"While the travelers are eating, the house is surrounded by men of the city who, according to the Hebrew text, wish “to know” the Levite (19:22). “To know” is probably a euphemism for sexual intercourse here, as it is in other biblical texts and as the NRSV translates it. The Ephraimite host attempts to dissuade the men of the city from raping his male guest, offering to them his own daughter and the Levite’s concubine in place of the Levite."
The Hebrew word "yada" or "to know" most definitively does not refer to sex in this context. The word here is "nada" which is imperfect, meaning action that has begun in the past continuing to the present. This tense defies the use of the euphemism for sex. Also, "nada" occurs 149x in Hebrew Bible and is never used euphemistically for sex in this tense in 149 occurrences. It does refer, however, to spiritual knowledge or knowledge gained by divination, which would fit the context of a Levite.
"Several elements in this part of the story, including the offer of two women as objects of rape in the place of a male object, are very similar to elements of the story of Lot and his daughters (Gen 19:1–8). Apparently the sexual violation of women was considered less shameful than that of men, at least in the eyes of other men. Such an attitude reflects both the social subordination of women and the fact that homosexual rape was viewed as a particularly severe attack on male honor."
The parallel to Lot indicates the opposite. Lot's two daughters were engaged by marriage for peace treaty to two of the men outside the home. In Hebrew, Lot says, "do what is good in your eyes" which is the same expression both Lot and Abraham use in dialogue with God for blessings. Lot is not sending his daughters out for a sexual assault, neither is that occurring in this text, the word "anah" translated "abuse" should be translated "talk to" as it echoes the same word and tense from Deuteronomy 27:14, a verse about a Levite making a graven image.
Also the word "grasp" or "seize" is a pun for "old" so it's the own owner of the house, not the Levite, that sends the woman outside. Also, because "go out" is 3rd person masculine, the owner of the house went out with the woman too.
Also, this story echoes the story of Rachel's death who also died on the way to
Ephrathah also called Bethlehem, giving birth to Benjamin. All these elements are also in this story.
Some thoughts on the story here.
"While the travelers are eating, the house is surrounded by men of the city who, according to the Hebrew text, wish “to know” the Levite (19:22). “To know” is probably a euphemism for sexual intercourse here, as it is in other biblical texts and as the NRSV translates it. The Ephraimite host attempts to dissuade the men of the city from raping his male guest, offering to them his own daughter and the Levite’s concubine in place of the Levite."
The Hebrew word "yada" or "to know" most definitively does not refer to sex in this context. The word here is "nada" which is imperfect, meaning action that has begun in the past continuing to the present. This tense defies the use of the euphemism for sex. Also, "nada" occurs 149x in Hebrew Bible and is never used euphemistically for sex in this tense in 149 occurrences. It does refer, however, to spiritual knowledge or knowledge gained by divination, which would fit the context of a Levite.
"Several elements in this part of the story, including the offer of two women as objects of rape in the place of a male object, are very similar to elements of the story of Lot and his daughters (Gen 19:1–8). Apparently the sexual violation of women was considered less shameful than that of men, at least in the eyes of other men. Such an attitude reflects both the social subordination of women and the fact that homosexual rape was viewed as a particularly severe attack on male honor."
The parallel to Lot indicates the opposite. Lot's two daughters were engaged by marriage for peace treaty to two of the men outside the home. In Hebrew, Lot says, "do what is good in your eyes" which is the same expression both Lot and Abraham use in dialogue with God for blessings. Lot is not sending his daughters out for a sexual assault, neither is that occurring in this text, the word "anah" translated "abuse" should be translated "talk to" as it echoes the same word and tense from Deuteronomy 27:14, a verse about a Levite making a graven image.
Also the word "grasp" or "seize" is a pun for "old" so it's the own owner of the house, not the Levite, that sends the woman outside. Also, because "go out" is 3rd person masculine, the owner of the house went out with the woman too.
Also, this story echoes the story of Rachel's death who also died on the way to
Ephrathah also called Bethlehem, giving birth to Benjamin. All these elements are also in this story.