Judges 3:12-30 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Judges 3:12-30

Ehud is the next of the judges whose achievements are related in this history, and here is an account of his actions. I. When Israel sins again God raises up a new oppressor, Jdg. 3:12-14. It was an aggravation of their wickedness that they did evil again after they had smarted so long for their former iniquities, promised so fair when Othniel judged them, and received so much mercy from God in their deliverance. What, and after all this, again to break his commandments! Was the disease... 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 Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 3:18

And when he had made an end to offer the present ,.... Had delivered the several things contained in it, and very probably made a speech to the king in the name of the people of Israel from whom he brought it: he sent away the people that bare the present ; not the servants of Eglon that introduced him, as if they assisted in bringing in the present to the king; for over them he could not have so much power as to dismiss them at pleasure; but the children of Israel that came along with... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 3:19

But he himself turned again from the quarries that were by Gilgal ,...., For so far he accompanied the men that came with him. These quarries were places where they dug stones and hewed them, according to the Targum, and most Jewish writers; but some render the word "engravings", and understand them of inscriptions engraved on pillars here, which remained from the times of Seth the son of Adam; of which see more on Judges 3:26 ; but according to the Vulgate Latin, and other versions,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 3:20

And Ehud came unto him ,.... Somewhat nearer him than he was before; it seems probable that Eglon retired from the presence chamber, where he received company, into his summer parlour; which was smaller and more private, and in which he had used to be alone, as follows, and whither Ehud went in unto him, as he directed him: and he was sitting in a summer parlour, which he had for himself alone : into which he was wont to go and sit alone, for the sake of coolness and refreshment in the... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Judges 3:12-30

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 3:18

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 3:19

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 3:20

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