The girl’s father prevails upon the Levite not to rush away, but to stay and enjoy his hospitality. It was customary in the ancient Near East that hospitality be shown over a course of several days. But is this merely customary, typical hospitality, we wonder? Or is something more intended? Soon we find out more.
4 And his father-in-law, the girl’s father, made him stay, and he remained with him three days. So they ate and drank and spent the night there.