But the man would not spend the night; he rose up and departed, and arrived opposite Jebus (that is, Jerusalem), with his concubine and his servant (וַלֹּא־אָבָה הָאִישׁ לָלוּן וַיָּקׁם וַיֵּלֶךְ וַיָּבֹא־נֹכַח־יְבוּס הִיא־יְרוּשָׁלָיִם). The Levite finally insists on departure, traveling with his concubine and servant toward Jebus (Jerusalem). The journey brings them to the territory of the Jebusites, a people who controlled Jerusalem during the early settlement period and had not yet been conquered by Israel. The choice to approach Jerusalem—still a non-Israelite city—sets up the danger ahead. The narrative's note of the late hour becomes significant: darkness is approaching, and they are approaching a non-Israelite city.

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