HISTORY OF THE JUDGES (JUDGES 3:5 TO JUDGES 16:31) On this, the main section of the book, see Intro. § 2 and List of Oppressions and Judges. The larger part of the book is concerned with six of the Judges, one of whom is not properly a Judge at all (Abimelech), and in the case of another (Samson) i... [ Continue Reading ]
GLEANING and VINTAGE] note the contrast between these. ABI-EZER] Gideon substitutes this for his own name.... [ Continue Reading ]
Having driven the Midianites into the arms of Ephraim, Gideon turns eastwards. Judges 8:10 implies that a very considerable section of the foe had escaped the trap and was still formidable.... [ Continue Reading ]
SUCCOTH] like Penuel (Genesis 33:17) must be E. of the Jordan, near the Jabbok.... [ Continue Reading ]
The chiefs of Succoth evidently doubt whether Gideon is really victorious as yet.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE GROVES] RV 'the asheroth.' The word (another plural) means the sacred poles set up near an altar, which were common in Seniitic worship (even Solomon's temple had' pillars': see on 1 Kings 7:21). Here, however, actual goddesses seem to be intended, perhaps regarded as symbolised by the poles.... [ Continue Reading ]
CHUSHAN-RISHATHAIM] The Heb. word means 'Ethiopian of double iniquity.' The real name must be hidden behind this expression. MESOPOTAMIA] see on Genesis 24:10.... [ Continue Reading ]
OTHNIEL] cp. Judges 1:13 TOWER] Where a city had no walls, a central stronghold was frequent. In the middle ages the church tower sometimes served this purpose: cp. Judges 9:46.... [ Continue Reading ]
KARKOR] unknown. The other two places are probably SE. of the Jabbok. The Midianites were making for the desert (cp. Numbers 32:35; Numbers 32:42). For the numbers cp. Judges 7:13. Gideon's first levy is said to have numbered 32,000 (Judges 7:3). THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD] used here and elsewhere of th... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WAY OF THEM THAT DWELT IN TENTS] i.e. the road usually taken by the nomads.... [ Continue Reading ]
MOAB] the high plateau on the E. of the Dead Sea: cp. 2 Kings 3:24. SECURE] i.e. free from anxiety, as in the camp W. of the Jordan (Judges 7).... [ Continue Reading ]
AMMON] N. of Moab: the Amalekites (Genesis 36:12) are called Edomites. They occupied the desert between Sinai and S. Palestine. The Kenites formed one of their nomad clans, but on the whole their enmity to Israel was constant: cp. 1 Samuel 15:2; hence their readiness to join Eglon's invasion. CITY O... [ Continue Reading ]
DESCRIBED] RM 'wrote down' a list of the chief men. The ELDERS are heads of families; the PRINCES (cp. Judges 8:6) are the military leaders.... [ Continue Reading ]
LEFTHANDED] lit. 'lamed in his right hand.' Hence the success of his ruse: but Judges 20:16 seems to show that ambidexterity is all that is meant: cp. also 1 Chronicles 12:2. PRESENT] i.e. tribute.... [ Continue Reading ]
DAGGER] RV 'sword,' about 14 in. in the blade. Being, on his right thigh (convenient for his left hand) the guards would not notice it. TAUGHT] if right, bitterly ironical. All the early versions read 'threshed,' or 'carded,' as Judges 8:7 implies.... [ Continue Reading ]
BROUGHT] RV 'offered,' as in 1 Chronicles 12:18.... [ Continue Reading ]
This private wrong of Gideon's is now mentioned for the first time. TABOR] see on Judges 4:6.... [ Continue Reading ]
QUARRIES] RM 'graven images,' perhaps carved stones. Once beyond these (cp. Judges 3:26), though only 2 m. from Jericho, Ehud knew that he was safe. According to the law of blood revenge, the nearest relative is bound to avenge the victim's death (cp. Numbers 35:19).... [ Continue Reading ]
JETHER] is the same name as Jethro (Exodus 4:18; 1 Kings 2:5). To be slain by a boy would be a further indignity for the two chiefs, who meet their death with barbarian courage. SUMMER PARLOUR] RM 'upper chamber of cooling': a room on the flat roof of an Oriental house; in this case enclosed so tha... [ Continue Reading ]
ORNAMENTS] RV 'crescents': cp. Judges 8:26. 22-35. Gideon's subsequent career and death.... [ Continue Reading ]
No meaning can be obtained from the Heb. words at the end of this v. The fame of Gideon's exploit makes his countrymen desire that he should become an hereditary monarch and not merely a judge. See Intro, to Samuel.... [ Continue Reading ]
LOCKED] i.e. bolted (as in the East at present).... [ Continue Reading ]
SEIRATH] unknown. _Shekels_] A shekel is rather less than half an ounce. The whole weight would thus be nearly seventy pounds. COLLARS] RV 'pendants.'... [ Continue Reading ]
EPHOD] see Judges 17:5. An image of some sort used in consulting the will of Heaven. MOUNTAIN] i.e. hillcountry. The men of Ephraim (Joshua's tribe) are recognised as the leaders in Israel: cp. Judges 8:1.... [ Continue Reading ]
FORTY YEARS] cp. Judges 5:31. TOWARD MOAB] RV 'against the Moabites,' i.e. to prevent their returning.... [ Continue Reading ]
JERUBBAAL] i.e. Gideon: see Judges 6:32. 33-35 The Israelites lapse into idolatry after Gideon's death. For the expression TEN THOUSAND, cp. Judges 1:4; Judges 4:6; Judges 7:3; Judges 20:34.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOURSCORE] two full generations.... [ Continue Reading ]
SHAMGAR] the first of the 'minor' Judges. The name is mentioned in Judges 5:6, though not as a 'saviour.' No Philistine oppression is mentioned till later. AN OX GOAD] would be an efficient substitute for a spear—a sixfoot staff tipped with a spike: cp. Judges 15:14; AND 2 Samuel 23:21. THE PURSUIT... [ Continue Reading ]
BAALIM] RV 'the Baalim': see on Judges 2:11. BAAL-BERITH] i.e. Baal of the Covenant. The alliance between the Canaanites and the Hebrews would naturally be cemented by a common worship, which would involve the latter in idolatry: cp. Judges 9:46 (El-berith).... [ Continue Reading ]