Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 3:10
And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he judged Israel, and went out to war: and the LORD delivered Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand; and his hand prevailed against Cushan-rishathaim.
10 . the spirit of the Lord came upon him ] So the spirit came upon Jephthah Jdg 11:29, and clothed itself with Gideon Jdg 6:34, and impelled (Jdg 13:25) or rushed upon Samson Jdg 14:6; Jdg 14:19, Jdg 15:14, and Saul 1Sa 11:6. These heroes seemed to be possessed; their extraordinary feats of strength and daring struck the beholder as due to the presence of a superhuman power the spirit of the Lord, i.e. Jehovah directly acting in the physical, as elsewhere in the intellectual and spiritual, sphere. In the O.T. the spirit is not realized as a distinct personality; the spirit of Jehovah is Jehovah Himself in operation, and, as the divine name implies, in redemptive operation on behalf of Israel.
and he judged Israel ] See on Jdg 2:16. The verb means both ‘to give judgement’ and ‘to do justice,’ ‘to give a person his rights’; in the latter sense it is used in parallelism with ‘save,’ and can even be followed by ‘out of the hand of,’ 1Sa 24:15, 2Sa 18:19 ; 2Sa 18:31. In the, age before the monarchy the ‘judges’ or ‘deliverers’ exercised in Israel an intermittent function, to which they were specially summoned by Jehovah; hence the Dtc. compiler uses the word almost as the title of an office. When the national sense was more fully developed, the Israelites demanded a king to fulfil the same function permanently instead of intermittently: see 1Sa 8:20.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
And the Spirit of the Lord came upon him – The phrase occurs frequently in this book and in the books of Samuel and Kings. It marks the special office of the Judges. They were saviors (Jdg 3:9 margin; Neh 9:27) called and directed by the Holy Spirit, who endued them with extraordinary wisdom, courage, and strength for the work which lay before them (compare Jdg 6:34; Jdg 11:29; Jdg 13:25; Jdg 14:6, Jdg 14:19), and were in this respect types of Christ the Judge of Israel Mic 5:1, in whom the Spirit of the Lord God was without measure Isa 11:2; Isa 61:1; Mat 12:18-21; Job 1:32; Act 13:2.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 10. His hand prevailed] We are not told or what nature this war was, but it was most decisive; and the consequence was an undisturbed peace of forty years, during the whole life of Othniel. By the Spirit of the Lord coming upon him, the Chaldee understands the spirit of prophecy; others understand the spirit of fortitude and extraordinary courage, as opposed to the spirit of fear or faintness of heart; but as Othniel was judge, and had many offices to fulfil besides that of a general, he had need of the Spirit of God, in the proper sense of the word, to enable him to guide and govern this most refractory and fickle people; and his receiving it for these purposes, shows that the political state of the Jews was still a theocracy. No man attempted to do any thing in that state without the immediate inspiration of God, the pretension to which was always justified by the event.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
The Spirit of the Lord came upon him, with extraordinary influences, endowing him with singular wisdom, and courage, and resolution; and stirring him up to this great undertaking. Compare Jdg 6:34; 11:29.
He judged Israel, i.e. pleaded and avenged the cause of Israel against their oppressors; as that phrase is oft used, as Deu 32:36; Psa 10:18; 43:1.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
10. The Spirit of the Lord came uponhim and he judged Israel, and went out to warImpelled by asupernatural influence, he undertook the difficult task of governmentat this national crisisaddressing himself to promote a generalreformation of manners, the abolition of idolatry, and the revival ofpure religion. After these preliminary measures, he collected a bodyof choice warriors to expel the foreign oppressors.
