Bible Commentary

And Gideon said, Therefore when the LORD hath delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into mine hand, then I will tear your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers. 7. I will tear ] thresh as marg. In the East threshing is done by treading (e.g. Isa 28:28), which is what the verb here … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 8:7”

And the princes of Succoth said, [Are] the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand, that we should give bread unto thine army? 6. the princes of Succoth ] i.e. the executive officials of the community, responsible for its government, e.g. Jdg 9:30 (‘ruler,’ lit. ‘prince’), or for the conduct of its wars, … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 8:6”

And he said unto the men of Succoth, Give, I pray you, loaves of bread unto the people that follow me; for they [be] faint, and I am pursuing after Zebah and Zalmunna, kings of Midian. 5. Succoth ] On the E. of Jordan, in the territory of Gad (Jos 13:27), near Penuel (cf. Gen … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 8:5”

And Gideon came to Jordan, [and] passed over, he, and the three hundred men that [were] with him, faint, yet pursuing [them]. 4. and passed over ] To obtain this sense the text, which lit. = passing over, must be altered; the marg. may be disregarded. the three hundred ] So in the other document … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 8:4”

God hath delivered into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb: and what was I able to do in comparison of you? Then their anger was abated toward him, when he had said that. Verse 3. Then their anger was abated] A soft answer turneth away wrath. He might have said that he … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 8:3”

And he said unto them, What have I done now in comparison of you? [Is] not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abi-ezer? 2. Gideon, like his father (Jdg 6:31), had the ready wit to extricate himself from an awkward situation. For the gleaning of the grapes see Isa … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 8:2”

And the men of Ephraim said unto him, Why hast thou served us thus, that thou calledst us not, when thou wentest to fight with the Midianites? And they did chide with him sharply. Ch. Jdg 8:1-3. Gideon appeases the men of Ephraim 1 . the men of Ephraim did chide with him sharply ] … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 8:1”

And they took two princes of the Midianites, Oreb and Zeeb; and they slew Oreb upon the rock Oreb, and Zeeb they slew at the winepress of Zeeb, and pursued Midian, and brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon on the other side Jordan. 25. Oreb and Zeeb ] The Midianite princes bear … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 7:25”

And Gideon sent messengers throughout all mount Ephraim, saying, Come down against the Midianites, and take before them the waters unto Beth-barah and Jordan. Then all the men of Ephraim gathered themselves together, and took the waters unto Beth-barah and Jordan. 24. Gideon sends a message (cf. Jdg 6:35) to the Ephraimites in the country … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 7:24”

And the men of Israel gathered themselves together out of Naphtali, and out of Asher, and out of all Manasseh, and pursued after the Midianites. 23 25. The pursuit 23 . out of Naphtali etc.] The same tribes, with the addition of Zebulun, were summoned before the battle, Jdg 6:35; they must have formed the … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 7:23”