And he said unto him, We are passing from Bethlehemjudah toward the side of mount Ephraim; from thence am I: and I went to Bethlehemjudah, but I am now going to the house of the LORD; and there is no man that receiveth me to house.
He answered, 'We are traveling from Bethlehem in Judah toward the hill country of Ephraim, where I'm from. I went to Bethlehem in Judah, but now I'm heading to the house of the LORD, and no one has offered us a place to stay.'
The Levite is explaining to a local that he and his companions are travelers heading home to Ephraim after visiting Bethlehem, but they can't find anyone willing to give them shelter for the night.
📚 Historical Context
In the time of the Judges, Israel was a loose confederation of tribes without a central king, leading to widespread moral and social disorder as described in the book. This verse occurs during a dark narrative where a Levite is traveling from Bethlehem in Judah to his home in the hill country of Ephraim, seeking lodging in the Benjamite city of Gibeah after retrieving his concubine. His plea highlights the lack of hospitality and the dangers travelers faced in an era of declining societal values.
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