midday
The Israelite spoke with gentle authority , smoothing the dark hair of her guest . Command in the form of persuasion is doubly effective , since it induces while it compels . Masanath was most amenable to this manner of entreaty , since it disarmed her pride while it governed her impulses . Thus , though her inclination urged against it , she ate when the Israelite brought her a bit of cold fowl and a beaker of wine at midday and again at sunset . And at night , she slept because the Israelite told her she was safe and bade her close her eyes . But once she awoke . The lamp burned behind a wooden amphora rack and the interior of the stone chamber was not dark .