¹⁸ He answered, “We are on our way from Bethlehem in Judah to a remote area in the hill country of Ephraim where I live. I have been to Bethlehem in Judah and now I am going to the house of the Lord.^[a](A) No one has taken me in for the night. ¹⁹ We have both straw and fodder^(B) for our donkeys^(C) and bread and wine^(D) for ourselves your servants—me, the woman and the young man with us. We don’t need anything.”

²⁰ “You are welcome at my house,” the old man said. “Let me supply whatever you need. Only don’t spend the night in the square.” ²¹ So he took him into his house and fed his donkeys. After they had washed their feet, they had something to eat and drink.^(E)

² “My lords,” he said, “please turn aside to your servant’s house. You can wash your feet^(A) and spend the night and then go on your way early in the morning.”

“No,” they answered, “we will spend the night in the square.”^(B)

³ But he insisted^(C) so strongly that they did go with him and entered his house.^(D) He prepared a meal for them, baking bread without yeast,^(E) and they ate.^(F)

²⁴ I plan to do so when I go to Spain.^(A) I hope to see you while passing through and to have you assist^(B) me on my journey there, after I have enjoyed your company for a while.