VI. Judges 6:1. A new apostasy, punished by the oppression of Midian. Judges 6:7. The rebuke delivered by a prophet, Judges 6:11. An angel appears to Gideon and bids him deliver Israel, and (Judges 6:15) removes his doubts. Judges 6:19. The offering to the angel, and his disappearance. Judges 6:24.... [ Continue Reading ]
DID EVIL. — Judges 2:11; Judges 3:12; Judges 4:1. Midian. — Midian was the son of Adraham and Keturah (Genesis 25:2), and from him descended the numerous and wealthy nomadic tribes which occupied the plains east of Moab (Numbers 31:32). The name belongs, properly, to the tribes on the south-east of... [ Continue Reading ]
THE HAND OF MIDIAN PREVAILED. — See Judges 3:10. This oppression is wholly different from that with which we have been dealing in the last chapter. That was the last great attempt of the old inhabitants to recover their lost country; this is a foreign invasion. THE DENS WHICH ARE IN THE MOUNTAINS. —... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN ISRAEL HAD SOWN. — The invasions of these Arab tribes were of the most crushing and irritating kind. Living in idleness and marauding expeditions, they let the Israelites sow their corn, and came themselves to reap and carry it away. They said, “Let us take to ourselves the pastures of God” — _... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY ENCAMPED AGAINST THEM. — It is not implied that there were any battles. The Israelites were too wretched and helpless to offer any resistance. These Arabs would swarm over the Jordan, at the fords of Bethshean, about harvest-time, and would sweep away the produce of the rich plain of Jezreel an... [ Continue Reading ]
AS GRASSHOPPERS. — See Judges 7:12. Rather, _as locusts._ The magnificent imagery of Joel 2:2 enables us to realise the force of the metaphor, and Exodus 10:4 the number of locusts, which are a common metaphor for countless hordes. Aristophanes (_Ach._ 150) speaks of an army so numerous that the Ath... [ Continue Reading ]
IMPOVERISHED. — The LXX. render it, “was reduced to pauperism.” The word implies flaccidity and helplessness, “as of a door hanging loose on its hinges, or a sere leaf shaking on a tree.” CRIED UNTO THE LORD. — See Judges 3:9; Judges 3:15; Judges 4:3; Psalms 107:13; Hosea 5:15.... [ Continue Reading ]
A PROPHET. — He is here left nameless, but Jewish legend says that he was Phinehas, the son of Eleazar. Their _Hagadah_ (legendary information) generally enables them to name these nameless prophets. Thus they say that the prophet who came to Bethel was Iddo (1 Kings 13), and that the young man who... [ Continue Reading ]
THE GODS OF THE AMORITES. — See Joshua 24:15; 1 Kings 21:26. As the Amorites seem to have been the highlanders of Palestine, and the most powerful of all the Canaanitish tribes, their name is sometimes used for that of all the Canaanites (Joshua 24:15). Thus Heber says: — “As when five monarchs led... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE CAME AN ANGEL OF THE LORD. — It is obviously absurd to suppose, as some have done, that a prophet is intended, like the one in Judges 6:8. There the word is _Nabi,_ here it is _Maleak-Jehovah,_ as in Judges 2:1. Josephus, when he says that “a phantasm stood by him in the shape of a youth,” is... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD IS WITH THEE, THOU MIGHTY MAN OF VALOUR. — Three words in the Hebrew: _Jehovah immekâ, Gibbor._ It was once a salutation and a blessing. (Comp. Joshua 1:5; Luke 1:28). The address seems to show that Gideon had already distinguished himself by bravery in war; it can hardly refer to the vigou... [ Continue Reading ]
OH MY LORD. — The title is here only one of courtesy (_adoni,_ like _kurie;_ “sir” in John 20:19, &c.),for Gideon only saw in the angel a stranger seated beneath the terebinth which overshadowed the rock-hewn wine-vat in which he was working. WHY THEN IS ALL THIS BEFALLEN US? — See Deuteronomy 31:1... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD LOOKED UPON HIM. — Here, as in Genesis 18:13; Genesis 18:17; Genesis 18:20, the angel speaks as the Lord, and it has been hence inferred that this angel was no created angel, but “the angel of the covenant,” “the captain of the Lord’s host.” The only other possible conclusion is to say that... [ Continue Reading ]
