Judges 8:1
_GIDEON PACIFIES THE EPHRAIMITES; HE TAKES THE TWO KINGS, ZEBA AND ZALMUNNA, PRISONERS. HE REFUSES THE KINGDOM OFFERED TO HIM, AND DIES, BEING THE FATHER OF SEVENTY CHILDREN._ _Before Christ 1267._... [ Continue Reading ]
_GIDEON PACIFIES THE EPHRAIMITES; HE TAKES THE TWO KINGS, ZEBA AND ZALMUNNA, PRISONERS. HE REFUSES THE KINGDOM OFFERED TO HIM, AND DIES, BEING THE FATHER OF SEVENTY CHILDREN._ _Before Christ 1267._... [ Continue Reading ]
IS NOT THE GLEANING, &C.— The Ephraimites, displeased that they had not been called to share the glory of this enterprise with their brethren of the tribe of Manasseh, to whom they judged themselves superior, sharply expostulate with Gideon upon the occasion. He gives them a soft and gentle answer,... [ Continue Reading ]
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, at the same time, were enemies to the true religion; no wonder, therefore, that Gideon replies to th... [ Continue Reading ]
CHILDREN OF THE EAST— _Children of Kedem; i.e. Ishmaelites._ Hiller. Onomastic. p. 534.... [ Continue Reading ]
BY THE WAY OF THEM THAT DWELT IN TENTS— That is, by the country of the Arabians, called Scenitae, from their dwelling in tents.... [ Continue Reading ]
BEFORE THE SUN WAS UP— Very different and contrary interpretations are given of this passage. Houbigant supposes, that החרס _hechares_ does not signify _the sun_ here, but is the proper name of a place; and accordingly he renders it _by that place which is above_ Hares; and in this interpretation he... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WITH THEM HE TAUGHT THE MEN OF SUCCOTH— He threatened in the 7th verse to _tear their flesh with the thorns of the wilderness, and with briars,_ which Le Clerc there renders, _then will I thresh their flesh,_ &c. and here for _and with them he taught,_ &c. he reads, _and made an example of them... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN SAID HE UNTO ZEBAH AND ZALMUNNA— The history is so extremely short in this place, that we can only form conjectures: it is plain, from the examination of these princes, that they had slain Gideon's brethren; but with what circumstances we know not. They tell Gideon, that they resembled him; _as... [ Continue Reading ]
RULE THOU OVER US— The Israelites, forgetful of the peculiar government under which they were, wished to be ruled, like their neighbour-nations, by a king, and therefore entreat Gideon to assume the sceptre; but he, more wise than they, absolutely refuses them; and at the same time, in the most nobl... [ Continue Reading ]
GIDEON MADE AN EPHOD— As the people in the height of their gratitude had offered Gideon the kingdom, he justly concluded that they could not refuse him an inferior petition; he asked therefore, and they readily gave him, such of their spoils as were necessary to the making of an _ephod._ By referrin... [ Continue Reading ]
WENT A WHORING AFTER BAALIM— As the same expression is made use of in Joshua 8:27 with regard to Gideon's _ephod,_ we may reasonably conclude, that, in the former case, they were guilty of idolatry, by worshipping the true God in an improper manner, and contrary to his immediate commands; as, in the... [ Continue Reading ]