Bible Commentaries
Judges

Jdg JUDGES. THE STRUCTURE OF THE BOOK AS A WHOLE. TITLE, Judges. The Heb. name is Shophetim = rulers;from verb to put right and then rule. Not Judges, as modern English. For origin and description of name, cp. Judges 2:7-19 . In Sept. = kritai ;Latin, Liber Judicum. The office peculiar to Israel. The book records the history of thirteen Judges (twelve called of God and one ausurper), whose names by Gematria make a multiple of eight and thirteen (see Appdx-10); six "evil" doings (see note on Judges 2:11 ); six oppressors and oppressions (see note on Judges 2:14 ); and six deliverances (see note on Judges 2:16 ). Judges 1:1 - Judges 2:5 . ISRAEL AND OTHER PEOPLES. AGGRESSIONS. Judges 2:6 - Judges 8:35 . GOVERNMENT. Judges 9:1-57 . INTERNAL DISORDERS. Judges 10:1 - Judges 16:31 . GOVERNMENT. Judges 17:1 - Judges 18:31 . ISRAEL AND OTHER PEOPLES. AGGRESSIONS. Judges 19:1 - Judges 21:25 . INTERNAL DISORDERS. Judges 1:1 - Judges 2:5 . CONQUESTS. ISRAEL AND OTHER NATIONS. Judges 1:1-20 . By the tribe of Judah. Judges 1:21 . Unexpelled inhabitants. Judges 1:22-26 . By the house of Joseph. Judges 1:27 - Judges 2:5 . Unexpelled inhabitants. Judges 1:1-20 . BY THE TRIBE OF JUDAH. Judges 1:1-4 . Judah. Judges 1:5-8 . Conquest. Jerusalem. Judges 1:9 . Judah. Judges 1:10 . Conquest. Hebron. Judges 1:11 . Judah. Judges 1:12-16 . Conquest. Debir. Judges 1:17 . Judah. Judges 1:18-20 . Conquest. Hebron. Judges 1:22-26 . BY THE HOUSE OF JOSEPH. Judges 1:22-23 -. Beth-el besieged. - Judges 1:23 . Name explained. Judges 1:24 -. Spies. Mission. - Judges 1:24 . Spies. Action. Judges 1:25 . Beth-el taken Judges 1:26 . Name explained. Judges 1:27 - Judges 2:5 . UNEXPELLED INHABITANTS. Judges 1:17-36 . Non-expulsion. The sin. Judges 2:1-5 . Non-expulsion. The punishment. Judges 1:27-36 . NON-EXPULSION. SIN. Judges 1:27 . Manasseh. Judges 1:28 . Made them tributaries. Judges 1:29-30 -. Ephraim and Zebulun. - Judges 1:30 . Made them tributaries. Judges 1:31-33 -. Asher and Naphtali. - Judges 1:33 . Made them tributaries. Judges 2:1-5 . NON-EXPULSION. PUNISHMENT. Judges 2:1-2 . Expostulation. Cause. Disobedience. Judges 2:3 . Threatening. Judges 2:4 . Expostulation. Effect. Weeping. Judges 2:5 . Worship. Judges 2:6 - Judges 8:32 . GOVERNMENT. Judges 2:6-10 . Antecedent. Judges 2:11 - Judges 8:32 . Subsequent. Judges 2:6-10 . ANTECEDENT. Judges 2:6 . Joshua''s life. Judges 2:7 . Predecessors. Knowledge. Obedience. Judges 2:8-10 -. Joshua''s death. - Judges 2:10 . Successors. Ignorance. Disobedience. Judges 2:11 - Judges 8:32 . SUBSEQUENT. Judges 2:11 - Judges 3:4 . The People and their Apostasies. Judges 3:5 - Judges 8:2 . The oppressors and Delivers. Judges 2:11 - Judges 3:4 . THE PEOPLE AND THEIR APOSTASIES. Judges 2:11-13 . Evil committed. Judges 2:14 -. Anger of Jehovah. Judges 2:14-15 . Punishment. Sold to enemies. Judges 2:16-19 . Evil repeated. Judges 2:20 -. Anger of Jehovah. Judges 2:20-23 ; Judges 3:1-4 . Punishment. Proved