when he was about to depart in the morning, the Levite yielded to the persuasion of his father-in-law, that he would first of all strengthen his heart again with a bit of bread (לב סעד as in Gen 18:5; the imperative form with ŏ is unusual); and then afterwards, whilst they were eating and drinking, he consented to stay another night.

Keil & Delitzsch — Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament (1861–1891) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API. (Old Testament only.)

he prepared

the Levite prepared

Strengthen yourself with a bit of bread

Here "bread" refers to "food." AT: "Eat some food so you will be strong enough to travel" (See: Synecdoche)

Please be willing to spend the night

"Please stay another night"

translationWords

bread

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.