Judges 19:10 (KJV)

What does Judges 19:10 mean?

Judges 19:10 describes how a man, traveling with his concubine and two saddled donkeys, refuses to stay overnight where he is and instead gets up and leaves, heading toward Jebus, which is the ancient name for Jerusalem. The verse simply sets the scene for their journey, noting who is with him and where they are going.

This verse is part of a story about a Levite traveling through Israel with his concubine. He decides not to spend the night in a certain place, choosing instead to press on toward Jebus (Jerusalem), even though it is getting late. The details about his companions and the donkeys help paint a picture of the journey and set up the events that follow in the chapter.

The Hebrew behind Judges 19:10

• יְב֔וּס (Yevus, "Jebus"): This is the old name for Jerusalem before it was taken by the Israelites. Mentioning both names shows the historical context and helps the reader understand the location.
• פִּילַגְשׁ֖וֹ (pilagshó, "his concubine"): The word refers to a woman in a secondary marital relationship, which was a recognized but lower-status position in ancient Israel. This detail is important for understanding the social dynamics in the story.
• חֲמוֹרִ֣ים (ḥamorim, "asses" or "donkeys"): The use of the plural and the note that they are saddled (חֲבוּשִׁ֔ים, ḥavushim) shows the man is prepared for travel, emphasizing his determination to continue the journey rather than stop for the night.

Why Judges 19:10 matters

• Judges 19:10 helps clarify the setting and the choices made by the Levite, which become important for understanding the troubling events that follow in the chapter.
• The mention of Jebus (Jerusalem) reminds the reader that this was before Israelite control of the city, highlighting the unsettled and sometimes dangerous nature of travel at that time.
• The verse shows the Levite’s urgency or discomfort with staying where he was, which sets up the narrative tension and leads directly to the next part of the story.