Judges 19:20

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does Judges 19:20 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And the old man said, Peace be unto thee; howsoever let all thy wants lie upon me; only lodge not in the street.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And the old man said, Peace be unto thee; howsoever let all thy wants lie upon me; only lodge not in the street.
Judges 19:20 — American Standard Version

Context — Judges 19

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
20And the old man said, Peace be unto thee; howsoever let all thy wants lie upon me; only lodge not in the street.

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 the old man said, peace be with you, etc.] All happiness attend thee, particularly ease and tranquillity of mind, let nothing disturb or distress thee: howsoever, let all thy wants lie upon me; signifying, that if he had neither bread nor wine for himself, his wife, and his servant, nor any litter nor provender for his asses, he was welcome to all from him; and whatever his wants were, he would supply them, which was nobly and generously said: only lodge not in the street: that I cannot bear to think of, as if he should say; for a stranger, an Israelite, one of my own country, a good man, a Levite going to the house of God, to take up a lodging in the streets, let it not be said.”
Read attributed excerpt →
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“only lodge not in the street--As this is no rare or singular circumstance in the East, the probability is that the old man's earnest dissuasive from such a procedure arose from his acquaintance with the infamous practices of the place.”
Read attributed excerpt →
Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Let all, &c. - It matters not whether thou wantest nothing or everything, I will take care to supply all thy wants. Judges 19:21”
Read attributed excerpt →
Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Peace be: Jdg 6:23; Gen 43:23, Gen 43:24; Sa1 25:6; Ch1 12:18; Luk 10:5, Luk 10:6; Joh 14:27; Co1 1:3 let all thy wants: 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; only do not lodge in the street." Rom 12:13; Gal 6:6; Heb 13:2; Jam 2:15, Jam 2:16; Pe1 4:9; Jo1 3:18 lodge not: Gen 19:2, Gen 19:3, Gen 24:31-33 Judges 19:21”
Read attributed excerpt →

Related study paths

Sources and verification