What does Judges 19:9 mean?
The moment has finally come when the Levite man feels he can appropriately resist his father-in-law's aggressive pleas for him to stay another night (Judges 19:1–8). The man and his servant and his concubine stand up to leave the house and get on the road toward Ephraim. The girl's father once more asks them to stay just one more night. He's done this several times already, and what started out as a short trip has turned into a five-day stay.This time, the father-in-law makes a practical point. It is late in the day, almost evening. Why set out now when it will soon be growing dark? Enjoy yourself here for one more night, then get up early tomorrow and head home. After so many delays, the Levite probably thinks if he doesn't leave now he'll be caught in the same cycle for another day. And so, he will politely refuse, though he may eventually wish he hadn't.