Bible Commentary

Therefore the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia: and the children of Israel served Cushan-rishathaim eight years. 8. sold them ] See Jdg 2:14 n. Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia ] The rendering Mesopotamia, i.e. the vast region between the Euphrates and … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 3:8”

And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and forgot the LORD their God, and served Baalim and the groves. 7. did that which was evil ] See Jdg 2:11 n.; forgat, cf. Deu 6:12; Deu 8:11 etc.; 1Sa 12:9; Hos 2:13; Jer 3:21. the Baalim and the Asheroth ] … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 3:7”

And they took their daughters to be their wives, and gave their daughters to their sons, and served their gods. 6. they took their daughters ] Cf. Gen 34:9; Gen 34:16; Exo 34:16; Deu 7:3. According to the ideas of the ancient world, it was impossible for the Israelites to maintain any religious exclusiveness when … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 3:6”

And the children of Israel dwelt among the Canaanites, Hittites, and Amorites, and Perizzites, and Hivites, and Jebusites: 5. In contrast to Jdg 3:3 the nations here represent the entire population of W. Palestine. Such is the significance of this conventional list of the six (Exo 3:8 + 8 times) or the seven (with the … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 3:5”

And they were to prove Israel by them, to know whether they would hearken unto the commandments of the LORD, which he commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses. 4. to prove Israel ] leads back to the thought of Jdg 2:22 and Jdg 3:1, and prepares the way for Jdg 3:5. The verse … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 3:4”

[Namely], five lords of the Philistines, and all the Canaanites, and the Sidonians, and the Hivites that dwelt in mount Lebanon, from mount Baal-hermon unto the entering in of Hamath. 3. This verse should be compared with Jos 13:2-6 D. The nations here are those occupying particular districts in W. Palestine; contrast Jdg 3:5, and … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 3:3”

Only that the generations of the children of Israel might know, to teach them war, at the least such as before knew nothing thereof; 2. might know ] The verb, instead of governing a direct object, is followed by a fresh clause to teach them war; the LXX relieves the awkwardness by omitting might know, … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 3:2”

Now these [are] the nations which the LORD left, to prove Israel by them, [even] as many [of Israel] as had not known all the wars of Canaan; Jdg 3:1-3 explain why Jehovah left these nations (Jdg 2:23); it was merely to teach succeeding generations of Israelites the practice of war (Jdg 3:2 in the … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 3:1”

Therefore the LORD left those nations, without driving them out hastily; neither delivered he them into the hand of Joshua. 23. Taking this verse as the conclusion of Jdg 2:20-22, the emphasis falls on hastily, i.e. during Joshua’s life-time; the nations were not destroyed all at once, because Jehovah wished to test the fidelity of … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 2:23”

That through them I may prove Israel, whether they will keep the way of the LORD to walk therein, as their fathers did keep [it], or not. 22. prove Israel ] Jdg 3:1; Jdg 3:4, as He had proved them in the wilderness, Exo 16:4 J, Exo 15:25, Exo 20:20 E, Deu 8:2; Deu 8:16; … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 2:22”