Judges 1:1--5:31
After <0310> [Now.]
asked <07592> [asked.]
Simeon ............................ Simeon <08095> [Simeon.]
went <01980> [I likewise.]
Lord <03068> [Lord.]
Bezek <0966> [Bezek.]
Eusebius and Jerome mention two villages of this name, near each other, about seventeen miles from Shechem, towards Scythopolis.
thumbs ... big toes <0931> [their thumbs. Heb. the thumbs of their hands and of their feet.]
This was not an unusual act of cruelty in ancient times towards enemies.--’lian informs us, that in after ages "the Athenians, at the instigation of Cleon, son of Cleoenetus, made a decree that all the inhabitants of the island of ’gina should have the thumb cut off from the right hand, so that they might ever after be disabled from holding a spear, yet might handle an oar." It was a custom among those Romans who did not like a military life, to cut off their thumbs, that they might be incapable of serving in the army; and for the same reason, parents sometimes cut off the thumbs of their children.
lick up <03950> [gathered. or, gleaned. as I have.]
Later <0310> [afterward.]
lowlands <08219> [valley. or, low country.]
Kiriath Arba <07153> [Kirjath-arba.]
Sheshai <08344> [Sheshai.]
Debir Debir <01688> [Debir.]
Caleb <03612> [And Caleb.]
The whole of this account is found in Jos 15:13-19, and seems to be inserted here by way of recapitulation.
give <05414> [to him.]
In ancient times fathers assumed an absolute right over their children, especially in disposing of them in marriage; and it was customary for a king or great man to promise his daughter in marriage to him who should take a city, etc.
came <0935> [And it came.]
got down <06795> [and she lighted.]
{Watitznach,} "she hastily or suddenly alighted," as if she had forgotten something, or was about to return.
special present <01293> [a blessing.]
land .... Negev <0776 05045> [a south land.]
Which was probably dry, or very ill watered.
give ......... given ........ give ... springs ... water .... gave ........ springs <05414 01543 04325 03051> [give me also springs of water.]
Let me have some fields with brooks, or wells already digged.
Kenite <07017> [the Kenite.]
Moses <04872> [Moses.]
City ... Date <05892 08558> [city of palm.]
Negev <05045> [which.]
<03212> [they went.]
Judah <03063> [And Judah.]
Zephath <06857> [Zephath.]
[Zephathah. Hormah.]
Judah <03063> [Also Judah.]
There is the following remarkable variation here in the Septuagint: [Kai ouk ekl‚ronom‚sen Ioudas t‚n Gazan, oude ta horia aut‚s; oude t‚n Askal¢na, oude ta horia aut‚s; kai t‚n Akkar¢n, oude ta horia aut‚s; t‚n Az¢ton, oude ta perisporia aut‚s.] "But Judah did not possess Gaza, nor the coasts thereof; nor Askelon, nor the coasts thereof; nor Ekron, nor the coasts thereof; nor Ashdod, nor the coasts thereof." Procopius and Augustine read the same; and Josephus (Ant. 1. v. c. 2) says that the Israelites only took Askelon and Ashdod, but not Gaza or Ekron; and from ch. 3:3, and the whole succeeding history, it appears that these cities were not in the possession of the Israelites, but of the Philistines.
Gaza <05804> [Gaza.]
[See on]
Lord <03068> [the Lord.]
conquered ......... conquer <03423> [he drave, etc. or he possessed the mountain. but could.]
Not because the iron chariots were too strong for Omnipotence, or because he refused to help them; but because their courage and faith failed when they saw them.
chariots <07393> [chariots.]
<05414> [they gave.]
three Anakites <01121 07969> [the three sons.]
<01004> [the house.]
Lord <03068> [the Lord.]
spied out <08446> [sent.]
Luz <03870> [Luz.]
reward <06213> [we will.]
put <05221> [they smote.]
country <0776> [the land.]
Manasseh <04519> [Manasseh.]
Taanach <08590> [Taanach.]
Canaanites <03669> [the Canaanites.]
Kitron <07003> [Kitron.]
The Talmudists say Kitron is "tzippor," that is, Sepphoris, or Dioc‘sarea, a celebrated city of Galilee, now the village Safoury, situated in the plain of Esdraelon, twenty miles (north-west) from Tiberias, according to Benjamin of Tudela.
Nahalol <05096> [Nahalol.]
Asher <0836> [Asher.]
Acco <05910> [Accho.]
