Judges 3:8

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Judges 3:8-11

We now come to the records of the government of the particular judges, the first of which was Othniel, in whom the story of this book is knit to that of Joshua, for even in Joshua's time Othniel began to be famous, by which it appears that it was not long after Israel's settlement in Canaan before their purity began to be corrupted and their peace (by consequence) disturbed. And those who have taken pains to enquire into the sacred chronology are generally agreed that the Danites? idolatry,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 3:8

Therefore the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel ,.... Because of their idolatry; see Judges 2:14 , and he sold them into the hand of Chushanrishathaim, king of Mesopotamia ; or Aramnaharaim; that is, Syria, between the two rivers, which were Tigris and Euphrates; hence the Greek name of this place is as here called Mesopotamia. Josephus F12 Antiqu. l. 5. c. 3. sect. 2. calls him king of Assyria, and gives him the name of Chusarthus; and indeed Chushanrishathaim seems to be... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 3:8

Chushan-rishathaim - Kushan, the wicked or impious; and so the word is rendered by the Chaldee Targum, the Syriac, and the Arabic, wherever it occurs in this chapter. King of Mesopotamia - King of נהרים ארם Aram naharayim , "Syria of the two rivers;" translated Mesopotamia by the Septuagint and Vulgate. It was the district situated between the Tigris and Euphrates, called by the Arabian geographers Maverannaher, "the country beyond the river," it is now called Diarbek. See the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Judges 3:8

Here we hold again the thread of the proper narrative, which seems as if it ought to have run thus Judges 1:1 : Now, etc. Judges 3:8, therefore (or “and”) etc.Served Chushan-Rishathaim - This is the same phrase as in Judges 3:14. From it is derived the expression, “the times of servitude,” as distinguished from “the times of rest,” in speaking of the times of the Judges. Mesopotamia, or Aram-naharaim, was the seat of Nimrod’s kingdom, and Nimrod was the son of Cush Genesis 10:8-12. Rishathaim... read more

Joseph Benson

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

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 3:8

sold. Compare Judges 2:14 . Jdg 2:14490 years since Abraham left Mesopotamia. read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Judges 3:8

Judges 3:8. Chushan-rishathaim, king of Mesopotamia— King of Mesopotamia, appears to be the interpretation of Chushan-rishathaim. Mesopotamia was situated between the Tigris and Euphrates, and thence had its name [between the rivers]: the Assyrians or Syrians were the inhabitants; and, instigated either by hatred or ambition, they passed the Euphrates, and fell upon the Israelites. We have very little light from prophane history concerning this king. He made the children of Israel tributary for... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Judges 3:8

8-11. sold them—that is, "delivered them" into the hand of Chushan-rishathaim—or, Chushan, "the wicked." This name had been probably given him from his cruel and impious character. served Chushan-rishathaim eight years—by the payment of a stipulated tribute yearly, the raising of which must have caused a great amount of labor and privation. 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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