KJV ORIGINAL
And the old man said, Peace be with thee; howsoever let all thy wants lie upon me; only lodge not in the street.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE
And the old man said, 'Peace be with you; whatever you need, I'll take care of it all. Just don't spend the night out in the street.'
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE
The old man is offering complete hospitality and protection, insisting the traveler not stay outside where it would be dangerous.
📚 Historical Context
This occurs during the dark period of the Judges when Israel had no king and moral chaos prevailed. An old man in Gibeah (a Benjamite city) is offering shelter to a Levite and his concubine who were traveling. Ancient Middle Eastern hospitality customs made it shameful and dangerous to leave travelers unprotected in public spaces overnight.
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