by enemies. Judges 2:16-19 . EVIL REPEATED. Judges 2:16 -. Judges raised up. - Judges 2:16 . Deliverance. Judges 2:17 . Apostasy. Judges 2:18 -. Judges raised up. - Judges 2:18 . Deliverance. Judges 2:19 . Apostasy. Judges 2:20 - Judges 3:4 . PUNISHMENT. PROVING. Judges 2:20-21 . Non-expulsion. Judges 2:22 . Trial. Judges 2:23 . Non-expulsion. Judges 3:1-2 . Trial. Judges 3:3 . Non-expulsion. Judges 3:4 . Trial. Judges 3:5 - Judges 8:32 . OPPRESSORS AND DELIVERERS. Judges 3:5-11 . Chushan-rishathaim. (Othniel.) Judges 3:12-30 . Eglon. (Ehud.) Judges 3:31 . Shamgar. (Philistines.) Judges 4:1 - Judges 5:31 . Jabin. (Barak.) Judges 6:1 - Judges 8:35 . Midian. (Gideon.) Judges 3:5-11 . CHUSHAN-RISHATHAIM, AND OTHNIEL. Judges 3:5-7 . Evil committed. Judges 3:8 -. Oppressor. (Chushan-rishathaim.) - Judges 3:8 . Servitude. Eight years. Judges 3:9 -. Evil repented of. - Judges 3:9-10 . Deliverer. (Othniel.) Judges 3:11 . Rest. Forty years. Judges 3:12-30 . EGLON. (EHUD.) Judges 3:12 -. Evil committed. - Judges 3:12-13 . Oppressor. (Eglon.) Judges 3:14 . Servitude. Eighteen years. Judges 3:15 -. Evil repented of. - Judges 3:15-30 -. Deliverer. (Ehud.) - Judges 3:30 . Rest. Eighty years. - Judges 3:15-30 . DELIVERER. (EHUD.) - Judges 3:15-26 . Assassination of Eglon. Judges 3:27-30 . Slaughter of Moabites. - Judges 3:15-26 . ASSASSINATION OF EGLON. - Judges 3:15 . Present sent. Judges 3:16 . Dagger prepared. Judges 3:17-18 . Present brought. Judges 3:19-20 . Interview sought. Judges 3:21-22 . Dagger used. Judges 3:23-26 . Interview ended. Judges 4:1 - Judges 5:31 . JABIN. (DEBORAH.) Judges 4:1-3 . Oppression by Jabin. Judges 4:4 - Judges 5:31 . Deliverance by Barak. Judges 4:1-3 . OPPRESSION BY JABIN. Judges 4:1 . Evil wrought. Judges 4:2 . Oppression. Judges 4:3 -. Evil repented of. - Judges 4:3 . Oppression Judges 4:4 - Judges 5:31 . DELIVERANCE BY DEBORAH. Judges 4:4-5 . Deliverer raised up. Judges 4:6-24 . Deliverance. Judges 5:1-31 -. Delivers'' song. Judges 5:31 . Rest. Judges 4:6-24 . DELIVERANCE. Judges 4:7 -. Command given by Jehovah. - Judges 4:7 . Place of battle. Judges 4:8-9 . Instruments. Barak and a woman. Judges 4:10-13 . Place of battle. Judges 4:14-16 . Victory. Promise fulfilled. Judges 4:17-22 . Instruments. Barak and a woman. Judges 4:23-24 . Victory given by Jehovah. Judges 4:17-22 . INSTRUMENT. A WOMAN. Judges 4:17 . Flight of Sisera. Judges 4:18 -. Jael meeting Sisera. - Judges 4:18-20 . Concealment. Judges 4:21 . Sisera slain. Judges 4:22 -. Pursuit by Barak. - Judges 4:22 -. Jael meeting Barak. - Judges 4:22 -. Discovery. - Judges 4:22 . Sisera dead. Judges 5:1-31 -. THE DELIVERERS'' SONG. Judges 5:1-2 -. Praise to Jehovah. Avenging of Israel. - Judges 5:2-3 . Israel. People''s voluntary service. Judges 5:4-8 . Contrasted states of the country. Judges 5:9 . Israel. Leaders'' voluntary service. Judges 5:10-11 . Contrasted states of the country. Judges 5:12-18 . Contrasted conduct of tribes. Judges 