And he arose early in the morning on the fifth day to depart: and the damsel’s father said, Comfort thine heart, I pray thee. And they tarried until afternoon, and they did eat both of them.
Early in the morning on the fifth day, he got up to leave. But the young woman's father said, 'Please, refresh yourself with some food first.' So they waited until afternoon, and both men ate together.
The writer is showing how the father-in-law kept delaying his son-in-law's departure by offering hospitality and meals.
📚 Historical Context
In the Book of Judges, during a time of moral and spiritual chaos in ancient Israel, a Levite man travels to his father-in-law's house to retrieve his concubine after she had returned to her family. The father-in-law repeatedly urges the Levite to stay longer, as shown in this verse, reflecting the cultural emphasis on hospitality and family bonds in Israelite society, where hosts would insist on providing food and rest to honor guests. This scene is part of a larger narrative that highlights the dangers of societal breakdown and lack of leadership in Israel.
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