And when the man rose up to depart, he, and his concubine, and his servant, his father in law, the damsel's father, said unto him, Behold, now the day draweth toward evening, I pray you tarry all night: behold, the day groweth to an end, lodge here, that thine heart may be merry; and to morrow get you early on your way, that thou mayest go home.
The day draweth toward evening - Hebrew, 'the pitching time of day.' Travellers who set out at day-break usually halt about the middle of the afternoon the first evening, to enjoy rest and refreshment. It was then too late a time to commence a journey. But duty, perhaps, obliged the Levite to indulge no further delay.