Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 18:28
And [there was] no deliverer, because it [was] far from Zidon, and they had no business with [any] man; and it was in the valley that [lieth] by Beth-rehob. And they built a city, and dwelt therein.
28. See on Jdg 18:7. The city was too far off from the suzerain power to obtain any help; and as no alliances had been made with the Syrians (again reading Aram for adam = ‘any man’), there were no friendly neighbours to come to the rescue.
the valley that lieth by Beth-rehob ] or that belongeth to B. The depression through which the Jordan flows begins to open out at the S.W. foot of Hermon; this seems to be the valley alluded to. If, as is probable, Laish-Dan occupied the site of Tell el-i, Beth-rehob may be identified with Bnias. According to 2Sa 10:6; 2Sa 10:8 Beth-rehob was a Syrian state.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Rehob (as Dan afterward) is mentioned as the northernmost point of the land of Canaan Num 13:21, and its position is defined with reference to the entering in of Hamath.
A city – Rather, the city. They rebuilt Laish, which they had burned down Jdg 18:29.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 28. There was no deliverer] They had no succour, because the Sidonians, from whom they might have expected it, were at too great a distance.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Beth-rehob; a place near Libanus and Hamath; of which see Num 13:21; Jos 19:28; 21:31; Jdg 1:31.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
28, 29. they built a city, and . . .call the name of that city DanIt was in the northern extremityof the land, and hence the origin of the phrase, “from Dan toBeer-sheba.”
Jdg 18:30;Jdg 18:31. THEYSET UPIDOLATRY.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And there was no deliverer, because it was far from Zidon,…. Under whose government and protection they seem to have been; and that city being at a distance from them, and the Danites coming upon them suddenly, there was no time to send to them for help, or any to come in to their assistance, and save them from their enemies, see
Jud 18:7
and they had no business with any man; that could have given them notice of the design of the children of Dan against them, nor to the Zidonians to come soon enough for their protection and defence; none there were in alliance with them except them:
and it was in the valley that lieth by Bethrehob; which lay in the northern border of the land of Canaan, as you go to Hamath of Syria,
[See comments on Nu 13:21].
and they built a city to dwell there; not a new one altogether, but they rebuilt and enlarged Laish, and made it convenient for them to dwell in.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(28) In the valley that lieth by Beth-rehob.At the foot of the lowest range of Lebanon, and at the sources of the Jordan (Num. 13:21), north of Lake Huleh. It is probably the Rehob of Jdg. 1:31, Jos. 19:30; and later it belonged to Syria (2Sa. 10:6) The name means house of spaciousness. Robinson (Bibl. Res. Iii. 371) identifies it with Hunn, a fortress which commands the plain of Huleh.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
28. Because it was far from Zidon The Zidonians were the only people likely to give them assistance at such a time of disaster, for they originally belonged to Zidon. See note on Jdg 18:7.
No business with any man No alliance with nearer governments. from whom, in such case, they might have received help.
Beth-rehob Dr. Robinson is inclined to identify this place with Hunin, an ancient fortress several miles southwest of Dan, and commanding a fine prospect of the plain of the Huleh. With him agrees J.L. Porter, who says: “The site is most commanding a terrace on the steep mountain side, a thousand feet above the plain of Dan. Facing it, on the opposite range of Hermon, I saw the ruins of Caesarea Philippi. The sacred writer, in telling the story of the capture of Laish by the Danites, says it was situated in the valley that lieth by Beth-rehob. There was the valley before me, and yonder little rounded hill in the midst of it is the site of Laish.” It was an important stronghold, and was occupied, in the time of David, by the Syrians. 2Sa 10:6. It is not to be confounded with the Rehob in the tribe of Asher, further west. Jdg 1:31; Jos 19:28.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Jdg 18:28 And [there was] no deliverer, because it [was] far from Zidon, and they had no business with [any] man; and it was in the valley that [lieth] by Bethrehob. And they built a city, and dwelt therein.
Ver. 28. Because it was far from Zidon. ] See on Jdg 18:7 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
business = dealings.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
And there: 2Sa 14:6, *marg. Psa 7:2, Psa 50:22, Dan 3:15-17
far from: Probably the people of Laish were originally a colony of the Zidonians; who being an opulent people, and in possession of a strong city, lived in a state of security, not being afraid of their neighbours. In this the Leshemites imitated them, though they appear not to have had the same reason for their confidence; and though they might naturally expect help from their countrymen, yet as they lived at a considerable distance from Sidon, the Danites saw they could strike the blow before the news of the invasion could reach that city. Jdg 18:1, Jdg 18:7, Jos 11:8, Isa 23:4, Isa 23:12
Bethrehob: Num 13:21, Rehob, 2Sa 10:6
Reciprocal: 2Sa 24:6 – Zidon 2Ch 16:4 – Dan Jer 49:31 – which dwell 1Th 5:3 – Peace