Accho, the Ptolemais of the Greeks and Romans, and called Saint John of Acre by the Crusaders, is situated on the Mediterranean, in a fine plain, at the north angle of a bay to which it gives name, and which extends in a semicircle of three leagues as far as Carmel, and nine leagues from Tyre.
Sidon <06721> [Zidon.]
Another celebrated city of Phoenicia, now SaidÅ , situated in a fine country on the Mediterranean, 400 stadia from Berytus, and 200 (north) from Tyre, according to Strabo, one day's journey from Paneas, according to Josephus, and sixty-six miles from Damascus, according to Abulfeda.
Aczib <0392> [Achzib.]
Or, Ecdippa, now Zib, nine miles north, from Accho.
Naphtali <05321> [Naphtali.]
people living ......... live ..... residing ....... living <03427> [he dwelt.]
forced to do hard labor <04522> [became.]
Aijalon <0357> [Aijalon.]
Shaalbim <08169> [Shaalbim.]
strong <03513> [prevailed. Heb. was heavy.]
<04608> [from the going. or, Maaleh-akrabbim.]
messenger <04397> [And an angel. or messenger.]
Bokim <01066> [Bochim.]
up ........... up <05927> [I made.]
led <0935> [have brought.]
never <05769> [I will never.]
make <03772> [And ye shall.]
disobeyed <08085> [but ye have.]
do <06213> [why have.]
warned <0559> [I also said.]
gods <0430> [their gods.]
people <05971> [the people.]
Bokim <01066> [Bochim. that is, Weepers.]
sacrifices <02076> [they sacrificed.]
Joshua <03091> [Joshua.]
people <05971> [the people.]
outlived <0748> [outlived. Heb. prolonged days after.]
Joshua <03091> [Joshua.]
Timnath <08556> [Timnath-heres.]
This was his own inheritance; and Eusebius says it was celebrated in his time for the tomb of Joshua.
[Timnath-serah]
passed away <0622> [A.M. cir. 2590. B.C. cir. 1414. An. Ex. Is. cir. 77. gathered.]
experienced ... Lord's <03045 03068> [knew not.]
did evil <06213 07451> [did evil.]
worshiping ... Baals <05647 01168> [and served Baalim.]
{B„ƒlim,} or lords, seems to have been the common appellation of the Syrian gods; whence we have Baal-peor, Baal-zebub, etc.
abandoned <05800> [forsook.]
God ................ other gods ... gods <0312 0430> [other gods.]
worshiped <07812> [bowed.]
worshiped <05647> [served.]
furious <0639> [the anger.]
handed <05414> [he delivered.]
them over ........ turned ... over <04376 03027> [sold them.]
could ... withstand <03201 05750> [could not.]
harm <07451> [against.]
warned <01696> [had said.]
solemnly <07650> [had sworn.]
greatly <03966> [greatly.]
Lord <03068> [A.M. 2591-2909. B.C. 1413-1095. the Lord.]
leaders <08199> [judges.]
The {shophetim} were not judges in the usual sense of the term; but were heads or chiefs of the Israelites, raised up on extraordinary occasions, who directed and ruled the nation with sovereign power, administered justice, made peace or war, and led the armies over whom they presided. Officers with the same power, and nearly the same name, were established in New Tyre, after the termination of the regal state; and the Carthaginian Suffetes, the Athenian Archons, and the Roman Dictators, appear to have been nearly the same.
delivered <03467> [delivered. Heb. saved.]
obey <08085> [they would.]
prostituted <02181> [whoring.]
quickly <04118> [quickly.]
ancestors <01> [which their.]
Lord ........ Lord ................... Lord <03068> [then the Lord.]
felt sorry <05162> [it repented.]
cried out in agony <05009> [their groanings.]
leader <08199> [when the.]
more wickedly <07843> [corrupted. or, were corrupt. more.]
down .......... practices <05307 04611> [ceased not from. Heb. let nothing fall of. stubborn.]
furious <0639> [the anger.]
<05674> [transgressed.]
test <05254> [through.]
test <05254> [prove.]
permitted <03240> [left. or, suffered.]
nations <01471> [A.M. 2561. B.C. 1443. An. Ex. Is. 48. the nations.]
test <05254> [prove.]
experienced <03045> [as had not.]
experienced <03045> [might know.]
teach <03925> [to teach.]
Their fathers fought by a divine power. God taught their hands to war and their fingers to fight, that they might be the instruments of destruction to the wicked nations on whom the curse rested; but now that they had forfeited His favour, they must learn what it is to fight like other men.
five lords <05633 02568> [five lords.]
