Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 19:19
Yet there is both straw and provender for our asses; and there is bread and wine also for me, and for thy handmaid, and for the young man [which is] with thy servants: [there is] no want of any thing.
19. straw and provender ] Similarly Gen 24:25. After straw, provender probably denotes grain.
there is no want of any thing ] Cf. Jdg 18:10.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 19. There is both straw and provender for our asses.] In the countries principally devoted to pasturage, there was no hay; but as they raised some corn, they took great care of their straw, chopped it very small, and having mixed it with barley, beans, or the pounded kernels of dates, made it into balls, and fed their cattle with it. Straw, cut into what is called chaff, is not unfrequently used in England for the same purpose.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
19, 20. there is no want of anythingIn answering the kindly inquiries of the old man, theLevite deemed it right to state that he was under no necessity ofbeing burdensome on anyone, for he possessed all that was required torelieve his wants. Oriental travellers always carry a stock ofprovisions with them; and knowing that even the khans orlodging-houses they may find on their way afford nothing beyond restand shelter, they are careful to lay in a supply of food both forthemselves and their beasts. Instead of hay, which is seldom metwith, they used chopped straw, which, with a mixture of barley,beans, or the like, forms the provender for cattle. The old man,however, in the warmth of a generous heart, refused to listen to anyexplanation, and bidding the Levite keep his stocks for any emergencythat might occur in the remainder of his journey, invited them toaccept of the hospitalities of his house for the night.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Yet there is both straw and provender for our asses,…. Straw to litter them with, and provender to feed them with, which he had brought with him on them:
and there is bread and wine also for me, and for thine handmaid; meaning himself and his concubine; there were enough for them both, which were packed up, and carried by the asses:
and for the young man which is with thy servants; the supplement, which is, seems quite needless, and even impertinent; for as yet the young man, by whom he means his servant, was not as yet in company with the servants of the old man; but the sense is, that there was not only provisions with him for himself, and his wife, and also for his servant, but even enough for the servants of the old man, whether maid or manservants: there is no want of anything; and therefore none needed to be shy of taking them in, since they should not be burdensome to any upon any account; all they wanted was a lodging.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(19) Straw and provender.Comp. Gen. 24:25-32. All that the Levite asked was shelter. He would provide for all his own wants.
Thy servants.The ordinary language of Eastern obsequiousness.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
19. Straw provender bread wine “This shows that the Israelites did then, as the Orientals do now, take with them the provisions for themselves and beasts that they required during a journey, replenishing their stores from time to time when they came to a town that could supply them. The straw was chopped straw, used in the East instead of hay; and the provender barley. This is carried in hair bags, something like the mouth-bags of our horses, but of larger size.” Kitto.
“ Yet there is both straw and provender for our asses, and there is bread and wine also for me, and for your handmaid, and for the young man who is with your servants. There is no lack of anything.”
There was no reason for the lack of hospitality for they had all their provisions with them. All they needed was a bed for the night. This was said mainly to persuade the old man to help them. It would be at no cost to him. For the laws of hospitality would usually mean provision for a guest.
“With your servants.” That is, with me and my handmaid. ‘Your servants’ and ‘your handmaid’ are polite expressions, a submission which he would not expect would be acted on.
Jdg 19:19. Yet there is both straw and provender for our asses The laws of hospitality were extremely sacred in ancient times; but the men of Gibeah, as they were grossly abandoned in vice, so were they wholly defective in this virtue, suffering this stranger, and traveller, to remain in the streets, without any invitation; which, at length, he received from a poor man who was himself only a sojourner among them. It should be remembered, that then, as now, there were no such things as inns in these countries; travellers usually carried with them not only provision for themselves, but for their beasts. Thus the Levite tells the old man, that he hath both straw and provender for his asses. The author of the Observations informs us, (p. 209.) that, as they have little or no hay in those countries, they are therefore very careful of their straw, which they cut into small pieces with an instrument, which, at the same time, thrashes out the corn. This chopped straw, with barley, beans, and balls made of bean and barley meal, or of the pounded kernels of dates, are what they are wont to feed them with. See 1Ki 4:28. Isa 30:24.
REFLECTIONS.Though the men of the city were so unkind or uncivil, there was one, though only a sojourner, who was of another spirit. He was an Ephraimite himself, but seems to have had some possessions near Gibeah; an old man, who had lived in better days, and consented not to the wickedness of the rising generation. Having spent the day industriously in the field, returning at night he sees and inquires into this stranger’s business, and, ready to open his hospitable doors, receives him, doubly welcome as a Levite, and his countryman also. The Levite wanted nothing but a lodging, having sufficient provision and provender with him; but the good old man, too generous to permit this, entertains him at his table, and takes care of his cattle: this done, they, without doubt, began to look upon themselves as happy in the opportunity of spending a comfortable evening together. Note; (1.) A truly charitable heart looks out for, and is happy in an opportunity of doing good. (2.) The company of a minister of God is good payment for a hearty welcome. (3.) A good man will not wish to be troublesome to others when he has a provision of his own. (4.) We are sometimes rejoicing that our troubles are at an end, when we foresee not the darker cloud which is gathering.
Jdg 19:19 Yet there is both straw and provender for our asses; and there is bread and wine also for me, and for thy handmaid, and for the young man [which is] with thy servants: [there is] no want of any thing.
Ver. 19. Yet there is both straw and provender, &c. ] So that we shall be no way chargeable or troublesome, but only for houseroom. Job had this to say for himself, “The stranger did not lodge in the street, but I opened my doors to the traveller.” Job 31:32 But now, alas (as one not without cause complaineth), Eliajah lacketh his hostess of Sarepta; Elisha, the Shunamite; Paul cannot find the Purpuriss, nor Peter, the tanner. Job we have not, nor Lot we find not. Captain Cornelius is a black swan in this generation, &c.
servants. Some codices, with three early printed editions, Aramaean, and Syriac, read “servant” (Singular).
straw and provender: In those countries principally devoted to pasturage, they made little or no hay, but as they raised corn, they took great care of their straw for cattle, which by their mode of threshing was chopped very small. See note on Gen 24:32.
Reciprocal: Gen 24:25 – General Exo 5:7 – straw Act 10:23 – and lodged Act 16:15 – come
Jdg 19:19. Yet there is both straw, &c. The Levite here acquaints the man that he had with him all things necessary both for himself and his concubine, his servant and his asses; so that he should not burden any man who should receive him, as he only wanted some place to lodge in. For thy handmaid Or, as we should speak now, for the woman that is with me. The young man that is with thy servants Or along with us. It was a form of expression in those days to entitle themselves the servants of those they spoke to with any degree of respect.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments