Bible Commentary

And he beat down the tower of Penuel, and slew the men of the city. 17. Gideon’s revenge strikes us as vindictive. In return for some jeering words he treated these towns, which no doubt contained many of his own countrymen, with a barbarity which is altogether absent from his execution of the Midianite kings, … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 8:17”

And he took the elders of the city, and thorns of the wilderness and briers, and with them he taught the men of Succoth. 16. and with them he taught ] Read, changing one letter, threshed as in Jdg 8:7, with LXX. B , A . The Vulgate gives a double rendering: et contrivit cum … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 8:16”

And he came unto the men of Succoth, and said, Behold Zebah and Zalmunna, with whom ye did upbraid me, saying, [Are] the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand, that we should give bread unto thy men [that are] weary? And he came unto the men of Succoth,…. Entered the city, and … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 8:15”

And caught a young man of the men of Succoth, and inquired of him: and he described unto him the princes of Succoth, and the elders thereof, [even] threescore and seventeen men. 14. he described for him ] he wrote down (and gave) unto him. The knowledge of writing must have been widely spread even … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 8:14”

And Gideon the son of Joash returned from battle before the sun [was up], 13. from the ascent of Heres ] So LXX. A and Luc., with a slight correction of the text; or upwards to Heres, with further corrections. The word eres = ‘the sun’ lends itself to various experiments, which are to be … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 8:13”

And when Zebah and Zalmunna fled, he pursued after them, and took the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and discomfited all the host. 12. discomfited ] Marg. terrified; the combination of careless security and terror occurs again in Eze 30:9. The LXX. A and Lucian suggests a stronger word, such as destroyed, cf. … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 8:12”

And Gideon went up by the way of them that dwelt in tents on the east of Nobah and Jogbehah, and smote the host: for the host was secure. 11. Describes Gideon’s route going E. from Penuel. by the way of them that dwelt in tents is a doubtful rendering of a doubtful text. With … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 8:11”

Now Zebah and Zalmunna [were] in Karkor, and their hosts with them, about fifteen thousand [men], all that were left of all the hosts of the children of the east: for there fell a hundred and twenty thousand men that drew sword. 10. Karkor ] Site unknown, probably near the edge of the Syrian desert. … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 8:10”

And he spoke also unto the men of Penuel, saying, When I come again in peace, I will break down this tower. Verse 9. I will break down this tower.] Probably they had not only denied him, but insultingly pointed to a tower in which their chief defense lay; and intimated to him that he … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 8:9”

And he went up thence to Penuel, and spoke unto them likewise: and the men of Penuel answered him as the men of Succoth had answered [him]. 8. Penuel ] See on Jdg 8:5. A place of some importance, for it was fortified by Jeroboam, 1Ki 12:25; its tower may have commanded the Jabbok ford. … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 8:8”