Bible Strands
Judges 19:10
But the man was unwilling to spend the night. He got up and departed, and arrived opposite Jebus (that is, Jerusalem), with his two saddled donkeys and his concubine.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The Levite traveler declines his father-in-law’s evening invitation and continues his journey at dusk. He departs with his concubine and two saddled donkeys, reaching the outskirts of Jebus as daylight fades.
The words — The Hebrew verb אָבָה ('a.Vah) literally means "to be willing" or "to consent," marking the man’s deliberate refusal to heed the host’s plea. His departure is structurally driven by וַ/יָּ֣קָם (va/i.Ya.kom, "he arose") and וַ/יֵּ֗לֶךְ (va/i.Ye.lekh, "he went"), emphasizing immediate physical movement.
The thread — The text identifies Jebus as Jerusalem, a location repeatedly noted in Joshua 15:8, 15:63, and 18:28 as a Jebusite stronghold that remained outside Israelite control. Joshua 18:28 specifically lists it within the territorial boundaries allotted to Benjamin, not Judah.
Why it lands — The verse records a factual travel decision that prioritizes speed over safety, leaving the reader to trace the consequences of that refusal. It demands attention to how human choices intersect with geographic and political realities before any moral judgment is applied.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
But the man would not tarry that night, but he rose up and departed, and came over against Jebus, which is Jerusalem; and there were with him two asses saddled, his concubine also was with him.
Cross-references
- Joshua 15:8 From there the border went up the Valley of Ben-hinnom along the southern slope of the Jebusites (that is, Jerusalem) and ascended to the top of the hill that faces the Valley of Hinnom on the west, at the northern end of the Valley of Rephaim.
- Joshua 15:63 But the descendants of Judah could not drive out the Jebusites living in Jerusalem. So to this day the Jebusites live there among the descendants of Judah.
- Joshua 18:28 Zelah, Haeleph, Jebus (that is, Jerusalem), Gibeah, and Kiriath-jearim—fourteen cities, along with their villages. This was the inheritance of the clans of the tribe of Benjamin.
- Judges 1:8 Then the men of Judah fought against Jerusalem and captured it. They put the city to the sword and set it on fire.
- 2 Samuel 5:6 Now the king and his men marched to Jerusalem against the Jebusites who inhabited the land. The Jebusites said to David: “You will never get in here. Even the blind and lame can repel you.” For they thought, “David cannot get in here.”
- 1 Chronicles 11:4 Then David and all the Israelites marched to Jerusalem (that is, Jebus), where the Jebusites inhabited the land.