A short Insight into SHOFTIM, Chapter 19 By Rabbi Nisson Dov Miller

Tosfos (Gittin 6a) writes in the name of Seder Olam that the story of our perek, “Pilegesh B'givah", occurred on Shabbos. Based on this assumption , we can understand why verse eleven emphasizes, “They were near Y'vus when the sun was very low.” Clearly, this was an issue because Shabbos was fast approaching. With this understanding of the possuk, Tosfos understand one facet of the Chazal that teaches: “If a person instills too much fear in another it could lead to violating the serious sins of illicit relationships, murder and Shabbos desecration.” The story of “Pilegesh B'giva”, Tosfos posits, illustrates how fear can cause Shabbos desecration.