(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)
Judges 19:16–21, “And, behold, there came an old man from his work out of the field at even, which was also of mount Ephraim; and he sojourned in Gibeah: but the men of the place were Benjamites. And when he had lifted up his eyes, he saw a wayfaring man in the street of the city: and the old man said, Whither goest thou? and whence comest thou? And he said unto him, We are passing from Bethlehemjudah toward the side of mount Ephraim; from thence am I: and I went to Bethlehemjudah, but I am now going to the house of the LORD; and there is no man that receiveth me to house. 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. And the old man said, Peace be with thee; howsoever let all thy wants lie upon me; only lodge not in the street. So he brought him into his house, and gave provender unto the asses: and they washed their feet, and did eat and drink.”
The man from Bethlehemjudah had all the provisions he needed for himself so he would not have to take anything from anyone who offered to give him and his party a bed for the night but no one offered them anything. Eventually a stranger came in from working in the fields and found them resting by the side of the street. This man offered the visitor hospitality and gave him provisions and respect before he went to sleep for the night. Even though the man was a stranger, he still understood the importance of offering hospitality to strangers but no one else in the town did even though they should have known the Law and the obligations to care for the stranger.
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