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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Judges 6:11-24

It is not said what effect the prophet's sermon had upon the people, but we may hope it had a good effect, and that some of them at least repented and reformed upon it; for here, immediately after, we have the dawning of the day of their deliverance, by the effectual calling of Gideon to take upon him the command of their forces against the Midianites. I. The person to be commissioned for this service was Gideon, the son of Joash, Jdg. 5:14. The father was now living, but he was passed by, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 6:15

And he said unto him, oh my Lord ,.... Whether he had yet suspected who he was, or took him still for some eminent person, is not certain; it is very probable he began to think he was some extraordinary person sent of God, and speaking in his name, and therefore expostulates with him about the work he put him upon: wherewith shall I save Israel ? in what way is it possible for me to do it, who had neither men nor money sufficient for such an undertaking? behold, my family is poor in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 6:16

And the Lord said unto him, surely I will be with thee ,.... The Targum is,"my Word shall be thy help,'which was sufficient to answer all objections taken from his meanness, unworthiness, and weakness: and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man ; all together, and as easily as if thou hadst but one man to deal with, and the destruction be so entire and general that none shall be left. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 6:17

And he said unto him, if now I have found grace in thy sight , &c.; Or seeing he had, as appeared by his salutation of him as a man of might, by the work he gave him a commission to do, and by the promise of assistance and success: then show me a sign that thou talkest with me ; in the name of God, as a messenger sent by him, whether an angel or a man; for who he was as yet Gideon was not clear in it, and that what he had said was truth, and would be certainly fulfilled; and which... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 6:18

Intending to go to his own, or his father's house, to fetch some food to entertain him with, and therefore entreats he would not quit the place where he was until he returned: and bring forth my present, and set it before thee ; to treat him with, as a stranger and a messenger of God; and perhaps he thought, by this means, the better to discover who he was, whether an angel or a man: the word for the "present" is "minchah", often used for a meat offering, therefore some have thought of a... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 6:15

Wherewith shall I save Israel ? - I have neither men nor money. Behold , my family is poor in Manasseh - הדל אלפי הנה , Behold, my thousand is impoverished. Tribes were anciently divided into tens, and fifties, and hundreds, and thousands; the thousands therefore marked grand divisions, and consequently numerous families; Gideon here intimates that the families of which he made a part were very much diminished. But if we take אלפי alpey for the contracted form... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 6:16

Thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man - Thou shalt as surely conquer all their host as if thou hadst but one man to contend with; or, Thou shalt destroy them to a man. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 6:17

Show me a sign - Work a miracle, that I may know that thou hast wisdom and power sufficient to authorize and quality me for the work. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 6:18

And bring forth my present - My minchah ; generally an offering of bread, wine, oil, flour, and such like. It seems from this that Gideon supposed the person to whom he spoke to be a Divine person. Nevertheless, what he prepared and brought out appears to be intended simply as an entertainment to refresh a respectable stranger. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Judges 6:15

Gideon now perceived that the Lord was speaking to him by His angel. He saw, however, no qualifications in himself, or in his family or tribe, for the office of saviour to his people. He therefore desires some assurance that the message he had just received was indeed from God, and not a mere dream or delusion. He asks as a sign Judges 6:18 that his mysterious visitor should tarry under the oak until he should return to Him with his gifts and offerings. read more

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