‘ And when they were by Jebus the day was far spent. And the servant said to his master, “Come, I pray you, and let us turn in to this city of the Jebusites, and lodge in it.'
“Was far spent.” Literally ‘was gone down very much.' The sun was low in the sky and night was almost on them.
The servant suggested that as night was approaching it might be wise to find lodging for the night. This could be in an inn or it may have been through seeking hospitality at the gate of the city (Genesis 19:1), from some worthy citizen. In those days inns were few and hospitality was regularly offered to travellers at the gate of the city. It was looked on by the worthy as a sacred responsibility, and once a man was under your roof you were looked on as having sacred obligations towards him.
“This city of the Jebusites.” It is stressed that the city was not one that belonged to the confederation of Israel. It is ironic. There in that city of strangers he may well have found the safety among strangers that he would not find among his own people. The city had once been captured by the Israelites (Judges 1:8) but was retaken when they moved on to more victories. And from then on the fortress had proved invulnerable (Joshua 15:63; Judges 1:21). The Jebusites continued to live among the people of Judah and Benjamin, safe in their fortified city, although the three lived together in the lower city. Gradually things had become more relaxed and at this time it would seem that peace prevailed.
There can be little doubt that the writer records this incident precisely because it demonstrated that Israel had sunk lower than the Canaanites in many respects, at least in Gibeah.