Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 17:6
In those days [there was] no king in Israel, [but] every man did [that which was] right in his own eyes.
In those days … – This phrase, indicating distinctly that the writer lived after the establishment of the kingly government in Israel, is unique to the author of these last five chapters.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 6. There was no king in Israel] The word melech, which generally means king, is sometimes taken for a supreme governor, judge, magistrate, or ruler of any kind; (see Ge 36:31, and De 33:5); and it is likely it should be so understood here.
Every man did that which was right in his own eyes.] He was his own governor, and what he did he said was right; and, by his cunning and strength, defended his conduct. When a man’s own will, passions, and caprice, are to be made the rule of law, society is in a most perilous and ruinous state. Civil government is of God; and without it the earth must soon be desolated. There was a time when there was no king in England; and that was, in general, a time of scandal to religion, and oppression to men.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
No king, i.e. no judge to govern and control them. The word king being here used largely for a supreme magistrate; as Gen 36:31; Deu 33:5. God raised up judges to rule and deliver the people when he saw fit; and at other times for their sins he suffered them to be without them, and such a time this was; and therefore they ran into that idolatry from which the judges usually kept them, as appears by that solemn and oft-repeated passage in this book, that after the death of such or such a judge the people forsook the Lord, and turned to idols.
That which was right in his own eyes, i.e. not what pleased God, but what best suited his own fancy or lusts.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
6. every man did that which wasright in his own eyesFrom want of a settled government, therewas no one to call him to account. No punishment followed any crime.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
In those days there was no king in Israel,…. That is, no supreme magistrate, judge, or ruler, Joshua being dead and Caleb also, and the elders contemporary with them; for what the Samaritan Chronicle says l is without foundation, that Joshua a little before his death cast a lot in the presence of the congregation, to know who should govern after him, and the lot came to one Abel, of the tribe of Judah:
[but] every man did that which was right in his own eyes; which accounts for the idolatry of Micah, there being no supreme magistrate to take cognizance of his sin, and restrain him from it, or punish him for it according to the law of God.
l Apud Hottinger. Smegma Orient. p. 522.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(6) In those days there was no king.This shows that these narratives were written, or more probably edited, in the days of the monarchy. (See Jdg. 18:1; Jdg. 19:1; Jdg. 21:25.)
Did that which was right in his own eyes.The notice is added to show why there was no authoritative interference of prince or ruler to prevent idolatrous or lawless proceedings. (Deu. 12:8 : Ye shall not do after all the things which we do here this day, every man what is right in his own eyes.)
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
6. No king This verse seems here, as everywhere, to explain the irregularities and evils of the age. It here explains how a man in central Palestine could establish such a semblance of idolatry, and profanely make a priest contrary to the requirements of the law. There was no central government to look after such irregularities, and bring the whole nation to uniform methods of worship, or counteract and destroy the growth of various evils.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘ In those days there was no king in Israel, every man did what was right in his own eyes.’
Here is now the reason for their questionable behaviour. It was because in Israel every man did what was right in his own eyes. This in the writer’s view was the sad state of things. The first stress here was that the people were lawless and acknowledged no one over them. They did what they wanted and they ignored their true King Who was Yahweh (Deu 33:5). They did not submit to His kingship or seek to know His laws. So it was their attitude of heart which was in question, not the lack of One to rule over them. Because of this they were not submissive to the central sanctuary and to the covenant and to the religious authorities appointed by Him. The theocracy was failing because of the unresponsiveness of the people. And this was seen as illustrated by Micah.
Perhaps, however, it also had in mind the coming ideal king as depicted in Deu 17:14-15, who would not multiply wives to himself, but would sit on his throne and study Yahweh’s Laws and keep them. Such a king was not here as yet, for there was clearly no one to guide Israel in the way of truth. To make this phrase simply a comparison with and justification of the monarchy is just too glib and pedantic. The writer has earlier made quite clear his views on that kind of monarchy in, for example, chapter 9. It may, however, have been a wistful look forward to when such an ideal king as is described in Deuteronomy might come. This might suggest that it was written when such a king was theoretically still in prospect in the time of Samuel, without having been marred by the reality.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Jdg 17:6. In those days there was no king in Israel That is to say, no supreme governor; and, consequently, a total anarchy prevailed, (see 2Ch 15:3.) which words are inserted, not only as a reason why Micah set up this sanctuary at home, being afraid, through the deficiency of government, and the danger of the times, to go up to Shiloh; but also as a reason why he did it with impunity. Note; (1.) Corruptions in the church arise from small beginnings; to avoid idolatry, we must keep from superstition. (2.) It matters little whether the idol be set up in the heart or the house; whatever alienates the affections from God leads us into idolatry. (3.) The reason is given why this conduct of Micah met with no reproof; there was no judge in Israel; and they must be bad days indeed when no magistrates restrain sin, and ministers are negligent to reprove it.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.
The sacred historian very properly accounts for the whole of this sad defection in Israel; in those days there was no king neither order, nor government. No ministry of God to tell men of their transgressions: no magistrate to punish them. Reader! learn to set a proper estimate upon those two great blessings of the Lord, a standing ministry, to instruct men in the truths of salvation: and a well ordered government to protect those ministers. Remember: rulers are not a terror to good works, but the evil. Rom 13:3 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Jdg 17:6 In those days [there was] no king in Israel, [but] every man did [that which was] right in his own eyes.
Ver. 6. In those days there was no king in Israel, ] i.e., No ordinary supreme magistrate: hence this idolatry and the following outrages. Of the two, tyranny or ochlocraty, that rule of rascality, is better than anarchy. It is noted as a just wonder, that “the grasshoppers have no king, yet go they forth in bands”: Pro 30:27 for the body of the commonwealth which lacked a chief ruler, is like the body of Polyphemus, without an eye. Ulysses, asking what kind of kingdom the Cyclopes had, was answered by Silenus, N, , they wander at pleasure, and do what they want without control. The inhabitants of Brazil are said to be sine fide, sine rege, sine lege, without religion, law, or government, and must therefore needs be miserable. Look what a ship is without a steersman, a flock without a shepherd, a house without the father of the family, or a school without a schoolmaster; such is a state without a supreme government. This when none would take upon them, the prophet showeth that confusion followed, Isa 3:6 and men became as fishes, devouring one another.
But every man did that which was right in his own eyes.
a Orat., xlii.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
no king. First occurrence of four, See Jdg 18:1; Jdg 19:1; Jdg 21:25. Two conform to the structure here; and two in chs. Jdg 19:1, and Jdg 21:25.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
no king: Jdg 18:1, Jdg 19:1, Jdg 21:3, Jdg 21:25, Gen 36:31, Deu 33:5
right: Deu 12:8, Psa 12:4, Pro 12:15, Pro 14:12, Pro 16:2, Ecc 11:9, Jer 44:16, Jer 44:17
Reciprocal: Jdg 17:1 – there was
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jdg 17:6. There was no king in Israel No judge to govern and control them; the word king being used largely for a supreme magistrate. God raised up judges to rule and deliver the people when he saw fit; and at other times for their sins he suffered them to be without them, and such a time this was; and therefore they ran into that idolatry from which the judges usually kept them; as appears by that solemn and oft-repeated declaration in this book, that after the death of such or such a judge, the people forsook the Lord, and turned to idols. His own eyes That is, not what pleased God, but what best suited his own fancy.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
17:6 In those days [there was] no {e} king in Israel, [but] every man did [that which was] right in his own eyes.
(e) For where there is no Magistrate fearing God, there can be no true religion or order.