In journeying from Jerusalem to Jericho, the traveler had to pass through a portion of the wilderness of Judea. The road led down a wild, rocky ravine, which was infested by robbers, and was often the scene of violence. It was here that the traveler was attacked, stripped of all that was valuable, wounded and bruised, and left half dead by the wayside. As he lay thus, the priest came that way; but he merely glanced toward the wounded man. Then the Levite appeared. Curious to know what had happened, he stopped and looked at the sufferer. He was convicted of what he ought to do; but it was not an agreeable duty. He wished that he had not come that way, so that he need not have seen the wounded man. He persuaded himself that the case was no concern of his.

Når man drog fra Jerusalem til Jeriko, måtte den rejsende igennem en del af Judæas ørken. Vejen førte gennem en vildsom og klippefuld slugt, som var hjemsøgt af røvere, og som ofte havde været skueplads for voldshandlinger. Det var her, at den vejfarende var blevet overfaldet, blevet berøvet alt af værdi, såret og forslået og til sidst efterladt halvdød ved vejkanten. Medens han lå der, kom præsten samme vej; men han kiggede blot hen på den sårede mand. Derefter viste levitten sig. I sin nysgerrighed efter at få at vide, hvad der var sket, standsede han og betragtede den sårede. Han var ganske klar over, hvad han burde gøre, men det var ikke nogen behagelig pligt. Han ville ønske, at han ikke var kommet den vej, så han ikke havde behøvet at se den sårede. Han fik sig selv overbevist om, at dette ikke var noget, der angik ham.