Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary
Judges 8:6
Art thou so foolish to think, with thy three hundred faint and weary soldiers, to conquer and destroy a host of fifteen thousand men?
Art thou so foolish to think, with thy three hundred faint and weary soldiers, to conquer and destroy a host of fifteen thousand men?
Verse Judges 8:6. _ARE THE HANDS OF ZEBAH AND ZALMUNNA NOW IN THINE HAND_] They feared to help Gideon, lest, if he should be overpowered, the Midianites would revenge it upon them; and they dared not...
The number of the followers of Zebah and Zalmunna was still so formidable, and Gideon’s enterprise still so doubtful, that the men of Succoth (being on the same side of the Jordan) would not risk the...
CHAPTER 8 INTERNAL STRIFE, GIDEON'S FAILURE AND END _ 1. The strife (Judges 8:1)_ 2. The complete deliverance (Judges 8:10) 3. Gideon's failure and end (Judges 8:22) 4. Israel's failure after Gide...
THE PURSUIT ON THE EAST OF JORDAN. This section is not continuous with the preceding one. The men of Israel, who were gathered together after the battle (Judges 7:23), and the Ephraimites, who were so...
_the princes of Succoth_ i.e. the executive officials of the community, responsible for its government, e.g. Judges 9:30 (-ruler," lit. -prince"), or for the conduct of its wars, e.g. Judges 7:25; Jud...
_The pursuit on the east of Jordan_ This section is clearly not the continuation of the verses which immediately precede (see p. 68); if its antecedents are to be found in the foregoing narrative at...
ARE THE HANDS OF ZEBAH AND ZALMUNNA NOW IN THINE HAND— This was an insulting irreligious taunt, which shewed at once that these persons believed not the divine interposition in behalf of Gideon, and,...
_Gideon Captures and Slays Midian's Kings Judges 8:1-28_ And the men of Ephraim said unto him, Why hast thou served us thus, that thou calledst us not, when thou wentest to fight with the Midianites?...
_AND THE PRINCES OF SUCCOTH SAID, ARE THE HANDS OF ZEBAH AND ZALMUNNA NOW IN THINE HAND, THAT WE SHOULD GIVE BREAD UNTO THINE ARMY?_ The princes of Succoth said, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna n...
The chiefs of Succoth evidently doubt whether Gideon is really victorious as yet....
HISTORY OF THE JUDGES (JUDGES 3:5 TO JUDGES 16:31) On this, the main section of the book, see Intro. § 2 and List of Oppressions and Judges. The larger part of the book is concerned with six of the Ju...
LIFE WITHOUT LAW JUDGES _PHILIP SMITH_ CHAPTER 8 V1 The people in Ephraim’s *tribe asked Gideon, ‘Why have you done this to us? Why did you not call us when you went to fight the people from Midi...
ARE THE HANDS OF ZEBAH AND ZALMUNNA NOW IN THINE HAND? — Literally, _Is the fist_ (_caph_)_ of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thy hand_ (_yad_)_?_ The general meaning, of course, is clear: “Are you so comp...
וַ יֹּ֨אמֶר֙ שָׂרֵ֣י סֻכֹּ֔ות הֲ֠ כַף זֶ֧בַח
"MIDIAN'S EVIL DAY" Judges 7:8 - Judges 8:1 THERE is now with Gideon a select band of three hundred, ready for a night attack on the Midianites. The leader has been guided to a singular and striking...
A SOFT ANSWER TURNETH AWAY WRATH Judges 7:24; Judges 8:1 The fleeing host made for the three fords of the Jordan, and with all haste Gideon summoned the tribes to anticipate them. The way of the vict...
Following the deliverance from the oppression of Midian, Gideon had to deal with internal troubles. The people of Ephraim objected that he had not called them to his help. The men of Succoth and Penue...
Gideon soothed the hurt feelings of Ephraim by telling them that, though they were called late to the battle, their grape gathering had been more fruitful than all the vintage of Abiezer. Gideon and h...
And the princes of Succoth said, [Are] the (e) hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand, that we should give bread unto thine army? (e) Because you have overcome a handful, do you think to have...
_Hand. Perhaps thou makest sure of taking these kings. (Haydock) We apprehend that they will return with greater forces, and punish our compliance. (Menochius)_...
