Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 3:8
Therefore the anger of the LORD was hot 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.
8. sold them ] See Jdg 2:14 n. Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Here we hold again the thread of the proper narrative, which seems as if it ought to have run thus Jdg 1:1 : Now, etc. Jdg 3:8, therefore (or and) etc.
Served Chushan-Rishathaim – This is the same phrase as in Jdg 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 Nimrods kingdom, and Nimrod was the son of Cush Gen 10:8-12. Rishathaim is perhaps the name of a city, or a foreign word altered to a Hebrew form. Nothing is known from history, or the cuneiform inscriptions, of the political condition of Mesopotamia at this time, though Thotmes I and III in the 18th Egyptian dynasty are known to have invaded Mesopotamia. It is, however, in accordance with such an aggressive Aramean movement toward Palestine, that as early as the time of Abraham we find the kings of Shinar and of Elam invading the south of Palestine. There is also distinct evidence in the names of the Edomite kings Gen 36:32, Gen 36:35, Gen 36:37 of an Aramean dynasty in Edom about the time of the early Judges. Compare, too, Job 1:17.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Jdg 3:8
Sold them into the hand of Chushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia.
Israel in servitude
1. This was the first servitude of the Israelites ever since they came out of their house of bondage in Egypt; for now such detestable apostasy was found in Israel as heaven and earth had caused to be ashamed of (Jer 2:12-13); therefore is he made a slave and servant (Jdg 3:14). They that would not serve the Lord in the abundance of all things with gladness shall serve their enemies in the want of all things with sadness (Deu 28:47-48); therefore God forsook them, that they might know the worth of His service by the want of it under woful miseries (2Ch 12:8).
2. As this was the first oppression that Israel met with after their coming out of Egypt, so this king of Syria was their oppressor. This king had Gods commission to oppress Israel, for God sold them into this kings hands, and yet was he but a lessee; his possession was by virtue of a lease, and that only a lease limited to eight years. It surely seemed very long for those children of light to walk in such a place of darkness for eight years together; if so, the time of their suffering bears a due proportion to the time of their sinning.
3. The marvellous proportion God observed in proportioning Israels suffering to the proportion of their sinning. As Israels sinning increased in magnitude so their suffering increased in multitude, every term of their slavery rising higher and higher. They served this Chushan eight years, and, because not bettered thereby, they served Eglon eighteen years (Jdg 3:14) and afterwards Jabin twenty years (Jdg 4:3, etc.). With the froward God will deal frowardly (Psa 18:26). When lesser corrections could not restrain them from sin, God laid heavier punishments upon them, and punishes them seven times more; yea, and seven times more, and yet seven times more to that, as He had threatened (Lev 26:18; Lev 26:21; Lev 26:24; Lev 26:28). God will not give over punishing until men give over sinning.
4. The redeemer that the Lord raised up to redeem Israel out of their first slavery was Othniel (Jdg 3:9), which God would not yet do for them until they humbled themselves, when God, they saw, would get the better of them. And this deliverer, whom God sent to redeem Israel, when sold into the hands of this terrible tyrant, was a type of our Redeemer the Lord Jesus, who was sent of God to redeem us, and thus all the other judges be types of Christ, though some more eminently than others. Here the Spirit of the Lord came upon Othniel, gave him prudence, prowess, and magnanimity to make war against this tyrannical oppressor, and having vanquished him in battle, he restored rest to Gods Israel, governing his people in peace and in the profession and practice of Gods true religion according to His law. (C. Ness.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 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 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 Clarke on Ac 2:9.
Served Chushan – eight years.] He overran their country, and forced them to pay a very heavy tribute.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
i.e. Were made subject and tributary to him.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
8-11. sold themthat is,”delivered them”
into the hand ofChushan-rishathaimor, Chushan, “the wicked.” Thisname had been probably given him from his cruel and impiouscharacter.
