Judges 11

Judges 11:1

OF an balot] Kept by Gilaad as his concubine; Gilead] one of Gileads posterity, the son of Machir, whose name was Gilead.

Judges 11:2

Wife] His lawfull wife.

Judges 11:3

Tob] It was a Countrey in the confines of Arabia, and it is imagined to be the Tubienites land, which histories make mention of: Went out] Followed him in the excursions which he made upon the enemies of Gods people, in those frontiers, whereby the Gileadites knowing his valour, were perswaded to chuse him for their Captaine.

Judges 11:7

Expell me] Hence it may be gathered that he was banished by publick authority.

Judges 11:8

Therefore] If thou hast received any wrong by us, we come now for to make thee amends, and to re-establish thee by publick decree.

Judges 11:9

Shall I be] Will you acknowledge me for your governour perpetually? Meaning thereby to prevent his brethrens injuries, which they might have done him, being a private man.

Judges 11:10

The Lord] We promise and sweare it unto thee in his name, calling him to be a witnesse and a judge thereof.

Judges 11:11

Ultered] Made a Covenant upon the same promises in the publick Congregation of the people encamped in Mizpeh, Judges chapter 10. verse 17. both parties appearing before God, who was the maintainer of the oath.

Judges 11:13

Tooke away] Israel took nothing from the Ammonites, Deuteronomy Chapter 2. verse 19 ut upon Sihon, who peradventure before had taken some part of the children of Ammons lands, Joshua Chapter 13. verse 25. Now though that countrey was for the most part Moabs, Numbers Chapter 21 verse 24, 26. The King of Ammon sth it was his, for it is likely that he commanded Moab, seeing 〈…〉t Chemosh] which was the Moabites peculiar idoll, 1 Kings chapter 1. v. 7. is v. 24. called the God of Ammon.

Judges 11:24

Wilt not thou possesse] This is said in a manner of graunting, according to the meaning of Ammon an idolatrous King: and not to attribute any power unto the idoll: Chemosh]See upon v. 13.

Judges 11:25

Did he] Namely Balak, after Isiael had conquered the Midianites, Numbers chapter 31. verse 7. let them in peace enjoy the Amorites country without any more question, though that had formerly been belonging to the Moabites.

Judges 11:26

Thrce hundred] It is thought that these yeares must be reckoned from the comming out of Egypt, including also the forty of the voyage in the wildernesse.

Judges 11:27

Have not] Thou hast therefore no reason to un〈…〉ake this warre, nor to offend and assault me, demanding of a thing which was never thine, nor yet to prepare for any defensive warre being no way provoked nor urged.

Judges 11:29

The spirit] He was set on upon this enterprise, by a magnanimous motion of Gods Spirit.

Judges 11:31

Shall surely be] This vow seemeth to have a reference to a thing devoted, as in Leviticus chapter 27. verses 28, 29 Offer it] If it be a thing lawfull to be offered, or otherwise I will put it to death. These kind of vowes were not commonly used, but only against accursed Nations, which were Gods enemies, Numbers chapter 21. verses 2, 3. Joshua chapter 6. verses 17. 18. 1 Samucl chapter 15. verse 3. But Jephtah transported by the vehemency of his zeale, for the peoples safety inconsideratly devoteth other persons and things, and doth bind himselfe so firmely that he could not recall it.

Judges 11:34

With timbrels] According to the custome of those dayes, Exodus chapter 15. verse 20. 1 Samuel chap. 18. verse 6 Dances] the Italian hath it, Flutes] or dances.

Judges 11:35

Opened my mouth] An ordinary phrase in Scripture for vows, which signifieth an irrevocable word, binding irremissibly.

Judges 11:37

Let me alone] Defer the execution of thy vow, giving me this small respite, to prepare my selfe thereunto, by refraining frequented places, and company, to satisfie my naturall griefe, for seeing thy posterity faile in me, and therewith all thy joy and comfort, I dying unmarried, and without issue.

Judges 11:39

Did with her] The strangenesse of this act, which hath no president, hath caused many to beleeve, that he did not cause her to be put to death, but that he did consecrate er to God, by some unexpressed way, and do translate the ensuing words; And she knew no man: Whereas the Italian translation is, And she had not knowne any man: But there bein no such consecrations mentioned in the Law, and the devotment having such a precise necessry in 〈◊〉, it seemeth that the exposition of the 31. v. 〈◊〉 to be preserred.

Judges 11:40

Tolament] Those that hold she was not put to death, translate it, to talke with her.