The men of Succoth, and of Penuel, were Israelites by descent, but sadly degenerated from the spirit of Israel. The Reader will recollect, however, that these things happened during the time of the co...
The book of Joshua has shown the power of Jehovah in the conquests of His people, and this too distinguished from the measure of their practical taking possession of what was conquered. For as these a...
Nevertheless, they did not all unite with Gideon in pursuit of the Midianites. But, for the moment, Gideon despises the cowardice which disowns him through a remaining fear of the oppressor's power. O...
AND THE PRINCES OF SUCCOTH SAID,.... The chief magistrates of the place made answer, one in the name of the rest; for the word said is in the singular number: ARE THE HANDS OF ZEBAH AND ZALMUNNA NOW...
And the princes of Succoth said, [Are] the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand, that we should give bread unto thine army? Ver. 6. _And the princes of Succoth said._] They not only deny him...
_Are the hands of Zeba and Zalmunna now in thy hand?_ Art thou so foolish as to think with thy three hundred faint and weary soldiers to conquer and destroy fifteen thousand men? Thus they make light...
1 Gideon pacifieth the Ephraimites. 4 Succoth and Penuel refuse to relieue Gideons army. 10 Zebah and Zalmunna are taken. 13 Succoth and Penuel are destroyed. 17 Gideon reuengeth his brethrens dea...
DIFFICULTIES WITH EPHRAIM AND THE CITIES SUCCOTH AND PENUEL...
And the princes, the rulers or magistrates, OF SUCCOTH SAID, ARE THE HANDS OF ZEBAH AND ZALMUNNA NOW IN THINE HAND THAT WE SHOULD GIVE BREAD UNTO THINE ARMY? Since bread costs money, their covetous he...
GRIEVOUS WORDS AND A SOFT ANSWER (vv. 1-3) But the men of Ephraim were resentful that Gideon had called them so late rather than when he began his campaign against Midian (v.1). They did not stop to...
4-12 Gideon's men were faint, yet pursuing; fatigued with what they had done, yet eager to do more against their enemies. It is many a time the true Christian's case, fainting, and yet pursuing. The w...
Judges 8:6 leaders H8269 Succoth H5523 said H559 (H8799) hands H3709 Zebah H2078 Zalmunna H6759 hand H3027 give...
‘And the princes of Succoth said, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hands that we should give bread to your army.' These would be the chief men of the town, honoured among the elders. ‘S...
Judges 6-8 In the first words of Gideon we find the key to his character. (1) He was a man who felt deeply the degradation of his people. He could not enjoy his own harvest while the Midianites were r...
CONTENTS: Jealousy of Ephriam. Events to the death of Gideon. Apostasy. CHARACTERS: God, Gideon, Zebah, Zalmunna, Abimelech, Jerubbaal, Jether. CONCLUSION: Many are led into false ways by one false...
Judges 8:16. _He taught the men of Succoth._ The LXX read, _he threshed_ them. This little city of forty or fifty families was blinded, in giving this answer to Gideon. Soldiers fighting for their cou...
_The princes of Succoth _. .. _ The men of Penuel._ PATIENCE UNDER PROVOCATION Instead of being supported, as they had good right to expect they would have been, by those who profess to be the Lord’s...
_THE COMPLETION OF THE LORD’S DELIVERANCE OF HIS PEOPLE. Judges 8:1_ CRITICAL NOTES.— JUDGES 8:1. AND THE MEN OF EPHRAIM SAID, etc.] _i.e_.—after Gideon had reached the trans-Jordanic side of the riv...
EXPOSITION JUDGES 8:4 CAME TO JORDAN. The narrative goes back to Judges 7:24, to follow up the personal history of Gideon, from which the writer had been diverted to relate the result of Gideon's mes...
Shall we turn in our Bibles to the book of Judges, chapter eight? The Ephraimites were troublemakers. And in chapter eight we find them giving Gideon a bad time. But we see with what splendid diplomac...
1 Kings 20:11; 1 Samuel 25:10; 1 Samuel 25:11; 2 Kings 14:9; Ge
Are the hands, &c. — Art thou so foolish, to think with thy three hundred faint and weary soldiers, to conquer and destroy an host of fifteen thousand Men? Thus the bowels of their compassion were shu...