3 Namely, five H2568 lords H5633 of the Philistines, H6430 and all the Canaanites, H3669 and the Sidonians, H6722 and the Hivites H2340 that dwelt H3427 in mount H2022 Lebanon, H3844 from mount H2022 Baalhermon H1179 unto the entering in H935 of Hamath. H2574
From Sihor, H7883 which is before H6440 Egypt, H4714 even unto the borders H1366 of Ekron H6138 northward, H6828 which is counted H2803 to the Canaanite: H3669 five H2568 lords H5633 of the Philistines; H6430 the Gazathites, H5841 and the Ashdothites, H796 the Eshkalonites, H832 the Gittites, H1663 and the Ekronites; H6139 also the Avites: H5761
And the lords H5633 of the Philistines H6430 passed on H5674 by hundreds, H3967 and by thousands: H505 but David H1732 and his men H582 passed on H5674 in the rereward H314 with Achish. H397
Now there was no smith H2796 found H4672 throughout all the land H776 of Israel: H3478 for the Philistines H6430 said, H559 Lest the Hebrews H5680 make H6213 them swords H2719 or spears: H2595 But all the Israelites H3478 went down H3381 to the Philistines, H6430 to sharpen H3913 every man H376 his share, H4282 and his coulter, H855 and his axe, H7134 and his mattock. H4281 Yet they had a file H6477 H6310 for the mattocks, H4281 and for the coulters, H855 and for the forks, H7969 H7053 and for the axes, H7134 and to sharpen H5324 the goads. H1861 So it came to pass in the day H3117 of battle, H4421 that there was neither sword H2719 nor spear H2595 found H4672 in the hand H3027 of any of the people H5971 that were with Saul H7586 and Jonathan: H3129 but with Saul H7586 and with Jonathan H3129 his son H1121 was there found. H4672 And the garrison H4673 of the Philistines H6430 went out H3318 to the passage H4569 of Michmash. H4363
And the Philistines H6430 gathered themselves together H622 to fight H3898 with Israel, H3478 thirty H7970 thousand H505 chariots, H7393 and six H8337 thousand H505 horsemen, H6571 and people H5971 as the sand H2344 which is on the sea H3220 shore H8193 in multitude: H7230 and they came up, H5927 and pitched H2583 in Michmash, H4363 eastward H6926 from Bethaven. H1007
And the golden H2091 mice, H5909 according to the number H4557 of all the cities H5892 of the Philistines H6430 belonging to the five H2568 lords, H5633 both of fenced H4013 cities, H5892 and of country H6521 villages, H3724 even unto the great H1419 stone of Abel, H59 whereon they set down H3240 the ark H727 of the LORD: H3068 which stone remaineth unto this day H3117 in the field H7704 of Joshua, H3091 the Bethshemite. H1030
And the word H1697 of Samuel H8050 came to all Israel. H3478 Now Israel H3478 went out H3318 against H7125 the Philistines H6430 to battle, H4421 and pitched H2583 beside Ebenezer: H72 and the Philistines H6430 pitched H2583 in Aphek. H663 And the Philistines H6430 put themselves in array H6186 against H7125 Israel: H3478 and when they joined H5203 battle, H4421 Israel H3478 was smitten H5062 before H6440 the Philistines: H6430 and they slew H5221 of the army H4634 in the field H7704 about four H702 thousand H505 men. H376
Then the five H2568 men H582 departed, H3212 and came H935 to Laish, H3919 and saw H7200 the people H5971 that were therein, H7130 how they dwelt H3427 careless, H983 after the manner H4941 of the Zidonians, H6722 quiet H8252 and secure; H982 and there was no magistrate H3423 H6114 in the land, H776 that might put them to shame H3637 in any thing; H1697 and they were far H7350 from the Zidonians, H6722 and had no business H1697 with any man. H120
But his father H1 and his mother H517 knew H3045 not that it was of the LORD, H3068 that he sought H1245 an occasion H8385 against the Philistines: H6430 for at that time H6256 the Philistines H6430 had dominion H4910 over Israel. H3478
The Zidonians H6722 also, and the Amalekites, H6002 and the Maonites, H4584 did oppress H3905 you; and ye cried H6817 to me, and I delivered H3467 you out of their hand. H3027
