Bible Commentaries
Judges 18

Verse 1

those days. Numbers 17:0 and Numbers 21:0 , thought by some to record earlier events in the days of Othniel by Figure of speech Hysteresis ( App-6 ). See note on Judges 17:1 , and Structure.

no king. No true "house of God" religiously (Judges 17:5 ), leads to "no king" nationally (Judges 18:1 ); and nationally to apostasy. See note on Judges 18:6 , above.

Danites. See note on Genesis 49:17 .

Verse 2

children = sons.

coasts = borders.

men of valour = sons of valour.

mount = hill country of.

Verse 3

the young man. Compare Judges 17:7 .

makest = doest.

Verse 5

Ask counsel. By the use of the ephod. See Judges 17:6 .

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 . Not Jehovah. App-4 .

Verse 7

Laish. Called Leshem. Joshua 19:47 .

quiet and secure. Probably arising from the enervating effects of malaria now endemic there. If so, it may be identified with Tel-el-kadi in the feverridden district at the head of the Jordan.

man = Hebrew. 'adam. App-14 .

Verse 8

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .

Verse 9

behold. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 .

Verse 11

appointed = girded.

Verse 12

Mahaneh-dan = camp of Dan (Judges 13:25 ).

Verse 14

Do ye know . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis.

Verse 18

the ephod. Septuagint reads "and the ephod". Compare Judges 18:17 . The Hebrew text has "the carved image of the ephod".

Verse 19

lay thine hand, &c. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct) for "be silent".

better. Man's priest soon gets promotion.

Verse 20

and. Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton. App-6 .

Verse 21

carriage = goods. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct) for things carried.

Verse 23

that thou comest, &c. Hebrew "that thou hast called thyself out".

Verse 25

life = soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 .

Verse 27

unto. Some codices, with one early printed edition, and Septuagint read "as far as".

Verse 28

business = dealings.

Verse 29

after the name. Compare Joshua 19:0 .

Verse 30

set up. On account of this, Dan is not named in Revelation 7:0 , and Ephraim is there merged in Joseph.

Manasseh. This word is one of the four that has a suspended letter. Here the letter, nun (n), is written partly in the line and partly above the line, to show that originally it formed no part of the word, but was put in to make it spell "Manasseh" instead of "Moses". Jonathan was the grandson of Moses (his contemporary Phinehas, the grandson of Aaron, being mentioned in Judges 20:28 ). This was done for two reasons: (1) to spare the honour of Moses' memory and name; (2) to put the sin upon one who committed so gross a sin. The Talmud gives this latter as the reason. Jonathan's name is omitted in 1 Chronicles 23:15 , 1 Chronicles 23:16 , and 1 Chronicles 26:24 . The Chaldee paraphrase says that "Shebuel", there substituted, is meant for Jonathan after his repentance and restoration. Shebuel = "he returned to God". The Authorized Version follows Septuagint and Chaldee by putting "Manasseh" in the text; Revised Version follows Vulgate, and those codices and early editions which have "n" suspended, by putting "Moses" in the text and "Manasseh" in the margin.

Verse 31

the house Of God: i.e. the Tabernacle of Moses, but not recognized as the house of Jehovah, the Covenant God.