And behold, there came an old man from his work in the field at evening; he was from the hill country of Ephraim, and was sojourning in Gibeah; but the men of the place were Benjaminites (וַיִּשְׁמְרוּ אִישׁ־זָקֵן בָּא מִן־הַשָּׂדֶה בָּעֶרֶב וְהָאִישׁ מֵהַר־אֶפְרַיִם הוּא גָּר בִּגִּבְעָה וְאַנְשֵׁי־הַמָּקוֹם בְּנֵי־יְמִינִי) — an old man, himself from Ephraim and a sojourner (גָּר) in Gibeah, observes the Levite's party in the city square. Like the Levite, he is a non-local foreigner, yet he has achieved long-term residence in Gibeah. His foreign status creates empathy and understanding of the travelers' plight. The narrative's notation that the city's men are Benjaminites (בְּנֵי־יְמִינִי) will become significant: the narrative will ultimately shift blame toward the Benjaminite tribe as a whole.

COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS

Publish a note on this verse