What does Judges 19:5 mean?
The story of a Levite and his concubine takes on an almost comedic, socially awkward tone (Judges 19:1–4). Later, it will spiral into a gruesome tragedy. The young woman's father simply does not want his daughter and her husband to leave and keeps finding ways to prolong their departure.The couple wakes up early on their fourth day in Bethlehem, expecting to get on the road back to Ephraim. Yet the father-in-law says something akin to, "You'll travel better after a good breakfast. Stay and eat!" Not wanting to be rude, the man and his concubine agree to stay.