See the introduction to the Book of Judges. The only point of contact with the preceding history of Samson is, that we are still concerned with the tribe of Dan. See Judges 18:1, note. Josephus combines in one narrative what we read here and in Judges 1:34, and places it, with the story in Judg. 18–... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU CURSEDST - or, “adjuredst me by God.” Compare Matthew 26:63; Leviticus 5:1.... [ Continue Reading ]
Such a superstitious and unlawful mode of worshipping Yahweh is quite of a piece with Judges 8:27; Judges 11:31; 1 Kings 12:28, etc. It argues but slight acquaintance with the Ten Commandments, which, from the ignorance of reading and writing, were probably not familiar to the Israelites in those un... [ Continue Reading ]
See Judges 8:27, note; Genesis 31:19, note.... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THOSE DAYS ... - This phrase, indicating distinctly that the writer lived after the establishment of the kingly government in Israel, is unique to the author of these last five chapters.... [ Continue Reading ]
The Hebrew words for “he sojourned there” are, שׁם גר _gêr_ _shām_, which words are used Judges 18:30 in the genealogy of this young Levite, whose name was “Jonathan, the son of Gershom” (גרשׁם _gêr__e__shôm_). Hence, some read here, “the son of Gershom.”... [ Continue Reading ]
Jonathan’s state without a home gives us vivid picture of what must have been the condition of many Levites.... [ Continue Reading ]
TEN SHEKELS - About 25 shillings to 26 shillings (see Exodus 38:24).... [ Continue Reading ]
This shows the ignorance as well as the superstition of the age (compare 2 Kings 18:22), and gives a picture of the lawlessness of the times. The incidental testimony to the Levitical priesthood is to be noted; but the idolatrous worship in the immediate neighborhood of Shiloh is passing strange.... [ Continue Reading ]