Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 18:9
And they said, Arise, that we may go up against them: for we have seen the land, and, behold, it [is] very good: and [are] ye still? be not slothful to go, [and] to enter to possess the land.
9, 10 . The reply of the spies is overcharged, and the sentences out of logical order, probably owing to the combination of the two narratives. Moore thus separates the two: ( a) Arise, and let us go up against them: for when ye come, ye shall come unto a people secure, and the land is large, for it is a place where there is no want of anything that is in the earth; ( b) And they said, We have seen the land, and, behold, it is very good: and are ye still? be not slothful to go and to enter in to possess the land; God hath given it into your hand. A different arrangement is proposed by Budde, who further points out that we should expect the spies to mention the name of the place which they discovered and urged their clan to seize; accordingly he reads to Laish for against them in ( a), and supplies the omission in ( b). He distinguishes the sources as follows: ( a) And they said, Arise and let us go up [ to Laish ]; for we have seen the land, and, behold, it is very good; a place where there is no want of any thing that is in the earth; ( b) And they said, [ Why ] are ye still? be not slothful to go [ to Laish ] to possess the land, for [ Jehovah ] hath given it into your hand. When ye come, ye shall come is large. Of the two, Budde’s arrangement seems preferable; but it is impossible to reconstruct the sources with any certainty.
and are ye still? ] Cf. 1Ki 22:3. Budde’s correction, why for and, is an improvement.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 9. Arise, c.] This is a very plain and nervous address full of good sense, and well adapted to the purpose. It seems to have produced an instantaneous effect.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Are ye still, Heb. silent? Silence is oft put for stillness or cessation from action or motion, as Exo 14:14; Isa 62:1; Lam 2:18. For they do not accuse them for want of speaking, for that they did; but for want of doing, and putting their words and resolves into execution.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And they said, arise, that me may go up against them,…. That is, prepare for war, and go up in an hostile manner against the present possessors of the land, not doubting of being masters of it easily:
for we have seen the land, and, behold, it is very good. Adrichomius x says it was very good pasture land, and fertile, abounding with fruits of all kinds; and the same is attested by Josephus y:
and are ye still? can ye sit still, and be easy, and not bestir yourselves to go up and possess so good a country, of which an easy conquest may be made? or, affirmatively, “ye are still or silent” z; ye make no answer to what we say, and seem careless and indifferent about the matter; or by way of exhortation, “be silent”, either that the people may remain in their quiet, easy, careless state, and lest, on hearing designs against them, should prepare for their defence; or, as Abarbinel, lest any of the other tribes of Israel should hear of it, and go take it before them:
be not slothful to go, and to enter to possess the land; they suggest that there was scarce anything more to be done than to go and take possession, and that it would be altogether owing to their sloth and indolence if they did not.
x Ut supra. (Antiqu. l. 5. c. 3. sect. 1.) y Ut supra. (Antiqu. l. 5. c. 3. sect. 1.) z “vos autem desidetis”, Tigurine version; “et vos quiescitis”, Munster.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(9) Behold, it is very good.Comp. Num. 14:7; Jos. 2:23-24. The beauty of the site well bears out the descriptionthe rich and beautiful seclusion of that loveliest of the scenes of Palestine (Stanley). It was by a similar statement that Anaxilaus of Rhegium persuaded the Messenians to seize Zankle (Pausan. 4:23, quoted by Cassel).
Are ye still?1Ki. 22:3; 2Ki. 7:9.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
‘ And they said, “Arise, and let us go up against them, for we have seen the land, and, behold, it is very good. And are you still? Do not be slothful to go, and to enter in to possess the land.”
They gave the strongest encouragement to their tribal leaders to act at once and go and take possession of the land they had surveyed, and when they noted hesitation, pressed the need to act quickly. They pointed out that the land was very suitable for their needs, and all that was needed was to possess it. This was no time for hesitation.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Jdg 18:9-10. And they said, Arise, &c. There cannot be a more infallible presage of the ruin of any people or nation, of the immediate destruction of a city or a kingdom, than when they dwell quiet and secure, when they are careless, as if nothing could befal them; when the magistrates are as careless as the people, or care not to put the people to shame for any thing. As good to be without any magistrates, as to have such as will neither instruct nor punish those who do amiss. They who were sent from the children of Dan to spy out the land, and to search out an inheritance to dwell in, (Jdg 18:1-2.) thought that they need go no farther, when they had found in what condition and manner the people of Laish lived; that they dwelt careless, quiet, and secure, and that there was no magistrate in the land that might put them to shame in any thing: there was no more to be done, than to return to those who sent them, with the advertisement, Arise, &c.
Note; (1.) If there be no magistrate to bear the sword, or negligence let it sleep in the scabbard, barefaced iniquity will quickly walk in triumph. (2.) Shame is a great restraint on sin; when that is lost, men grow utterly abandoned. (3.) The security of sinners is their ruin.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Jdg 18:9 And they said, Arise, that we may go up against them: for we have seen the land, and, behold, it [is] very good: and [are] ye still? be not slothful to go, [and] to enter to possess the land.
Ver. 9. Be not slothful to go, &c. ] Thus do these spies notably and manfully encourage their contribules to set upon Laish, to secure a city. Captain Gam in like sort bespake our Henry V before the battle at Agincourt, If the French be so numerous, there will be enough to be killed, enough to be taken prisoners, and enough to run away. It proved accordingly, though the French were so confident of a victory, that they sent to King Henry, to know what ransom he would give. a
a Speed, 795.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
behold. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Arise: Num 13:30, Num 14:7-9, Jos 2:23, Jos 2:24
are ye still: 1Ki 22:23
be not: Jos 18:3, 1Sa 4:9, 2Sa 10:12, Joh 6:27, Heb 6:11, Heb 6:12, 2Pe 1:10, 2Pe 1:11
Reciprocal: 2Sa 19:10 – speak ye not a word 1Ch 22:16 – Arise
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
18:9 And they said, Arise, that we may go up against them: for we have seen the land, and, behold, it [is] very good: and {e} [are] ye still? be not slothful to go, [and] to enter to possess the land.
(e) Would you lose this good opportunity because of your laziness?