Judges 3

Chap. IV. ver. 1.—the children of Israel again did evil] Well might we wonder at the frequent relapses of the children of Israel into idolatry, did we not find the same evil propensity in ourselves, the same proneness to forsake God, and idolize the creature. Ease and prosperity are apt to produce in us as ungrateful returns to our great Benefactor, as they did in the Jews. No sooner were they delivered from the smart of punishment, but the next account of them is, that they “did evil again.” Again they are punished; again they cry to God; again they are delivered. Thus, likewise, when affliction presses us sore, we cry unto the Lord in our trouble, and He saveth us from our distress. Yet no sooner are our fears and dangers over, than we abuse the mercy, and start aside like a broken bow. Thus our lives are made up, as was the history of the Jews, of acts of disobedience and of repentances; of judgments and mercies; chequered, as it were, with sin and punishment, with forgiveness and sin. Wogan.

—the wife of Lapidoth.] Some understand Lapidoth to be a place, and translate a woman of Lapidoth. Bp. Patrick.

—she judged Israel] Possessed the supreme authority, being so well known to be divinely inspired as to procure for her universal reverence, and submission to her judgment. Bp. Patrick.

Judges 3:2

2.—Jabin,—Hazor:] Hazor had been destroyed by Joshua, Josh. xi. 10, and the king of it, named Jabin, slain, chap. xi. 1; xii. 19. Thus it appears that Jabin was a common name of the kings, as Pharaoh was of the Egyptian kings; and either the place had been now rebuilt, or the name Hazor applies not to the city, but to the neighbouring country. Bp. Patrick.

—Harosheth of the Gentiles.] So called perhaps because people of many different nations dwelt there under Jabin’s protection. Bp. Patrick, Pyle. See the note on Gen. xiv. 1.

Judges 3:4

4.—Deborah, a prophetess.] The term prophetess is applied to Deborah in the same sense as it was to Mi-

Judges 3:5

5.—dwelt under the palm tree] She sat under the palm tree when she administered judgment. Bp. Patrick.

Judges 3:6

6. — took their daughters to be their wives.] Which was a much more flagrant breach of the law of God, than the mere making leagues with them. Bp. Patrick.

6.—Hath not the Lord God] A form of expression, which signifies, “Assuredly He hath commanded.” Dr. Wells.

—mount Tabor.] A famous mountain in Galilee, in the tribe of Zebulun. It appears to have been a remarkably commodious place for the rendezvous of Barak’s forces, since it stood upon the confines of so many different tribes, was not accessible by the enemy’s horses and chariots, and had on its top a spacious plain, where he could conveniently discipline his troops. What modern travellers tell us of this mountain is much to the same purpose; “After a very laborious ascent (says Maundrell) we reached the highest parts of the mountain, which has a plain area at top, fertile and delicious, about a furlong in length, and two in breadth. The top of this mountain was anciently environed with walls, trenches, and other fortifications, of which some remains are still visible.” It has generally been believed that our Saviour’s transfiguration took place on this mountain. Stackhouse.

Judges 3:7

7. — and the groves.] By “groves” we are here to understand the images of their gods in the groves. Seiden. Or, the idols fixed in temples, which were sur-

Othniel delivereth Israel from the king of Mesopotamia. about 1402. about 1354.

7. I will draw unto thee] These are the words of Before CHRIST about 1316. about 1296.

Judges 3:8

8. — he sold them into the hand] Brought them under tribute, and forced them to buy their peace on hard terms. Bp. Patrick.

— Mesopotamia:] The country which lay between the rivers Tigris and Euphrates. Bp. Patrick.

Judges 3:10

10. — the Spirit of the Lord came upon him.] He had an extraordinary impulse from God to take upon him the government of the country, and to judge Israel, that is, to rectify what was amiss, and especially to bring them back to the true worship of God. Bp. Patrick, Dr. Wells. “The Spirit of the Lord,” by which he was said to be inspired, here and in many other parts of the Old Testament, intimates the spirit of fortitude, or extraordinary courage, as opposed to the spirit of fear or faintness of heart. Dr. Hales.

Judges 3:12

12. And the children of Israel did evil again] No sooner “had Israel rest,” than it is added, “they did evil again.” Thus the security of any people is too often the cause of their corruption. While the Israelites were exercised with war, how scrupulous were they of the least intimation of idolatry: the mere news of an altar beyond Jordan, Josh. xxii. 15, &c. drew them together for a revenge; now when they are at peace with their enemies, they become at variances with God. Bp. Hall.

