שופטים, פרק י״ט, פסוק י״ב

Faced with the approaching night, a critical decision must be made about where to seek shelter. The master firmly rejects his servant's suggestion to stop and rest on the road, preferring to continue the journey until they reach an Israelite settlement. He declares that they will not seek refuge in a foreign city inhabited entirely by non-Jews [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

Although they are considering a single location, the master's refusal is sweeping and absolute. This reveals a principled stance: he is unwilling to spend the night in any city outside of Israelite control, rather than merely rejecting the specific town before them [רד״ק].

The master specifically emphasizes that the city is both foreign and entirely separate from the Israelites. This highlights the political reality of the era. During this period, certain Canaanite cities were under Israelite control and paid taxes. These cities were relatively safe for travelers, as their inhabitants held a healthy respect and fear of the Israelites. In stark contrast, the city in their path is entirely independent and not subject to Israelite authority in any way [מלבי״ם].

Driven by this concern for safety, the master decides to press onward. He sets his sights on reaching Gibeah, a secure Israelite city [מצודת דוד], specifically known as Gibeah of the tribe of Benjamin [רש״י].