5:19-22 . Enemy. Battle and defeat. Judges 5:23-27 . Contrasted succour of Israel. Judges 5:28-30 . Enemy. Presumption and defeat. Judges 5:31 -. Praise to Jehovah. Avenging of Israel. Judges 5:12-18 . CONTRASTED CONDUCT OF TRIBES. Judges 5:12-15 -. Warriors. - Judges 5:15-17 . Absentees. Judges 5:18 . Warriors. Judges 5:23-27 . CONSTRASTED SUCCOUR FOR ISREAL. Judges 5:23 -. Curse. - Judges 5:23 . Reason. Judges 5:24 . Blessing. Judges 5:25-27 . Reason. Judges 6:1 - Judges 8:35 . MIDIAN. (GIDEON.) Judges 6:1-10 . Midian. Judges 6:11 - Judges 8:35 . Gideon. Judges 6:1-10 . MIDIAN. Judges 6:1 -. The evil wrought. - Judges 6:1 -. The oppressor. - Judges 6:1 . Servitude (seven years). Judges 6:2-6 -. The oppression. - Judges 6:6-10 . The evil repented of. Judges 6:11 - Judges 8:35 . GIDEON. Judges 6:11 - Judges 7:18 . The Deliverer. Raised up. Judges 7:19 - Judges 8:23 . Deliverance. Judges 8:24-27 . The Deliverer. Rewarded. Judges 8:28 . Rest (forty years). Judges 8:29-35 . The Deliverer. Forgotten. Judges 6:11 - Judges 7:18 . THE DELIVERER. Judges 6:11-16 . Angel of Jehovah. Message to Gideon Judges 6:17-24 . Sign. Fire. Judges 6:25-27 . Command. Judges 6:28-32 . Obedience of Gideon. Judges 6:33 . Midianites. Judges 6:34-35 . Spirit of Jehovah. Message to tribes. Judges 6:36-40 . Signs. Fleece. Judges 7:1-11 . Directions. Judges 7:12-14 . Medianites. Judges 7:15-18 . Obedience of Gideon. Judges 6:11-16 . ANGEL OF JEHOVAH. MESSAGE, &c. Judges 6:11 -. Angel. Place. - Judges 6:11 . Gideon. Employment. Judges 6:12 . Angel. Encouragement. Judges 6:13 . Gideon. Complaint. Judges 6:14 . Angel. Mission. Judges 6:15 . Gideon. Question. Judges 6:16 . Angel. Answer. Judges 6:17-24 . SIGN. FIRE. Judges 6:17-18 -. Gideon. Request. - Judges 6:18 . Angel. Compliance. 19. Gideon. Offering. Judges 6:20-21 . Angel. Acceptance. Judges 6:22 . Gideon. Fear. Judges 6:23 . Angel. Assurance. Judges 6:24 . Gideon. Worship. Judges 6:36-40 . SIGN. FLEECE. Judges 6:36-37 . Request. Judges 6:38 . Compliance. Judges 6:39 . Request. Judges 6:40 . Compliance. Judges 7:1-11 . DIRECTION. Judges 7:1 . Gideon. Obedience. Judges 7:2-3 -. Jehovah''s objection. - Judges 7:3 . Result. Judges 7:4 . Jehovah''s objection. Judges 7:5-6 . Result. Judges 7:7 . Jehovah''s selection. Judges 7:8 . Result. Judges 7:9-11 . Gideon. Command. Judges 7:8 , Judges 7:19-20 . The assult. Judges 7:21-22 . Medianite host. Flight. Judges 7:23 . Pursuit by Naphtali. Judges 7:24-25 . The victory. Judges 8:1-12 . Pursuit by Gideon. Judges 8:13-23 . Midianite kings. Capture. Judges 8:1-23 . PURSUIT AND CAPTURE. Judges 8:1-3 . Men of Ephraim, and Gideon. Judges 8:4-7 . Succoth. Colloquy. Judges 8:8-9 . Penuel. Colloquy. Judges 8:10-12 . Kings taken. Judges 8:13-16 . Succoth. Retribution. Judges 8:17 . Penuel. Retribution. Judges 8:18-21 . Kings slain. Judges 8:22-23 . Men of Israel, and Gideon. Judges 9:1-57 . INTERNAL DISORDERS. Judges 9:1-6 . Abimelech''s usurpation. Judges 9:7-21 . Action