6 Go 21 3; P. 127. ***Ge, 23. 24–2. 33; 36. 8; Deu. 2. 3 Ge. 46 1-6; Ac. 7. 15 P Ex. 3 10 Ex. 14, 20 34; 29. 2. eh. 5, 6 Num. 14 bel. 13. 10: Num, 21. d Num. 22. 5, 6; Deu. Num. 23 11, 20; 24 ch, 3, 14-17; 4.13 took your father Abraham from the other side of the flood, and led him through4 out all the land of Canaan, and multiplied his seed, and 'gave him Isaac. And I gave unto Isaac Jacob and Esau: and I gave unto" Esau mount Seir, to possess 5 it; but Jacob and his children went down into Egypt. I sent Moses also and Aaron, and I plagued Egypt, according to that which I did among them and 6 afterward I brought you out. And I brought your fathers out of Egypt: and 212 'ye came unto the sea; and the Egyptians pursued after your fathers with 7 chariots and horsemen unto the Red Sea. And when they cried unto the LORD, he put darkness between you and the Egyptians, and brought the sea upon them, and covered them; and your eyes have seen what I have done in Egypt: 8 and ye dwelt in the wilderness "a long season. And I brought you into the land of the Amorites, which dwelt on the other side Jordan; and they fought with you and I gave them into your hand, that ye might possess their land; and I 9 destroyed them from before you. Then Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose and warred against Israel, and sent and called Balaam the son of Beor to 10 curse you: but I would not hearken unto Balaam; therefore he blessed you 11 still: so I delivered you out of his hand. And ye went over Jordan, and came unto Jericho and the men of Jericho fought against you, the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Girgashites, the Hivites, 12 and the Jebusites; and I delivered them into your hand. And 'I sent the hornet before you, which drave them out from before you, even the two kings of the 13 Amorites; but not with thy sword, nor with thy bow. And I have given you a land for which1 ye did not labour, and 'cities which ye built not, and ye dwell in them; of the vineyards and oliveyards which ye planted not do ye eat. Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him insincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and 15 in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD. And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: 'but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. And the people answered and said, God forbid that we should forsake the R. 1. 13. 1 K. 17 LORD, to serve other gods; for the LORD our God, he it is that brought us up and our fathers out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, and which did those great signs in our sight, and preserved us in all the way wherein we 18 went, and among all the people through whom we passed: and the LORD drave out from before us all the people, even the Amorites which dwelt in the land: therefore will we also serve the LORD; for he is our God. And Joshua said unto the people, Ye cannot serve the LORD: for he is an holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions nor 20 your sins. If ye forsake the LORD, and serve strange gods, then he will turn and do you hurt, and consume you, after that he hath done you good. And the people said unto Joshua, Nay; but we will serve the LORD. 21 22 23 And Joshua said unto the people, Ye are witnesses against yourselves that 'ye have chosen you the LORD, to serve him. And they said, We are witnesses. Now therefore put away, said he, the strange gods3 which are among you, and incline your heart unto the LORD God of Israel. 24 And the people said unto Joshua, The LORD our God will we serve, and his voice will we obey. 25 So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and set them a statute 26 and an ordinance in Shechem. And Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God, and took 'a great stone, and "set it up there "under an oak, 27 that was by the sanctuary of the LORD. And Joshua said unto all the people, Behold, this stone shall be a witness unto us; for it hath heard all the words of the LORD which he spake unto us: it shall be therefore a witness unto you, lest ye 28 deny your God. So Joshua let the people depart, every man unto his inheritance. The death of Joshua and Eleazar; interment of Joseph's remains. 29 AND it came to pass after these things, that Joshua the son of Nun, the servant 30 of the LORD, died, being an hundred and ten years old. And they buried him in 1 Or, 'land wherein ye,' etc. So the Genevan version and others read. 2 By this strong expression, Joshua sets before the people the difficulty of maintaining fidelity to Jehovah : which, however, must not be used to discourage zeal, or to excuse backsliding; but to excite to watchfulness and Ex. 23 28; Deu. 7. 20 * Pr. 44. 3-6 eh. 11, 13; Deu. 6. 10, 11. De 10 1:1 Sam. 12. 21: Job 28 "Gr. 17. 1; 0 5; Deu, 18 13; P-. 114, 1 John 4, 23:4 2 Cor, 1, 19: Eph. 6. 24. vers, 2, 29: Ge A Ex. 23 24,32 33 34. "see refs, ch. 23. 12. y Mt. 6. 24; Lk. 14. 27. Le, 19, 2; 1 Sam, & 20; Ps. 99 5.9; s. 5. 16. a see refs. Ex. 20. & b Ex. 21. 21. 1 Chr. 28. 9; 2 Chr. A ver. 14; Ge. 25. 2; 7.3 A see Ex. 15. 