Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 6:17
And he said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, then show me a sign that thou talkest with me.
17. shew me a sign that it is thou ] Gideon asks for a sign that it is indeed Jehovah who charges him with this great undertaking ( Jdg 6:14 ; Jdg 6:16); but in the following verse Gideon clearly does not know who is addressing him. Jehovah wills partly to retain and partly to withdraw the disguise. His words suggest to Gideon that He is no ordinary stranger. But some scholars think that these words (Jdg 6:17 b) cannot come from the same hand as Jdg 6:18.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
A sign – If the Angel ate of Gideons present it would be a conclusive proof of the reality of the vision. (Compare Joh 21:9-13; Luk 24:37-43; Act 10:41.) It would also be a token of Gods goodwill to Gideon. Compare Gen 18:3.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 17. Show me a sign] Work a miracle, that I may know that thou hast wisdom and power sufficient to authorize and quality me for the work.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
That it is thou, to wit, an angel or messenger sent from God, that appears to me, and discourseth with me; and not a fancy or delusion; that thou art in truth what thou seemest and pretendest to be, Jdg 7:12. Or,
a sign of that which thou talkest with me, i.e. that thou wilt by me smite the Midianites.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And he said unto him, if now I have found grace in thy sight, c. Or seeing he had, as appeared by his salutation of him as a man of might, by the work he gave him a commission to do, and by the promise of assistance and success:
then show me a sign that thou talkest with me in the name of God, as a messenger sent by him, whether an angel or a man; for who he was as yet Gideon was not clear in it, and that what he had said was truth, and would be certainly fulfilled; and which Gideon might desire, not so much, or at least not only for his own sake, and the confirmation of his faith, for which he is renowned, as that he might be able to satisfy others that he had a commission from God, by a messenger of his, to attempt the deliverance of Israel.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(17) I have found grace in thy sight.A phrase found both in the Old and New Testament. (See Gen. 6:8; Est. 5:8.)
Shew me a sign that thou talkest with me.Give me some clear proof that this is no mere vision, and that thy message is really from God, and portends me favour. (See Psa. 86:17; Isa. 7:11.)
Depart not hence.Comp. 1Ki. 13:15.
My present.My minchah. The word means first an offering, but specially an offering to God, as throughout the Book of Leviticus for the meat-offering of flour, &c. Hence the LXX. render it the sacrifice: and I will sacrifice before thee. Gideon seems, however, purposely to use a neutral word, suspecting, but not yet being convinced, that the stranger under the terebinth is something more than man. The desire to be hospitable may have mingled with his deepening sense of awe. (Comp. Jdg. 13:15; Gen. 18:6.)
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
17. Show me a sign Give me some miraculous evidence that this is no illusion, and that Jehovah really speaks to me. Gideon’s several answers show a trembling heart and a wavering faith.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Jdg 6:17-18 a
‘And he said to him, “If now I have found grace in your sight, then show me a sign that it is you who talks with me. Do not leave here, I beg you, until I come to you and bring my offering and lay it before you.” ’
God had given Moses a sign. Now, if He was truly with him, let Him graciously give one to Gideon. Subsequent events suggest that he had in mind that He appear in fire as He had on ‘that mountain’. God had appeared to Moses in fire (Exo 3:2) and Sinai was always connected with fire in Israel’s minds (Exo 19:18). ‘That it is You Who talks with me’ can only mean that he now realises that this is Yahweh Himself.
“Do not leave here, I beg you, until I come to you and bring my offering and lay it before you.” Gideon was terrified that the Angel might disappear before he could be sure of the situation. He begged Him to remain where He was until he could bring an offering to present before Him. Possibly he was aware that he would need to offer some kind of sign to others to persuade Israel to follow him.
“An offering.” The word can mean an ordinary gift, or tribute. But it is also used of the sacrificial meal offering.
Jdg 6:18 b
‘And he said, “I will wait until you come again.” ’
God, ever ready to recognise man’s need for reassurance, promises that He will not leave but will be there when Gideon returns. How good God is to man’s unreadiness to believe fully.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
From this intreaty it is evident that Gideon’s heart was affected, and that he desired only additional evidences of the authority given to him. And I rather am inclined to think, that, as in former cases to Israel, in the appearances made to them by this angel, whom we cannot suppose Gideon was so little acquainted with the history of the church as not to know, he recollected that the Lord had more fully manifested who he was in the moment of offering sacrifice. Gideon prayed that he might have this privilege also, of offering it upon the present occasion. See Gen 15:7-18 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Jdg 6:17 And he said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, then shew me a sign that thou talkest with me.
Ver. 17. Then show me a sign, ] sc., That thou art that “Captain of the Lord’s hosts,” and of our salvation. This sign Gideon sought not, as the Pharisees did, out of curiosity or incredulity, but for further confirmation concerning his call to the work, that it was of God. A good cause, a good calling, and a good conscience, will make a good courage; and are all necessary, to a soldier especially.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Thou talkest. Supply Figure of speech Ellipsis (App-6) thus: “Thou [art Jehovah Who] talkest”.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
If now: Exo 33:13, Exo 33:16
show: Jdg 6:36-40, Gen 15:8-17, Exo 4:1-9, 2Ki 20:8-11, Psa 86:17, Isa 7:11
Reciprocal: Gen 24:14 – And let Exo 3:12 – token Psa 74:9 – We see Isa 38:7 – General
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
6:17 And he said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, then shew me {g} a sign that thou talkest with me.
(g) So that we see how the flesh is the enemy of God’s calling, which cannot be persuaded without signs.