of Jotham. Judges 9:22-55 . Action of God. Judges 9:56-57 . Abimelech''s usurpation avenged. Judges 9:7-21 . ACTION OF JOTHAM. Judges 9:7 . Jotham''s coming forth. Judges 9:8-15 . Parable given. Judges 9:16-20 . Parable interpreted. Judges 9:21 . Jotham''s fleeing away. Judges 9:22-55 . ACTION OF GOD. Judges 9:22-23 . Evil spirit sent out. Pur- Judges 9:24 -. Against Abimelech. pose. - Judges 9:24 . Against Shechemites. Judges 9:25-41 . Evil spirit in operation. Accom- Judges 9:42-49 . Against Shechemites. plish- Judges 9:50-55 . Against Abimelech. ment. Judges 9:25-55 . EVIL SPIRIT IN OPERATION. Judges 9:25 . Shechemites. Judges 9:26 -. Gaal. - Judges 9:26-27 . Shechemites. Judges 9:28-29 . Gaal. Judges 9:30-33 . Zebul. Conspiracy. Judges 9:34 . Abimelech. Judges 9:35 -. Gaal. Judges 9:39-41 . Zebul. Flight. Judges 9:42-45 . Shechemites. Judges 9:46-49 . Tower of Shechem. Judges 9:50 . Thebez. Judges 9:51-55 . Tower of Thebez. Judges 9:51-55 . THE TOWER OF SHECHEM. THE TOWER OF THEBEZ. Judges 9:46-47 . Refuge. Judges 9:48 . Brushwood. Judges 9:49 -. Burning. - Judges 9:49 . Deaths. Shechemites. Judges 9:51 . Refuge. Judges 9:52 . Burning. Judges 9:53 . Millstone. Judges 9:54-55 . Death. Abimelech. Judges 10:1 - Judges 16:31 . GOVERNMENT. Judges 10:1-5 . Judges. (Tola and Jair.) Judges 10:6-7 . Ammonites and Jephthah. Judges 12:8-15 . Judges. (Ibzan, Elon, Abdon.) Judges 13:1 - Judges 16:31 . Philistines and Samson. Judges 10:6 - Judges 12:7 . AMONITES AND JEPHTHAH. Judges 10:6 . The evil wrought. Judges 10:7 . Selling to Philistines and Ammonites. Judges 10:8-9 . Oppression (eighteen years). Judges 10:10-16 . The evil repented of. Judges 10:17 - Judges 12:6 . Deliverance by Jephthah. Judges 12:7 . Government by Jephthah (six years). Judges 10:10-16 . THE EVIL REPENTED OF. Judges 10:10 . Confession. Judges 10:11-14 . Reproach. Judges 10:15-16 -. Confession. - Judges 10:16 . Pity. Judges 10:17 - Judges 12:6 . DELIVERANCE BY JEPHTHAH. Judges 10:17 . Ammonite invasion. Judges 10:18 . A Leader needed. Judges 11:1-3 . Leader rejected. Judges 11:4 . Ammonite war. Judges 11:5-6 . Jephthah called. Judges 11:7-11 . Jephthah appointed. Judges 11:12-28 . Ammonite negotiation. Judges 11:29 . Jephthah inspired. Judges 11:30-31 . Jephthah''s return. Judges 11:32-33 . Ammonite defeat. Judges 11:34 -. Jephthah''s return. Judges 11:34-40 . Jephthah''s vow performed. Judges 12:1 . Ephraimite dispute. Judges 12:2-3 . Jephthah''s answer. Judges 12:4-6 . Jephthah''s action. Judges 11:12-28 . AMMONITE NEGOTIATION. Judges 11:12 . First message. Judges 11:13 . King''s answer. Judges 11:14-27 . Second message. Judges 11:28 . King''s obstinacy. Judges 11:34-40 . THE VOW PERFORMED. - Judges 11:34-36 . Performance. Judges 11:37-38 . Suspension. Judges 11:39 -. Performance. - Judges 11:39-40 . Commemoration. Judges 12:8-15 . JUDGES (IBZAN, ELON, ABDON). Judges 12:8-9 -. Ibzan. - Judges 12:9 . Government (seven years). Judges 12:10 . Death. Judges 