This verse presents a very dramatic and sad scene.
And as morning appeared, the woman came is literally “And the woman came at the turning of the morning.” The idiomatic Hebrew phrase “at the turning of the morning” means the sun was beginning to rise. We may say “As the day was breaking” or “By the time it was morning.” The Hebrew word for morning is the same one used in verse 19.25 and verse 19.27. This is the first time the Levite’s concubine is called a woman (Hebrew ʾishshah), which would stand out in contrast to the repetitive Hebrew word for “man” (ʾish). The Hebrew verb rendered came (boʾ) is used often in the book of Judges. Here it describes how the woman moved from the place where the men left her to the house of the old man. Despite the abuse, she was able to make her way back to his house.
And fell down at the door of the man’s house: This is yet another poignant clause, using many words that evoke the previous judges’ stories. The Hebrew verb rendered fell down (nafal) is a keyword, very often used to describe the defeated enemy (see verse 3.25; verse 4.22; verse 5.27). Here instead of Israel’s enemies being sprawled dead on the floor, it is a helpless and innocent Israelite woman who has “fallen.” If possible, it would be good to use the same expression as elsewhere. If this is not possible, the verb “collapsed” (Contemporary English Version) fits well here. The woman made it to the door of their host. This recalls Jael standing at the door of her tent as the enemy Sisera arrived (verse 3.18). That day was a day of courageous acts, while this one is filled with shame. The door may be rendered “the entrance,” especially in cultures that do not have doors that close. The man’s house refers to the home of the old man.
Where her master was: This is a heavily loaded statement. For the first time the concubine’s husband is referred to as her master. The Hebrew word for master is ʾadon, which is used in verse 19.11 in relation to the Levite, who is the master of his servant. Sarah uses the same word when speaking of her husband Abraham in a reference to sexual pleasure (see Gen 18.12, where it is translated “husband”). Again irony is high here as a master is supposed to care for and protect others, but here the Levite sacrificed his wife to save himself. The word master forms an inclusio around this book (verse 1.5; 19.26), since it refers first to a pagan king and here to a heartless Israelite. The verb was is not in the Hebrew text but is implied. Translators may supply any appropriate verb, for example, “where her master was staying.”
Till it was light is literally “until the light.” This phrase appearing at the end of the verse seems to form an inclusio with as morning appeared. The woman was lying at the doorstep till it was light. There is a subtle contrast throughout this episode between night and morning, between dark and light. In many languages it will be necessary to make explicit “she was there until it was day” or “she lay there till it became day.” There is something extremely ironic about the woman lying outside the house dying while her husband is inside sleeping.
Translation models for this verse are:
• As the day began to break, the woman fell at the doorstep of the old man’s house where her husband, her master was, and she lay there until it was day.
• The woman made it to the old man’s house as the first light of day appeared. She fell at the entrance of the house where her master was and lay there until it became day.
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 .