25; 24.3, 7,6; 2 K. 11. 17. i ver. 26. * Ex. 21. 4; Deu. 31. I see Judg. 9, 6 "Gr. 35. 4. see ch. 22. 27, 28, 34; Ge. 31. 48. 52; Deu. 31. 19, 21, 26. P Deu. 34. 1. 9 Judg. 2. 6 Judg. 2. 8. determined effort, as well as humble dependence on Divine help. 3 Faithful as the mass of the people were, Joshua feared that there were some idolators among them. The purest religious community on earth cannot be supposed to be altogether unmixed. Sec John vi. 70. 31 32 33 the border of his inheritance in Timnath-serah, which is in mount Ephraim, on the north side of the hill of Gaash. And 'Israel served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that overlived Joshua, and which had "known all the works of the LORD, that he had done for Israel. And the bones of Joseph, which the children of Israel brought up out of Egypt, buried they in Shechem, in a parcel of ground which Jacob bought of the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem for an hundred pieces of silver [or, lambs]: and it became the inheritance of the children of Joseph. Ánd Eleazar the son of Aaron died; and they buried him in a hill that pertained to Phinehas his son, which was given him in mount Ephraim. 1 These had been born, or had grown up, during the journeyings in the wilderness, and consequently belonged #sh.19. 50; Judg. 29. ! Judg. 2. 7. Ge. 50. 25; Ex. 13. 19. 12. * Ex. & 29; Judg. 2 28. to the generation which succeeded that of Joshua. NOTE ON THE DESTRUCTION THE wars of the Israelites in Canaan, and the terrible destruction brought upon the inhabitants of that country, are to be regarded as the execution of a just though dreadful sentence pronounced by God against their enormous and incorrigible crimes; making them an example to the whole world of His avenging wrath against sins of heinous magnitude. The judicial character of these transactions will appear from the following considerations: 1. The Israelites were expressly appointed by Divine authority to discharge this duty; and the warrant by which they were commissioned set forth the cause of this proceeding against the Canaanites; enumerating their crimes, and stating distinctly that they were, on this account, devoted to destruction. (See Deut. vii. etc.) 2. The resources of the Divine government were made available to the Hebrews as the officers of God's justice. The passage of the Jordan; the falling down of the walls of Jericho; the prolongation of the day for the completion of their victory; the hailstones at Gibeon, which, without touching the Israelites, slew more of their enemies than the sword did-were all so many proofs of their commission and authority, which were also recognised by the confession of their enemies. 3. In the execution of this office, their persons were under Divine protection; so that, after their greatest battles, the warriors returned to the camp without one missing or wounded. So distinct was the assurance of God on this subject, that when, in consequence of transgression, they were at first routed before Ai, and thirty-six men were killed, this slight reverse filled them with dismay, as being entirely different from what they had expected. The general course of these events is therefore strictly analogous to the system of moral government constantly exercised in the world, with this only difference, that the measures of Divine administration, which are usually carried into effect through the operation of ordinary agents, under the control of the supreme Ruler, were here executed by his avowed interposition and authority. THE OF THE CANAANITES. It should further be observed, that God had borne long with the Canaanites; that they had neglected former awful warnings-especially the general deluge, and the destruction of the cities of the plain, situated in the very heart of Canaan; that these judgments were not executed till the measure of their wickedness was filled up; and that this extermination, which might have been accomplished by pestilence, fire, or earthquake, was appointed to be done by the hands of the Israelites, as being the clearest and most intelligible method, especially in that age of the world, of displaying the power and righteousness of the God of Israel. This procedure would also be likely to have the most beneficial influence upon the Hebrews themselves; for they were thoroughly aware that the miserable end of their predecessors in the land of promise was the direct result of sin-and were solemnly warned against imitating their conduct, lest they should incur the same penalties: whilst, at the same time, their whole experience in the performance of this service was eminently fitted to teach them to trust in God, and to rely with confidence upon his presence and aid, so long as they were obedient to his will. It appears, further, that the Canaanites had had long warning of the danger which awaited them. It is highly probable that the grant of the entire country to Abraham's posterity was known to them. They had also heard, forty years before, how God had fought for his people against the Egyptians their brethren; and there is