Judges 11

Judges 11:1

GIleadite] See Chap. 10. 3.

Gilead] i. e. One of the posterity of Gilead, the son of Machir, mentioned. Joshua 17:1; Joshua 17:3. and of his name.

Judges 11:2

thrust out] Not by private violence, but by publike authority, as he implyeth, vers. 7.

Judges 11:3

land of Tob] A part of a countrey, lying along mount Gilead, not far from the Ammonites in the entrance of Arabiz the desart. 2 Sam. 10. 6, 8.

vain men] Idle fellows, that had no calling, nor means of maintenance.

went out with him] i. e. In military expeditions to fetch in booty to live upon, wanting other means; and as it is likely from the Ammonites, and with such good successe, that hereby the Gileadites were moved to think him the fittest man to be their generall.

Judges 11:5

the elders of Gilead went] To wit, either by Gods speciall command, or some extraordinary instinct; for otherwise a bastard might not bear any publike office. Deuter. 23. 2.

Judges 11:7

and expell me] i. e. Gave sentence against me at the suit of my brethren, that I should be expelled.

Judges 11:8

Therefore we turn] As if they had said, Let these old things be forgotten; for now we are therefore come to make thee large amends by chusing thee for our generall.

and be our head] i. e. Not onely in this expedition, but ever after.

Judges 11:9

shall I be your head] i. e. Shall I indeed still continue to be your head, as you now promise?

Judges 11:10

The Lord be witnesse] i. e. We call God as a witnesse and judge, to punish us if we do not keep this our covenant with thee.

if we do not] If we do not make thee our head in time to come, as well as now.

Judges 11:11

all his words] i. e. Which had passed between him and the elders of Gilead.

before the Lord] i. e. In a solemn and religious manner, as in Gods presence, before the whole assembly of the people, encamped in Mizpch. Chap. 10. 17.

Judges 11:12

What hast thou to do] i. e. What just cause of warre hast thou against me? speaking this in the name of all the people, as being their generall. See the like expressions. 2 Samuel 16:10. John 2:4.

Judges 11:13

took away my land] This was a false challenge, for he had no right to that land he claimeth, seeing it belonged first to the Moabites, then won from them by the Amorites, and from them by the Israelites. Numbers 21:24,25, 29, &c. Deut. 2. 19, 37.

unto Jordan] Eastward from mount Gilead unto Jordan westward.

Judges 11:14

And Jephthah sent] That is, further to clear his cause for the quieting of his own conscience, the incouraging of his armies, and convincing of his enemies.

Judges 11:15

Israel took not] Being forbidden expresly by God. Deuteronomy 2:9. 19.

Judges 11:17

Then Israel sent messengers unto the king of Edom] Numbers 20:14.

Kadesh] Which was also called Zim, to difference it from Kadesh-barnea. Numbers 13:26. and Numbers 20:14. and Numbers 33:36.

Judges 11:18

but came not within the border of Moab] Numbers 21:13. and Numbers 22:36.

Judges 11:19

Israel sent messengers unto Sihon] Deuteronomy 2:26.

unto my place] That is, the land of Canaan which God hath given me.

Judges 11:21

Israel possessed] To wit, by right of conquest in a lawfull war.

all the land] That is, all that region which the Ammonites do now unjustly challenge as theirs, v. 13.

Judges 11:22

all the coasts of the Amorites] Deuteronomy 2:36. All the countrey within these coasts, as Arnon in the south, Jabbok north, the wildernesse, that is, the desert of Arabia east, and Jordan west.

Judges 11:24

which Chemosh thy God] That is, according to thy opinion, though not in truth, giveth thee: This was an idoll both of the Ammonites, and of the Moabites, Numbers 21:29. 1 Kings 11:7. Jere. 48. 7. 13.

So whomsoever] That is, if thou thinkest thou mayest justly possesse, all that thy idoll Chemosh giveth thee; how much more may we lawfully possesse all which Jehovah the onely true God giveth us.