And Canaan H3667 begat H3205 Sidon H6721 his firstborn, H1060 and Heth, H2845 And the Jebusite, H2983 and the Amorite, H567 and the Girgasite, H1622 And the Hivite, H2340 and the Arkite, H6208 and the Sinite, H5513 And the Arvadite, H721 and the Zemarite, H6786 and the Hamathite: H2577 and afterward H310 were the families H4940 of the Canaanites H3669 spread abroad. H6327 And the border H1366 of the Canaanites H3669 was from Sidon, H6721 as thou comest H935 to Gerar, H1642 unto Gaza; H5804 as thou goest, H935 unto Sodom, H5467 and Gomorrah, H6017 and Admah, H126 and Zeboim, H6636 even unto Lasha. H3962
So God H430 subdued H3665 on that day H3117 Jabin H2985 the king H4428 of Canaan H3667 before H6440 the children H1121 of Israel. H3478 And the hand H3027 of the children H1121 of Israel H3478 prospered, H3212 H1980 and prevailed H7186 against Jabin H2985 the king H4428 of Canaan, H3667 until they had destroyed H3772 Jabin H2985 king H4428 of Canaan. H3667
And the LORD H3068 delivered H5414 them into the hand H3027 of Israel, H3478 who smote H5221 them, and chased H7291 them unto great H7227 Zidon, H6721 and unto Misrephothmaim, H4956 and unto the valley H1237 of Mizpeh H4708 eastward; H4217 and they smote H5221 them, until they left H7604 them none remaining. H8300 And Joshua H3091 did H6213 unto them as the LORD H3068 bade H559 him: he houghed H6131 their horses, H5483 and burnt H8313 their chariots H4818 with fire. H784 And Joshua H3091 at that time H6256 turned back, H7725 and took H3920 Hazor, H2674 and smote H5221 the king H4428 thereof with the sword: H2719 for Hazor H2674 beforetime H6440 was the head H7218 of all those kingdoms. H4467 And they smote H5221 all the souls H5315 that were therein with the edge H6310 of the sword, H2719 utterly destroying H2763 them: there was not any left H3498 to breathe: H5397 and he burnt H8313 Hazor H2674 with fire. H784 And all the cities H5892 of those kings, H4428 and all the kings H4428 of them, did Joshua H3091 take, H3920 and smote H5221 them with the edge H6310 of the sword, H2719 and he utterly destroyed H2763 them, as Moses H4872 the servant H5650 of the LORD H3068 commanded. H6680 But as for the cities H5892 that stood H5975 still in their strength, H8510 Israel H3478 burned H8313 none of them, save H2108 Hazor H2674 only; that did Joshua H3091 burn. H8313
Turn H6437 you, and take your journey, H5265 and go H935 to the mount H2022 of the Amorites, H567 and unto all the places nigh H7934 thereunto, in the plain, H6160 in the hills, H2022 and in the vale, H8219 and in the south, H5045 and by the sea H3220 side, H2348 to the land H776 of the Canaanites, H3669 and unto Lebanon, H3844 unto the great H1419 river, H5104 the river H5104 Euphrates. H6578
From mount H2022 Hor H2023 ye shall point out H8376 your border unto the entrance H935 of Hamath; H2574 and the goings forth H8444 of the border H1366 shall be to Zedad: H6657
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Judges 3
Commentary on Judges 3 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 3
Jud 3:1-4. Nations Left to Prove Israel.
1. these are the nations which the Lord left, to prove Israel—This was the special design of these nations being left, and it evinces the direct influence of the theocracy under which the Israelites were placed. These nations were left for a double purpose: in the first instance, to be instrumental, by their inroads, in promoting the moral and spiritual discipline of the Israelites; and also to subserve the design of making them acquainted with war, in order that the young, more especially, who were total strangers to it, might learn the use of weapons and the art of wielding them.
Jud 3:5-7. By Communion with These the Israelites Commit Idolatry.
5-7. the children of Israel dwelt among the Canaanites—The two peoples by degrees came to be on habits of intercourse. Reciprocal alliances were formed by marriage till the Israelites, relaxing the austerity of their principles, showed a growing conformity to the manners and worship of their idolatrous neighbors.
Jud 3:8-11. Othniel Delivers Israel.
8-11. sold them—that is, "delivered them"
into the hand of Chushan-rishathaim—or, Chushan, "the wicked." This name had been probably given him from his cruel and impious character.
served Chushan-rishathaim eight years—by the payment of a stipulated tribute yearly, the raising of which must have caused a great amount of labor and privation.
