What does Judges 19:27 mean?

Ancient literature is famously short on details, as compared to modern writing. This can make it more difficult to gauge the author's intent or opinion on a subject. In this case, even with brief descriptions, it's clear the writer of the book of Judges feels a level of repulsion for the Levite master. The narrative makes the point of noting that he forced her out into a mob of rapists (Judges 19:25). Then, he seemingly makes no effort to find her until he is ready to leave—the use of the word "behold" indicates surprise. Next, he will callously tell her to "get up" so they can move along.

A "concubine" during this era was most often thought of as either a servant, slave, or a second-tier wife. A man might take on a woman from a poor family without status as a concubine, in exchange for supporting her. She would not hold the full rights and privileges of a regular wife. Even within that cultural expectation, however, the writer of Judges portrays this man harshly. This concubine had run away from him and back to her home (Judges 19:1–2). Her husband-master had come to collect her, spending several days at the home of her kind and hospitable father (Judges 19:3–10). Still, he has sacrificed her to save himself.

Now he opens the door of the old man's home (Judges 19:15–21) to continue his journey and finds his concubine lying in front of the house with her hands on the threshold. The text of the story does not address any of the questions we might wish were resolved. Was he going to leave her behind if he didn't find her there? Was he not going to look for her? Did he assume she had been killed during the night? Is she simply ruined property to him and not a person, at all?

What the man does in the next verses indicates a level of fury and indignation. His acts are shocking (Judges 19:29–30), but they serve to rally Israel to seek retribution on the men of Gibeah (Judges 20:8–10). Yet it remains unclear what sense of responsibility he felt for her as a person.