Question 1

What does Judges 19:17 mean?

Accepted Answer

Judges 19:17 describes an old man in the city noticing a traveler in the street and asking him where he is going and where he has come from. The verse shows the old man's curiosity and concern for the stranger's situation as he sees him out in the open. The setting is the city of Gibeah, where an old man, returning from his work in the fields, sees a wayfaring man (the Levite) in the street. The old man addresses the Levite, asking about his journey and origin. This exchange sets the stage for the hospitality—or lack of it—that becomes a key part of the story in the following verses.

Question 2

The Hebrew behind Judges 19:17

Accepted Answer

The word for "wayfaring" (אֹרֵחַ, ’oreach) means a traveler or someone on a journey, highlighting that the Levite is a stranger and not a local resident. The word for "street" (רְחוֹב, rechov) refers to an open area or plaza in the city, not just a narrow road, suggesting the Levite was exposed and vulnerable. The old man's question "Whither goest thou?" uses the word (יָלַךְ, yalak), which often means to walk or go, emphasizing the direction and purpose of the Levite's journey. The question "whence comest thou?" uses (בּוֹא, bo), meaning to come or arrive, focusing on the Levite's origin and background.

Question 3

Why Judges 19:17 matters

Accepted Answer

The verse highlights the importance of hospitality in ancient Israelite society, as travelers depended on the kindness of locals for shelter and safety. By showing the Levite in the open street, the verse hints at a lack of hospitality from the city’s residents, which becomes a major theme in the chapter. The old man's questions set up the tension and moral issues that unfold in the story, helping readers understand the seriousness of what follows.

Judges 19:17 (KJV)