JUDGES CHAPTER 3 The nations left to prove Israel mentioned, JUDGES 3:1. The Israelites marrying their daughters, and serving their gods, they are delivered up to the king of Mesopotamia; are rescued by Othniel, JUDGES 3:5. Continuing to do evil, they are again punished and oppressed by the king of... [ Continue Reading ]
MIGHT KNOW, TO TEACH THEM WAR; that by the neighbourhood of such warlike potent enemies, they might be purged from sloth and security, and obliged to inure themselves to martial exercises, and to stand continually upon their guard, and consequently to keep close to that God whose assistance they had... [ Continue Reading ]
FIVE LORDS OF THE PHILISTINES; whereof three had been in some sort subdued, JUDGES 1:18, but afterwards rescued themselves, and recovered their former strength. SEE POOLE ON "JUDGES 1:18". THE CANAANITES; properly so called, who were very numerous, and dispersed through several parts of the land whe... [ Continue Reading ]
TO KNOW, i.e. that they and others might know by experience.... [ Continue Reading ]
No text from Poole on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
Were drawn to idolatry by the persuasions and examples of their yoke-fellows, through the just judgment of God, punishing their sinful marriages by giving them up to idolatry.... [ Continue Reading ]
i.e. In the groves, in which the heathens usually worshipped their _Baalims_ or idols. Or, _the groves_ are here put metonymically for the idols of the groves, which are distinguished here from their BAALIM, which seem to have been worshipped in other places, as _the prophets of Baal_ are distinguis... [ Continue Reading ]
i.e. Were made subject and tributary to him.... [ Continue Reading ]
CRIED UNTO THE LORD, i.e. prayed fervently for deliverance. CALEB'S YOUNGER BROTHER; of which SEE POOLE ON "JUDGES 1:13".... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD CAME UPON HIM, with extraordinary influences, endowing him with singular wisdom, and courage, and resolution; and stirring him up to this great undertaking. Compare JUDGES 6:34, JUDGES 11:29. HE JUDGED ISRAEL, i.e. pleaded and avenged the cause of Israel against their oppresso... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LAND HAD REST; either, first, It rested about forty years, or the greatest part of forty years; it being most frequent in Scripture to use numbers in such a latitude. Thus the Israelites are said to _bear their iniquities forty years in the wilderness_, NUMBERS 14:34, when there wanted near two... [ Continue Reading ]
STRENGTHENED EGLON, by giving him courage, and power, and success against them.... [ Continue Reading ]
i.e. Jericho, as may be gathered from DEUTERONOMY 24:3 JUDGES 1:16 2 CHRONICLES 28:15. Not the city, which was demolished, but the territory belonging to it. Here he fixed his camp, partly for the admirable fertility of that soil; and partly because of its nearness to the passage over Jordan, which... [ Continue Reading ]
No text from Poole on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
A BENJAMITE, Heb. _the son of Gemini_, who was of the tribe of Benjamin, 2 SAMUEL 16:11, 2 SAMUEL 19:17 1 KINGS 2:8. This tribe was next to him and doubtless most afflicted by him; and hence God raiseth a deliverer. LEFT-HANDED; which is here noted, partly as a mark of his courage, and strength, and... [ Continue Reading ]
A CUBIT LENGTH; long enough for his design, and not too long for carriage and concealment. UPON HIS RIGHT THIGH; which was most convenient, both for the use of his left hand, and for the avoiding of suspicion.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PRESENT was to be paid to him as a part of his tribute. A VERY FAT MAN, and therefore more unwieldy and unable to ward off Ehud's blow.... [ Continue Reading ]
He accompanied them part of the way, and then dismissed them, and returned to Eglon alone, that so he might have more easy access to him, and privacy with him; and that he might the better make his escape.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE TURNED AGAIN, as if he had forgot and neglected some important business. FROM THE QUARRIES; either, first, Whence they hewed stones. Or, secondly, The twelve stones which Joshua set up there; by the sight whereof he was animated to his work. Or, thirdly, The idols, as the word also signifies, whi... [ Continue Reading ]
They had divers houses and chambers, some for _winter_, others for _summer_. See JEREMIAH 36:22 AMOS 3:15. WHICH HE HAD FOR HIMSELF ALONE; into which he used to retire himself from company; which is mentioned as the reason why his servants waited so long ere they went in to him, JUDGES 3:25. I HAVE... [ Continue Reading ]
No text from Poole on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
i.e. His excrements came forth, not at the wound, which closed up, but at the fundament, as is usual when persons die either a natural or violent death.... [ Continue Reading ]
EHUD WENT FORTH, with a composed countenance and gait, without any fear; being well assured that God, who by his extraordinary call had put him upon that enterprise, would by his special providence preserve him, and carry him through it. UPON HIM; either upon the king, or upon or after himself. LOCK... [ Continue Reading ]
Covereth his feet: this phrase is used only here and 1 SAMUEL 24:3. It is commonly understood in both places, of easing nature; because the men not then wearing breeches, as we do, but long coats, they did in that act cover their feet, as women do: but a late judicious interpreter expounds it of com... [ Continue Reading ]
ASHAMED, or, _confounded_, not knowing what to say or think; lest they should either disturb him, or be guilty of neglect towards him. A KEY; another _key_, it being usual in princes courts to have divers keys for the same door.... [ Continue Reading ]
No text from Poole on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
Doubtless he had prepared THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, and by his emissaries gathered together in considerable numbers.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FORDS, where they passed over Jordan, that neither the Moabites that were got into Canaan might escape, nor any more Moabites come over Jordan to their succour.... [ Continue Reading ]
No text from Poole on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
How these are to be understood, SEE POOLE ON "JUDGES 3:11". Instead of _eighty_, some copies read _eight_ years.... [ Continue Reading ]
SLEW SIX HUNDRED MEN WITH AN OX-GOAD; as Samson did a thousand with the jaw-bone of an ass; both being miraculous actions, and not at all incredible to him that believes a God, who could easily give strength both to the persons and to their weapons to effect this.... [ Continue Reading ]