Judges 3

Judges 3:1

(AS had not]) They had not been present, whereby they were also lesse touched with these wonders, as being olde; wherefore God left some victories to follow, to renew the memory of the old, and keep the people in continuall exercise of Faith and Obedience, seeing they had the same need of Gods grace against that remainder of the enemies.

Judges 3:2

Only that] Besides that chief foresaid end, God had another, which was to prevent the relenting and tendernesse, which is caused by great and long rest; and for to force his people to hold those nations to be enemies, and to execute his sentence against them, seeing they were continually assaulted & molested by them: To cach them] the Italian, Being taught] at their own costs, and to their dammage.

Judges 3:3

Five] Judges 1:18. It hath been said, that Judah conquered three of them, but we ought to beleeve, that this chanced after the time which is here set downe: namely after the death of Joshua, Judges chapter 2. verse 21.

Judges 3:7

The groves] See Exodus 34:13. Deutcronomy 16. 21. Judges 6:25.

Judges 3:10

The sp rit] God did endow him extraordinarily with the gifts of his Spirit, in heroicall vertues, fit ting for the charge of government, and deliverance of his people, and did by a vehement and secret force of his Spirit, drive and inspire him to undertake the doing of it: Judged] See upon Judges chapter, 2 verse 16.

Judges 3:11

Forty] Reckoning after the death of Joshua, as it may be gathered by the summe of years set down 1 Kings 6:1.

Judges 3:13

The City] The Country belonging to Jericho, Deuteronomy 34:3. fortifying himselfe also in the ruines thereof.

Judges 3:15

Left handed] Hebrews, that had his right hand shut, see verse 21. In many men being lefthanded, is a signe of strength, and courage: See Judges chapter 20. verse 16.

Judges 3:16

Right thigh] Because he was left handed.

Judges 3:18

Sent away] Ehud went along with them part of the way, and from thence sent them home, and he went back again to performe his businesse more secretly, and without endangering any body else.

Judges 3:19

The quarries] The Italian, The stone statues] It may be they were the twelve stones which Joshua set up, Joshua 4:20. Others would have them to be some Idols of the Gentiles; Others take the Hebrew word to signifie certaine stone quarries, Keepe silence] forbeare speaking of it, untill wee bee alone.

Judges 3:20

Summer parlour] Hebrew, coole, according to the custome of great men, who had their Summer rooms, and their Winter rooms, Jermiah, 36. 22. Amos 3:15 Arose] in signe of some reverence to the God-head, though it was an ignorant and superstitious one.

Judges 3:25

Till they were] They could not tell what to say, nor what to thinke. Others, they stayed till it was very late.

Judges 3:26

Seiath] This was some place in the land of Israel, peradventure the same that is mentioned, Joshua 15:10.

Judges 3:27

Heblew] To gather the people together.

Judges 3:29

Lusty] The Italian, Fat] that is to say, chosen and able men.

Judges 3:30

Fourescore] Counting, according to some, from the death of Othniel to Shamgar, or according to others, from the dividing of the Countrey, joyning into one summe the forty yeares mentioned, verse 11. And others in stead of eightie, read eight.

Judges 3:31

With an oxe gad] Peradventure for want of another weapon; for they which had dominion over them were wont to keep them without weapons, Judges 5:8. 1 Samuel 13:19; 1 Samuel 13:22.