Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 3:25
And they tarried till they were ashamed: and, behold, he opened not the doors of the parlor; therefore they took a key, and opened [them]: and, behold, their lord [was] fallen down dead on the earth.
25. till they were ashamed ] Cf. 2Ki 2:17; 2Ki 8:11; an idiom expressive of surprise and perplexity.
the key, and opened them ] The lock or bolt was constructed most likely in the same fashion as the wooden locks still used in Palestine; the bolt is shot by hand, the key is used only for unlocking.
was fallen down dead ] Cf. Jdg 4:22; Jdt 14:14 f.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
A key – literally, an opener. Probably a wooden instrument with which they either lifted up the latch within, or drew back the wooden bar or bolt. The chief officer of Eglons household probably had a second key (compare Isa 22:15, Isa 22:20-22; Isa 37:2).
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Ashamed, or, confounded, not knowing what to say or think; lest they should either disturb him, or be guilty of neglect towards him.
A key; another key, it being usual in princes courts to have divers keys for the same door.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And they tarried until they were ashamed,…. And knew not what to think of it, or what methods to take to be satisfied of the truth of the matter, and what should be the meaning of the doors being kept locked so long:
and, behold, he opened not the doors of the parlour; this was what surprised them, and threw them into this confusion of mind, that they knew not what course to take for fear of incurring the king’s displeasure, and yet wondered the doors were not opened for so long a time:
therefore they took a key and opened [them]; this is the first time we read of a key, which only signifies something to open with; and the keys of the ancients were different from those of ours; they were somewhat like a crooked sickle i, which they put in through a hole in the door, and with it could draw on or draw back a bolt, and so could lock or unlock with inside, see So 5:4; and at this day the keys in the eastern countries are unlike ours. Chardin k says, that a lock among the eastern people is like a little harrow, which enters half way into a wooden staple, and the key is a wooden handle with points at the end of it, which are pushed into the staple, and so raise this little harrow:
and, behold, their lord [was] fallen dead on the earth; lay prostrate on the floor of the parlour, dead.
i ‘ , Homer. Odyss. 21. ver. 6. & Eustathius in ib. k Apud Calmet’s Dictionary, on the word “Key”.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(25) Tarried till they were ashamed.See 2Ki. 2:17; 2Ki. 8:11. It is a dangerous matter to intrude on the privacy of an Oriental king.
A key.Literally, the opener. The ancient key was simply a bar of wood, hooked at the end, which passed through a hole in the door and caught the bolt inside.
Their lord was fallen down dead.Comp. Jdg. 4:22.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
25. Took a key See on Jdg 3:23.
Dead on the earth That is, on the floor of his chamber. Perhaps the fatal thrust of Ehud’s dagger had not produced instant death, but had so far disabled the king that he could not raise an alarm. He was found dead.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘ And they waited until they were embarrassed, and behold he did not open the doors of the parlour. So they took the key and opened them, and behold their lord had fallen down dead on the floor.’
They waited and waited, not daring to disturb him, until so much time had passed that they were abashed. Then they no doubt sought to attract his attention. But in the end they took their courage in both hands and unlocked the door, and found the king lying dead, prostrate on the floor.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Jdg 3:25 And they tarried till they were ashamed: and, behold, he opened not the doors of the parlour; therefore they took a key, and opened [them]: and, behold, their lord [was] fallen down dead on the earth.
Ver. 25. And they tarried till they were ashamed, ] viz., Of their long staying, and not looking after their lord.
And, behold, their lord was fallen down dead.
“ Ad generum Cereris sine caede et sanguine pauci
Descendunt reges, et sicca morte tyranni. ”
God, when he hath chastised his children, doth many times cast the rod into the fire: witness the persecutors in all ages, many of whom came to untimely ends. Most of the Caesars, till Constantine, got nothing by their adoption or designation, nisi ut citius interficerentur,
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
a key = the key.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Jdg 3:25. They tarried till they were ashamed Till they were in great confusion, not conceiving what could cause him to sleep so much longer than usual; and not knowing what to say or think, afraid that they should either disturb him, or be guilty of neglect toward him. They took a key and opened them Another key, it being usual in the courts of kings for more persons than one to be intrusted with keys to the same room.