Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 3:27
And it came to pass, when he was come, that he blew a trumpet in the mountain of Ephraim, and the children of Israel went down with him from the mount, and he before them.
27. when he was come ] If Se‘rah was meant, ‘thither’ should have been written. Some indication of the place is needed; the LXX. cod. B adds ‘unto the land of Israel,’ shewing that the obscurity was felt. Perhaps the simplest course is to suppose that the original order of words has been disturbed, and to read when he was come to (omit in) the highlands of Ephraim he blew a trumpet. For the summons to arms cf. Jdg 6:34 ; 1Sa 13:3.
the hill country of E . the hill country ] Cf. Jdg 2:9, Jdg 4:5, Jdg 7:24, Jdg 17:1; Jos 17:15. The Highlands, which extend continuously from the Great Plain to the S. of Judah, were occupied in the northern half by W. Manasseh, Ephraim, and Benjamin (‘the hill country of E.’), in the southern half by Judah (‘the hill country of J.’ Jos 21:11); at this period a line of Canaanite strongholds separated the territories of Joseph and Judah. The country between Ramah and Beth-el lay ‘in the hill country of E.’ Jdg 4:5; it was the Israelites of this neighbourhood, i.e. the Benjamites, who responded to their clansman’s call.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Doubtless he had prepared
the children of Israel, and by his emissaries gathered together in considerable numbers.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
27. he blew a trumpet in themountain of Ephraimsummoned to arms the people of thatmountainous region, which, adjoining the territory of Benjamin, hadprobably suffered most from the grievous oppression of the Moabites.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And it came to pass, when he was come, That is, to Seirath, Jud 3:26, in the tribe of Ephraim:
that be blew a trumpet in the mountain of Ephraim; which being an high mountain, the sound of the trumpet was heard afar off; and if Ehud’s design was known to the Israelites, what he intended to do, this might be the token agreed on, should he succeed, to call them together, see
Jer 31:6;
and the children of Israel went down with him from the mount, and he before them; being there assembled together, and which might be the place before appointed for their rendezvous, and where and when he took the command of them, and went before them as their general.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(27) He blew a trumpet.The word for trumpet is shophar. The LXX. have he trumpeted with a horn (Esalpisen en keratine).
In the mountain of Ephraim.The hill country of Ephraim was always the fastness of Israelitish freedom (Jdg. 4:5; Jdg. 10:1; 1Sa. 1:1; 1Sa. 13:6; 1Sa. 14:22).
He before them.He assumed the leadership.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
27. Blew a trumpet The alarm-signal to call a people rapidly together. Compare Jdg 6:34; 1Sa 13:3 ; 2Sa 20:1; 1Ki 1:34. Thus Joel, (Joe 2:1,) “Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain.”
Mountain of Ephraim See on Jdg 17:1, and Jos 17:15. Ehud does not first rally his own tribe to his standard, because Benjamin had at this time been almost annihilated by the other tribes. Chapters 19-21.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Jdg 3:27-28 a
‘And it happened that, when he was come, he blew a ram’s horn in the hill country of Ephraim, and the children of Israel went down with him from the hill country, and he in front of them. And he said to them, “Follow me. For Yahweh has delivered your enemies the Moabites into your hand”.’
On arrival in the hill country of Ephraim Ehud blew a trumpet of ram’s horn (Jos 6:13), and the waiting army came to him and he led them back towards where he had come from, telling them that all was well. The plan had worked successfully, and the Moabites were there for the taking.
When Israel had cried to Yahweh (verse 15) that included the fact that the covenant had again become an important factor in their thinking. But not all had deserted the covenant. There were still those who met at the central sanctuary and were faithful to it. It was probably to them that Ehud had gone for help, sending out the covenant call. And this was their response to aid one of their number in need. But the plan had probably been his.
Jdg 3:28 b
‘And they went down after him, and took the fords of Jordan against the Moabites. And would not allow any man to pass over.’
From this it is clear that an army of occupation was settled in the region round the city of palms, possibly there to receive tribute and to remind Israel of their strength. They did not realise that Reuben/Gad/Benjamin had renewed their covenant with the tribal confederation and had thus become much stronger, gaining support from the other tribes.
And this army now found itself leaderless and trapped, for the death of the king would throw everything into confusion. For in those days when a king died there would be a number of contenders for the throne, and the internal battles would begin. Thus when they made for the fords to enter into the leadership contest they found the fords closed against them, although undoubtedly messengers had previously been despatched and passed over to declare the death of the king. Nor could assistance come from beyond Jordan because of the presence of these Israelite soldiers.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Jdg 3:27 And it came to pass, when he was come, that he blew a trumpet in the mountain of Ephraim, and the children of Israel went down with him from the mount, and he before them.
Ver. 27. He blew a trumpet in the mountain of Ephraim. ] He gave the alarm to those valiant and warlike men, such as are for most part your mountaineers; and while the Moabites were all on a hurry about their king’s death, he taketh his opportunity, which, as in all things else, so especially in military matters, is much to be observed, and hastily apprehended, since it is headlong, and once past, irrecoverable.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
the mount = the hill country.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
he blew: Jdg 5:14, Jdg 6:34, 1Sa 13:3, 2Sa 20:22, 2Ki 9:13
mountain: Jdg 7:24, Jdg 17:1, Jdg 19:1, Jos 17:15, Jos 17:18
Reciprocal: Num 10:9 – oppresseth Jdg 7:8 – trumpets Jdg 12:15 – in the mount 2Sa 20:1 – he blew
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jdg 3:27-28. He blew a trumpet In order to summon those who were disposed to recover their liberty to take arms and follow him. And the children of Israel went down with him Whom doubtless he had prepared by his emissaries, and gathered together in considerable numbers. With these he attacked the Moabites who were in garrisons on the west of Jordan, and slew ten thousand of their best men; which utterly broke the power of Moab, and freed the Israelites from the yoke of that nation. They took the fords of Jordan Where that river was usually passed, that neither the Moabites that were in Canaan might escape, nor any more Moabites come over Jordan to their succour.