DEFEND - The marginal reading “to deliver,” is far preferable. The word is the same as in Judges 2:16, Judges 2:18; Judges 3:9, Judges 3:15, Judges 3:31, etc., and is the technical word applied to the judges. Compare Nehemiah 9:27 (“saviours who saved them,” the King James Version). The term “there... [ Continue Reading ]
Jair the Gileadite was probably the same person as is named in Numbers 32:41; Deuteronomy 3:14, as having given the name of “Havoth-jair” to certain villages in Bashan.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE GODS OF SYRIA - Or “Aram.” In the times of the Judges the various tribes of Aramites, or Syrians, were not compacted into one state, nor were they until after the time of Solomon. The national gods of these various Aramean tribes were probably the same; and their worship would be likely to be in... [ Continue Reading ]
The previous mention of the Philistines as oppressors of Israel Judges 3:31 seems to be restricted to the south of Judah, when they cooperated with Moab. They appear to have gradually increased in power until they reached their height in the time of Saul. In the present instance they were probably i... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT YEAR - Perhaps the closing year of the oppression, when the Ammonites passed over the Jordan. For it was this crowning oppression which brought the Israelites to repentance Judges 10:10, Judges 10:15, and so prepared the way for the deliverance. Possibly in the original narrative from which thi... [ Continue Reading ]
(See the marginal references). The Israelites were delivered from the “Egyptians” at the Exodus; from the “Amorites” in the victories over Sihon, and Og, and the five kings of the Amorites Joshua 10:5; from the “children of Ammon” by Ehud; and from the “Philistines,” by the hand of Shamgar (compare... [ Continue Reading ]
THE ZIDONIANS - An allusion to the time of Barak, when the Zidonians doubtless formed part of the great confederacy of Canaanites under Jabin king of Hazor. See Joshua 11:8. THE AMALEKITES - In the time of Gideon (marginal reference). THE MAONITES - Probably one of the tribes of the “children of t... [ Continue Reading ]
The historian, having related the preliminary incidents, now comes to the final issue which forms the subject matter of his narrative. On a certain occasion, as on many previous ones, the Ammonites were encamped in Gilead, with the intention of dispossessing the Israelites of the whole country, or a... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE PEOPLE AND PRINCES ... - The inhabitants of Gilead appear as a separate and independent community, electing their own chief, without any reference to the West-Jordanic tribes.... [ Continue Reading ]