_THE BEGINNING OF THE LORD’S REBUKE_ CRITICAL NOTES.— Judges 2:1. An angel of the Lord.] Not merely “_a messenger_,” but the “_angel of Jehovah_.” “The phrase is used nearly sixty times to designate the angel of God’s presence.” [_Speaker’s Commentary._] “Not a prophet, or some other earthly messen... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.— Judges 2:6. And when Joshua had let the people go.] The visit and solemn message of the angel had led to tears. The temporary repentance was so general that the place of the visit was named after the weeping which it had produced. But tears for sin are of small use so long as the si... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.— Judges 2:11. And served Baalim.] The _pl_. form indicates the different Baalim, or the different characters and modifications under which Baal, the sun-god, was worshipped, rather than the different images of Baal. The singular, Baal = “_lord_.” principally in the sense of _owner_... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.— Judges 2:18. For it repented the Lord because of their groanings.] “Because the Lord had compassion upon their sighing.” [_Keil_.] “ ‘The Lord was moved with compassion,’ or ‘was grieved,’ ‘_because_ of their groanings,’ as Judges 21:15. So, too, Psalms 106:45. The sense of repenti... [ Continue Reading ]