Judges 11:25

better then Balak the son of Zippor] Numbers 22:2. Deuteronomy 23:4. Joshua 24:9. That is, hast thou better right, or more power and policy to maintain it, then Balak, who yet never made any such claim, or challenge?

ever strive] Namely, to recover this countrey of the Amorites, after the Israelites had conquered it; notwithstanding, that in former times it did belong to the Moabites. Numbers 21:24; Numbers 21:26.

Judges 11:26

did yee not recover] That is, if you had then such right unto these towns and countrey, as ye now pretend, why did you so long time suffer them to injoy them, making no claim to them?

Judges 11:27

be judge] To preserve the innocent, and punish the offenders.

Judges 11:29

the spirit of the Lord] That is, the spirit of wisedom and fortitude.

he passed] To wit, with all his army.

and Manasseh] That is, Bashan, in which, half the tribe of Manasseh inhabited.

Judges 11:31

whatsoever cometh forth] Heb. that which cometh forth, which shall come forth.

in peace] That is, victorious.

be the Lords] Or, to the Lord, that is, shall be consecrated to him.

and I will offer] Others read it, or I will offer, for so the conjunction is sometime dis-junctive, Genesis 26:11. Exodus 1:10. and Exodus 21:15. That is, if it be such a thing as may lawfully be offered, then I will offer it for a burnt offering; but if not, it shall howsoever be consecrated unto God. But by the law, not onely humane sacrifices, but of things unclean, were forbidden, Levit. 27. 11, 12, 13. Isaiah 66:3. Deuteronomy 12:31.

Judges 11:33

Aroer] Lying by the brook Arnon. Deuteronomy 3:12.

to Minnith] Beyond Arnon castward, and is a town in the borders of Ammon neer Rabba.

the plain of the vineyards] Or, Abel.

Judges 11:34

with timbrels] As the custome was for women and maides, after great victories, to sing songs of triumph, Exodus 15:20. Judg. 5. 1. 1 Samuel 18:6.

beside her, he had neither son nor daughter] Or, he had not of his own either son or daughter; Heb. of himself.

Judges 11:35

brought me very low] That is, I am not so much exalted by my great victory, as humbled and depressed with this sad and unexpected accident, whereby I am utterly hopelesse of having posterity.

I have opened my mouth] Hebr. that is, I have made a vow, as this phrase signifieth in the scriptures.

I cannot go back] That is, I dare not break my vow, not knowing in those dayes of ignorance and superstition, that the law of God gave him libertie in this case, to have redeemed her with thirty shekels of silver, Leviticus 27:4.

Judges 11:36

do to me] Namely, according to thy vow: and seeing thou hast consecrated me, as holy to the LORD, to live a virgin, and as a Nazarite all my dayes; I willingly agree unto it, and ratifie thy vow, devoting my self wholly unto God. So Anna, Luke 2:36. See 1 Cor. 7. 34, 36, 37. Neither can we probably think, that Jephthah commended for his faith, Hebrews 11:32. should offer his daughter for a burnt-offering, seeing it is odious to God, Isaiah 66:3. and forbidden as abominable, Deuteronomy 12:31. And God requireth in the law, That the firstborn, which were his, Exodus 13:22. 22, 29. should not be offered, but redeemed, Numbers 18:15. Exodus 13:13.

Judges 11:37

go up and down] Heb. go and go down.

bewail my virginity] Whereby I shall be deprived of posterity, which in those dayes was accounted some dishonour, even as fruitfulnesse was much esteemed. See Genesis 30:23. 1 Samuel 1:6. Luke 1:25. And here note, that she speaketh not of bewailing her approaching death, or being sacrificed; but her virginity onely upon the former reason.

Judges 11:39

who did with her] That is, did not redeem her according to the law, but did consecrate her to the LORD, as a virgin, to lead a single life, 1 Corinthians 7:32.

and she knew no man] That is, she lived a virgin, as her father had vowed, and she assented.

custome] Or, ordinance.

Judges 11:40

yeerly] Heb. from yeer to yeer.

to lament] Or as the word may signifie, to talk with her, that is, They did yeerly go to visite her, that they might commune and discourse with her, comfort, and chear her in this her solitary condition. See Chap. 5. 11. where the same Hebrew word is used to signifie, speaking or relating.