12:11 -. Elon. - Judges 12:11 . Government (ten years). Judges 12:12 . Death. Judges 12:13-14 -. Abdon. - Judges 12:14 . Government (eight years.) Judges 12:15 . Death. Judges 13:1-31 . PHILISTINES AND SAMSON. Judges 13:1 -. Delivered to oppressors. Judges 13:1 . Time of servitude (forty years). Judges 13:2 - Judges 16:31 -. Delivered by Samson. Judges 16:31 . Time of government (twenty years). Judges 13:2 - Judges 16:31 . DELIVERED BY SAMSON. Judges 13:2-21 . Promise. A deliverer. Judges 13:22-23 . Parents. Fear, and Cheer. Judges 13:24-25 . Child. Growth, and Power. Judges 14:1 - Judges 16:31 -. Promise fulfilled. Deliverer. Judges 13:2-21 . PROMISE. A DELIVERER. Judges 13:2-7 . First appearance of Angel. Judges 13:8-14 . Second appearance of Angel. Judges 13:15-21 . Detention of Angel Judges 13:8-14 . SECOND APPEANANCE OF ANGEL. Judges 13:8 -. Reappearance intreated. - Judges 13:8 . Direction sought. Judges 13:9-11 . Reappearance vouchsafed. Judges 13:12-14 . Direction given. Judges 13:15-21 . DETENTION OF THE ANGEL. Judges 13:15-16 -. Invitation of Manoah. - Judges 13:16 . Manaoh''s ignorance. Judges 13:17-18 . Angel''s name. "Wonderful." Judges 13:19 -. Offering of Manoah. - Judges 13:19-21 -. Angel''s action. "Wonderful." - Judges 13:21 . Manoah''s knowledge. Judges 14:1 - Judges 16:31 . PROMISE FULFILLED. Judges 14:1-20 . Marriage. Judges 15:1-19 . Slaughter, in life. Judges 15:20 . Government, twenty years. Judges 16:1-20 . Harlots. Judges 16:21-31 -. Slaughter, in death. Judges 14:1-20 . MARRIAGE. Judges 14:1-9 . Proposals. Judges 14:10-20 . Feast. Judges 14:1-9 . PROPOSALS. Judges 14:1-4 . Wife. Judges 14:5-6 . Lion. Rent. - Judges 14:6 . Concealment. Judges 14:7 . Wife. Judges 14:8-9 -. Lion. Honey in it. - Judges 14:9 . Concealment. Judges 14:10-20 . THE FEAST. Judges 14:10-11 . Wife and companions. Judges 14:12-13 . Conditions proposed. Judges 14:14 . Riddle put forth. Judges 14:15-17 . Wife''s deceit. Judges 14:18 -. Riddle solved. - Judges 14:18 . Wife''s deceit. Judges 14:19 . Conditions fulfilled. Judges 14:20 . Wife and companions. Judges 15:1-19 . SLAUGHTER, IN LIFE. Judges 15:1-8 . First slaughter. Judges 15:9-19 . Second slaughter. Judges 15:1-8 . FIRST SLAUGHTER. Judges 15:1-2 . Wife refused. Judges 15:3-5 . Retribution. Burning. Judges 15:6 . Wife burnt. Judges 15:7-8 -. Retribution. Slaughter. - Judges 15:8-19 . SECOND SLAUGHTER. - Judges 15:8-16 . Expected retaliation. Judges 15:17 . Meaning of place. Ramath-lehi . Judges 15:19 -. Expected retaliation. - Judges 15:19 . Meaning of place. En-hakkore. - Judges 15:8-16 . EXPECTED RETALIATION. - Judges 15:8 . Etam. Samson there. Judges 15:9 . Philistines. Camp at Lehi. Judges 15:10-13 . Etham. Mission to Samson. Judges 15:14-16 . Philistines. Slaughter at Lehi. Judges 16:1-20 . HARLOTS. Judges 16:1-3 . In Gaza. Judges 16:4-20 . In Sorek. Judges 16:1-3 . IN GAZA. Judges 16:1 . Samson. Harlot of Gaza. Judges 16:2 -. Information given. - Judges 16:2 . Expectation