9. when the children of Israel cried unto the Lord—In their distress they had recourse to earnest prayer, accompanied by humble and penitent confession of their errors.
Othniel—(See on Jos 15:16; Jud 1:13). His military experience qualified him for the work, while the gallant exploits he was known to have performed, gained him the full confidence of his countrymen in his ability as a leader.
10. The Spirit of the Lord came upon him and he judged Israel, and went out to war—Impelled by a supernatural influence, he undertook the difficult task of government at this national crisis—addressing himself to promote a general reformation of manners, the abolition of idolatry, and the revival of pure religion. After these preliminary measures, he collected a body of choice warriors to expel the foreign oppressors.
the Lord delivered Chushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand; and his hand prevailed against Chushan-rishathaim—No details are given of this war, which, considering the resources of so potent a monarch, must have been a determined struggle. But the Israelitish arms were crowned through the blessing of God with victory, and Canaan regained its freedom and independence.
11. Othniel … died—How powerful the influence of one good man is, in church or state, is best found in his loss [Bishop Hall].
Jud 3:12-30. Ehud Slays Eglon.
12-14. the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the Lord—The Israelites, deprived of the moral and political influences of Othniel, were not long in following their native bias to idolatry.
the Lord strengthened Eglon the king of Moab—The reigning monarch's ambition was to recover that extensive portion of his ancient territory possessed by the Israelites. In conjunction with his neighbors, the Ammonites and the Amalekites, sworn enemies of Israel, he first subjected the eastern tribes; then crossing the Jordan, he made a sudden incursion on western Canaan, and in virtue of his conquests, erected fortifications in the territory adjoining Jericho [Josephus], to secure the frontier, and fixed his residence there. This oppressor was permitted, in the providence of God, to triumph for eighteen years.
15. Ehud the son of Gera—descended from Gera, one of Benjamin's sons (Ge 46:21).
left-handed—This peculiarity distinguished many in the Benjamite tribe (Jud 20:16). But the original word is rendered in some versions "both-handed," a view countenanced by 1Ch 12:2.
by him the children of Israel sent a present unto Eglon the king of Moab—the yearly tribute, which, according to Eastern fashion, would be borne with ostentatious ceremony and offered (Jud 3:18) by several messengers.
16. Ehud made him a dagger … and he did gird it … upon his right thigh—The sword was usually worn on the left side; so that Ehud's was the more likely to escape detection.
19. quarries—rather, "graven images" (De 7:25; Jer 8:19; 51:52); statues of Moabite idols, the sight of which kindled the patriotic zeal of Ehud to avenge this public insult to Israel on its author.
I have a secret errand unto thee, O king: who said, Keep silence—"Privacy"—a signal for all to withdraw.
20. a summer parlour—Hebrew, "chamber of cooling"—one of those retired edifices which Oriental grandees usually have in their gardens, and in which they repose during the heat of the day.
21-26. Ehud put forth his left hand—The whole circumstance of this daring act—the death of Eglon without a shriek, or noise—the locking of the doors—the carrying off the key—the calm, unhurried deportment of Ehud—show the strength of his confidence that he was doing God service.
27. he blew a trumpet in the mountain of Ephraim—summoned to arms the people of that mountainous region, which, adjoining the territory of Benjamin, had probably suffered most from the grievous oppression of the Moabites.
28. they went down after him, and took the fords—(See on Jos 2:7). With the view of preventing all escape to the Moabite coast, and by the slaughter of ten thousand men [Jud 3:29], Ehud rescued his country from a state of ignominious vassalage.
31. after him was Shamgar—No notice is given of the tribe or family of this judge; and from the Philistines being the enemy that roused him into public service, the suffering seems to have been local—confined to some of the western tribes.
slew … six hundred men with an oxgoad—This instrument is eight feet long and about six inches in circumference. It is armed at the lesser end with a sharp prong for driving the cattle, and on the other with a small iron paddle for removing the clay which encumbers the plough in working. Such an instrument, wielded by a strong arm, would do no mean execution. We may suppose, however, for the notice is very fragmentary, that Shamgar was only the leader of a band of peasants, who by means of such implements of labor as they could lay hold of at the moment, achieved the heroic exploit recorded.