Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 6:35
And he sent messengers throughout all Manasseh; who also was gathered after him: and he sent messengers unto Asher, and unto Zebulun, and unto Naphtali; and they came up to meet them.
35. In Jdg 7:23 these tribes, with the exception of Zebulun, gather together after the battle: here Gideon summons them before. It is difficult to reconcile the two statements. Some notice of a general muster is wanted to account for the large numbers with Gideon in Jdg 7:2-8; probably this was the reason why the verse was inserted here.
to meet them ] i.e. the Midianites; the previous verb means they went up for war, as in Jdg 6:3, Jdg 1:1, Jdg 12:3 etc.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
His own tribe, Manasseh, and the three northern tribes of Asher, Zebulon, and Naphtali hastened to join him. Issachar was probably unable to do so, because the Midianites were encamped in the heart of their country. Asher no longer abode in his breaches, as in the time of Jabin Jdg 6:17, perhaps ashamed of their former backwardness, and stung by the rebuke of Deborah; perhaps, too, from feeling the Midianite yoke much more galling than that of Jabin.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Throughout all Manasseh, on both sides of Jordan.
Unto Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali; because these tribes were nearest to him, and so could soonest join with him; and were nearest the enemy also, Jdg 6:33, and therefore were most sensible of the calamity, and would in all reason be most forward to rescue themselves from it.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And he sent messengers through all Manasseh,…. Of which tribe he was; not only he called by the trumpet that part of the tribe, the Abiezrites, who were within the sound of it, but the rest of the tribe at a greater distance from him he sent messengers to, acquainting them with his design, and inviting them to his assistance. Some think this refers both to the half tribe of Manasseh within Jordan, and the other half tribe on the other side Jordan; but that is not very probable, only the half tribe within it is meant:
who also was gathered after him; obeying the summons and invitation he gave them by the messengers:
and he sent messengers unto Asher, and unto Zebulun, and unto Naphtali; which three tribes lay nearest to him on the north; but he sent not to the inhabitants of the tribe of Ephraim, which lay to the south, and which afterwards occasioned a quarrel, Jud 8:1
and they came up to meet them; that is, the inhabitants of the above three tribes, at least many of them, came up from the places of their habitations to meet Gideon, and those that were associated with him, at their place of rendezvous.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(35) Throughout all Manasseh.The loyalty with which his own clan, the Abi-ezrites, rallied round him gave him a right to claim still wider support.
Asher.This tribe, by faithfulness on this occasion, partly redeemed its honour from the tarnish attached of its former defection. This time Asher did not linger on the sands of Accho or the rocks of the Tyrian Ladder. Issachar, however, as before, bowed his shoulder to the yoke. Perhaps the fact that the Plain of Jezreel, the battle-field of Palestine, was in the domains of this tribe, though not far from the border of Manasseh (Jos. 17:16), was unfavourable to their independence and strength. The fierce and haughty character of the tribe of Ephraim, and their jealousy of any leader who did not come from themselves, may have prevented Gideon from risking a rebuff by sending to them.
Zebulun, Naphtali.These tribes again distinguished themselves, as in the campaign against Jabin (Jdg. 5:18).
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
35. Manasseh Asher Zebulun Naphtali These tribes were near at hand, and could be easily summoned; but why other tribes were not also notified does not appear. Subsequently the Ephraimites were summoned to head off the flying Midianites, (Jdg 7:24,) but for all that took offence. Jdg 8:1.
They came up to meet them That is, the men of Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali came to meet the Manassites.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘ And he sent messengers throughout all Manasseh, and they also were gathered together after him, and he sent messengers to Asher, and to Zebulun, and to Naphtali, and they came up to meet them.’
Gideon now issued the call to the nearest tribes to assist him in his coming war. ‘Manasseh’ probably means the half-tribe on this side of Jordan. The others were very much connected with the invasions of the Midianites and their allies. Issachar was probably seen as included in Zebulun as earlier. All responded to the call.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Though clothed and armed with the Spirit of the Lord, yet, as the Lord is graciously pleased to work with human instruments, Gideon calls in the Lord’s people to his aid. And are we not taught to do the same by prayer? See Paul’s manner on this subject, Heb 13:18 , etc.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Jdg 6:35 And he sent messengers throughout all Manasseh; who also was gathered after him: and he sent messengers unto Asher, and unto Zebulun, and unto Naphtali; and they came up to meet them.
Ver. 35. And they came up to meet them. ] Asher was justly blamed by Deborah for their backwardness to fight against Sisera. Here they come with the first. Sarciamus et nos quod peccatum est. It is happy when people mend.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
messengers: 2Ch 30:6-12
Reciprocal: Jdg 7:23 – General
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jdg 6:35. All Manasseh On both sides of Jordan. Unto Asher, &c. Because these tribes were nearest, and so could soonest join with him; and were nearest the enemy also, (Jdg 6:33,) and therefore were most sensible of the calamity, and would in all reason be most forward to rescue themselves from it.