Judges 8

Judges 8:1-35

:V 6 In tly hands] Are they already thy prisoners, that we should acknowledge thee to be a conqueror, & not feare the danger of their revenge? Words of mistrust in God, of a persidious and cruell abandoning of their brethren, and of a biting kind of scoffe to Gideon.

Judges 8:2

What have] You complaine unjustly, for all that I and my Abiezerites, Judges 6:11. have done and all the honour and profit we have gotten in this action, doth not equall the least part of yours, who have taken the two Princes, and spoiled them that fled, at your pleasure, &c.

Judges 8:5

Succoth] This city, as likewise Penuel, were beyond Jordan: Loaves] The Italian hath it, Pious of bread] Hebrew, a round, or cake, because the Js made their loaves flat and broad, whereofre they did breake them, when they shared them, and did not out them.

Judges 8:7

With briers] The Italian, Thistles] or Teazs] A kind of a wilde herbe, of a triangular forme, with very sharpe prickles in the corners: Some hold it to bee, the starre thistle, or Saint Barnabies thistle.

Judges 8:11

That dwl] These were the Arabians, called Scenites by the Grecians, because they do not live in houses, nor cities, but in moveable tents, feeding their cattel: See Jeremiah chapter 49. verse 29 Nobah] Sco concerning these places, Numbers 32:35; Numbers 32:42.

Judges 8:13

Before the Sun was up] The Italian, Before the getting up of Heres] or, when the Sun began to rise.

Judges 8:16

He taught] The Italian, He punished] or bruised.

Judges 8:17

The towre] Which afterward was restored by Jeroboam, 1 Kings 12:25.

Judges 8:18

Each one] Others have it, one of them.

Judges 8:21

For as the man] Why doest thou command this boy, in scorne and contempt of us, to do things beyond his age? If thou wilt slay us, do it thy selfe: The ornaments] Or plates of a pretious mettal, which were about the collars of Camels, that belonged to great Lords, or principall persons.

Judges 8:23

The Lord] The supreame dominion which you offer me, belongeth to God alone: as well to give his people laws, as to appoint and raise heads, and Judges amongst them; and from time to time declare his will unto them, and shew his power and might, see 1 Samuel 8:7.

Judges 8:24

Ishmaelites] That is to say, Arabians for the most part, who commonly used to weare eare-rings: See upon Genesis 35:4.

Judges 8:27

An Ephod] A priestly habit, Exodus 28:4. by which ought to be understood all other preparations belonging to Divine Service: which though it was in appearance appointed for the honour of the true God: yet it is called fornication and idolatry, because it was of mans invention, against Gods order: A snare] an occasion of ruine for all the tragicall accidents, which did befall Gideons house, happened through Gods judgements, for a punishment of this idolatry.

Judges 8:28

Fourty yeares] Counting as it is imagined from the other fourty: Judges chapter 5. verse 31.

Judges 8:29

Dwelt] That is to say, lived a private life.

Judges 8:33

A whoring] Besides the corruption of the service of the true God, brought in by Gideon, they fell to serving of idols, as they had done before, Judg. 2. 11. and 3, 7.