According to ancient custom, strangers might expect to receive hospitality when going to the city square. This is where Lot showed hospitality to his nighttime visitors. But here are there are no offers of hospitality. This would have been quite contrary to what the Levite expected in Gibeah.
15 and they turned aside there, to go in and spend the night at Gibeah. And he went in and sat down in the open square of the city, for no one took them into his house to spend the night.