the Lord deliveredChushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand; and his handprevailed against Chushan-rishathaimNo details are given ofthis war, which, considering the resources of so potent a monarch,must have been a determined struggle. But the Israelitish arms werecrowned through the blessing of God with victory, and Canaan regainedits freedom and independence.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And the Spirit of the Lord came upon him,…. Moved him to engage in this work of delivering Israel, inspired him with courage, and filled him with every needful gift, qualifying him for it; the Targum interprets it the spirit of prophecy; it seems father to be the spirit of counsel and courage, of strength and fortitude of body and mind:
and he judged Israel; took upon him the office of a judge over them, and executed it; very probably the first work he set about was to reprove them for their sins, and convince them of them, and reform them from their idolatry, and restore among them the pure worship of God; and this he did first before he took up arms for them:
and he went out to war; raised an army, and went out at the head of them, to fight with their oppressor:
and the Lord delivered Chushanrishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand; and his hand prevailed against Chushanrishathaim; gave him the victory over him and his army, so that he fell into his hands, became his captive, and perhaps was slain by him.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(10) The Spirit of the Lord came upon him.Here the Targum has the spirit of prophecy (comp. Isa. 61:1), perhaps with reference to Num. 11:25. They render the same phrase in Jdg. 6:34, spirit of courage from Jehovah. This expression constantly recurs in this book (Jdg. 6:34; Jdg. 11:29; Jdg. 13:25). For came upon him (literally was upon him), a stronger phrase is clothed him (Jdg. 6:34; 1Ch. 12:18; 2Ch. 24:20). The Jews, however, placed Othniel highest among the judges, and applied to him the words of Son. 4:7, Thou art all fair; there is no spot in thee, because he alone of the judges is represented as irreproachable. Further than this, they followed some dim traditional data in identifying him with Jabez (1Ch. 4:10), and regarding him as a learned teacher of the law. (See Jdg. 1:13.)
He judged Israel.Some of the Rabbis explain judged (yishhab) here to mean avenged, as in Psa. 43:1, Avenge me, O God (Shapetni),possibly from disliking the notion of a Kenizzite, however distinguished, holding the office of a suffes, or judge. There is a difficulty about Othniels age; Caleb was eighty-five at the conquest, and, if Othniel was his brother, he could not have been less than fifty or sixty at that time. But even supposing him to have been Calebs nephew, and aged forty at his marriage, then, since Joshua lived to be 110, and Cushan-Rishathaims oppression did not begin till after the death of the elders who outlived Joshua, and lasted eight years, if Othniel was judge for forty years, this would make him quite 143 years old at his death. It is only another sign that the chronological data of the Book of Judges are not sufficiently definite to enable us to construct a system out of them.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
10. The Spirit of the Lord came upon him This expression occurs six times in this book, and is by no means equivalent to the New Testament “gift of the Holy Ghost;” nor can it be used as certain proof of great spiritual purity or eminent piety in him to whom it is referred. It designates the sudden divine impulse that quickened the heroes of this age to marvellous feats of valour, and was chiefly of a physical and psychical character. It denotes the supernatural influence that thrilled all the heroic passions of the soul, and always led to deeds of bravery and power. Thus it is used of the supernatural impulse that led Gideon to blow the trumpet and assemble the people for war, (Jdg 6:34😉 that inspired Jephthah to lead his army against Ammon, (Jdg 11:29😉 that moved Samson to his early feats of strength, (Jdg 13:25,) and to rend the young lion of Timnath, (Jdg 14:6,) and to slay the thirty men of Ashkelon, (Jdg 14:19.) In Othniel’s case it seems to denote the divine guidance by which he both judged and fought. His high natural qualities, love of justice, love of country, courage, and military skill, were crowned with an unwavering faith in God, breathed into his soul by the Holy Spirit. There can be no great warrior and national saviour without a large infusion of the religious element into his nature.
He judged Israel He was born to command. His generation of Hebrews yielded him instinctive and unquestioning obedience. The spirit which he infused into them, and the trust which he reposed in God, together with the unanimity of the nation in rallying to his standard, were sufficient credenda of his divine vocation to the leadership of Israel. He judged not in the narrow, technical sense, but he administered the military and civil government of the theocracy.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘ And the Spirit of Yahweh came on him, and he judged Israel. And he went out to war, and Yahweh delivered Cushan-rishathaim, king of Aram-naharaim into his hand. And his hand prevailed against Cusham-rishathaim.’
He was seen as the man inspired by Yahweh who could help them and they called on him to become their leader. He would first begin to set to rights things that were wrong, including restoration of covenant obedience and the putting away of strange gods. This was all part of his being a Yahweh inspired man. Then he gathered together and prepared an army ready for the next tribute demand.
“And he went out to war, and Yahweh delivered Cushan-rishathaim, king of Aram-naharaim into his hand. And his hand prevailed against Cusham-rishathaim.” He would first withhold the tribute when the time for it came to be collected. Then Cushan-rishathaim would raise a punitive expedition to demand it, and Othniel met the expedition and totally defeated it. It is not necessary to assume that Cushan-rishathaim was captured, but he was sufficiently dealt with to prevent him from returning.