OH MY LORD. — Here our version deliberately adopts the reading _adonî, as_ in Judges 6:13, and the reason for this reading is that Gideon does not appear _to_ have fully recognised the angel till his disappearance (Judges 6:22). The reading of the Hebrew MSS., however, is _Adonai,_ “Lord;” and if it... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL BE WITH THEE. — See Exodus 3:12; Joshua 1:5. SMITE THE MIDIANITES AS ONE MAN. — See Chap’ 19 1:8; Numbers 14:15.... [ Continue Reading ]
I HAVE FOUND GRACE IN THY SIGHT. — A phrase found both in the Old and New Testament. (See Genesis 6:8; Esther 5:8.) SHEW ME A SIGN THAT THOU TALKEST WITH ME. — Give me some clear proof that this is no mere vision, and that thy message is really from God, and portends me favour. (See Psalms 86:17; I... [ Continue Reading ]
UNLEAVENED CAKES. — Because these were most quickly made, as by Lot for the angels, and by the Witch of Endor for Saul (Genesis 19:3; 1 Samuel 28:24). OF AN EPHAH OF FLOUR. — About 22½ lbs. A homer would have been sufficient, as we see from Exodus 16:16. An ephah is _ten_ homers; but Eastern hospit... [ Continue Reading ]
THE ANGEL OF GOD. — Here alone in the chapter called “the angel of Elohim” and not “of Jehovah.” UPON THIS ROCK. — Rather, _upon yonder crag._ The living rock (Exodus 20:22) served well as an altar. POUR OUT THE BROTH. — Comp. Genesis 35:14; Exodus 30:9; 1 Kings 18:34. In the first of these instanc... [ Continue Reading ]
THE STAFF THAT WAS IN HIS HAND. — The ordinary accompaniment of an Eastern traveller (Genesis 32:10; Matthew 10:10). THERE ROSE UP FIRE. — The common sign of God’s presence and of His acceptance of an offering. (See Leviticus 9:24; 1 Kings 18:24; 1 Chronicles 21:26; 2 Chronicles 7:1.) Water is brou... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN GIDEON PERCEIVED. — The last sign gave him a deeper sense than before of the grandeur of the messenger who had come to him. ALAS! — There is no need to supply “I shall die” at the end of the clause, but that this was the apprehension in Gideon’s mind is shown by his cry of alarm. FOR BECAUSE.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD SAID UNTO HIM. — How this intimation was given we are not told. The LXX. do not here change “the Lord” into “the angel of the Lord.” PEACE BE UNTO THEE; FEAR NOT. — Comp. Daniel 10:7; Daniel 10:19; Ezekiel 1:28 to Ezekiel 2:1; Mark 16:8; Luke 1:13; Luke 2:10; Revelation 1:17, &c.... [ Continue Reading ]
BUILT AN ALTAR. — Altars, like the altar Ed (Joshua 22:34), built by the Transjordanic tribes, were not always intended for purposes of sacrifices, but to witness some great event or Divine appearance (Genesis 31:48; Genesis 26:25; Exodus 17:15). JEHOVAH-SHALOM. — “The Lord is peace.” We find simila... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD SAID UNTO HIM. — Luther rightly observes that by such expressions we are not at all meant to understand a voice in the air. It is useless, and therefore undesirable, to speculate as to the exact manner in which the Divine intimation came to him. When God speaks it is not possible for man to... [ Continue Reading ]
OF THIS ROCK. — The word is not _selah,_ as in Judges 6:20, or _tsor,_ as in Judges 6:21, but _malioz,_ “stronghold,” probably the citadel of Ophrah. The LXX. render it as a proper name (_maoz_)_,_ or in some MSS., _“_on the top of this mountain.” The word only occurs elsewhere in Hebrew poetry. IN... [ Continue Reading ]
TEN MEN OF HIS SERVANTS. — This shows Gideon’s independent position, and also that he had tried to keep his own household free from the guilt of idolatry amid the all but universal defection. HIS FATHER’S HOUSEHOLD. — The Abi-ezrites. THE MEN OF THE CITY. — Of whom many may have been of Canaanite... [ Continue Reading ]
