Judges 6:11-16

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 6:14

Go in this thy might - What does the angel mean? He had just stated that Jehovah was with him; and he now says, Go in This thy might, i.e., in the might of Jehovah, who is with thee. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 6:15

Wherewith shall I save Israel ? - I have neither men nor money. Behold , my family is poor in Manasseh - הדל אלפי הנה , Behold, my thousand is impoverished. Tribes were anciently divided into tens, and fifties, and hundreds, and thousands; the thousands therefore marked grand divisions, and consequently numerous families; Gideon here intimates that the families of which he made a part were very much diminished. But if we take אלפי alpey for the contracted form... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 6:16

Thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man - Thou shalt as surely conquer all their host as if thou hadst but one man to contend with; or, Thou shalt destroy them to a man. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Judges 6:11

An oak - “The oak,” indicating it as a well-known tree, still standing in the writer’s days.There was another Ophrah in Benjamin Joshua 18:23. This Ophrah was in Manasseh, and was the village of Joash, the head, apparently, of the family of Abiezer, which was one of the families of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh Numbers 26:30. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Judges 6:12

Thou mighty man of valor - Known to God to be such, though as yet not known to be such either by himself or his countrymen (compare Luke 1:28, Luke 1:30). read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Judges 6:13

The extreme bitterness of the national sufferings under the Midianite occupation breaks out in Gideon’s language. The Angel’s words, suitable to times of prosperity, seemed to be a mockery, when it was evident the Lord was not with them. (Compare Deuteronomy 31:17.) read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Judges 6:14

The Lord looked upon him - That gracious look conferred immediate strength (compare Ephesians 6:10; 2 Corinthians 12:9; John 20:22; Acts 3:6) The change of phrase from “the angel of the Lord” to “the Lord” is remarkable. When messages are delivered by the Angel of the Lord, the form of the message is as if God Himself were speaking (compare Judges 2:1).The sending implied a valid commission and sufficient powers. Compare Exodus 3:10; Isaiah 44:26; Ezekiel 2:3; Zechariah 2:11; Malachi 3:1; Luke... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Judges 6:15

Gideon now perceived that the Lord was speaking to him by His angel. He saw, however, no qualifications in himself, or in his family or tribe, for the office of saviour to his people. He therefore desires some assurance that the message he had just received was indeed from God, and not a mere dream or delusion. He asks as a sign Judges 6:18 that his mysterious visitor should tarry under the oak until he should return to Him with his gifts and offerings. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Judges 6:11

Judges 6:11. And there came an angel of the Lord It is probable that many of the Israelites laid the prophet’s message to heart, and began to repent and reform, and that therefore God had compassion upon them, and sent an angel to appoint them a deliverer. In Ophrah In Manasseh; there was, however, another Ophrah in Benjamin, Joshua 18:23. Joash, the Abi- ezrite Of the posterity of Abi-ezer. Thrashed Not with oxen, as the manner was, (Deuteronomy 25:4,) but with a staff, to prevent... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Judges 6:12

Judges 6:12. The Lord is with thee That is, to guide and strengthen thee, to animate and support thee. He is with thee, giving thee a commission to go out against the enemies of Israel, communicating to thee all necessary qualifications for the execution of this commission, and assuring thee of success therein. The Chaldee interprets it, The Word of the Lord is thy help, “which shows,” says Dr. Dodd, “that the ancient Jews looked upon this angel as the Lord himself, which is confirmed... read more

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