Verse 4:[1] And his father in law, the damsel’s father, retained him; and he abode with him three days: so they did eat and drink, and lodged there.
[And he embraced (thus Pagnine), וַיֶּחֱזַק־בּוֹ[2]] And he seized him (Vatablus), or, upon him (Montanus); he retained (received with hospitality [Arabic], firmly apprehended [Drusius]) him (Septuagint, Syriac, Tigurinus).
[Eating, etc.] That is, they were cheerfully feasting. A common Periphrasis here and elsewhere (Junius, Malvenda).
[1] Hebrew: וַיֶּחֱזַק־בּ֤וֹ חֹֽתְנוֹ֙ אֲבִ֣י הַֽנַּעֲרָ֔ה וַיֵּ֥שֶׁב אִתּ֖וֹ שְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת יָמִ֑ים וַיֹּאכְלוּ֙ וַיִּשְׁתּ֔וּ וַיָּלִ֖ינוּ שָֽׁם׃
[2] חָזַק signifies to be or make strong, or to hold fast.
Matthew Henry: 'Her father made him very welcome, and, by his extraordinary kindness to him, endeavoured to atone for the countenance he had given his daughter in withdrawing from him, and to confirm him in his disposition to be reconciled to her. 1. He entertains him kindly, rejoices to see him (Judges 19:3), treats him generously for three days, Judges 19:4. And the Levite, to show that he was perfectly reconciled, accepted his kindness, and we do not find that he upbraided him or his daughter with what had been amiss, but was as easy and as pleasant as at his first wedding-feast. It becomes all, but especially Levites, to forgive as God does. Every thing among them gave …
Hebrew Highlights: Note the usual usage of וַיֶּחֱזַק.