Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 1:14
And it came to pass, when she came [to him], that she moved him to ask of her father a field: and she lighted from off [her] ass; and Caleb said unto her, What wilt thou?
14. when she came ] into her husband’s house (Rth 4:11), or from the place where she had been kept in safety during the campaign (Moore).
she moved him to ask ] Jos 15:18; but since Achsah herself asks the favour Jdg 1:15, it is more natural to read he moved, instigated, her to ask. The LXX and Vulgate give this sense, but their evidence as to the original reading is not very decisive; nor is it easy to see why ‘he instigated her’ should have been altered to the present text.
she lighted down from off her ass ] to shew respect (Gen 24:64; 2Ki 5:21) and to beg a favour (1Sa 25:23). The meaning of the verb lighted, descended, only again in Jdg 4:21 (‘it pierced through’ RV.) and Joshua 15, is inferred from the context. To this day in the East the traveller who begs hospitality, for instance, in a Bedouin camp is required to dismount and approach the sheikh on foot.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 14. See Clarke on Jud 1:12.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
And it came to pass, when she came [to him], that she moved him to ask of her father a field: and she lighted from off [her] ass;
and Caleb said unto her, What wilt thou?] [See comments on Jos 15:18].
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(14) When she came to him.When she first reached his house as a bride.
She moved him.He was too modest to ask for himself, and he declined her request; but she will not enter till she has gained her way.
A field.Rather, the field. In the passage in Jos. 15:18 there is no definite article, but by the time this book was written the field then obtained by Achsah had become historical.
Lighted.Not merely in sign of reverence (like Rebecca in Gen. 24:64, and Abigail in 1Sa. 25:25), but leaped off with eager impetuosity. The Hebrew verb tsanach here used occurs in Jdg. 4:21, where it is rendered fastened, i.e., drove it firmly by a blow. The LXX. render it screamed or shouted from the ass; the Vulg., sighed as she was sitting on the ass; but they probably had a different reading. Suddenly, says Ewald, as if some accident had happened to her, she fell from her ass, and on being embraced by her anxious father, she adjured him as if in words of inspiration (Hist. Isr. ii. 366).
What wilt thou?Caleb was unable to understand her conduct in refusing to enter the house of her bridegroom.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
‘ And it happened that when she came to him, she moved him to ask of her father a field, and she lighted from her ass, and Caleb said to her, “What is it you want?” And she said to him, “Give me a blessing, for you have set me in the land of the South. Give me also springs of water.” And Caleb gave her the upper springs and the nether springs.’
The dowry Othniel requested, at her suggestion, was land, and when his wife discovered where this was, in the South, she approached her father to ensure good waters supplies, necessary in that region, by asking for permanent springs, which he gave her as a wedding gift.
This account is paralleled in Jos 15:16-19. It may have been copied from there, but more probably both were taken from a record made of the wars in Canaan similar to ‘the book of the wars of Yahweh’ (Num 21:14). For such were looked on as religious events confirming the covenant, not just as history.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
DISCOURSE: 2472
CHRISTS COMING TO JUDGMENT
Jdg 1:14-15. Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousand of his saints, to execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.
GOD has had in every age some to testify against the ungodly, and to warn them of the consequences of their sin at the future judgment: and though the faithful execution of this office meets with but ill returns from an ungrateful world, yet we trust there will be found, to the end of time, some, who will gladly suffer reproach or even death itself in the service of their God, and in the benevolent attempt to save their fellow-sinners from destruction. We do not indeed hear of many, who were witnesses for God, before the time of Moses; and even his warnings and exhortations were enforced principally with temporal sanctions: yet the certainty of a future judgment was known not only by Moses, but by the antediluvian world; and was solemnly urged by Enoch as a motive to repentance. This prophecy is not recorded in the Old Testament; but, by whatever means St. Jude attained the knowledge of it, whether by tradition, or by some written memorial, or by immediate inspiration, we may be sure that it was delivered by Enoch; and we may be thankful that such a precious fragment of inspired truth has been preserved to us.
It proclaims to us,
I.
The manner in which our Lord shall come to judgment
Christ, we are assured, is coming to judge the world
[There can be no reason to doubt that Enoch referred to Christ, even to that very seed of the woman, who was to bruise the serpents head: him he represents as coming to complete his victory over Satan and his agents by calling them to his tribunal, and by consigning them over to the punishment they have deserved. The New Testament writers uniformly speak to the same effect: they declare that it is at the judgment seat of Christ we must stand [Note: 2Co 5:10.]; that it is Christ who is ordained to be the Judge of quick and dead [Note: Act 10:42.]; and, that all judgment is therefore committed unto him, because he is the Son of man [Note: Joh 5:27.]; or, in other words, that he, who died for sinners, shall, in that very nature that he assumed for them, be the immediate author of salvation to his followers and of condemnation to his enemies.]
