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15. Turned aside. The village was off the main road.

In a street. Literally, “the broad place.” This was the customary open space of each city, usually near the gate, that was used as the market place, where farmers and merchants displayed their wares. In small towns like Gibeah there probably were no inns and travelers were dependent upon the hospitality of the inhabitants. The Levite and his company sat down in the market place, hoping for someone to offer them shelter for the night.

No man. Although many of the inhabitants must have observed them sitting there as the darkness fell, no one was willing to fulfill the responsibility of hospitality which, according to ancient custom, was the first duty of the East (see Job 31:32; Matt. 25:35). Even though some may have been inclined to furnish the protection of their homes to the three travelers, they probably feared that such action might invite trouble for themselves from their debauched neighbors. The same neglect might have befallen the angels at Sodom but for the hospitality of Lot (Gen. 19:1-3).