roused. Judges 16:3 . Samson. Gates of Gaza. Judges 16:4-20 . IN SOREK. Judges 16:4 . Samson. Gaza to Sorek. Judges 16:5 . Delilah''s bride. Judges 16:6-20 . Delilah''s snares. Judges 16:21-31 -. Samson. Sorek to Gaza. Judges 16:6-20 . DELILAH''S SNARES. Judges 16:6-14 . Delilah''s attempts. Failure. Judges 16:15-20 . Delilah''s attempts. Success. Judges 16:6-14 . DELILAH''S FAILURE. Judges 16:6 . Binding. Judges 16:7 . Means. Green withs. Judges 16:8 . Used. Judges 16:9 . Broken. Judges 16:10 . Binding. Judges 16:11 . Means. New rope. Judges 16:12 -. Used. - Judges 16:12 . Broken. Judges 16:13 -. Binding. - Judges 16:13 . Means. Web. and pin. Judges 16:14 -. Used. - Judges 16:14 . Carried away. Judges 16:15-20 . DELILAH''S SUCCESS. Judges 16:15-18 . Strength. Secret given. Judges 16:19 . Sleeping. Judges 16:20 -. Walking. - Judges 16:20 . Strength. Secret gone. Judges 16:10 . Binding. Judges 16:21-31 . SLAUGHTER IN DEATH. Judges 16:21 -. Servitude. - Judges 16:21 . Prison-house. Labour. Judges 16:22 . Hair growing. Judges 16:23-24 . Festival. Judges 16:25-27 . Sport. Judges 16:28 . Strength restored. Judges 16:29-30 . Prison-house. Destroyed. Judges 16:31 -. Burial. Judges 17:1 - Judges 18:31 . ISRAEL AND OTHER PEOPLES. Judges 17:1 - Judges 18:1 . The Idolatry of Micah. Judges 18:1-31 . Aggression of Danites. Judges 17:1 - Judges 18:31 . IDOLATRY OF MICAH. Judges 17:1-4 . Micah''s house. Fabrication of image. Judges 17:5 . Consecration of his son. Judges 17:6 . "No king". Judges 17:7-11 . Micah''s house. Arrival of Levite. Judges 17:12-13 . Consecration of Levite. Judges 18:1 -. "No king". Judges 18:1-31 . AFFRESSION OF DANITIES. - Judges 18:1 . Danites. Inheritance. Judges 18:2-6 . Mission of spies. Judges 18:7-10 . Security of Laish. Judges 18:11-26 . Expedition. of Danites. Judges 18:27-29 . Conquest of Laish. Judges 18:30-31 . Danites. Idolatry. Judges 18:11-26 . EXPEDITION OF DANITES. Judges 19:1 - Judges 21:25 . INTERNAL DISORDER. Judges 19:1 -. "No king". Judges 19:1-28 . The Provocation. Judges 19:29 - Judges 20:11 . Resentment. Judges 20:12-46 . The civil war. Judges 20:47 - Judges 21:24 . The regret. Judges 21:25 . "No king". Judges 19:1-28 . THE PROVOCATION. Judges 19:1-9 . At father-in-law''s house. Judges 19:10-15 . Journey. Judges 19:16-26 . At old man Judges 19:29 - Judges 20:11 . RESENTMENT. Judges 19:29-30 . Message to tribes. Judges 20:1-3 . Unanimity. Judges 20:4-7 . Recital to tribes. Judges 20:8-11 . Unanimity. Judges 20:12-46 . THE CIVIL WAR. Judges 20:12-14 . Negotiations. Judges 20:15-16 . Army of Benjamites. Judges 20:17 . Army of Israelites. Judges 20:18-46 . Hostilities. Judges 20:12-14 . NEGOTIATIONS. Judges 20:12 . Expostulation. Judges 20:13 -. Requistion. - Judges 20:13 . Refusal. Judges 20:14 . Preparation. Judges 20:18-46 . HOSTILITIES. Judges 20:18-25 . Unsuccessful. Judges 20:26-46 . Successful. Judges 20:26-46 . SUCCESSFUL. Judges 20:26-28 . Promise. Judges 20:29-46 . Fulfillment.