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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 6:21

Then the angel of the Lord put forth the end of the staff that was in his hand ,.... With which he walked, appearing as a traveller, and which was one reason of Gideon's providing for his refreshment, before he proceeded on in his journey: and touched the flesh and the unleavened cakes ; did not strike the rock with it, as Moses did with his rod, to fetch out water for the Israelites, but touched the provisions brought him; not using it instead of a knife to separate any part of them,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 6:21

The angel - put forth the end of the staff - He appeared like a traveler with a staff in his hand; this he put forth, and having touched the flesh, fire rose out of the rock and consumed it. Here was the most evident proof of supernatural agency. Then the angel - departed out of his sight - Though the angel vanished out of his sight, yet God continued to converse with him either by secret inspiration in his own heart, or by an audible voice. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Judges 6:21-24

Judges 6:21-24. There rose up fire out of the rock, and consumed the flesh By which he showed himself not to be a man that needed such provisions, but the Son of God; and by this instance of his omnipotency, gave him assurance that he both could and would consume the Midianites. Alas, O Lord God I am an undone man: I must die, and that speedily; for that he feared, (Judges 6:23,) according to the common opinion in that case. The Lord said unto him Perhaps by an audible voice, for it... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Judges 6:1-40

Click image for full-size versionClick image for full-size versionGod prepares Gideon (6:1-40)Israel’s return to sinful and idolatrous ways met its punishment in the raids of the Midianites. As usual the Amalekites were pleased to join in the attack. Year by year, for seven years, the invaders rode their army of camels from the deserts of Arabia, crossed the Jordan, and raided the fields and herds of the helpless Israelites. Their attacks reached as far north as Naphtali and as far west as... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Judges 6:21

rose up fire. This fire was the token of Jehovah's acceptance. See note on "respect", Genesis 4:4 . fire = the fire. read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Judges 6:21

Judges 6:21. Then the angel—put forth the end of the staff, &c.— This divine person, appearing, most probably, in the form of a traveller, with a staff in his hand, just touched the cakes and the flesh, &c. with that staff, when immediately fire arose up out of the rock and consumed them: a miracle, no doubt, as great as if fire had come down from heaven, as on the sacrifices which Moses, Elijah, and others offered. Thus the faith of Gideon was confirmed; he had no doubt of the Divinity... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Judges 6:1-32

1. The story of Gideon 6:1-8:32Paul Tanner pointed out that the Gideon narrative consists of five primary structural sections."The first section (Judges 6:1-10) provides the introduction and setting before Gideon’s debut, the second section (Judges 6:11-32) gives the commissioning of Gideon as deliverer of Israel, the third section (Judges 6:33 to Judges 7:18) presents the preparation for the battle, the fourth section (Judges 7:19 to Judges 8:21) recounts the defeat of the Midianite army, and... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Judges 6:11-32

Gideon’s commissioning by Yahweh 6:11-32". . . the heroic women of the song [of Deborah, ch. 5] give way to an unheroic ’man of Israel’ (Judges 7:14) who not only does all he can to evade the call of Yahweh but in the end abandons God. . . . In the person of Gideon the narrator recognizes the schizophrenic nature of Israel’s spiritual personality. On the one hand she treasures her call to be God’s covenant people; on the other she cannot resist the allurements of the prevailing Canaanite... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Judges 6:19-24

The Angel’s sign 6:19-24The food Gideon offered his visitor was what a person would normally set before a guest one wished to honor in a special way in that culture. The Angel directed Gideon to place the food on the rock as a sacrifice on an altar. The Angel’s miracle convinced Gideon that He was God and that He would fulfill His promises to be with Gideon and to grant him victory. Perhaps Gideon remembered how God had consumed the sacrifice on the brazen altar similarly when the Israelites... read more

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