Canaanites <03669> [Canaanites.]
Sidonians <06722> [Sidonians.]
Mount .... Mount <02022> [in mount.]
test <05254> [to prove.]
lived <03427> [dwelt.]
Canaanites <03669> [Canaanites.]
did evil <06213 07451> [did evil.]
Asherahs <0842> [the groves.]
furious <02734> [A.M. 2591. B.C. 1413. An. Ex. Is. 78. was hot.]
turned ... over <04376> [he sold.]
Cushan-Rishathaim ...... Cushan-Rishathaim's <03573> [Chushan-rishathaim.]
Aram-Naharaim <0763> [Mesopotamia. Heb. Aram-naharaim.]
{Aram-naharayim,} "Syria of the two rivers," or Mesopotamia, "between the rivers," is a famous province situated between the Tigris and Euphrates. It is called by Arabian geographers, {Maverannaher,} "the country beyond the river;" and is now called Diarbek.
cried <02199> [A.M. 2599. B.C. 1405. An. Ex. Is. 86. cried.]
raised <06965> [raised up.]
deliverer ...... rescued <03467> [deliverer. Heb. saviour. Othniel.]
spirit <07307> [the Spirit.]
led <08199> [came. Heb. was. Mesopotamia. Heb. Aram.]
land <0776> [the land.]
Othniel <06274> [Othniel.]
did evil ................... done evil <06213 07451> [A.M. 2662. B.C. 1342. An. Ex. Is. 148. did evil.]
Lord's .... Lord ................. Lord's <03068> [and the Lord.]
King <04428> [the king.]
Ammonites <05983> [Ammon.]
City <05892> [the city.]
subject <05647> [served.]
cried out ...... Lord he <02199 03068> [A.M. 2679. B.C. 1325. An. Ex. Is. 166. cried unto.]
Benjaminite <01145> [a Benjamite. or, the son of Jemini. left-handed. Heb. shut of his right hand.]
This Hebrew phrase intimates that, either through disease or disuse, he made little or no use of the right hand, but of his left only, and so was the less fit for war, because he would most likely wield a dagger awkwardly: yet God chose this left-handed man to be the minister of his retributive justice. It was God's right hand that gained Israel the victory, Ps 44:3; not the right hand of the instruments he employed.
sent .......... tribute payment <07971 04503> [sent a present.]
two edges <06366 08147> [two edges.]
right <03225> [upon.]
very fat <01277 03966> [a very fat.]
carved images <06456> [quarries. or graven images.]
secret <05643> [a secret.]
attendants <05975> [And all that.]
well-ventilated upper room <05944 04747> [a summer parlour. Heb. a parlour of cooling.]
The {ƒleeyah,} or upper chamber, seems to have been of the same description as the {ol‰ah} of the Arabs, but properly ventilated, described by Dr. Shaw, who says, that to most of their houses there is a smaller one annexed, which sometimes rises one story higher than the house; at other times, it consists of one or two rooms only, and a terrace; while others that are built, as they frequently are, over the porch or gateway, have, if we except the ground floor, which they want, all the conveniences that belong to the house itself. There is a door of communication from them into the gallery of the house; besides another, which opens immediately from a private staircase, down into the porch or street, without giving the least disturbance to the house. In these back houses strangers are usually lodged and entertained; and to them likewise the men are wont to retire from the noise and hurry of their families, to be more at leisure for mediation or diversions.
message <01697> [I have.]
rose up <06965> [he arose.]
drove ..... belly <08628 0990> [thrust it.]
<03318 06574> [the dirt came out. or, it came out at the fundament.]
relieving <05526> [covereth, etc. or, doeth his easement.]
carved images <06456> [the quarries.]
blew <08628> [he blew.]
hill country .......... hill country <02022> [mountain.]
them <07291> [Follow.]
Lord <03068> [the Lord.]
fords <04569> [the fords.]
strong capable <08082> [lusty. Heb. fat.]
land <0776> [And the land.]
Shamgar <08044> [Shamgar.]
oxgoad <04451 01241> [an ox goad.]
This implement, Mr. Maundrell informs us, in Palestine and Syria is of an extraordinary size. He measured several, and "found them about eight feet long; and at the bigger end about six inches in circumference. They were armed at the lesser end with a sharp prickle for driving the oxen; and at the other end with a small paddle of iron, strong and massive, for cleansing the plough from the clay. In the hand of a powerful man such an instrument must be more dangerous and fatal than a sword."
delivered <03467> [also.]
