And the old man said, “Peace be to you; I will care for all your wants. Only, do not spend the night in the square.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
This old man doesn't just offer a place to stay; he fully assumes responsibility for the traveler's needs, saying "let all your wants lie upon me." This isn't simply providing food and lodging, but a profound willingness to bear any burden, signifying a radical hospitality that anticipates and embraces every potential difficulty. His insistence on the traveler not sleeping in the public square reveals a deep concern for his safety and honor, reflecting a moral sensitivity even in a time of widespread lawlessness.
And the old man said, “Peace be to you; I will care for all your wants. Only, do not spend the night in the square.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
A Levite and his concubine are traveling and desperately need lodging for the night. Having been refused by several towns, they finally arrive at Gibeah, where an elderly man, also from Ephraim, finds them and offers them refuge in his home. He assures them of his hospitality, taking responsibility for all their needs, and urges them not to stay outside in the public square.
Have you ever said 'peace be with you' as a quick goodbye, or as a way to brush someone off? This old man's 'peace' means so much more.
In this tense situation, the old man's "Peace be to you" isn't just a polite greeting. It's a profound offer of safety and security.
A Deeper Meaning
In a time of moral decay, this stranger's willingness to shelter a traveler speaks volumes. Why was this so important?
The hospitality shown by the old man is more than just kindness; it's a critical act in a society spiraling into lawlessness.
The Weight of the Act
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Understand the original words
shalom · Hebrew Noun
A Hebrew greeting (shalom) encompassing not just the absence of conflict, but total well-being, prosperity, harmony, and wholeness in body, spirit, and community. It is a state of being right with God and others.
The hospitality offered in Judges 19:20 is a poignant moment of kindness set against a backdrop of extreme lawlessness and moral decay. The verse occurs during the chaotic 'Period of the Judges,' a time when the absence of strong leadership meant 'every man did that which was right in his own eyes,' making acts of violence and injustice common and safety precarious.
c. 11th century BC
Period of the Judges
A time in Israel's history marked by a lack of centralized authority, where tribal leaders (judges) emerged to govern and defend the people. This era was characterized by cycles of disobedience, oppression, and deliverance.
c. 11th century BC
No King in Israel
This period is explicitly described as a time when 'there was no king in Israel,' leading to a breakdown in law and order, where 'every man did that which was right in his own eyes.' This context highlights the social instability and moral decline that contributed to the events of this chapter.
Unknown, but within the Period of the Judges— this verse
The Levite's journey and the crime at Gibeah
A Levite and his concubine travel towards Mount Ephraim. They are forced to lodge in Gibeah, a town of the tribe of Benjamin, where the woman is brutally assaulted and killed by the townspeople.
Unknown, shortly after the crime
The Levite's appeal to the tribes
The Levite dismembers his concubine's body and sends pieces to the twelve tribes of Israel, demanding justice for the horrific crime committed in Gibeah.
Unknown, following the appeal
The Civil War against Benjamin
The tribes of Israel unite to wage war against the tribe of Benjamin for their complicity in the crime, nearly annihilating them.
This passage shows a similar offer of hospitality and concern for safety when strangers are arriving in a town, specifically Lot's encounter with the men of Sodom who offered them shelter in their house instead of the city square.
Luke 10:34-35The Good Samaritan shows radical hospitality by taking the injured man to an inn, tending to his needs, and promising to cover any further expenses, mirroring the generosity shown by the old man in Judges 19:20.
1 Timothy 5:10This verse mentions that widows who are considered worthy should be shown hospitality, highlighting hospitality as a virtue that extends even to the vulnerable, a principle embodied by the old man in Judges.
Hebrews 13:2The author urges believers to 'show love to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it,' emphasizing the importance and potential divine reward of offering shelter and care to travelers.
clarkeJudges 19:20: "And the old man said, Peace be with thee; howsoever let all thy wants lie upon me; only lodge not in the street."
All thy wants lie upon me - Here was genuine hospitality: "Keep your bread and wine for yourselves, and your straw and provender for your asses; you may need them before you finish your journey; I will supply all your wants for this night, therefore do not lodge in the street."
bensonJudges 19:20: "And the old man said, Peace be with thee; howsoever let all thy wants lie upon me; only lodge not in the street."
Jdg 19:20-21 . Let all thy wants lie upon me — It matters not whether thou wantest nothing or every thing; I will take care to supply all thy wants. They washed their feet — As they used to do to travellers in those hot countries.
This old man doesn't just offer a place to stay; he fully assumes responsibility for the traveler's needs, saying "let all your wants lie upon me." This isn't simply providing food and lodging, but a profound willingness to bear any burden, signifying a radical hospitality that anticipates and embraces every potential difficulty. His insistence on the traveler not sleeping in the public square reveals a deep concern for his safety and honor, reflecting a moral sensitivity even in a time of widespread lawlessness.
A Levite and his concubine are traveling and desperately need lodging for the night. Having been refused by several towns, they finally arrive at Gibeah, where an elderly man, also from Ephraim, finds them and offers them refuge in his home. He assures them of his hospitality, taking responsibility for all their needs, and urges them not to stay outside in the public square.
A Levite and his concubine are traveling and desperately need lodging for the night. Having been refused by several towns, they finally arrive at Gibeah, where an elderly man, also from Ephraim, finds them and offers them refuge in his home. He assures them of his hospitality, taking responsibility for all their needs, and urges them not to stay outside in the public square.
"And the old man said, “Peace be to you; I will care for all your wants. Only, do not spend the night in the square.”" — This old man doesn't just offer a place to stay; he fully assumes responsibility for the traveler's needs, saying "let all your wants lie upon me." This isn't simply providing food and lodging, but a…
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Last reviewed October 2026