AROSE EARLY IN THE MORNING. — The habits of Orientals are early, and Baal-worship may well have involved some adoration of the rising sun. CAST DOWN. — They observed three things: viz., the demolished altar of Baal; the stump of the destroyed Asherah; and a new altar, with the remains of a burnt of... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY SAID. — We are not told that Gideon’s servants betrayed his secret, but suspicion would naturally fall on so brave and prominent a worshipper of Jehovah as Gideon was; and it is rarely that actions which require so much effort and so many coadjutors can be kept secret. Gideon had proved himself... [ Continue Reading ]
THE MEN OF THE CITY SAID UNTO JOASH. — It is difficult to conceive that these could have been Israelites (see on Judges 6:27). BRING OUT THY SON, THAT HE MAY DIE. — For the phrase, see Genesis 38:24; 1 Kings 21:10; Luke 19:27.... [ Continue Reading ]
UNTO ALL THAT STOOD AGAINST HIM. — The meaning of these words is very uncertain. They may mean, “to all that stood around.” WILL YE PLEAD FOR BAAL? — The pronoun _ye_ is very emphatic, being twice expressed in the Hebrew. HE THAT WILL PLEAD FOR HIM, LET HIM BE PUT TO DEATH. — These words of Joash w... [ Continue Reading ]
HE CALLED HIM. — Rather, _people called him, he got the name of._ The phrase is impersonal. (_Vocatus est,_ Vulg.; _hiess man ihn,_ Luther.) JERUBBAAL. — The name meant, “Let Baal strive;” but might also mean, “let it be striven with Baal,” or “Baal’s antagonist,” and this gave the name a more ready... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN ALL THE MIDIANITES. — See Judges 6:3. They came down for their usual annual raid to get the wheat which, doubtless, thousands besides Gideon had been gathering in and threshing in secret places as soon as it was barely ripe. IN THE VALLEY OF JEZREEL. — As the Philistines did afterwards (1 Samu... [ Continue Reading ]
CAME UPON GIDEON. — Literally, _clothed Gideon._ See Judges 3:10 (Othniel); Judges 11:29 (Jephthah); Judges 13:25 (Samson). This forcible figure is found also in 1 Chronicles 12:18 (Amasai); 2 Chronicles 24:20 (Zechariah); Psalms 59:17; and in the New Testament, Luke 24:49 (_endusçsthe_)_;_... [ Continue Reading ]
THROUGHOUT ALL MANASSEH. — The loyalty with which his own clan, the Abi-ezrites, rallied round him gave him a right to claim still wider support. ASHER. — This tribe, by faithfulness on this occasion, partly redeemed its honour from the tarnish attached of its former defection. This time Asher did... [ Continue Reading ]
IF THOU WILT SAVE ISRAEL. — This diffidence and hesitation show the seriousness of the crisis. Gideon saw that by human strength alone he would be utterly helpless to repel the countless hosts of the marauders. He had already shown his faith, but now he needed fresh encouragement in his dangerous ta... [ Continue Reading ]
A FLEECE OF WOOL. — In works of art this is sometimes represented as an entire sheepskin, probably from an erroneous explanation of the Vulgate, _Vellus lanae,_ and from Luther’s rendering, _ein Fell mit der Wolle._ But the English version is correct. IN THE FLOOR. — _i.e.,_ on the open threshing-f... [ Continue Reading ]
A BOWL FULL OF WATER. — The word used for bowl is _sêphel,_ as in Judges 5:25.... [ Continue Reading ]
LET NOT THINE ANGER BE HOT AGAINST ME, AND I WILL SPEAK BUT THIS ONCE. — The phrase is the same as in Genesis 18:32. The word rendered “anger” is literally _nose._ The Hebrew language is very picturesque in its metaphors, and “anger” is so often expressed by the dilatation of the nostrils, that “nos... [ Continue Reading ]
IT WAS DRY UPON THE FLEECE ONLY. — Such a result as this — not being in accordance with natural circumstances — could only have arisen from direct interposition. Besides the simple narrative, which tells us of these results as a sign granted to Gideon in accordance with his prayer, it is of course p... [ Continue Reading ]