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Judges 19:17

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does Judges 19:17 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And he lifted up his eyes, and saw the wayfaring man in the street of the city; and the old man said, Whither goest thou? and whence comest thou?” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And he lifted up his eyes, and saw the wayfaring man in the street of the city; and the old man said, Whither goest thou? and whence comest thou?
Judges 19:17 — American Standard Version

Context — Judges 19

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
14So they passed on and went their way; and the sun went down upon them near to Gibeah, which belongeth to Benjamin.
15And they turned aside thither, to go in to lodge in Gibeah: and he went in, and sat him down in the street of the city; for there was no man that took them into his house to lodge.
16And, behold, there came an old man from his work out of the field at even: now the man was of the hill-country of Ephraim, and he sojourned in Gibeah; but the men of the place were Benjamites.
17And he lifted up his eyes, and saw the wayfaring man in the street of the city; and the old man said, Whither goest thou? and whence comest thou?
18And he said unto him, We are passing from Beth-lehem-judah unto the farther side of the hill-country of Ephraim; from thence am I, and I went to Beth-lehem-judah: and I am [now] going to the house of Jehovah; and there is no man that taketh me into his house.
19Yet there is both straw and provender for our asses; and there is bread and wine also for me, and for thy handmaid, and for the young man that is with thy servants: there is no want of anything.
20And the old man said, Peace be unto thee; howsoever let all thy wants lie upon me; only lodge not in the street.
← Judges 19:16Judges 19:18 →
← Full Chapter 19 Judges Overview

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And when he had lifted up his eyes, etc.] For it may be, as he came out of the field, he was musing and meditating with his eyes downwards directed, but coming into the city looked up: he saw a wayfaring man in the street of the city; whom he supposed to be a traveller and a stranger by his dress, and other circumstances, having never seen him before, and knowing pretty well the inhabitants of the place: and the old man said, whither goest thou? and whence comest thou? the meaning of the questions is, what place he was travelling to, and from whence he came last.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“whither: Gen 16:8, Gen 32:17 Judges 19:18”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification