The only person who took any interest in the travelers was not a native of the place. He was an old man who came from the same area as did the Levite, yet he manifested his hospitable interest before he had learned of that fact. He was merely a sojourner, a temporary resident of Gibeah. This point is mentioned by the author to contrast the lack of hospitality on the part of the Benjamite inhabitants with the presence of it on the part of the Ephraimite sojourner.