Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 6:39
And Gideon said unto God, Let not thine anger be hot against me and I will speak but this once: let me prove, I pray thee, but this once with the fleece; let it now be dry only upon the fleece, and upon all the ground let there be dew.
39. I will speak but this once ] recalls the language of Abraham in Gen 18:32 J. The dew would naturally soak the fleece more than the rocky threshing-floor; so Gideon asks for a sign still more extraordinary.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Which was more difficult and preternatural than the former instance, because if there be any moisture, such bodies as fleeces of wool are most likely to drink it up.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And Gideon said unto God,…. In the same way as before, and on the morning when he had been favoured with the sight of the above miracle:
let not thine anger be hot against me, and I will speak but this once; he was conscious to himself that it showed great presumption and boldness in him to repeat his request, and that it had the appearance of great diffidence and distrust in him, after he had been indulged with such a sign to confirm his faith; but as it was not so much on his own account as others, and promising to ask no more favours of this kind, he hoped his boldness would not be resented:
let me prove, l pray thee, but this once with the fleece one time more with it, and that not to try the power of God, of which he had no doubt, but the will of God, whether it was the good pleasure of God to save Israel by his hand, and whether now was the time, or another:
let it now be dry only upon the fleece, and upon all the ground let there be dew; which might seem to be a greater, at least a plainer miracle than the former, and less liable to cavil and objection; for it might be urged, that a fleece of wool naturally draws in and drinks up moisture about it; wherefore that to be dry, and the ground all around it wet, would be a sure sign and evidence of the wonderful interposition of the power and providence of God, in directing the fall of the dew on the one, and not on the other.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(39) Let not thine anger be hot against me, and I will speak but this once.The phrase is the same as in Gen. 18:32. The word rendered anger is literally nose. The Hebrew language is very picturesque in its metaphors, and anger is so often expressed by the dilatation of the nostrils, that nose became a graphic term for anger, as it is to this day in many Eastern languages. I have given some illustrations in my Language and Languages, p. 197, &c.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
39. Dry only upon the fleece This of the two was the more astounding miracle, for that the wool, which so naturally absorbs dew, should be dry, and all the earth around wet with the dews of night, was an all-controlling evidence in this case that God would save Israel by Gideon’s hand.
This sign of the fleece has been thought to have its typical significance. Dew may well represent the grace and blessings of Almighty God. According to Origen, the fleece wet with dew while all around was dry represented the Israelitish people blessed with the Covenants and Law, while all surrounding nations were left without them. The reversed sign, of the fleece dry and dew on all the ground, prefigured the coming time when Israel for unbelief would be rejected, and all the Gentiles receive the dews of heavenly grace. Others have given the signs a slightly different reference. But we may better make the allusion more general, and say that this double miracle symbolizes the course of the Divine Government in the history of nations. That Almighty Power that wrought these miracles will ever, in his government of the world, bestow or withhold his grace according to his infinite wisdom and the deserts of men and nations. If Israel, or any other nation, honour his Name and Law, they shall receive the blessings of his heavenly grace and power; but if they reject him, vengeance is his, and they may not hope to escape the rod of his anger.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘ And Gideon said to God, “Do not let your anger be kindled against me, and I will speak but this once. Let me prove, I pray you, but this once with the fleece. Let it now be dry only on the fleece, and on all the ground let there be dew.” ’
So he asked God for a further sign, conscious that he was being a little presumptious. His request was that this time the fleece should be dry and the ground around soaked with dew. The continual use of ‘God’ draws attention to his unbelief. This was not covenant relationship, this was private doubt.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
God = ha- Elohim. The God. App-4.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Let not thine: Gen 18:32
dry: Psa 107:33-35, Isa 35:6, Isa 35:7, Isa 43:19, Isa 43:20, Isa 50:2, Mat 8:12, Mat 21:43, Act 13:46, Act 22:21, Act 28:28, Rom 11:12-22
Reciprocal: Gen 18:30 – General 1Sa 23:4 – yet again
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jdg 6:39. Gideon said In a way of humble supplication, for the strengthening his own faith, and for the greater encouragement of his soldiers in this great attempt. On all the earth That is, upon all that spot of ground which encompasses the fleece. On the ground Which was more preternatural than the former instance, because, if there be any moisture, such bodies as fleeces of wool are likely to drink it up.