And on the fourth day they arose early in the morning: And renders the Hebrew word wayehi (literally “And it was”). But translators can begin this verse with “Finally, on the fourth day….” The Levite had spent enough time at his father-in-law’s place to allow him to make a polite exit. The pronoun they may refer to the father-in-law and his household or, more specifically, the Levite and his concubine. The wider reading seems more logical since the Levite and the father-in-law were both present. Arose early does not render the Hebrew keyword qum, which occurs in verse 19.3, but a more specific word referring to “waking up early.” New Revised Standard Version proposes “On the fourth day they got up early in the morning.” Some languages may prefer to place the phrase in the morning at the beginning of this clause, for example, “On the morning of the fourth day they woke up early” (Good News Translation).

And he prepared to go: The pronoun he refers to the Levite. Prepared renders the key Hebrew verb qum (“arise”), which is used here to express irony as in verse 19.3 (see comments there). As there, it characterizes an “anti-hero.” While the audience expects this verb to introduce a hero, this man is anything but that. If it is possible to maintain this link by using the same verb throughout this section (see also verse 19.7, 9-10, 27-28), the irony will be well expressed. If this is not possible, translators may follow Revised Standard Version‘s rendering here. This clause means the Levite was gathering his things, putting his baggage on his donkeys, and so on. Contemporary English Version says “the Levite started getting ready to go home.”

But the girl’s father said to his son-in-law: But renders well the Hebrew waw conjunction here, since most would expect the father-in-law to accept their departure. But, unexpectedly, he keeps trying to stop them from leaving. Combining the clauses, we might say “As the Levite prepared to leave, the woman’s father said to his son-in-law.” Full noun phrases are used here for both main participants: the girl’s father and his son-in-law. Translators may use any forms natural in their language.

Strengthen your heart with a morsel of bread, and after that you may go: The father tries to stop his son-in-law from leaving. This request may be motivated by the simple fact that the father does not want his daughter and his son-in-law to leave, or it may be part of some ritual of leave-taking in that culture. In many cultures around the world, it is customary for the host to object at first to his guest’s departure.

Strengthen your heart with a morsel of bread is an invitation to the Levite to eat something before he starts to travel. This clause is literally “Sustain your heart [with] a piece of bread,” which means “Eat something to give you strength” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). The word heart, which appears several other times in this section (verse 19.6, 22), here refers to the person and in most cases will not be rendered literally. A morsel of bread is a piece of bread. The Hebrew word for bread often refers to food in general, which it does here, thus “a bit of food” (New Revised Standard Version) or simply “some food.” We might say “Have a bite to eat” (similarly Contemporary English Version) or “Have a little something to eat.” In some cultures it may be necessary to soften this command by saying “My son, have something to eat” or “Please eat something.”

And after that you may go is literally “and afterward you will go.” After means “after eating.” The Hebrew pronoun for you is plural, referring to the Levite and his group, while the verb for Strengthen is singular, referring to the Levite. The father is saying that he will feel better if the Levite eats before setting off on his journey. The singular-plural alternation is probably just a result of the fact that it is customary to address and serve the head person, while the servants and others are served on the side. A possible model for this clause is “Then you and your people may leave.” In some languages these clauses may be reversed, for example, “Don’t leave until you have had a little bite to eat.”

Translation models for this verse are:

• On the fourth morning the Levite got up early and prepared to leave. But his father-in-law said to him, “My son, have something to eat before you go. Then you may leave.”

• On the morning of the fourth day, they got up early. As the Levite prepared to leave, the woman’s father said to him, “Please don’t leave until you have had something to eat.”

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 .