Judges 6:34-40

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Judges 6:33-40

Here we have, I. The descent which the enemies of Israel made upon them, Jdg. 6:33. A vast number of Midianites, Amalekites, and Arabians, got together, and came over Jordan, none either caring or daring to guard that important and advantageous pass against them, and they made their headquarters in the valley of Jezreel, in the heart of Manasseh's tribe, not far from Gideon's city. Some think that the notice they had of Gideon's destroying Baal's altar brought them over, and that they came to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 6:34

But the Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon ,.... Not the spirit of prophecy, as Maimonides F24 Moreh Nevochim, par. 2. c. 45. , who calls this spirit the first degree of prophecy, but a spirit of fortitude and courage, as the Targum; the Spirit of God filled him, or, as in the Hebrew text, "clothed" F25 לבשח "induit", Pagninus, Montanus, &c.; Vid. Maimon. ut supra. (T. Bab. Temurah, fol. 28. 2. & 29. 1.) So Homer often represents his heroes as clothed with fortitude and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 6:35

And he sent messengers through all Manasseh ,.... Of which tribe he was; not only he called by the trumpet that part of the tribe, the Abiezrites, who were within the sound of it, but the rest of the tribe at a greater distance from him he sent messengers to, acquainting them with his design, and inviting them to his assistance. Some think this refers both to the half tribe of Manasseh within Jordan, and the other half tribe on the other side Jordan; but that is not very probable, only the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 6:36

And Gideon said unto God ,.... Not to a prophet of God who was there, of whom he asked the following signs to be done, as Ben Gersom, but to God in prayer, as Abarbinel: if thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said ; not that he doubted of it, but was willing to have a confirmation of his faith; and perhaps his view was more for the encouragement of those that were with him than himself, that he desired the following signs; and though he had had one before, that was to show... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 6:37

Behold, I will put a fleece of wool on the floor ,.... On the floor where he was threshing, where the angel first appeared to him, and which lay exposed to the open air, so that the dew might easily fall upon it: and if the dew be on the fleece only ; the dew that falls from heaven in the night, when he proposed it should lie on the floor till morning: and it be dry upon all the earth beside ; meaning not upon all the world, nor even upon all the land of Israel, but upon all the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 6:38

And it was so ,.... The Lord condescended to work this miracle for the confirmation of his faith, and for the encouragement of those that were with him; the fleece was wet with the dew of heaven, and all the ground about it dry: for he rose up early in the morning ; being eagerly desirous of knowing whether his request would be granted, and how it would be with the fleece: and thrust the fleece together ; to satisfy himself whether the dew had fallen on it, and there was any moisture... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 6:39

And Gideon said unto God ,.... In the same way as before, and on the morning when he had been favoured with the sight of the above miracle: let not thine anger be hot against me, and I will speak but this once ; he was conscious to himself that it showed great presumption and boldness in him to repeat his request, and that it had the appearance of great diffidence and distrust in him, after he had been indulged with such a sign to confirm his faith; but as it was not so much on his own... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 6:40

And God did so that night ,.... The night following, the night being the season in which the dew falls: for it was dry upon the fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground ; and this might signify, that not Gideon only, as before, should partake of the divine favour, but all the Israelites, who would share in the salvation wrought by him. Many interpreters observe, that all this is an emblem of the different case and state of the Jews and Gentiles under the different dispensations;... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 6:34

The Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon - He was endued with preternatural courage and wisdom. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 6:36

If thou wilt save Israel - Gideon was very bold, and God was very condescending. But probably the request itself was suggested by the Divine Spirit. On the miracle of the fleece, dew, and dry ground, Origen, in his eighth homily on the book of Judges, has many curious and interesting thoughts, I shall insert the substance of the whole: - The fleece is the Jewish nation. The fleece covered with dew, while all around is dry, the Jewish nation favored with the law and the prophets. The... read more

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