Judges 3

Judges 3:8

King of Mesopotamia] Heb. Aram-Naharaim, i. e. of Syria between the two rivers, Tigris and Euphrates: Naharaim being of the Dual number.

Judges 3:11

Fourty years] See the Observations on the beginning of this Book.

Judges 3:13

Palme-trees] Jericho, the City of Palme-trees, Deut. XXXIV. 3. 13 2 Chron. XXVIII. 15. This was nigh Jordan on the West-side of it; and Gilgal in the East border of Jericho, where Rahab entertained and hid the two Spies: And from the Plaines of Moab, Pisga and Shirtim, which were over against Jericho, on the East-side of Jordan the Israelites passed over. Here the Israelites kept the Passeover: and the Captain of the Lords Hoast appeared to Joshua This was burnt, Josh. VI. 24.

And the Re-builder of it cursed, ver. 26. And the same verified in Hiel, in the dayes of Ahab, 1 King. XVI. 34. So that the Kenites being in it; and Eglons possessing of it mentioned here; And that of Davids ill-intreated messengers residing here, 2 Sam. X. 5. must be meant of some mean buildings, or Forts onely in it, or rather by it. It fell by Lot to the Tribe of Benjamin, Josh.

XVIII. 21. Here was a Colledge of the sonnes of the Prophets in the times of Elias; and Eliseus: and the waters healed by Eliseus, Hither were sent back courteously the many Jewes captived by Pekah in the dayes of Ahaz, 2 Chron. XXVIII. And in the Plaines here was Zedekiah taken by Nebuchadnezzars forces. And in the dayes of our Saviour, he did herein, or hard by, give sight to blinde men; and converted Zacheus.

Judges 3:20

And he arose] Reverence to God and his Word, Num. XXIII. 18. 2 King. XX III. 2. 2 Chron. XXXIV. 31. Neh. VIII. 6.

Judges 3:31

Oxe-goad] Miraculous are the victories of Shamgar, slaying sixe hundred Philistines with an Oxe-goad; and of Sampson slaying one thousand of them with the jaw-bone of an Asse, Ch. XV. 15, 16.