While he lingered.

The crisis was imminent, and he seemed almost paralyzed, hence the "men" found it needful to hurry him, his wife, and two daughters who were unmarried and dwelt under his roof, by taking them by the hand and leading them. It is possible that he "lingered" in affectionate and useless entreaties to prevail on the other members of his family to escape with him from the destruction now impending. He was ready to go, but needed to be hurried.

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