And even the manner of his appearing is here plainly predicted
[It is not with his saints, but with his holy ones, or holy angels, that he will come. The saints will not be his assessors in judgment till they themselves shall have received their sentence: then indeed they shall judge angels [Note: 1Co 6:3.]; but till then, they themselves will stand before him to be judged. But the holy angels will be his attendants in the clouds of heaven; all the myriads of them shall descend with him from their blessed abodes, to increase the solemnity of that day, and to honour him, to whom they owe their very existence. This accords with the description given by Daniel [Note: Dan 7:9-10.], by St. Paul [Note: 2Th 1:7-8.], and by Christ himself [Note: Mat 25:31.]. How different will our Lords appearance then be from what it was when he first visited our guilty world, and lay a helpless infant in the manger! and how earnestly should we now exert ourselves that we may he prepared to meet him!]
That our minds may be raised to an expectation of that day, let us consider,
II.
The ends of his coming
It is not to display his own glory that Christ will come; but,
1.
To pass judgment upon the whole world
[All, who have ever lived in this wretched world, shall be summoned before him. The old and the young, the rich and the poor, will all come forth out of their graves [Note: Rev 20:12-13.], and those that shall be then living upon earth shall be changed in the twinkling of an eye, and all shall stand together at his tribunal [Note: 1Co 15:51-52.]. Every one shall then be tried as by fire [Note: 1Co 3:13.]; their actions shall then be weighed as in a balance; and the most secret motions of their hearts be brought to light [Note: Rom 2:16.]. Then shall they that are approved, have praise of God; and they that are disapproved, be driven from his presence. Nor will Jesus merely pronounce the sentence of condemnation or acquittal, but he will execute it himself, either exalting them instantly to thrones of glory, or casting them headlong into the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone.]
2.
To manifest the equity of his decisions
[Whatever endeavours be now used to shew men their guilt and danger, they have many things to allege in their own favour [Note: They will impute their negligence to their situation in life, to necessity, or to any thing rather than the true cause, their own utter aversion to God and holiness.]; nor even if we could speak with the tongues of angels, could we bring home conviction to their hearts. But Jesus will shew them, beyond all contradiction, the futility of their excuses: and will prove by such unquestionable evidence the deeds they have committed, the words they have spoken, and the thoughts they have entertained, that they shall be silenced and confounded before him. The ministers, who once laboured for their salvation, shall then be forced to bear testimony against them: their companions in sin, though to their own confusion, must also testify of those deeds of darkness, which they once fondly hoped would be buried in eternal oblivion. The very places, where their most secret iniquities were committed, should rather stand forth to accuse them, than that they should escape with impunity [Note: Hab 2:11.]. Above all, God himself will be a swift witness against them [Note: Mal 3:5.], and will so thoroughly convince them of all their sins, whether of commission or of omission, that they shall be constrained to acknowledge the equity of that sentence, which dooms them to everlasting burnings. Even in hell will they be compelled to say, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments [Note: Rev 16:7.].]
Infer
1.
How needful is it that we should instantly begin our preparation for that day!
[Five thousand years ago the prophet spake of Jesus as so near at hand, that it seemed as if he were already come [Note: .]; and it is in this way that all, whether Prophets or Apostles, have been inspired to speak. So strongly did St Paul express himself on this subject that the Thessalonians conceived the judgment-day to be almost immediately at hand [Note: 2Th 2:2.]. In the same manner must we say, The Lord is at hand; the Judge is at the door [Note: Php 4:5. Jam 5:9.]. He surely is coming as soon as ever the events that are ordained to precede his advent shall have received their accomplishment. And with respect to us, it signifies little whether it be near or distant, since as death leaves us, judgment will find us. Is it not even madness then to delay our repentance, since we cannot tell but that death may come within the next year, or day, or hour? Beloved, shall your Lord come, and find you sleeping? Is he hastening towards you, and will you not prepare to meet him? O awake from your slumbers, and turn to him with your whole hearts; that so you may have confidence before him at his coming.]
2.
How desirable is it to possess an interest in Christ!
