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10. Would not tarry. The Levite, probably recognizing that it would be as difficult to break away the next day as it had been the previous two days, declined the invitation and started his journey homeward at this inappropriate hour. The results were disastrous, as the sequel shows.

The urgency with which, after three days, the father-in-law pressed the Levite to remain even though the latter was anxious to be on his way, was a form of politeness common to Eastern lands, but really contrary to the best form of hospitality. Equally objectionable is the host who hastens the guest who would stay. The author of Judges contrasts the exaggerated hospitality of the father-in-law with the utter lack of it which the Levite soon experienced in Gibeah. As for the Levite, his experience was that of many weak and vacillating souls, first, unnecessary delay, and then overstrained hurry.

Jebus. This was the ancient name of Jerusalem, at this time a city of the Jebusites (see 1 Chron. 11:4, 5; see on Judges 1:21). The city is called Jebusi in Joshua 18:16, 28. The name Jerusalem itself is also ancient, occurring in Egyptian texts of the 19th and 18th centuries b.c. and in the letters of Canaanite rulers (Amarna tablets) written about 1400 b.c., as Urusalim.