reason to believe that, even after the time of God's forbearance had expired, the Canaanites still had the alternative to flee elsewhere, as many did, settling in Africa and in Spain; or to renounce their idolatries and crimes, and submit to and serve the God of Israel: in which case, it appears from several passages that there was mercy for them. This great act of retributive justice, exhibiting as it does, to all nations, in all ages, God's displeasure against sin, may be considered as an emblem of that destruction which awaits the ungodly at the judgment of the great day. BOOK OF THIS book contains some account of the affairs of the Israelites under the government of their Judges, from the death of Joshua to the time of Eli. It is not to be considered as a complete and connected history; many particulars being entirely omitted which would have formed essential parts of such a plan. Nor was such a history required; as the times of the Judges formed no new era in the annals of God's people and the development of the Divine purposes. At their close, a new era did begin under the monarchy: but the place which the present period occupies in sacred history is important, chiefly, as showing the intimate connection subsisting between departure from the Lord and misery on the one hand, and between return to him and well-being on the other. Apostasy and punishment-repentance and deliverance-are the main subjects of the whole narrative, which it was professedly intended fully to exhibit. See ch. ii. 11-23. JUDGES. The Judges were not a regular succession of governors; but extraordinary officers, raised up by God, as circumstances required, to rescue his people from their oppressors, to reform the state of religion, and to administer justice. Without assuming the state of royalty, they were the immediate vicegerents of Jehovah, the King of Israel. The condition of the Israelites, during this period, does not appear so prosperous, nor their character so religious, as might have been expected from the preceding history. But it must not be supposed to have been an uninterrupted series of idolatries and crimes. The apostasies which incurred punishment, and the deliverances which attended repentance, occupy almost the whole book: while long periods, amounting together to nearly three-fourths of the whole time, when, under the administration of pious judges, the people in the main served God and enjoyed peace, are passed over in a few sentences. Notwithstanding the sad religious defections, and the scenes of civil discord and violence, which darken the history, there were doubtless, during these times, many who feared and loved God; and some are quoted, in Heb. xi. 32, as illustrious examples of faith. It must also be borne in mind, that some of the disorders here related affected certain districts of the country only, while the rest was in a better state. This history is full of important instruction. It presents, at some periods, a striking picture of an unsettled nation; showing the disorders which prevail when the bonds of union and the salutary control of government are relaxed (see ch. v. 6); and when the people are without the advantage of religious teaching. It illustrates the corrupt tendencies of our fallen state; showing how prone men are to be drawn aside to ungodliness and false religion. It displays, in a very affecting manner, the bitter effects of sin, and the happy consequences of repentance; and it exhibits the attributes of God-his holiness and justice, his truth in fulfilling his word, and his compassion and mercy towards the penitent. By whom this book was written is not known: but it is ascribed by an ancient Jewish tradition to Samuel, and nothing appears to render this improbable. It was certainly written before the events recorded in 2 Sam. v. 6-9. See ch. i. 21. Some have inferred, from the expressions used in ch. xvii. 6; xviii. 1; xix. 1; xxi. 25, that it was written after the establishment of the monarchy; but those passages all occur in the appendix, which was probably added by a different author at a later period. The contents of this book are as follows: I. A short account of the extent to which the wars against the Canaanites were carried on after the death of Joshua; followed by a sketch of the general course of events during the times of the Judges; forming an introduction to the narratives which follow (ch. i.-iii. 4). II. The oppressions of the Israelites by their enemies, and their deliverances by their Judges: comprising their subjection to Cushan-rishathaim, and to Eglon, king of Moab; and their deliverance by Othniel and by Ehud (iii. 5-11); the western tribes delivered by Shamgar (iii. 12 -31); the oppression of the northern tribes by Jabin, king of Canaan, and their deliverance by Deborah and Barak (v.); the deliverance of the eastern and northern tribes from the Midianites, with the history of Gideon and his family (vi.-ix.); the administrations of Tola and Jair; the deliverance of the Israelites from the Ammonites by Jephthah; and the administrations of Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon (x.