Judges 3:7

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Judges 3:1-7

We are here told what remained of the old inhabitants of Canaan. 1. There were some of them that kept together in united bodies, unbroken (Jdg. 3:3): The five lords of the Philistines, namely, Ashdod, Gaza, Askelon, Gath, and Ekron, 1 Sam. 6:7. Three of these cities had been in part reduced (Jdg. 1:18), but it seems the Philistines (probably with the help of the other two, which strengthened their confederacy with each other thenceforward) recovered the possession of them. These gave the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 3:7

And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord ,.... Both by marrying with Heathens, and worshipping their gods: and forgot the Lord their God ; as if they had never heard of him, or known him, their Maker and Preserver, who had done so many great and good things for them: and served Baalim, and the groves ; of Baalim, see Judges 2:11 ; the groves mean either idols worshipped in groves, as Jupiter was worshipped in a grove of oaks, hence the oak of Dodona; and Apollo... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 3:7

Served Baalim and the groves - No groves were ever worshipped, but the deities who were supposed to be resident in them; and in many cases temples and altars were built in groves, and the superstition of consecrating groves and woods to the honor of the deities was a practice very usual with the ancients. Pliny assures us that trees, in old times, served for the temples of the gods. Tacitus reports this custom of the old Germans; Quintus Curtius, of the Indians; and Caesar, and our... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Judges 3:7

And the groves - literally, Asheroth, images of Asherah (the goddess companion of Baal): see Deuteronomy 16:21 note. read more

Joseph Benson

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

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Judges 3:7-31

Othniel, Ehud and Shamgar (3:7-31)The first invader of Israel seems to have come from Aram, which was far to the north of Palestine. The Israelite leader who finally defeated him, Othniel, came from the tribe of Judah, which was in the south of Palestine (see Joshua 15:13-19). It appears, therefore, that the enemy had overrun most of the land. As in other cases recorded in Judges, Israel’s victory came through God’s special power given to the deliverer (7-11; cf. 6:34; 11:29; 13:25; 14:6,19;... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Judges 3:7

evil. Hebrew "the evil"; i.e. the special evil (idolatry) which had been forbidden as such. See App-44 . God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 . the groves = Asherim. App-42 . See note on Exodus 34:13 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Judges 3:7

THE MAIN BODY OF THE BOOK OF JUDGES (Judges 3:7-16:31);THE JUDGESHIPS OF OTHNIEL; EHUD; AND SHAMGARI. OTHNIEL (Judges 3:7-11)"And the children of Israel did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, and forgat Jehovah their God, and served the Baalim and the Asheroth. Therefore the anger of Jehovah was kindled against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia: and the children of Israel served Cushan-rishathaim eight years. And when the children of... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Judges 3:5-7

Judges 3:5-7. And the children of Israel dwelt among the Canaanites, &c.— We learn from these verses, that the children of Israel offended in three particulars: First, In suffering to remain among them that people whom they ought to have destroyed. Secondly, In contracting alliances with them, contrary to the express prohibition of the Lord, Deuteronomy 7:3; Deuteronomy 7:26. And thirdly, In worshipping their idols. The words Baalim, and the groves, undoubtedly mean the same, as Baal and... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Judges 3:7-11

A. The first apostasy 3:7-11The first of six periods of oppression by Israel’s enemies began while Othniel, Caleb’s younger brother, was still alive and strong (cf. Joshua 15:17; Judges 1:13). The writer identified each of these periods with the phrase "the sons of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the LORD" (Judges 3:7; Judges 3:12; Judges 4:1; Judges 6:1; Judges 10:6; Judges 13:1).Many scholars now identify Asheroth (Judges 3:7, NASB) with the Canaanite goddess Asherah (NIV) and the... read more

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