Israel <03478> [Israel.]
"So part is called Israel."
"It seems to concern only the country next to the Philistines."
did evil <06213 07451> [A.M. 2699. B.C. 1305. An. Ex. Is. 186. did evil.]
turned ... over <04376> [sold.]
"It seems to concern only north Israel."
Hazor <02674> [Hazor.]
Sisera <05516> [Sisera.]
Harosheth Haggoyim <02800> [Harosheth.]
cried out <06817> [cried.]
chariots <07393> [chariots.]
cruelly <02394> [mightily.]
[A.M. 2719. B.C. 1285. An. Ex. Is. 206.]
Palm Tree <08560> [the palm.]
Ramah <07414> [between.]
come up <05927> [came up.]
Barak <01301> [Barak.]
Kedesh <06943> [Kedesh-naphtali.]
Lord <03068> [Hath.]
Tabor <08396> [Tabor.]
ten thousand <0505 06235> [ten thousand.]
I ... bring <04900 05414> [And I.]
Kishon <07028> [Kishon.]
<05414> [deliver.]
<0657> [notwithstanding.]
turn Sisera over <05516 04376> [sell Sisera.]
<03027> [into.]
Zebulun <02074> [Zebulun.]
followed <07272> [at his.]
Heber <02268> [Heber.]
Hobab <02246> [Hobab.]
Zaanannim <06815> [Zaanaim.]
[Zaanannim. Kedesh.]
Mount Tabor <08396 02022> [mount Tabor.]
ordered <02199> [gathered. Heb. gathered by cry, or proclamation. nine.]
chariotry .... chariots ... iron-rimmed <07393 01270> [chariots of iron.]
Probably chariots armed with iron scythes, projecting from the axle on each side, by which the infantry might be easily cut down or thrown into confusion. The ancient Britons are said to have had such chariots.
action <06965> [Up.]
day <03117> [for this.]
This is exactly the purpose for which the Septuagint states, ver. 8, that Barak wished Deborah to accompany him: "Because I know not the day in which God will send his angel to give me prosperity."
Lord .......... Lord <03068> [is not.]
Mount <02022> [mount.]
Mount Tabor, called by the Arabs Djebel Tour, is almost entirely insulated, and rises up in the plain of Esdraelon, about six miles from Nazareth, in a conical form, somewhat like a sugar-loaf. Josephus states its height to be thirty stadia, with a plain of 26 stadia in circumference on its top, on which was formerly a city, which was used as a military post. It is described as an exceedingly beautiful mountain, having a rich soil, producing excellent herbage, and adorned with groves and clumps of trees.
chased <07291> [pursued.]
one <0259> [there.]
one survived <07604 0259> [a man left. Heb. unto one.]
ran <05127> [fled.]
Jael <03278> [Jael.]
peace <07965> [peace.]
Jael <03278> [Jael.]
blanket <08063> [mantle. or, rug, or blanket.]
little <04592> [Give me.]
there <03426> [Is there.]
tent peg .................. tent peg <03489> [a nail.]
One of the spikes of the tent. See Note on Ex 35:18.
<07760> [and took. Heb. and put. smote.]
died <04191> [he died.]
show <07200> [and I will.]
<03212> [prospered, etc. Heb. going, went and was hard against.]
Deborah ....... sang <01683 07891> [Sang Deborah.]
This verse briefly recites the subject of this inspired song, which consists of eight stanzas: The first opens with a devout thanksgiving. The second describes the magnificent scenes at Mount Sinai, etc. The third states the apostasy and consequent punishment of the Israelites. The fourth contrasts their present happy state. The fifth censures the recreant tribes of Reuben, Gad, etc. The sixth records the defeat of the confederate kings of Canaan. The seventh contains a panegyric on Jael. And the eight describes the fond anticipations and disappointment of the mother of Sisera.
<06544> [for the avenging.]
people <05971> [when.]
kings <04428> [O ye kings.]
[I, even I.]
Lord <03068> [Lord.]
earth <0776> [the earth.]
poured ..... poured <05197> [dropped.]
mountains <02022> [mountains.]
trembled <05140> [melted. Heb. flowed. that Sinai.]
Shamgar <08044> [Shamgar.]
Jael <03278> [Jael.]
caravans .......... roads <0734> [the highways.]
travelers .... go <01980> [travellers. Heb. walkers of paths. by-ways. Heb. crooked ways.]
Warriors <06520> [the villages.]
motherly <0517> [a mother.]