served Chushan-rishathaimeight yearsby the payment of a stipulated tribute yearly, theraising of which must have caused a great amount of labor andprivation.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Therefore the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel,…. Because of their idolatry; see Jud 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 l calls him king of Assyria, and gives him the name of Chusarthus; and indeed Chushanrishathaim seems to be his whole name, though the Targum makes Rishathaim to be an epithet, and calls him Cushan, the wicked king of Syria; the word is of the dual number, and signifies two wickednesses; which, according to the mystical exposition of the Jews m, refers to two wicked things Syria did to Israel, one by Balaam the Syrian, and the other by this Cushan. Mr. Bedford n thinks it may be rendered,
“Cushan, king of the two wicked kingdoms;”
the Assyrian monarchy being at this time like two kingdoms, Babylon being the metropolis of the one, and Nineveh of the other; but it is question whether the monarchy was as yet in being. Hillerus o makes Cushan to be an Arab Scenite, from Hab 3:7; and Rishathaim to denote disquietudes; and it represents him as a man very turbulent, never quiet and easy, and so it seems he was; for not content with his kingdom on the other side Euphrates, he passed over that, and came into Canaan, to subject that to him, and add it to his dominions. Kimchi says that Rishathaim may be the name of a place, and some conjecture it to be the same with the Rhisina of Ptolemy p; but it seems rather a part of this king’s name, who came and fought against Israel, and the Lord delivered them into his hands:
and the children of Israel served Chushanrishathaim eight years; became tributaries to him during that space of time, but when that began is not easy to say. Bishop Usher q places it in A. M. 2591, and before Christ 1413.
l Antiqu. l. 5. c. 3. sect. 2. m T. Bab. Sanhedrin, fol. 105. I. n Scripture Chronology, p. 507. o Onomastic. p. 154, 155. p Geograph. l. 5. c. 18. q Annal. Vet. Test. p. 42.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
| The Government of Othniel. | B. C. 1336. |
8 Therefore the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Chushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia: and the children of Israel served Chushan-rishathaim eight years. 9 And when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD raised up a deliverer to the children of Israel, who delivered them, even Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother. 10 And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he judged Israel, and went out to war: and the LORD delivered Chushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand; and his hand prevailed against Chushan-rishathaim. 11 And the land had rest forty years. And Othniel the son of Kenaz died.
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, and the war with the Benjamites for abusing the Levite’s concubine, though related in the latter end of this book, happened about this time, under or before the government of Othniel, who, though a judge, was not such a king in Israel as would keep men from doing what was right in their own eyes. In this short narrative of Othniel’s government we have,
I. The distress that Israel was brought into for their sin, v. 8. God being justly displeased with them for plucking up the hedge of their peculiarity, and laying themselves in common with the nations, plucked up the hedge of their protection and laid them open to the nations, set them to sale as goods he would part with, and the first that laid hands on them was Chushan-rishathaim, king of that Syria which lay between the two great rivers of Tigris and Euphrates, thence called Mesopotamia, which signifies in the midst of rivers. It is probable that this was a warlike prince, and, aiming to enlarge his dominions, he invaded the two tribes first on the other side Jordan that lay next him, and afterwards, perhaps by degrees, penetrated into the heart of the country, and as far as he went put them under contribution, exacting it with rigour, and perhaps quartering soldiers upon them. Laban, who oppressed Jacob with a hard service, was of this country; but it lay at such a distance that one could not have thought Israel’s trouble would come from such a far country, which shows so much the more of the hand of God in it.
II. Their return to God in this distress: When he slew them, then they sought him whom before they had slighted. The children of Israel, even the generality of them, cried unto the Lord, v. 9. At first they made light of their trouble, and thought they could easily shake off the yoke of a prince at such a distance; but, when it continued eight years, they began to feel the smart of it, and then those cried under it who before had laughed at it. Those who in the day of their mirth had cried to Baalim and Ashtaroth now that they are in trouble cry to the Lord from whom they had revolted, whose justice brought them into this trouble, and whose power and favour could alone help them out of it. Affliction makes those cry to God with importunity who before would scarcely speak to him.
