Judges 19:11 meaning

In this troubling narrative, the Levite and his concubine are faced with a dire choice for lodging as night approaches. Despite having the option to stay in Jebus, a city inhabited by Canaanites, the Levite opts instead for Gibeah, a town among his fellow Israelites. This decision reflects profound societal expectations regarding hospitality, which was considered sacred in the ancient Near East. Sadly, the Levite's encounter in Gibeah starkly contrasts with the hospitality he seeks; he finds himself in a community that is not only inhospitable but also morally decayed. This setting foreshadows the horrific events that ensue, which highlight the pervasive decline of ethical standards among God's chosen people. Judges 19:11 underscores the eerie decline in social cohesion, suggesting that the very heart of Israel's community was tainted by rejection of the stranger and neighbor alike.

The Levite's choice to avoid Jebus, where he anticipated hostility, only leads him into a far worse situation, revealing that moral decay within a community can create a far more perilous environment than that suggested by its external associations.