-xii.); the servitude of the Israelites to the Philistines; their deliverance by Samson; and his history (xii-xvi) With this, the regular history closes. III. The remainder of the book may be regarded as an appendix, relating events which happened not long after the death of Joshua. It gives an account of the introduction of idolatry among the Israelites, and their consequent corruption and punishment: exemplified by, 1. An account of Micah's idols, which were stolen by the Danites (xvii., xviii.) 2. The brutal outrage committed by the men of Gibeah, leading to a fierce civil war, in which the tribe of Benjamin was nearly destroyed (xix.—xxi.) The chronology of the book of Judges is peculiarly difficult. Different systems are founded upon statements in different parts of Scripture. In 1 Kings vi. 1, the period from the Exode to the foundation of the Temple is said to be 480 years. Accordingly, many have adjusted all the intervening chronology to this date. But, as there is a variation in the numbers between the Hebrew and the Septuagint, and no date is assigned in the parallel passage in 2 Chron. iii. 2; as Josephus, Theophilus, and Origen, in treating of the subject, appear to have been ignorant of this computation, which is first mentioned in the fourth century by Eusebius, who, however, in his latest works does not adopt it; as it is directly opposed to the language of Paul, who assigns 450 years to the time between the division of Canaan and Samuel the prophet (Acts xiii. 20); and as it would require that many of the times of servitude should be included in the government of the Judges (apparently in opposition to repeated statements that the land had rest'), and that several of these should be regarded as contemporaneous, --others have fixed the chronology without regard to that passage, which they deem an interpolation. Still there is not a perfect agreement among them. A table of the whole era is subjoined, exhibiting the dates of Usher and Hales, as representing the extremes of opinion on the question. The most probable theory fixes the length of the period at about thirty years below that assigned by Hales. Expedition of Judah and Simeon against the Canaanites; proceedings of the other tribes. 1 NOW after the death of Joshua it came to pass, that the children of Israel asked the LORD, saying, Who shall go up for us against the Canaanites first, to 2 fight against them? And the LORD said, Judah shall go up: behold, I have delivered the land into his hand. 3 a Jos. 24. 29, 30. beh. 20. 18; Num. 27. 21. Ge. 49. 8-10; Num. 23 d ver. 17; 1 Sam. 30. 7,8 Ex. 23. 28, 29; Deu. 9. 3. And Judah said unto Simeon1 his brother, Come up with me into my lot, that we may fight against the Canaanites; and I likewise will go with thee into thy 4 lot. So Simeon went with him. And Judah went up; and the LORD delivered the Canaanites and the Perizzites into their hand and they slew of them in 5 Bezek ten thousand men. And they found Adoni-bezek in Bezek: and they 1 Sam. 11. 8. 6 fought against him, and they slew the Canaanites and the Perizzites. But Adoni-bezek fled; and they pursued after him, and caught him, and cut off 7 his thumbs, and his great toes." And Adoni-bezek said, Threescore and ten 1 As the lot of Simeon fell within that of Judah, they were naturally associated in this enterprise. 2 Rather, the Canaanites, even the Perizzites.' 3 This punishment was frequently inflicted on flagrant offenders, and on rebels or captive enemies, who were thus disabled for war. 8 kings, having their thumbs and their great toes cut off, gathered their meat under my table: as I have done, so God hath requited me. And they brought him to Jerusalem, and there he died. Ex. 21. 23-25; Le see Jox. 15. 63, 15. 13. Now the children of Judah had fought against Jerusalem, and had taken it, 9 and smitten it with the edge of the sword, and set the city on fire. And afterward the children of Judah went down to fight against the Canaanites, that dwelt 10 in the mountain, and in the south, and in the valley. And Judah went against the Canaanites that dwelt in Hebron: (now the name of Hebron before was 11 Kirjath-arba :) and they slew Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai. And from thence he went against the inhabitants of Debir: (and the name of Debir before Jo. 15. 15. was Kirjath-sepher.) 12 m T Jos. 14. 15; 15 13 -19. Jos. 15. 16, 17. "ch. 3. 9. Jos. 15. 18, 19. F Ge. 33. 11. And Caleb said, He that smiteth Kirjath-sepher, and taketh it, to him will I 13 give Achsah my daughter to wife. And Othniel the son of Kenaz, "Caleb's 14 younger brother, took it: and he gave him Achsah his daughter to wife. And it came to pass, when she came to him, that she moved him to ask of her father a field and she lighted from off her ass; and Caleb said unto her, What wilt 15 thou? And she said unto him, " Give me a blessing: for thou hast given me a south land; give me also springs of water. And Caleb gave her the upper springs and the nether springs. 16 And the children of the Kenite,3 Moses' father-in-law, went up out of the city4 ch. 4. 