III. God’s return in mercy to them for their deliverance. Though need drove them to him, he did not therefore reject their prayers, but graciously raised up a deliverer, or saviour, as the word is. Observe, 1. Who the deliverer was. It was Othniel, who married Caleb’s daughter, one of the old stock that had seen the works of the Lord, and had himself, no question, kept his integrity, and secretly lamented the apostasy of his people, but waited for a divine call to appear publicly for the redress of their grievances. He was now, we may suppose, far advanced in years, when God raised him up to this honour, but the decays of age were no hindrance to his usefulness when God had work for him to do. 2. Whence he had his commission, not of man, nor by man; but the Spirit of the Lord came upon him (v. 10), the spirit of wisdom and courage to qualify him for the service, and a spirit of power to excite him to it, so as to give him and others full satisfaction that it was the will of God he should engage in it. The Chaldee says, The spirit of prophecy remained on him. 3. What method he took. He first judged Israel, reproved them, called them to account for their sins, and reformed them, and then went out to war. This was the right method. Let sin at home be conquered, that worst of enemies, and then enemies abroad will be the more easily dealt with. Thus let Christ be our Judge and Law-giver, and then he will save us, and on no other terms, Isa. xxxiii. 22. 4. What good success he had. He prevailed to break the yoke of the oppression, and, as it should seem, to break the neck of the oppressor; for it is said, The Lord delivered Chushan-rishathaim into his hand. Now was Judah, of which tribe Othniel was, as a lion’s whelp gone up from the prey. 5. The happy consequence of Othniel’s good services. The land, though not getting ground, yet had rest, and some fruits of the reformation, forty years; and the benefit would have been perpetual if they had kept close to God and their duty.
Fuente: Matthew Henry’s Whole Bible Commentary
List of Judges Jdg. 3:8 to Jdg. 16:31
Othniel Judges and Delivers Israel Jdg. 3:8-11
8 Therefore the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Chushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia: and the children of Israel served Chushan-rishathaim eight years.
9 And when the children of Israel cried unto the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer to the children of Israel, who delivered them, even Othniel the son of Kenaz, Calebs younger brother.
10 And the Spirit of the Lord came upon him, and he judged Israel, and went out to war: and the Lord delivered Chushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand; and his hand prevailed against Chushan-rishathaim.
11 And the land had rest forty years. And Othniel the son of Kenaz died.
5.
Who was Cusban-risbathaim? Jdg. 3:8
Cushan-rishathaim was the king of Mesopotamia. All that we know about this king is what is recorded here. The name is more than likely a title which was given to him by the Israelites. Rishathaim means double wickedness. Cushan may be a derivative of Cush, signifying that the man was a Cushite. The rulers of Babylon from 15181273 B.C. were Arabs, but the Arabs of the time may have included not only Shemites of the tribe of Joktan or Ishmael, but Cushites as well. The invasion of Canaan by this Mesopotamian king has a historical analogy in the campaign of the allied kings who came with Chedar-laomer in the time of Abraham (Genesis 14).
6.
Who was Othniel? Jdg. 3:9
Othniel was the son of Kenaz, Calebs younger brother, His tribe was Judah, Later Biblical history reveals he had a son named Hathath (1Ch. 4:13). Heldai, a Netophathite, is also described as being of the family of Othniel (1Ch. 27:15). Othniel had conquered Kiriath-sepher, later known as Debir, in the territory of Judah in the days of Joshua, As a result, he was given the daughter of Caleb, Achsah, as his wife (Jos. 15:17, Jdg. 1:13). Josephus in Antiquities (V. vi, 3) says Othniel had an admonition from God not to overlook the Israelites in their distress. Undoubtedly, he was stirred by the circumstance of these people and, as Josephus said, endeavored boldly to gain them their liberty. The particular problem in Othniels day was the oppression of Cushan-rishathaim, the king of Mesopotamia. Josephus said one of Othniels first strokes was to attack the garrison which Cushan had set over them. When the people saw he was successful in his first attempt, they were willing to join battle with the Assyrians, and thus they drove them out entirely. He held sway in Israel for forty years.
7.
What was the Spirit of the Lord? Jdg. 3:9-11
The Spirit of God is the spiritual principle of life in the world of nature and man; and in man it is the principle both of the natural life which we receive through birth and also of the spiritual life which we receive through regeneration. In this sense the expressions Spirit of God (Elohim) and Spirit of the Lord (Jehovah) are interchanged even in Gen. 1:2, compared with Gen. 6:3, and so throughout all the books of the Old Testament. The former denotes the Divine Spirit generally in its supernatural causality and power. The latter signifies the same Spirit in its operations upon human life and history in the working out of the plan of salvation. The recipients and bearers of this Spirit were thereby endowed with the power to perform miraculous deeds, in which the Spirit of God which came upon them manifested itself generally in the ability to prophesy (1Sa. 10:10; 1Sa. 19:20; 1Sa. 19:23; 1Ch. 12:18; 2Ch. 20:14; 2Ch. 24:20). His working is seen also in the power to work miracles or to accomplish deeds which surpassed the courage and strength of the natural man. The latter was more especially the case with the judges. We are hardly at liberty to split up the different powers of the Spirit of God and to restrict its operations upon the judges to the spirit of strength and bravery alone. The judges not only attacked the enemy courageously and with success, but they also judged the nation. For this the spirit of wisdom and understanding was indispensably necessary. They put down idolatry (Jdg. 2:18-19), which they could not have done without the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord. We can make these observations:
1.
