And his concubine played the harlot against him, and went away from him unto her father's house to Bethlehemjudah, and was there four whole months.
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George Leo Haydock
AD 1849
Left him. Hebrew thozné. Now tizne, (Du Hamel) "his concubine, fell into fornication against (Junius improperly translates with) him. "Chaldean, "She despised and went from him. "Septuagint, "She was vexed at or she left him. "(Calmet)
Josephus, "as he was deeply in love with her on account of her beauty, he was displeased that she did not correspond with his love. Hence a quarrel ensuing, the woman would not bear his continual expostulations, and leaving her husband, after four months, returns to her parents. Hither, overcome by his love for her, he follows, and, by the mediation of her parents, he is reconciled to his wife, both agreeing to lay aside all complaints. "(Antiquities v. 2.)
It is clear that the Septuagint, Vulgate, have read the text in a different manner from what we do at present, and their explanation seems more rational than the Hebrew. For, is it probable that a Levite should go to be reconciled to an adulteress, contrary to the intention of the law (Deuteronomy xxiv. 2., Jeremias iii. 1., and Proverbs xviii. 22.) and the custom of the Jews, as well as of pagan nations, who looked upon those with contempt, who kept a woman of this character? The word concubine, we have often remarked, signifies a wife without a dowry, (Calmet) such as the Mahometans still maintain as lawful wives. (Busbec. ii.)
Months. Josephus explain this of the time she had remained with her husband.
