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Verse

Judges 19:4

ESV And his father-in-law, the girl’s father, made him stay, and he remained with him three days. So they ate and drank and spent the night there.
NIV His father-in-law, the woman's father, prevailed on him to stay; so he remained with him three days, eating and drinking, and sleeping there.
NASB His father-in-law, the girl’s father, prevailed upon him, and he remained with him for three days. So they ate and drank and stayed there.
CSB His father-in-law, the girl's father, detained him, and he stayed with him for three days. They ate, drank, and spent the nights there.
NLT Her father urged him to stay awhile, so he stayed three days, eating, drinking, and sleeping there.
KJV And his father in law, the damsel's father, retained him; and he abode with him three days: so they did eat and drink, and lodged there.

What does Judges 19:4 mean?

The Levite man and his concubine have been reunited (Judges 19:1–3), which her father seems glad to see. Whatever happened to cause their split appears forgiven and resolved.

Before returning to the Levite's home in Ephraim, the Levite's father-in-law insists the couple stay with him for three days. He is either expressing the infamously extravagant hospitality of the ancient middle east, or he simply wants to spend time with the pair. The Levite receives this graciously, eating and drinking with his father-in-law for three days.

After this time, the situation becomes more complex.
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