Judges 3:1-30 NIV

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 3:8

Therefore the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel ,.... Because of their idolatry; see Judges 2:14 , and he sold them into the hand of Chushanrishathaim, king of Mesopotamia ; or Aramnaharaim; that is, Syria, between the two rivers, which were Tigris and Euphrates; hence the Greek name of this place is as here called Mesopotamia. Josephus F12 Antiqu. l. 5. c. 3. sect. 2. calls him king of Assyria, and gives him the name of Chusarthus; and indeed Chushanrishathaim seems to be... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 3:9

And when the children of Israel cried unto the Lord ,.... Towards the close of the eight years' bondage, as it may be supposed, groaning under the oppressive taxes laid upon them, and the bondage they were brought into: and the Lord raised up a deliverer to the children of Israel ; he heard their cry, and sent them a saviour, whose spirit he stirred up, and whom he qualified for this service: who delivered them ; out of the hands of the king of Mesopotamia, and freed them from his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 3:10

And the Spirit of the Lord came upon him ,.... Moved him to engage in this work of delivering Israel, inspired him with courage, and filled him with every needful gift, qualifying him for it; the Targum interprets it the spirit of prophecy; it seems father to be the spirit of counsel and courage, of strength and fortitude of body and mind: and he judged Israel ; took upon him the office of a judge over them, and executed it; very probably the first work he set about was to reprove them... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 3:11

And the land had rest forty years ,.... As it should seem from the time of this deliverance; though, according to Ben Gersom and Abarbinel, the eight years' servitude are to be included in them; and Bishop Usher F18 Anual. Vet. Test. p. 42. reckons these forty years from the rest first settled in the land by Joshua; but the former sense seems best: and Othniel the son of Kenaz died : not at the end of the forty years; it is not likely he should live so long, but when he died is not... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 3:12

And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the Lord ,.... Fell into idolatry again, which was a great evil in the sight of God, and what they were prone to fall into: and the Lord strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel ; put it into his heart to invade them, and encouraged him to it, and gave him success; what kings reigned over Moab between Balak and this king we know not: it is a commonly received notion of the Jews, that Ruth was the daughter of Eglon; see ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 3:13

And he gathered unto him the children of Ammon and Amalek ,.... Either the Lord gathered them to Eglon, inclined them to enter into a confederacy with him, to assist in the war against Israel; or the king of Moab got them to join with him in it, they being his neighbours, and enemies to Israel, and especially Amalek: and went and smote Israel ; first the two tribes and a half, which lay on that side Jordan Moab did, whom it is reasonable to suppose he would attack first; and having... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 3:14

So the children of Israel served Eglon king of Moab eighteen years. Ten years longer than they served the king of Mesopotamia, Judges 3:8 , as a severer correction of them for their relapse into idolatry. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 3:15

But when the children of Israel cried unto the Lord ,.... After being long oppressed, and groaning under their burdens, and brought to a sense of their sins, and humiliation for them, they asked forgiveness of God, and deliverance from their bondage; for it is very probable they were until towards the close of those years stupid and hardened, and did not consider what was the reason of their being thus dealt with: the Lord raised them up a deliverer ; another saviour, one that he made... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 3:16

But Ehud made him a dagger, which had two edges, of a cubit length ,.... A little sword, as Josephus calls it F25 Ibid. (Antiqu. l. 5. c. 4. sect. 2.) , with two edges, that it might cut both ways, and do the execution he designed by it, and was about half a yard long; which he could the more easily conceal, and use for his purpose: and he did gird it under his raiment ; that it might not be seen, and give occasion of suspicion; this was a military garment, the "sagum", as the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 3:17

And he brought a present unto Eglon king of Moab ,.... Accompanied by two servants, as Josephus says F2 Antiqu. l. 5. c. 4. sect. 2. , and who doubtless bore the presents; for that there were such with him that did is clear from Judges 3:18 ; nor can it be thought that so great a personage as a judge in Israel should go alone and carry a present in his own hands; though it is possible, when come to the king of Moab, he might take it from his servants, and deliver it to him with his... read more

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 3:8

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 3:9

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 3:10

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 3:11

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 3:12

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 3:13

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 3:14

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 3:15

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 3:16

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 3:17

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