Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Judges 3:8
Judges 3:8. He sold them into the hand of Chushan-rishathaim So that the first enemies that oppressed the Israelites were the Syrians; who, either out of hatred, or a desire to enlarge their dominions, came over the Euphrates, and invaded them, and kept them in subjection eight years. King of Mesopotamia Which was that part of Syria which lay between the two great rivers Tigris and Euphrates. This lay at such a distance, that one would not have thought Israel’s trouble should have come... read more
Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Judges 3:6-7
Judges 3:6-7. They took their daughters, and served their gods Were drawn to idolatry by the persuasions and examples of their yoke-fellows. And served Baalim and the groves Or, Baalim in groves; that is, false gods, or rather their images, set up under shady trees, contrary to the command given Exodus 34:13. Some expositors, however, think the meaning is, Baalim and Ashtaroth; for by the addition of a single letter, the Hebrew word rendered groves, will be Ashtaroth, and the... read more