[It surely is not necessary to prove that we are ungodly, since we have all sinned, times without number, in thought, word, and deed, against the Divine Majesty. Whither then shall we go for the remission of our sins? How shall we get our iniquities blotted out from the book of his remembrance? Our tears, even if we could shed rivers of tears, will never avail for this end: nothing but the blood of Jesus can ever cleanse us from the guilt of one sin: and, if we be not washed in that fountain, we shall die in our iniquities, and lie under the guilt of them for ever. Let us then seek an interest in Christ. Let us never attempt to substitute any repentance or reformation of our own, in the place of his meritorious blood and righteousness: but let it be our one desire to be found in him, and to obtain from him those garments of salvation, which alone can cover the nakedness of our guilty souls [Note: Rev 3:18.].]
3.
With what confidence and comfort may believers look forward to the coming of their Lord!
[Whom will they have for their judge but the very person who bought them with his blood? the very person in whom they have believed; and to whom they cleaved with full purpose of heart? Be it so then; the catalogue of their sins shall be produced, a catalogue reaching, as it were, from heaven to earth; and they shall not have one word to offer in arrest of judgment: yet, will the Saviour pass a sentence of condemnation upon them? Will he not himself stand forth and testify, I saw their deep contrition; I treasured up their tears in my vial; I was witness to their frequent sighs and groans, and to their cries for mercy through my atoning blood: Deliver them from going down into the pit; I paid their ransom: they were mine; and they manifested that they were mine [Note: God represents himself in this very light. Jer 31:18-20.], by their obedience to my will, and their conformity to my image: Come, ye blessed children of my Father, inherit my kingdom prepared for you? Fear not then, ye weak and trembling saints; but rather be looking for and hasting to the coming of the day of Christ [Note: 2Pe 3:12.]: ye shall surely stand before him with joy; while they, who once justified their ungodliness, and thought, that to be among the godly was a fit matter for derision, shall bewail their folly, and confess the equity of the sentence that fixes you in heaven, and themselves in hell. Remember then with gratitude that you are to have Jesus for your judge; and when he says, Behold, I come quickly, let your hearts reply, Even so, come Lord Jesus [Note: Rev 22:20.].]
Fuente: Charles Simeon’s Horae Homileticae (Old and New Testaments)
14 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,
Ver. 14. And Enoch also ] Enoch foretold the day of judgment before Noah the deluge. That day is longer before it comes, but shall be more terrible when it is come.
Behold ] One calleth this word a starry note; another compares it to a hand in the margin of a book pointing to some notable thing; another compares it to the sounding of a trumpet before some proclamation, to procure attention; and it is no more than need, so heedless we are of our soul’s health. Hence the heathen’s hoc agite, Well this. in their sacred services. And the deacons in Chrysostom’s time were appointed to call often upon the people in these words, Oremus, attendamus, Let us pray, let us pay attention. I am afraid, saith a divine, most of us do believe the predictions of Scripture but as we believe the predictions of an almanac, which tells you that such a day will be rain, and such a day will he wind; you think it may come to pass, and it may not. So here; such a threatening may be fulfilled, and it may not; let us venture it; it may be “the Lord will deal” with us not according to his present menaces, but “according to all his wondrous works,” as those rebellious Jews suggested to Jer 21:2 .
The Lord cometh ] Syr. Maranatha. Hence the Jews say that the great excommunication Maranatha was instituted by Enoch.
With ten thousand of his saints ] Or, with his holy myriads; sc. of saints and angels; he shall not leave one of them behind him in heaven, Mat 25:31 . And whereas it is said, The Lord cometh, it shows that he is already on his way, and will be with us shortly. Where St Jude had this prophecy of Enoch it much matters not. The Jews have yet to this day some relics of it in their writings. And Tertullian tells us (de Habitu Mulierum), (but who told him I know not), that the book of Enoch’s prophecies were preserved by Noah in the ark, and that they continued and were read until the times of the apostles. But because they contained many famous testimonies concerning Jesus Christ, the Jews out of malice suppressed and abolished the whole book.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
to him. Supply Fig, Ellipsis with “home”.
a = the.
What Wilt thou? or, What aileth thee? Jos 15:18, Jos 15:19.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
And it came: Jos 15:18, Jos 15:19
and she lighted: Watitznach, “she hastily or suddenly alighted,” as if she had forgotten something, or was about to return.
Reciprocal: Gen 24:64 – lighted 1Sa 25:23 – lighted
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1:14 And it came to pass, when she came [to him], that she moved him to ask of her father a field: {g} and she lighted from off [her] ass; and Caleb said unto her, What wilt thou?
(g) Read Jos 15:18.