11, 17; Num. of palm trees with the children of Judah into the wilderness of Judah, which lieth in the south of Arad; 'and they went and dwelt among the people. "And Judah went with Simeon his brother, and they slew the Canaanites that inhabited Zephath, and utterly destroyed it. And the name of the city was called 18 Hormah. Also Judah took Gaza with the coast thereof, and Askelon with the 19 coast thereof, and Ekron with the coast thereof. And the LORD was with Judah; and he drave out the inhabitants of the mountain; but could not drive out the inha20 bitants of the valley, because they had a chariots of iron.5 And they gave Hebron unto Caleb, as Moses said: and he expelled thence the three sons of Anak. 17 21 22 And the children of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites that inhabited Jerusalem; but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Benjamin in Jerusalem unto this day. And the house of Joseph, they also went up against Beth-el: and the LORD 23 was with them. And the house of Joseph sent to descry Beth-el: (now the 24 name of the city before was Luz.) And the spies saw a man come forth out of the city, and they said unto him, Show us, we pray thee, the entrance into the 25 city, and we will show thee mercy. And when he showed them the entrance into the city, they smote the city with the edge of the sword; but they let go 26 the man and all his family. And the man went into the land of the Hittites, and built a city, and called the name thereof Luz: which is the name thereof unto this day. d 10. 29-3; 24. 21, 22; 1 Sam. 13. 6; 1 Chr. 2. 55; Jer. 35 2 Num. 21. 1. ver. 3. Jos, 17, 16, 18, 1. 36: Jos. 14. 9, 13; se Jos. 15, 63; 18. 4-28. ver. 19. ch. 18. 2; Jos 21; 7.2 G. 28. 19. 8 Jos. 2 12-14 27 Neither did Manasseh drive out the inhabitants of Beth-shean and her towns, Jos. 17. 11–13. nor Taanach and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Dor and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Ibleam and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Megiddo and her 28 towns: but the Canaanites would dwell in that land. And it came to pass, when Israel was strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute, and did not utterly drive them out.7 29 30 31 i Deu. 20. 11 16. *Neither did Ephraim drive out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer; but the Jo. 16 10; 1 Ki. 9. Canaanites dwelt in Gezer among them. Neither did Zebulun drive out the inhabitants of Kitron, nor the 'inhabitants of Nahalol; but the Canaanites dwelt among them, and became tributaries. " Neither did Asher drive out the inhabitants of Accho, nor the inhabitants of 1 That is, petty chiefs. This seems to indicate that a wasting civil war in Canaan had preceded the invasion of the Israelites, reducing the strength of their enemies. 2 As Jerusalem was already in the hands of Judah, it had probably been taken by Joshua. The strong fort of Zion was, however, held by the Jebusites till the time of David. See 2 Sam. v. 6-9. Vers. 8-16 appear to be a parenthetical recital of previous events, some of which had been recorded in the book of Joshua. 3 That is, descendants' of Jethro (see Numb. x. 32). The name Kenites originally belonged to a tribe of Canaanites (see Gen. xv. 19), but is given to this Midianitish family, perhaps, on account of some previous connexion formed with that people. 4 The Greek version is, "Though Judah did not take possession of Gaza, nor the borders thereof, nor of Askelon,' Jos. 19. 15. Jos. 19. 24-30. etc. But this may have been an alteration, intended to obviate a difficulty, as we find these cities shortly afterwards in the hands of the Philistines, who probably soon reconquered them. 5 These chariots certainly gave the Canaanites of the plain great advantage; but this was not the cause of Judah's failure. Had the Israelites cherished a due confidence in Jehovah, and obeyed his commands, neither the military prowess of their enemies nor the chariots of iron could have hindered the fulfilment of his promises. 6 Not the public gate, but some unguarded point where they might enter unresisted. 7 This course appeared more easy and more profitable; but it was opposed to the Divine command, and it soon brought its own punishment, causing them and their descendants great disquiet. Zidon, nor of Ahlab, nor of Achzib, nor of Helbah, nor of Aphik, nor of Rehob: 32 but the Asherites" dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land: for they did not drive them out. 33 34 "Pa. 106. 34, 35. Jos. 19. 32-38. Neither did Naphtali drive out the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh, nor the inhabitants of Beth-anath; but he dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants P ver. 32 of the land nevertheless the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh and of Beth-anath became tributaries unto them. And the Amorites forced the children of Dan into the mountain:1 for they would 35 not suffer them to come down to the valley: but the Amorites would dwell in mount Heres in Aijalon, and in Shaalbim: yet the hand of the house of Joseph2 36 prevailed, so that they became tributaries. And the coast of the Amorites was from 'the going up to Akrabbim, from the rock, and upward.3 The angel of the Lord rebukes the people. 