The Levite seems to realize that he cannot take an attitude of, I paid for this concubine; she is mine and I want her back.
1 He will have to persuade, woo her. So he goes to speak kindly to her
; literally, he goes to speak to her heart.
His intentions seem honourable. He shows up with his servant and two donkeys. For him this is not a light thing; he plans and undertakes his mission with care.2
3 Then her husband arose and went after her, to speak kindly to her and bring her back. He had with him his servant and a couple of donkeys. And she brought him into her father’s house. And when the girl’s father saw him, he came with joy to meet him.