“The Spirit of Yahweh came on him.” This phrase appears again and again in Judges (Jdg 6:34; Jdg 11:29 – where it depicts Yahweh assisting a war leader and Jdg 13:25; Jdg 14:6; Jdg 14:19; Jdg 15:14 where it refers to Samson) . It results from Israel ‘crying to Yahweh’ (Jdg 3:9; Jdg 3:15; Jdg 4:3; Jdg 6:6-7; Jdg 10:10) and is seen as a direct answer to their cry. The point is not that he had some vivid experience of Yahweh, but that Yahweh had clearly taken hold of him to restore Israel and bring about the defeat of the enemy. From now on it was to Yahweh that they looked (for a time), not Baal.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Jdg 3:10. And the Spirit of the Lord came upon him He was moved by an extraordinary impulse from God to take upon him the government of the people; which none dared to do, unless appointed by God himself, who was the King of the nation. Josephus says, that God appeared to Othniel, so that he could not doubt of the divinity of his mission. The Chaldee Paraphrast seems to favour this opinion; for he says, that the spirit of prophesy was upon Othniel. Doubtless he, as well as the other judges, had not only an inward incitement to undertake the deliverance of God’s people, but was likewise endowed with an extraordinary degree of courage and conduct. Respecting the chronological difficulties arising from the words in the 11th verse, we refer to Bishop Usher.
REFLECTIONS.The children of Israel are scarcely settled before they forget God, and turn aside after idols; but their sufferings follow quick on their sins. We have here.
1. Their distress. Because they sold themselves to work wickedness, God sold them into the hand of the king of Mesopotamia. Note; If our troubles be even long or heavy, they are yet less than our iniquities deserve.
2. They who forget God in prosperity cry to him in their distress. It is by affliction that God usually brings home to him his back-sliding Israel. No doubt, they cried long and often before the mercy came, God exercising their faith and patience by keeping them for eight years waiting for the mercy. Note; We must always pray, and not faint. Though we do not always succeed at first; yet, if we persevere, we are sure not to be disappointed at last.
3. God heard and answered their prayer. Othniel, Caleb’s son-in-law, whose valour was before recorded, is raised up for their deliverer. The Spirit of God moving him to undertake their work, and assisting him in the accomplishment of the undertaking, he judged Israel, reproved them for their iniquities, and brought them back to the worship of the true God; and under his hand the power of their oppressors was broken, and they had rest forty years. Note; (1.) There is a Saviour at hand for those who groan under the burden of sin. (2.) If we would have Christ to deliver us from outward troubles, be it our care to put away inward iniquity. (3.) They, who have Christ for their Saviour, shall find a longer rest than forty years, even to the years of eternity.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Othniel is the first judge of Israel after Joshua ‘ s death. But Reader! do not fail to observe, how he became the deliverer of Israel. It was because the Spirit of the Lord came upon him. Oh! how precious is it to see that uniformity in every instance: that it is, not by might, nor by power, but by the Spirit of the Lord. And was it not so with the Lord Jesus? And must not the same blessed Spirit which anointed Jesus to his office, anoint also his church and people? Isa 61:1 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Jdg 3:10 And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he judged Israel, and went out to war: and the LORD delivered Chushanrishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand; and his hand prevailed against Chushanrishathaim.
Ver. 10. And the Spirit of the Lord came upon him. ] Calling him to the work, and by heroic virtues fitting him for it, and then mightily working upon his spirit to undertake it.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
the Spirit of the LORD. Of Jehovah, App-4. not Elohim. The spirit (Hebrew. ruach, App-9) of Jehovah bestowing gifts rather than power or might (Gen 1:2). Compare Isa 11:2; Isa 61:1.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
the Spirit: Jdg 6:34, Jdg 11:29, Jdg 13:25, Jdg 14:6, Jdg 14:19, Num 11:17, Num 27:18, 1Sa 10:6, 1Sa 11:6, 1Sa 16:13, 2Ch 15:1, 2Ch 20:14, Psa 51:11, 1Co 12:4-11, Heb 6:4
came: Heb. was
Mesopotamia: Heb. Aram
Reciprocal: Jdg 2:16 – the Lord Jdg 7:9 – I have delivered Jdg 11:32 – the Lord Jdg 15:14 – the Spirit 1Sa 7:6 – judged 1Sa 7:15 – judged 2Ch 15:4 – in their trouble Act 13:20 – he gave
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
3:10 And the {e} Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he judged Israel, and went out to war: and the LORD delivered Chushanrishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand; and his hand prevailed against Chushanrishathaim.
(e) He was stirred up by the Spirit of the Lord.