2 AND an angel4 [or, messenger] of the LORD came up from Gilgal" to Bochim, and said, I made you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you unto the land which I sware unto your fathers; and I said, I will never break my 2 covenant with you. And a ye shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land; ye shall throw down their altars. But ye have not obeyed my voice: 3 why have ye done this? Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you. 4 d C And it came to pass, when the angel of the LORD spake these words unto all 5 the children of Israel, that the people lifted up their voice, and wept. And they called the name of that place Bochim [i. e. weepers]: and they sacrificed there unto the LORD. 6 7 8 A general sketch of the history of Israel during the times of the Judges. AND when Joshua had let the people go, the children of Israel went every man unto his inheritance to possess the land. And the people served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of Jos. 24. 31. the elders that outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great works of the LORD, that he did for Israel. And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being an hundred 9 and ten years old. And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in 'Timnath-heres, in the mount of Ephraim, on the north side of the hill Gaash. 10 And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers. And there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, 11 nor yet the works which he had done for Israel. And the children of Israel " did 12 evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim :6 and they r forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed 13 themselves unto them, and provoked the LORD to anger. And they forsook the LORD, and served Baal and Ashtaroth." T i Jos. 24. 29. Jos. 24. 30. Jos. 19. 50: 21. 30, Ex. 5. 2: 1 Sam. 2. 12; 1 Chr. 28. 9; Jer. 9. 3; 22. 16; Gal. 4. 8; 2 Thes. 1. 8: Tit. 1. 16. "ch. 4. 1; 6. 1; 13. 1. el. 3. 7; 1 Ki. 18.18. P Deu. 31. 16. 9 ch. 5. 8; Deu. 6. 14, 15. Ex. 20. 5. ver. 11 ch. 3. 7; 10. 6; Ki. 11. 5, 33; Ps. 106. 34. teh. 3. 8; 10, 7: Le. 26 28: Deu. 32. 22; P. 106. 40-42. 2 K. 17. 20. 14 And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he "delivered them ch. 38; 4.2; Deu. into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and he sold them into the hands of their enemies round about, so that they could not any longer stand before their 1 That is, into the mountainous parts, which were the smallest portion of their lot. 2 Ephraim's portion lying close to Dan, the Ephraimites aided the Danites. 3 That is, these Amorites had been numerous and powerful, possessing the territory extending from the southern límits of Canaan (Akrabbim, Josh. xv. 3), and even from beyond the city of the rock (Petra), north-westward as far as to mount Heres. From this whole chapter it appears that the Israelites were very inattentive both to their duty and their interest. The same slothfulness, cowardice, and unbelief, which had kept their fathers forty years out of Canaan, now deprived them of its full possession. 4 As this Divine messenger is said to come from Gilgal, some suppose him to have been a prophet living there, and called by this name, as Haggai was (Hag. i. 13), and the priest (Mal. ii. 7). Others, however, consider the phrase as referring to the 'Angel-Jehovah,' the angel of the covenant, who, having conducted the people through their journey to Gilgal, was regarded as dwelling there, during the conquest of the land, to protect the great central camp; and who now, therefore, manifests himself as 32. 30: P. 44. 12; Is. 30. 1. ye. 26. 37; Jos. 7. 12, 13. coming up thence to the place which by anticipation (see ver. 5) is here called Bochim. 5 This passage, to ch. iii. 4 (partly repeated from Josh. xxiv. 28-31), is a succinct introduction to the rest of the book, containing the explanation of God's dealings with the Israelites in the following narratives. 6 The word Baalim (lords), being plural, intimates that the Israelites worshipped no one false god in particular, but the idols of the several tribes of Canaanites among them, who were regarded by their worshippers as tutelary deities of particular districts, from which, or from some other peculiarities, they derived their varied names—as Baal-zephon, Baal-peor, Baal-zebub, etc. 7 Ashtaroth, like Baalim, is plural, and is used as a general name for the female deities of these nations. The word in the singular, Ashtoreth (Astarte), is the name of the notorious Syrian goddess, representing probably the moon and the productive powers of nature, who was worshipped with the most abominable rites. 8 Alluding to the predatory inroads of the Midianites and others, like those of the Bedouin at the present day. 9 God's protection being withheld from them, their enemies prevailed against them. |