_A.M. 2748. B.C. 1256._ The calamities of Israel by the Midianites, Judges 6:1. The message God sent them by a prophet, Judges 6:7. God's commission to Gideon, confirmed by a sign, Judges 6:11. He breaks down the altar of Baal, Judges 6:25. His preparation for war, and encouragement by another sign... [ Continue Reading ]
_And the children of Israel did evil_ The Israelites, having forgot the signal deliverance which God had wrought for them by Deborah and Barak, were condemned to a new state of misery and oppression, compared to which that under Jabin may almost be called freedom, Deborah being then allowed to judge... [ Continue Reading ]
_The children of the east_ Probably the Ishmaelites, or Arabians, especially the eastern part of them. _Unto Gaza_ That is, from the east, on which side they entered, to the west, where Gaza was, near the Mediterranean sea. So that they destroyed the whole land. _Without number _ That is, so many th... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Lord sent a prophet_ We have reason to hope God is designing mercy for us, if we find he is by his grace preparing us for it.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ye have not obeyed my voice_ And therefore all these evils are come upon you. This is said to bring them to repentance. And our repentance is then genuine when the sinfulness of sin, as disobedience to God, is that which we chiefly lament.... [ Continue Reading ]
_And there came an angel of the Lord_ It is probable that many of the Israelites laid the prophet's message to heart, and began to repent and reform, and that therefore God had compassion upon them, and sent an angel to appoint them a deliverer. _In Ophrah_ In Manasseh; there was, however, another O... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Lord is with thee_ That is, to guide and strengthen thee, to animate and support thee. He is with thee, giving thee a commission to go out against the enemies of Israel, communicating to thee all necessary qualifications for the execution of this commission, and assuring thee of success therein... [ Continue Reading ]
_If the Lord be with us, why then is all this befallen us?_ All this trouble and distress from the incursions of the Midianites? All this loss, and grief, and dismay? _Where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of?_ We are too apt to conclude, that those instances of God's power which have... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Lord looked upon him_ With a settled, pleasant, and animating countenance, as a testimony of his favour and readiness to help him. _And said, Go in this thy might_ In the power of this commission which I have now given thee; and in the strength which thou hast already received, and dost now fur... [ Continue Reading ]
_Behold, my family_ Hebrew, _my thousand._ For the tribes were distributed into several thousands, whereof each thousand had its peculiar governor; _is poor_ Weak and contemptible. _I am the least in my father's house_ Either for age or qualifications for such a work. It is no proof that a person is... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man_ As easily as if they were all but one man. _Show me a sign_ This Gideon desired, that he might be sure the commission was divine, and that God, who called him to his work, would give him success in it. This is one proof among many others which might be pr... [ Continue Reading ]
_Until I bring forth my present_ A repast for the angel whom he thought to be a man; _and set it before thee_ That thou mayest eat and refresh thyself. _An ephah of flour_ The choicest part of a whole _ephah;_ as also he brought to him the best part of a kid dressed; for a whole ephah and a whole ki... [ Continue Reading ]
_Lay them upon this rock_ Undoubtedly it gave Gideon some surprise, to be commanded to dispose thus of the refreshments which he had so hospitably prepared; but as he had doubtless by this time conceived a high opinion of this unknown person, (though he had not discovered him to be an angel,) so he... [ Continue Reading ]
_There rose up fire out of the rock, and consumed the flesh _ By which he showed himself not to be a man that needed such provisions, but the Son of God; and by this instance of his omnipotency, gave him assurance that he both could and would consume the Midianites. _Alas, O Lord God_ I am an undone... [ Continue Reading ]
_The same night the Lord said unto him_ Most likely in a dream; _Take the second bullock_ Houbigant and some others suspect that there is a deficiency in the text here, as nothing is said of the first bullock. Perhaps he was to offer both bullocks, one for himself, and the other for the sins of the... [ Continue Reading ]
_Upon the top of this rock_ Hebrew, _of this strong hold._ For in that calamitous time the Israelites retreated to such rocks, and hid and fortified themselves in them. _In the ordered place_ That is, in a plain and smooth part of the rock, where an altar may be conveniently built; _and offer a burn... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then Gideon took ten men_ Whom doubtless he had acquainted with his design, and the assurance of success in it, whereby they were easily induced to assist him. _He feared_ Not so much lest he should suffer for it, as lest he should be prevented from doing it.... [ Continue Reading ]
_The bullock was offered_ Not upon Baal's altar, for which it was designed, but upon an altar erected in contempt of Baal. _When they inquired, they said_ Probably some of the persons employed in it.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Joash said, Will ye plead for Baal?_ Why are you so zealous in pleading for that Baal for whose worship you suffer such grievous calamities at this day? It is plain that Joash had been a worshipper of Baal, having gone with the stream, as we find the altar of Baal on his estate; but probably he was... [ Continue Reading ]
_He called his name Jerubbaal_ That is, _Let Baal plead._ The meaning is, either that Joash called Gideon so, Judges 8:1, in remembrance of this noble exploit, and to put a brand on Baal; or that his countrymen gave him this name. For, as Houbigant observes, the Hebrew may be rendered, _On that day... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then all the Midianites were gathered together_, &c. As was their usual custom every year, that they might waste the country. _And pitched in the valley of Jezreel_ Not Jezreel in Judah, but another place of that name in the borders of Manasseh and Issachar, which was not far distant from Ophrah, w... [ Continue Reading ]
_All Manasseh_ On both sides of Jordan. _Unto Asher_, &c. Because these tribes were nearest, and so could soonest join with him; and were nearest the enemy also, (Judges 6:33,) and therefore were most sensible of the calamity, and would in all reason be most forward to rescue themselves from it.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Gideon said_ In a way of humble supplication, for the strengthening his own faith, and for the greater encouragement of his soldiers in this great attempt. _On all the earth_ That is, upon all that spot of ground which encompasses the fleece. _On the ground_ Which was more preternatural than the fo... [ Continue Reading ]
_And God did so_ See how tender God is even of the weak; and how ready to condescend to their infirmities! These signs were very expressive. They are going to engage the Midianites. Could God distinguish between a small fleece of Israel and the vast floor of Midian? Yes, by this token it appears tha... [ Continue Reading ]