So he brought him into his house: So renders well the Hebrew waw conjunction here. The pronouns he and his refer to the old man, and the pronoun him to the Levite. Translators are free to use nouns or pronouns, depending on their language. We might say “So the old man brought him into his house” or “So he brought the Levite into his house.” Brought renders a causative form of the Hebrew verb meaning “come,” so another possible model is “So he had him come into his house.” New Jerusalem Bible says simply “So he took him into his house” (similarly Revised English Bible).

And gave his asses provender: The old man made sure that the Levite’s donkeys had food to eat. The Hebrew verb rendered gave … provender means “mix,” used to describe making cakes as well as animal feed. While many versions say “fed” (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, New International Version), New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh has “mixed fodder.” For asses see verse 1.14. Careful readers will note here that once again the animals seem to get special treatment before the human beings (see verse 19.19). This may be yet another example in the last part of this book of traditional customs being violated.

And they washed their feet: It was customary for people to wash their feet upon entering a house. Roads were certainly dusty and providing water for this act was a sign of true hospitality. In the New Testament Jesus uses this gesture as a symbol of humility and willingness to serve others (John 13.5-9) as he himself washes the feet of his disciples. The Hebrew waw conjunction rendered and is omitted in several versions (New Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation). It is hard to know if the narrator is purposely showing things occurred out of traditional order, but if so, this conjunction might be rendered “Then” (Contemporary English Version). The pronoun they might refer to all the travelers (Good News Translation), but it also might include the old man who came in from his farm (Contemporary English Version). However, it is far more likely this was a ritual greeting as visitors were received. If the referent for they is not clear, we can speak of “the travellers” (New Jerusalem Bible), “his guests” (Good News Translation), or “the Levite and his party.” Washed their feet may need an explanation in a footnote or the glossary, since in many cultures the meaning of this practice is not known. In a footnote we might say “In biblical times, when people walked long distances, they were welcomed in a home with a kind of foot-washing ceremony. This was a sign of real hospitality.”

And ate and drank: See verse 19.4. After the animals were fed and the guests washed their feet, the old man and his guests had a meal together. Both occurrences of and render the Hebrew waw conjunction. The first time it may be translated “then” (New Jerusalem Bible). The Hebrew verbs rendered ate and drank are plural, so they may describe the guests only, but more likely the old man and his guests. In this respect, the story resembles the one in verse 19.1b-9, where the Levite and his father-in-law share many meals together.

Translation models for this verse are:

• So the old man welcomed the Levite into his home. He gave his donkeys feed. Then the guests washed their feet and they all sat down to eat and drink together.

• So the old man had them come inside. He fed the Levite’s donkeys, and they washed their feet, and then had a meal.

Quoted with permission from Zogbo, Lynell and Ogden, Graham S. A Handbook on Judges. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2019. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .