Judges 6:1

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Judges 6:1-5

D. The fourth apostasy 6:1-10:5The writer of Judges structured this book so the story of Gideon would be its focal center. Robert Chisholm Jr. argued that the events described in Judges 6:1 to Judges 16:31 were chronologically parallel to those in Judges 3:7 to Judges 5:31, thus harmonizing the events in Judges with 1 Kings 6:1. [Note: Robert B. Chisholm Jr., "The Chronology of the Book of Judges," Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 52:2 (June 2009):247-55.] "Within the main body of... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Judges 6:1-10

Renewed apostasy and its punishment 6:1-10The Midianites were Bedouin nomads and descendants of Abraham and Keturah (Genesis 25:1-2) who occupied the plains that bordered the Arabian Desert to the east of Moab and Ammon. They were raiders who descended on the Israelites at harvest times, stole their crops and possessions, and then retreated to their own land (cf. Isaiah 9:4; Isaiah 10:26; Isaiah 60:6). They did not want to kill the Israelites and take over their land. They preferred to let the... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Judges 6:1-32

1. The story of Gideon 6:1-8:32Paul Tanner pointed out that the Gideon narrative consists of five primary structural sections."The first section (Judges 6:1-10) provides the introduction and setting before Gideon’s debut, the second section (Judges 6:11-32) gives the commissioning of Gideon as deliverer of Israel, the third section (Judges 6:33 to Judges 7:18) presents the preparation for the battle, the fourth section (Judges 7:19 to Judges 8:21) recounts the defeat of the Midianite army, and... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 6:1-40

Gideon and the MidianitesThe story of Gideon, which runs from Judges 6:1 to Judges 8:33, is more detailed than that of Deborah and Barak; and, from the details, it would appear that different traditions have been used. Gideon, at the bidding of an angel, calls his clan together, and after reducing them to 300 men, and receiving the encouragement of a dream, surrounds the camp of the Midianites and throws them into a panic. The Ephraimites complete the defeat. The two kings of Midian are then... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Judges 6:1

(1) Did evil.—Judges 2:11; Judges 3:12; Judges 4:1.Midian.—Midian was the son of Adraham and Keturah (Genesis 25:2), and from him descended the numerous and wealthy nomadic tribes which occupied the plains east of Moab (Numbers 31:32-39). The name belongs, properly, to the tribes on the south-east of the Gulf of Akabah (1 Kings 11:18). Moses himself had lived for forty years among them (Exodus 3:1; Exodus 18:1); but the Israelites had been bidden to maintain deadly hostility against the nation... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Judges 6:1-40

Gideon the Humble Judges 6:0 I. At first sight the character of Gideon is a very inconsistent one. It seems to be composed of two opposite sides towering aspiration and drooping humility. Was there not imposed upon him a great, a responsible destiny a destiny which he must not seek to evade. Was he not bound to become the Saviour of Israel. So speaks the one side of his nature the aspiring side. But there is another side. This same Gideon is the most humble of men, the most shrinking, the most... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Judges 6:1-14

THE DESERT HORDES; AND THE MAN AT OPHRAHJudges 6:1-14JABIN king of Canaan defeated and his nine hundred chariots turned into ploughshares, we might expect Israel to make at last a start in its true career. The tribes have had their third lesson and should know the peril of infidelity. Without God they are weak as water. Will they not bind themselves now in a confederacy of faith, suppress Baal and Astarte worship by stringent laws and turn their hearts to God and duty? Not yet: not for more... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Judges 6:1-40

4. Fourth Declension: Under Midian and Gideon, Tola and Jair CHAPTER 6 1. Israel’s suffering from Midian (Judges 6:1-6 ) 2. Their repentance and the divine answer (Judges 6:7-10 ) 3. Gideon, the deliverer, chosen (Judges 6:11-24 ) 4. The restored worship (Judges 6:25-32 ) 5. The gathering for the conflict (Judges 6:33-35 ) 6. The sign of the fleece (Judges 6:36-40 ) After Deborah and Barak the land had fifty years’ rest, and when again they did evil they were delivered into the... read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 6:1-40

THE OPPRESSION OF MIDIAN (vv.1-10) However, Israel again repeated the evil of departing from the Lord. This time the Lord used Midian to put them under a yoke of oppression which lasted seven years (v.1). Midian also attacks the saints of God today.Its name means "strife," so it speaks of the spirit of quarreling that too frequently arises in the Church of God, and often results in divisions and separations. Because of the Midianites the children of Israel made dens, caves and strongholds... read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - Judges 6:1-40

GIDEON AND THE MIDIANITES The old story of sin and suffering is repeated after the death of Deborah. The Midianites occupied territory on the south and east, contiguous to Moab, and were wandering herdsmen like the modern Bedouins, who, in connection with the Amalekites, harassed Israel at every opportunity with the results indicated in Judges 6:1-6 . God sends a prophet to His people in this case before He sends a Savior (Judges 6:7-10 ), for they must be brought to repentance before... read more

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