The most remarkable circumstance in the various Jewish apostasies seems to be this; that it was only in their prosperity the Mosaic Law was neglected and violated; in adversity, when reflection was awakened, and seriousness restored, they always cried to their God, as the only sure source of deliverance, and as

Judges 3:13

13. — went and smote Israel.] That part of Israel which lived east of Jordan; and also, passing over Jordan, took the city and territory of Jericho in the tribe of Benjamin. Dr. Wells.

Judges 3:15

15. — a man lefthanded.] The Hebrew word is thought to mean, properly, one who could wield a sword equally with either hand; could use both his hands as his right. Bp. Patrick, Pyle.

Judges 3:16

16. — upon his right thigh.] As men usually wear their swords on their left thigh, this was done to avoid suspicion, and also to draw it out the more readily with his left hand. Bp. Patrick.

Judges 3:18

18. — made an end to offer the present.] There is still preserved in the East a great deal of pomp and parade in presenting their gifts; they frequently load on four or five horses what might easily be carried on one. Something of this pomp is referred to, in the account of the present made by Ehud, when we read of a number of persons who conveyed it, and of their “making an end of offering the present.” Harmer.

Judges 3:19

19. — the quarries] It is doubtful what is meant by Ehud killeth Eglon. The Moabites subdued. Before CHRIST about 1536. parlour of cooling. out at the fundament. emotional. silence. And all that stood by him went out from him.

Judges 3:20

20. — I have a message from God] This in some sense was true, but not in the sense in which the king understood it. He probably thought that Ehud had met with some divine apparition, or had been to consult some oracle. Bp. Patrick. — he arose out of his seat.] Out of reverence to the name of God, whose words he supposed he was to hear. This is a remarkable instance of the ancient veneration which men paid to all that carried the name and authority of God, and reproaches those who now behave themselves irreverently in the Divine worship and service. Bp. Patrick. We cannot but wonder at the devout reverence of this heathen prince: no sooner does he hear news of a message from God, than he rises up from his throne, and reverently attends the tenour thereof. Though he had no superiour to control him, yet he could not bear to be unmannerly in the presence of God. This man was an idolater, a tyrant; yet what outward respect does he pay to the true God! Bp. Hall.

Judges 3:21

21. And Ehud put forth &c.] This would have been a very unjustifiable act, if he had not been specially excited to it by an express order from God, for the punishment of so oppressive and wicked a tyrant. Pyle. How far such an assassination was justifiable, we cannot presume to say: Scripture barely states the fact, without any comment: the case is not to be judged by ordinary rules, nor drawn into a precedent in other times. Dr. Hales. The text at chap. iii. 15, expressly says, that “the Lord raised up Ehud:” it is well known that all the deliverances which the Jews had under the judges were directed and conducted by the immediate hand of God, according as the people, by their repentance, became fit to receive them. Ehud was under a special direction of Heaven, and proceeded under a Divine warrant, which is a clear foundation of action; but this can never be drawn into a precedent by others, who have no warrant to act upon. Dr. Waterland. Or it may be sufficient to understand that God made use of Ehud as an instrument; not by inspiring him with a disposition to kill Eglon, but by giving him, when found with such a disposition, power to execute his purpose. Edit.

Judges 3:23

23. — the porch.] There is uncertainty in the word thus translated: some understand the guard chamber, or place where the king’s servants sat, through which Ehud boldly passed. Bp. Patrick.

Judges 3:24

24. — he covereth his feet] Or he is laid down to sleep: they were wont in those countries to sleep in the heat of the day, and then, lying down in their clothes, covered their feet with them. Bp. Patrick.

Judges 3:27

27. — from the moon.] From the mountainous country of Ephraim. Dr. Wells.

Judges 3:31

31. — with an ox goad:] The goad of Palestine is of enormous size, and well calculated for a military offensive weapon, according to the description of the intelligent Maundrell, who observes in his diary, “At Kane Leban, (a place about a day’s journey from Jerusalem,) the country people were, at the time when I was there, ploughing every where in the fields. It was observable, that in ploughing they used goads of an extraordinary size: I found some of them, on measuring, to be eight Before CHRIST about 1536. Israel oppressed by Jabin and Sisera. Before CHRIST about 1316. # CHAP. IV.