Judges 8

Judges 8:2

IS not the gleaning?] q. d. Is not your rich gleaning better to be esteemed then our poor vintage? In which allegory he compareth the fight to a vintage; Ephraim’s pursuit of the victory, and taking of the two princes, to the gleaning, which he preferreth before all that had been done by the Abi-ezrites.

Judges 8:5

Succoth] Which lay at the river Jabbok beyond Jordan. See Genesis 33:17. Psalms 60:6. Another Succoth there was, Ex. 12. 37. and Numbers 33:5.

Judges 8:6

Are the hands] q. d. Are they already in thy power as thy prisoners, before thou hast got the victory? that we should respect thee as victour, and not rather fear their revenge for relieving their feeble enemies? And thus they incense Godepm. by rejecting his request with a contemptuous scorm.

Judges 8:7

I will tear your flesh] I will thus punish you with extreme severity, because you well deserve it, seeing you refuse to relieve my faint and wearied followers, fighting in a common cause against Gods enemies; herein grievously sinning against God, the common-wealth, my self and all my followers your brethren, and that in favour of their tyrannous enemies.

tear] Heb. thresh.

of the wildernesse] i. e. Lying between Succoth and Penuel, at the brook Jabbok, Genesis 32:2. 22. 30. called also the wildernesse of Mahanaim, as lying neer unto it, 2 Samuel 17:27; 2 Samuel 17:29.

Judges 8:8

Penuel] A city in the tribe of Gad, in the border by the Amorites, neer the brook Jabbok; so called by Jacob, because there he saw God, and wrestled with him, Genesis 32:30. 1 Kin. 12. 25.

Judges 8:9

in peace] i. e. Safe and victorious, having subdued my enemies.

this tower] In the strength whereof you being confident, have given my suit such a scornfull repulse.

Judges 8:10

in Karkor] A city beyond Jordan towards the east.

an hundred and twenty thousand men] To wit, those which were slain before.

that drew the sword] i. e. Able men for service in war. So Chap. 20. 15, 17, 25, 46. 2 Samuel 24:9. 2 Kings 3:26.

Judges 8:11

that dwelt in tents] i. e. The Arabians, who were called by the Grecians Scenitae from hence, that is, tent-dwellers.

Nobah] A city in the tribe of Manasseh, Numbers 32:42.

Jogbehah] A city in the tribe of Gad, Numbers 32:35. both these cities beyond Jordan eastward.

Judges 8:12

discomfited] Heb. terrified.

Judges 8:14

he described] i. e. He gave to Gideon their names in writing, who were guilty of the offence committed.

Judges 8:16

he taught] i. e. By making the Princes in this severe punishment an example to all the rest, he taught them more wit for the time to come, then to commit again the like sinnes.

Judges 8:17

men of the city] i. e. The Princes and elders, who were chiefly guilty of the fault, as he did in Succoth.

Judges 8:18

whom you shew] When this was done, is not expressed; but it seemeth it was very lately, in this expedition, seeing though Gideon knew that his brethren were slain, yet he understood not the manner and circumstances of their death.

at Tabor] See Chap. 4. 6.

as thou art] q. d. They were like thee, and both like children of a king, i. e. goodly and majesticall: and this they speak to humour him, and get favour.

Judges 8:19

I would not slay you] i. e. I would save your lives, if when they fell into your hands you had saved them.

Judges 8:20

and slay them] This he did to hearten him against Gods enemies. So Joshua 10:24. and to make him to share with himself in the glory of the victory.

Judges 8:21

rise thou] This they desire, that they might die nobly, by the hand of one like themselves, and not by a boy, in an ignominious manner: and also for more quick dispatch, which could not be done by the weak hand of a boy, who would have hackled them with many blows, and so put them to more torment; whereas a man of strength striking them, would quickly rid them out of their pain.

ornaments] Or, ornaments like the moon.

Judges 8:23

I will not rule] I will not take unto me the place and power of a king over Gods people, and intail it to my posterity, but the regall rights shall remain still in the hand of God: Whereby it appeareth, That the judges in this book were not lords and kings over the people, but raised extraordinarily for the defence and deliverance of Israel, their laws and liberties remaining still entire. See Chap. 2. 16. and 1 Samuel 8:7. and 1 Samuel 12:12.

Judges 8:24

car-rings] i. e. The golden ornaments of his prey, whether worn in the ear or fore-head; for the Hebrew word is used for both. See Gen. 24. 22, 47. 35. 4. neither doth he desire all, but that every man should give one of those which he had gotten for his prey, as the Hebrew text hath it.

they were Ishmaelites] See Genesis 37:25. 25. 13.

Judges 8:26

shekels of gold] See Genesis 24:22. and Numbers 7:14.

Judges 8:27

an Ephod] Which was an habit onely to be used in divine worship, being a vestment that covered the shoulders, and compassed the brest, like a short strait coat without sleeves, put upmost upon the garments to keep them close. See Ex. 28. 4. 1 Samuel 2:18. and 2 Samuel 6:14. Judg. 17. 6.

and put it in his city] i, e. Set it up in some eminent place, as a monument of the late victory, to stirre up himself and the people to thankfulnesse: wherein, though his intent were seemingly good; yet because it was not as God had commanded, but an humane invention, it became a snare to Gideon and his house.

a whoring after it] After the death of Gideon abused it to idolatry, and the worship of Baal, v. 33. See Leviticus 17:7; Leviticus 20:5.

became a snare] This sin of Gideon, in giving unto the people this occasion of idolatry, already too too prone unto it, brought ruine to his posterity, as appeareth in the following Chapter.

Judges 8:28

lifted up their heads] i. e. Got no more any prevailing strength against Israel.

fourty yeers] i. e. Being computed from the end of those fourty yeers mentioned, Chap. 5. 31.

Judges 8:29

in his own house] i. e. He raigned not as a king, v. 23, but led a private life; though as a judge he maintained Gods true worship, defended the laws and liberties of the people, and did all good service to the common-wealth, v. 28. and 33. See v. 23. and Chap. 2. 16.

Judges 8:30

of his body begotten] Heb. going out of his thigh. See Genesis 46:26.

Judges 8:31

Shechem] Situate upon a hill in Ephraim neer Samaria. See Genesis 12:6. and 33. 18. Joshua 20:7.

Abimelech] Whom the Sichemites made their king.

Judges 8:33

Baal-berith] i. e. The lord of the covenant, which was the idoll of the Sichemites.