It may not be readily apparent as to what led the old man to respond to the request for the Levite with his offer of the two women instead. But the reason may become evident when we note that in the man’s decision, he gives neither the Levite nor the Levite’s manservant. This is important, since after all, it was a man who was demanded by the mob outside. Thus, it appears that the man gives the women because he sees proper hospitality as only applying to male guests. He sees women as property, expendable, rather than as image-bearers of God. And so, hospitality and honour become more important than doing what is right in the Lord’s eyes. The old man is as perverted as the rabble outside.1 It is his idea to throw the women to them. Volunteering his own virgin daughter is horrid all on its own. Volunteering the Levite’s concubine is equally horrid. But volunteering either of them is unimaginable!
24 Behold, here are my virgin daughter and his concubine. Let me bring them out now. Violate them and do with them what seems good to you, but against this man do not do this outrageous thing.”