שופטים, פרק י״ט, פסוק י׳

After enduring prolonged delays and the constant pleading of his host, a traveler's patience finally wears thin. He refuses to linger any longer and decides to begin the journey home [מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. However, setting out late in the day as the sun begins to set is a dangerous choice, one that ultimately triggers a tragic chain of events.

The journey brings him opposite Jebus, which is identified as Jerusalem, or specifically the district inhabited by the Jebusites at that time [מצודת דוד, אברבנאל]. This geographical detail places the story very early in the era of the Judges, occurring after the death of Joshua but before the tribe of Judah conquered Jerusalem [רלב״ג].

He travels with donkeys that are fully saddled and prepared for the road [מצודת ציון, רד״ק]. These animals carry a heavy load, whether it be essential travel provisions like bread, wine, and animal feed [רד״ק], or generous parting gifts from an affectionate father-in-law [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. The narrative specifically highlights the presence of the loaded donkeys and the man's concubine, while omitting the servant who was previously mentioned. This shift in focus serves to explain the man's thought process as night approaches. Carrying valuable goods makes him a target for robbers, and traveling with a woman unaccustomed to harsh outdoor conditions rules out sleeping in an open field. These exact concerns for his property and her safety also drive his refusal to seek shelter in a foreign city like Jebus [מלבי״ם].

This unfolding tragedy offers several practical lessons about travel and hospitality. First, hosts should not delay their guests excessively, as the father-in-law's overbearing hospitality is what initially paves the way for disaster. Second, journeys should commence in the morning; starting a trip as evening approaches is a fundamental mistake. Still, the traveler's specific choice to bypass a foreign city in favor of seeking shelter among his fellow Israelites is considered a sound and proper decision, even though it inadvertently leads to a devastating outcome [אברבנאל].