The influence came straight from above
2.
It was not necessarily a sanctifying influence
3.
Not the same as the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit
4.
Gifts were miraculous, rather than gracious
8.
How are the chronological notes to be understood? Jdg. 3:11
All the chronological notes in the book of Judges indicate a period of 410 years. It has been supposed that the rule of several judges was contemporaneous, not successive. Therefore the total period during which the judges ruled Israel would be cut down accordingly. It is evident that this was not the thought of the writer. The reader of the Biblical narrative will note that it is stated in the case of the judges rule that they ruled over Israel. No intimation is made of taking Israel as partial or limited in sense. The best way to work out the chronological problem is to subtract the periods of oppression as having occurred during the time of some of the different judges, Adding up the total periods of rule of the judges, one finds the period must have been at least 299 years in length. If Abimelechs usurpation is ignored, then a total of 296 years is achieved; and this resultant number is very near the total which the statement in 1Ki. 6:1 suggests.
Fuente: College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
(8) Into the hand of Chushan-rishathaim.If the reading of all the MSS. be correct, this must be a term of hatred rather than a name, for it means Cushan of the double wickedness. Some MSS. of the LXX. have Chousarsathaim. Josephus (Antt. v. 3, 3) shortens it into Chousarthes; and St. Clemens of Alexandria (Strom. i. 21) into Chousachar. Syncellus (Chronogr. i. 58) says that Paphos was founded by those who fled from this Mesopotamian conqueror (Ewald). Cushan only occurs elsewhere in Hab. 3:7, I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction. Cush was a son of Nimrod (Gen. 10:8), and our translators, in the margin of Hab. 3:11, render Cushan by Ethiopia. It is quite possible that Rishathaim may be the distorted form of the name of some town. It is always the tendency of a people to re-stamp a word which they receive into their current phraseology, because no nations like to use a term which they do not understand. Thus in our London streets, Hangmans Gains is a corruption of Hammes et Guynes, and Blind Chapel Court, of Blanch Appleton.
The Jews were not only accustomed thus to re-stamp (sur-frapper) the names of foreign kings, peoples, and idols, but they especially rejoiced in using terms of hatred. Thus the Romans in the Talmud are called Idumeans; Beelzebul was changed into Beelzebub; Bethel into Bethaven; Ptolemy into Talmai; Ir-Cheres into Ir-Heres (see Note on Jdg. 1:33), &c. In an ancient Rabbinic commentary the two wickednesses are supposed to be those of Balaam and Cushan, or that of Laban repeating itself in his descendants. The Targum and Syriac render it the criminal Cushan.
King of Mesopotamia.In the original Aram-naharian, the highland of the two rivers (Euphratesand Tigris), or, as the LXX. render it, Syria of the rivers. His invasion, like that of Chedorlaomer, king of Elam, and Amraphel, king of Shinar, was from the south. Hence it is repelled by Othniel, whose inheritance was in the tribe of Judah. We find no other invaders from the far east till the close of the monarchy.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
8. Anger sold See on Jdg 2:14.
Chushan-rishathaim The last word is a Hebrew dual signifying of double wickedness Chushan, the moral monster. Of this Eastern king we have no other Scripture notice. “It is quite a gratuitous supposition of Bunsen’s that he was ‘a Mesopotamian satrap’ ’the Assyrian satrap of Mesopotamia.’ Scripture calls him king, and besides, the cuneiform monuments make it perfectly clear that Assyria did not extend her dominion to Mesopotamia till the middle of the twelfth century B.C. If the Assyrian and Babylonian kingdoms of the early period be rightly apprehended, there is no more difficulty in supposing a powerful Aramaean state in western Mesopotamia, than in imagining the country divided up, as we must otherwise regard it, among a number of petty principalities. Chushan-rishathaim reigned, probably, before the Assyrian independence was established.” Rawlinson’s Hist. Evidences, p. 300. Mesopotamia, signifying between the rivers, was that part of Syria which lies between the Euphrates and the Tigris. It is for the most part a vast plain seven hundred miles long and from twenty to two hundred and fifty broad. It is first mentioned in the Bible as the land where Nahor and his family settled after quitting Ur of the Chaldees. Gen 24:10.
