_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._ Ver. 1. _There arose, to defend Israel._] Heb., To save. He thrust not himself into the office, as Abimelech, that usurper, had done; but was raised... [ Continue Reading ]
And he judged Israel twenty and three years, and died, and was buried in Shamir. Ver. 2. _And he judged Israel twenty and three years._] Appeasing the tumults at the end of Abimelech's reign, restoring the true religion, and administering justice according to God's laws. _a_ a Dr May.... [ Continue Reading ]
And after him arose Jair, a Gileadite, and judged Israel twenty and two years. Ver. 3. _Jair, a Gileadite._] Of whom we may say as one doth of Jesse, the father of David, that he was _Vir bonus et probus, sed minus clarus,_ a good honest man, but there is not much said of him.... [ 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. Ver. 4. _And he had thirty sons._] A happy man if they all proved towardly: otherwise he might be put to wish as Augustus did, _Utinam aut... [ Continue Reading ]
And Jair died, and was buried in Camon. Ver. 5. _And Jair died._] "It, is appointed for all men once to die, and after death judgment." Judges shall once say, - _ "Iudex ante fui, nunc Iudicis ante tribunal Sistor."_ "Do ye then speak righteousness? do ye judge uprightly, O ye sons of men?" Psa... [ 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. Ver. 6. _And th... [ 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. Ver. 7. _He sold them into the hands of the Philistines,_] _i.e., _ He abandoned them into the power, and left them to the pleasure of those very nation... [ 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. Ver. 8. _And that year they vexed and crushed the children, &c._] That year, _quo scilicet desciverunt a... [ Continue Reading ]
Moreover the children of Ammon passed over Jordan to fight also against Judah, and against Benjamin, and against the house of Ephraim; so that Israel was sore distressed. Ver. 9. _Moreover the children of Ammon._] Now that Jair was dead. Likens after the death of Hunniades, the Turks got further fo... [ 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. Ver. 10. _And the children of Israel cried._] Cried they had before, as very brutes will do when they are hurt, but not with their whole heart; their c... [ 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? Ver. 11. _Did not I deliver you from the Egyptians?_] They instance their sins, and God's benefits - teaching us to keep catalogu... [ 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. Ver. 12. The Zidonians also, … and the Maonites.] Hereby it appeareth that God had done more for this people than hitherto had been recorded. He keepeth count; shoul... [ Continue Reading ]
Yet ye have forsaken me, and served other gods: wherefore I will deliver you no more. Ver. 13. _Wherefore I will deliver you no more,_] _sc., _ " Except ye repent." Rev 2:5 _Deus ideo minatur ut non puniat:_ If sinners repent, God will do so too; Jer 26:13 yea, he will pardon such sin as no man wou... [ Continue Reading ]
Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation. Ver. 14. _Go and cry unto the gods, &c._] He commandeth them not idolatry, but upbraideth them with it; layeth it in their dish, and showeth them how little they have profited by it. See the like in... [ Continue Reading ]
And the children of Israel said unto the LORD, We have sinned: do thou unto us whatsoever seemeth good unto thee; deliver us only, we pray thee, this day. Ver. 15. We have sinned: do thou unto us.] They do not yet despair, but put themselves into the hands of divine justice, in hope of mercy; they... [ 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. Ver. 16. _And they put away the strange gods from among them._] This was it that completed their repentance. What is humiliation without reformation? _Optima et aptissima poen... [ 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._ Ver. 17. _Then the children of Ammon were gathered together._] But, that they might be "broken in pieces" Isa 8:9 _ And the children of Isr... [ Continue Reading ]
And the people [and] princes of Gilead said one to another, What man [is he] that will begin to fight against the children of Ammon? he shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead. Ver. 18. _That will begin to fight._] That will be our leader in this expedition. They were not here, as in Alcib... [ Continue Reading ]