_AND AFTER ABIMELECH THERE AROSE TO DEFEND ISRAEL TOLA THE SON OF
PUAH, THE SON OF DODO, A MAN OF ISSACHAR; AND HE DWELT IN SHAMIR IN
MOUNT EPHRAIM._
After Abimelech there arose, to defend Israel, Tola - i:e., to save.
Deliverance was necessary as well from intestine usurpation as from
foreign aggr... [ Continue Reading ]
_AND HE JUDGED ISRAEL TWENTY AND THREE YEARS, AND DIED, AND WAS BURIED
IN SHAMIR._
No JFB commentary on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
_AND AFTER HIM AROSE JAIR, A GILEADITE, AND JUDGED ISRAEL TWENTY AND
TWO YEARS._
Jair, a Gileadite. This judge was a different person from the
conqueror of that northeastern territory, and founder of Havoth-jair,
or 'Jair's villages' (Numbers 32:41; Deuteronomy 3:14; 1 Chronicles
2:22).... [ Continue Reading ]
_AND HE HAD THIRTY SONS THAT RODE ON THIRTY ASS COLTS, AND THEY HAD
THIRTY CITIES, WHICH ARE CALLED HAVOTHJAIR UNTO THIS DAY, WHICH ARE IN
THE LAND OF GILEAD._
He had thirty sons that rode on thirty ass colts. This is a
characteristic trait of Eastern manners in those early times; and the
grant of... [ Continue Reading ]
_AND JAIR DIED, AND WAS BURIED IN CAMON._
No JFB commentary on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
_AND THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL DID EVIL AGAIN IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD,
AND SERVED BAALIM, AND ASHTAROTH, AND THE GODS OF SYRIA, AND THE GODS
OF ZIDON, AND THE GODS OF MOAB, AND THE GODS OF THE CHILDREN OF AMMON,
AND THE GODS OF THE PHILISTINES, AND FORSOOK THE LORD, AND SERVED NOT
HIM._
The children... [ Continue Reading ]
_AND THE ANGER OF THE LORD WAS HOT AGAINST ISRAEL, AND HE SOLD THEM
INTO THE HANDS OF THE PHILISTINES, AND INTO THE HANDS OF THE CHILDREN
OF AMMON._
Philistines and ... the children of Ammon. The predatory incursions of
these two hostile neighbours were made naturally on the parts of the
land respe... [ Continue Reading ]
_AND THAT YEAR THEY VEXED AND OPPRESSED THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL:
EIGHTEEN YEARS, ALL THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL THAT WERE ON THE OTHER SIDE
JORDAN IN THE LAND OF THE AMORITES, WHICH IS IN GILEAD._
No JFB commentary on these verses.... [ Continue Reading ]
_AND THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL CRIED UNTO THE LORD, SAYING, WE HAVE
SINNED AGAINST THEE, BOTH BECAUSE WE HAVE FORSAKEN OUR GOD, AND ALSO
SERVED BAALIM._
We have sinned against thee. The first step of repentance is
confession of sin; and the best proof of its sincerity is given by the
transgressor when... [ Continue Reading ]
_AND THE LORD SAID UNTO THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, DID NOT I DELIVER YOU
FROM THE EGYPTIANS, AND FROM THE AMORITES, FROM THE CHILDREN OF AMMON,
AND FROM THE PHILISTINES?_
The Lord said ... Did not I deliver you. The communications recorded
in this and the following verses were most probably made throu... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE ZIDONIANS ALSO, AND THE AMALEKITES, AND THE MAONITES, DID OPPRESS
YOU; AND YE CRIED TO ME, AND I DELIVERED YOU OUT OF THEIR HAND._
Maonites - i:e., Midianites.... [ Continue Reading ]
_YET YE HAVE FORSAKEN ME, AND SERVED OTHER GODS: WHEREFORE I WILL
DELIVER YOU NO MORE._
No JFB commentary on these verses.... [ Continue Reading ]
_AND THEY PUT AWAY THE STRANGE GODS FROM AMONG THEM, AND SERVED THE
LORD: AND HIS SOUL WAS GRIEVED FOR THE MISERY OF ISRAEL._
His soul was grieved for the misery of Israel. On their abandonment of
idolatry and return to purity of worship, God graciously abridged the
term of national affliction, and... [ Continue Reading ]
_THEN THE CHILDREN OF AMMON WERE GATHERED TOGETHER, AND ENCAMPED IN
GILEAD. AND THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL ASSEMBLED THEMSELVES TOGETHER, AND
ENCAMPED IN MIZPEH._
The children of Ammon were gathered together. From carrying on a
guerilla warfare, the Ammonites proceeded to a continued campaign,
their se... [ Continue Reading ]