Served Not as slaves: the servitude was not personal, but political, and consisted in the loss of national independence, and the payment of onerous tributes to this tyrant. This remark applies to the state of servitude to which the Hebrews often were reduced in the days of the Judges.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘ Therefore the anger of Yahweh was kindled against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Cushan-rishathaim, a king of Aram-naharaim. And the children of Israel served Cushan-rishathaim eight years.’
This was an opportunist king who had grown strong and was seeking booty and tribute (compare the kings in Genesis 14). He came from East Syria/Northern Mesopotamia. ‘Rishathaim’ means ‘of double wickedness’, but this was probably a play on his real name.
He is not identifiable from history. Various attempts have been made, but none have been fully satisfactory. The nearest comparison is the Kassite name ‘Kassa-risat’. There was also a place in northern Syria called Kushan-rom which is mentioned in the lists of Raamses III. He must have been fairly powerful for his short-lived empire to have reached this far, although he no doubt avoided stronger opponents.
“And the children of Israel served Cushan-rishathaim eight years.” That is they became tributary to him. This was very early on because Othniel, the son-in-law, of Caleb was still alive. The fact that he became involved suggests that Cushan-rishathaim’s control was quite extensive for Othniel was connected with Judah in the South. Although it may well be that he and Judah were called in to help under the covenant stipulations.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Jdg 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 eight years, which is the meaning of the word served in this place. Their subjection, says Calmet, consisted in paying a tribute; or, to speak in the style of Scripture, in making presents and rendering services to the king of Mesopotamia.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Here we have the relation of the first conqueror of Israel. King of Mesopotamia means, in the midst of rivers; probably so called from being situated between the two great rivers, the Euphrates and the Tigris. Eight years subjugation, no doubt, was long and grievous. Alas! how many years do God’s people groan under the powerful enemies both within and without, which rise against them by reason of their rebellion.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Jdg 3:8 Therefore the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Chushanrishathaim king of Mesopotamia: and the children of Israel served Chushanrishathaim eight years.
Ver. 8. Into the hand of Chusanrishathaim. ] Chusan impii, the Chaldee rendereth it; that is, Chusan the wicked. Gaudent tyranni horrendis nominibus, saith Lavater here, quae vel ipso sono homines terrere possint. Tyrants delight in terrible names and titles, as Attila, the Hun, who would needs be styled Ira Dei et orbis vastitas, the wrath of God, and waster of the world.
Eight years.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
sold. Compare Jdg 2:14. Jdg 2:14490 years since Abraham left Mesopotamia.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
am 2591, bc 1413, An, Ex, Is, 78
was hot: Jdg 2:14, Jdg 2:20, Exo 22:24, Deu 29:20, Psa 6:1, Psa 85:3
he sold: Jdg 2:14, Jdg 4:9, Deu 32:30, 1Sa 12:9, Isa 50:1, Rom 7:14
Chushanrishathaim: Hab 3:7
Mesopotamia: Heb. Aram-naharaim. Aram-naharayim, “Syria of the two rivers,” or Mesopotamia, “between the rivers,” is a famous province situated between the Tigris and Euphrates. It is called by Arabian geographers, Maverannaher, “the country beyond the river;” and is now called Diarbek.
Reciprocal: Gen 24:10 – Mesopotamia Deu 7:4 – so will Jos 23:15 – so shall 2Ki 13:3 – and he delivered 2Ki 22:17 – have forsaken 1Ch 17:10 – And since 2Ch 28:9 – because the Lord God Neh 9:27 – thou deliveredst Psa 78:34 – General Psa 106:40 – the wrath Psa 106:41 – he gave Isa 42:24 – General Eze 39:23 – gave them Dan 1:2 – the Lord Joh 8:33 – and were Act 2:9 – Mesopotamia
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jdg 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 Israels trouble should have come from such a far country; but this shows so much the more that the hand of God was in it.