The Levite tries to convince the old man that he will not be a burden on him by telling him he has enough food for his people and animals.

We have straw and provender for our asses is literally “And there is also straw also fodder for our donkeys.” The Levite mentions caring for his animals before himself and his group of travelers. This may be another point of humor or irony, since in this account, he shows great concern for his animals, but will not show much consideration for his own wife! Straw refers to the dried stalks of grain that remain after threshing, often placed on the floor where the animals slept. Provender is an old English word referring to animal feed, which was some kind of grain (see Gen 24.32; verse 42.27). Good News Translation has “fodder,” and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, “feed.” But in many languages it will be simpler to say “food for our donkeys.” For asses see verse 1.14.

With bread and wine for me and your maidservant and the young man with your servants: The Levite seems to be almost exaggerating as he assures the old man he has food and wine not just for himself, his concubine, and his own servant, but even the old man’s servants! In Hebrew this is an independent clause, literally “and there is also bread and wine for me and for your female servant and for the young man with your servants.” Translators may prefer to begin with “We/I also have….” Bread may be taken literally or in a more general way as “food” ( NET Bible, Revised English Bible; see verse 19.5). For wine see verse 13.4. The pronoun me refers to the Levite, rendered in Revised English Bible and New Jerusalem Bible as “myself.”

Your maidservant is the Levite’s polite way of referring to his concubine. In Hebrew people often present themselves to an older or socially superior person as “your servant.” In some languages this way of speaking may not be understood, so some versions say “the woman” (New Revised Standard Version, New American Bible) or “the girl” (Revised English Bible). Good News Translation has “my concubine.” However, some scholars feel the Levite is not presenting this woman as his concubine or his wife on purpose. By telling the old man, she is your maidservant, the Levite may be suggesting that she is at the old man’s disposition. In light of the following events, and other biblical texts, for example, those relating to Abraham and Sarah (Gen 16.1-6), this seems a real possibility.

The literal phrase the young man with your servants poses a problem for interpretation. Some versions take it to mean there is enough food for the young man who was the servant of the Levite (see verse 19.3) as well as for the servants of the old man. However, other versions take with your servants to refer to the Levite and his wife, thus New International Version says “the young man with us [your servants].” Some Hebrew manuscripts and the Vulgate have the singular word “servant,” so the meaning would be “the young man who is your servant.” This phrase seems to have little importance for what follows, so translators should simply pick the meaning they consider the best in this context.

There is no lack of anything: See the comments on verse 18.10. Through all these details, the Levite is trying to convince the old man that he will not be a burden to him. Good News Translation provides a good model with “We have everything we need.” However, according to custom, in verse 19.20 the old man offers to care for all the Levite’s needs.

Translation models for this verse are:

• We have straw and food for our donkeys, and I have bread and wine for myself, your maidservant, and this young man who is also your servant. We have everything we need.”

• I have straw and feed for the donkeys, and food for all of us—for myself, this young woman, and the young man with us. We lack nothing.”

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 .