Why haft thou, &c. — Why hast thou neglected and despised us, in not calling us in to thy help, as thou didst other tribes? These were a proud people, puffed up with a conceit of their number and strength, and the preference which Jacob gave them above Manasseh, of which tribe Gideon was, who by thi... [ Continue Reading ]
What have I, &c. — What I have done in cutting off some of the common soldiers, is not to be compared with your destroying their princes; I began the war, but you have finished. The gleaning — What you have gleaned or done after me, Of Abiezer — That is, of the Abiezrites, to whom he modestly commun... [ Continue Reading ]
Was abated — His soft and humble answer allayed their rage.... [ Continue Reading ]
Passed over — Or, had passed over.... [ Continue Reading ]
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 shut up against their brethren. Were these Israelites! Surely they were worshippers of Baal, or in the... [ Continue Reading ]
Penuel — Another city beyond Jordan; both were in the tribe of Gad.... [ Continue Reading ]
Your tower — Your confidence in which makes you thus proud and presumptuous.... [ Continue Reading ]
That drew sword — That is, persons expert and exercised in war, besides the retainers to them.... [ Continue Reading ]
That dwelt in tents — That is, of the Arabians, so fetching a compass, and falling upon them where they least expected it. Was secure — Being now got safe over Jordan, and a great way from the place of battle; and probably, supposing Gideon's men to be so tired with their hard service, that they wou... [ Continue Reading ]
Before the sun was up — By which it might be gathered, that he came upon them in the night, which was most convenient for him who had so small a number with him; and most likely to terrify them by the remembrance of the last Night's sad work.... [ Continue Reading ]
He described — He told him their names and qualities.... [ Continue Reading ]
Slew the men of the city — Not all of them; probably those only who had affronted him.... [ Continue Reading ]
What manner of men — For outward shape and quality. At Tabor — Whither he understood they fled for shelter, upon the approach of the Midianites; and where he learned that some were slain, which he suspected might be them. Resembled — Not for their garb, or outward splendor, but for the majesty of th... [ Continue Reading ]
I would not slay — For being not Canaanites, he was not obliged to kill them; but they having killed his brethren, and that in cool blood, he was by law the avenger of their blood.... [ Continue Reading ]
Up, and slay — That he might animate him to the use of arms for his God and country, and that he might have a share in the honour of the victory.... [ Continue Reading ]
So is his strength — Thou excellest him, as in age and stature, so in strength; and it is more honourable to die by the hands of a valiant man.... [ Continue Reading ]
Rule — Not as a judge, for that he was already made by God; but as a king. Thy son's son — Let the kingdom be hereditary to thee, and to thy family. Thou hast delivered us — This miraculous and glorious deliverance by thy hands deserves no less from us.... [ Continue Reading ]
I will not rule — As a king. The Lord shall rule — In a special manner, as he hath hitherto done, by judges, whom God particularly appointed and directed, even by Urim and Thummim, and assisted upon all occasions; whereas Kings had only a general dependance upon God.... [ Continue Reading ]
Ishmaelites — A mixture of people all called by one general name, Ishmaelites or Arabians, who used to wear ear — rings; but the greatest, and the ruling part of them were Midianites.... [ Continue Reading ]
Thereof — Not of all of it; for then it would have been too heavy for use; but of part of it, the rest being probably employed about other things appertaining to it; which elsewhere are comprehended under the name of the ephod, as Judges 17:5. Put it — Not as a monument of the victory, for such monu... [ Continue Reading ]
Lifted up their head — That is, recovered not their former strength or courage, so as to conquer or oppress others. Forty years — To the fortieth year, from the beginning of the Midianitish oppression. The days, &c. — As long as Gideon lived.... [ Continue Reading ]
His own house — Not in his father's house; as he did before; nor yet in a court like a king, as the people desired; but in a middle state, as a judge for the preservation and maintenance of their religion and liberties.... [ Continue Reading ]
Shechem — She dwelt there, and he often came thither, either to execute judgment, or upon other occasions. Abimelech — That is, my father the king; so he called him, probably, to gratify his concubine, who desired it either out of pride, or design.... [ Continue Reading ]
A good old age — His long life being crowned with the continuance of honour, tranquility, and happiness.... [ Continue Reading ]
As soon as, &c. — Whereby we see the temper of this people, who did no longer cleave to God, than they were in a manner constrained to it, by the presence and authority of their judges. Baalim — This was the general name including all their idols, one of which here follows. Baal — berith — That is,... [ Continue Reading ]