God ... new <02319 0430> [new gods.]
shield <04043> [was there.]
leaders <05068> [offered.]
pay attention <07878> [Speak. or, Meditate.]
ride on <07392> [ride.]
sit <03427> [ye that sit.]
sound <06963> [the noise.]
watering places <04857> [in the places.]
Dr. Shaw mentions a beautiful rill of water in Barbary, which runs into a large bason, called {shrub we krub,} "drink and be off," because of the danger of meeting with robbers and assassins in this place, who fall upon those who come to drink.
victorious deeds ... victorious deeds <06666> [righteous acts. Heb. righteousnesses.]
warriors <06520> [villages.]
went down <03381> [go down.]
Wake up wake up Deborah Wake up wake up <05782 01683> [awake, Deborah.]
prisoners <07628> [lead.]
survivors <08300> [he made.]
Lord's <03068> [the Lord.]
Ephraim <0669> [of Ephraim.]
Amalek <06002> [Amalek.]
follow <0310> [after.]
Makir <04353> [Machir.]
march carrying .... staff <07626 04900> [handle the pen. Heb. draw with the pen.]
leaders <08269> [the princes.]
Barak <01301> [Barak.]
command <07272> [foot. Heb. his feet.]
{Beraglaiv,} rather, "with his footmen:" so LXX. Alex. [pkzous autou,] and Luther, {mit feinem Fubvolt.}
<06390> [For the. or, In the divisions, etc.]
searching <02711> [thoughts. Heb. impressions.]
sheepfolds <04942> [sheepfolds.]
<06390> [For. or, In.]
intense <01419> [great.]
Gilead <01568> [Gilead.]
Asher <0836> [Asher.]
seacoast <02348 03220> [sea shore. or, sea-port. breaches. or, creeks.]
Zebulun <02074> [Zebulun.]
concerned <02778> [jeoparded. Heb. exposed to reproach. their lives.]
battlefields <04791> [in the high.]
Kings ...... kings <04428> [kings.]
Taanach <08590> [Taanach.]
took <03947> [they took.]
fought ......... fought <03898> [fought.]
stars <03556> [the stars.]
paths <04546> [courses. Heb. paths.]
Kishon ........... Kishon <07028> [Kishon.]
necks <05315> [O my soul.]
hooves <06119> [horsehoofs.]
Anciently, horses were not shod; nor are they at the present day in some parts of the East. The flight was so rapid that the hoofs of their horses were splintered and broken by the roughness of the roads; in consequence of which they became lame, and could not carry off their riders.
galloped madly <01726> [pransings. or, tramplings, or, plungings. mighty ones.]
Or, as Dr. Waterland renders, "mighty horses," or "strong steeds," as Dr. Kennicott, i.e., their war-horses, which gives great energy to the text, and renders it perfectly intelligible.
Call judgment down on Meroz ........ sure ... call judgment down on <0779 04789> [Curse ye.]
Meroz <04789> [Meroz.]
This city of Meroz seems to have been, at this time, a place of considerable importance, since something great was expected from it; but probably, after the angel of the Lord had pronounced this curse, it dwindled and like the fig-tree which Christ cursed, withered away; so that we never read of it after this in Scripture.
messenger <04397> [the angel.]
come <0935> [they came.]
help ....... help <05833> [to the help.]
asked <07592> [asked.]
curds <02529> [butter.]
{Chemah,} may signify buttermilk, which is made by the Arabs by agitating the milk in a leathern bag; and is highly esteemed because of its refreshing and cooling qualities.
hammered <01986> [with the. Heb. She hammered. she smote off.]
Or rather, "she smote his head, then she struck through and pierced his temples:" which is more consonant to the original, and to fact, as it does not appear that she smote off his head.
feet ............ feet <07272> [At. Heb. Between. where.]
violently murdered <07703> [dead. Heb. destroyed.]
lattice <0822> [through.]
chariot <07393> [Why is.]
<0561> [answer. Heb. her words.]
gathering <04672> [Have they not sped.]
each man <01397 07218> [every man. Heb. the head of a man. of divers.]
enemies <0341> [So let.]
love <0157> [them that.]
rising sun <08121> [the sun.]
land <0776> [And the land.]
The victory here celebrated in this song, was of such happy consequence to Israel, that for the principal part of one age, they enjoyed the peace to which it had been the means of opening the way. The land had rest forty years, that is, so long it was from this victory to the raising up of Gideon. And well would it have been for the Israelites, if while the tribes had rest, they had taken advantage of the cessation from war, and had walked in the fear of the Lord.
