Bible Commentaries
Judges 10

Verses 1-18

Judges 10:6 And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim, and Ashtaroth, and the gods of Syria, and the gods of Zidon, and the gods of Moab, and the gods of the children of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines, and forsook the LORD, and served not him.

Judges 10:6 “and served Baalim, and Ashtaroth” - Comments - Baalim and Ashtaroth were popular gods of the local Canaanites, which Moses described as the worship of demons (Leviticus 17:7, Deuteronomy 32:17).

Leviticus 17:7, “And they shall no more offer their sacrifices unto devils, after whom they have gone a whoring. This shall be a statute for ever unto them throughout their generations.”

Deuteronomy 32:17, “They sacrificed unto devils, not to God; to gods whom they knew not, to new gods that came newly up, whom your fathers feared not.”

Judges 10:6 “and the gods of Syria” - Comments - Hadad and Rimmon were some of the Syrian gods. The ISBE says t he name of Hadad, t he supreme god of Syria, “is found in Scripture in the names of the Syrian kings, Benhadad, Hadadezer. The god Hadad (= perhaps, “maker of loud noise”) is mentioned in Assyrian inscriptions…” The ISBE says it has been suggested that both of these names are found as well in Scripture within the names of several places (Zechariah 12:11). [23]

[23] George Rice Hovey, “Hadad,” in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, ed. James Orr (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., c1915, 1939), in The Sword Project, v. 1.5.11 [CD-ROM] (Temple, AZ: CrossWire Bible Society, 1990-2008).

Zechariah 12:11, “In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon.”

Naaman spoke of the god Rimmon in 2 Kings 5:18, “In this thing the LORD pardon thy servant, that when my master goeth into the house of Rimmon to worship there, and he leaneth on my hand, and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon: when I bow down myself in the house of Rimmon, the LORD pardon thy servant in this thing.”

Judges 10:6 “and the gods of Moab” Comments - Moab’s chief god was called Chemosh, who is mentioned in Scriptures (Numbers 21:29, Jdg 11:24 , 1 Kings 11:7, Jeremiah 48:13; Jeremiah 48:46).

Numbers 21:29, “Woe to thee, Moab ! thou art undone, O people of Chemosh : he hath given his sons that escaped, and his daughters, into captivity unto Sihon king of the Amorites.”

Judges 11:24, “Wilt not thou possess that which Chemosh thy god giveth thee to possess? So whomsoever the LORD our God shall drive out from before us, them will we possess.”

1 Kings 11:7, “Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab , in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon.”

Jeremiah 48:13, “And Moab shall be ashamed of Chemosh , as the house of Israel was ashamed of Bethel their confidence.”

Jeremiah 48:46, “Woe be unto thee, O Moab! the people of Chemosh perisheth: for thy sons are taken captives, and thy daughters captives.”

Judges 10:6 “and the gods of the children of Ammon” - Comments - Milcom, or Molech, was the chief god of the children of Ammon. This name is mentioned in Scriptures (1 Kings 11:7; 1 Kings 11:33).

1 Kings 11:7, “Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon .”

1 Kings 11:33 Because that they have forsaken me, and have worshipped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon , and have not walked in my ways, to do that which is right in mine eyes, and to keep my statutes and my judgments, as did David his father.”

Judges 10:6 “and the gods of the Philistines” - Comments - The chief gods of the Philistines were called Dagon and Baalzebub, whose names are mentioned in Scripture (Judg 16:33, 2 Kings 1:2-3).

Judges 16:23, “Then the lords of the Philistines gathered them together for to offer a great sacrifice unto Dagon their god , and to rejoice: for they said, Our god hath delivered Samson our enemy into our hand.”

2 Kings 1:2-3, “And Ahaziah fell down through a lattice in his upper chamber that was in Samaria, and was sick: and he sent messengers, and said unto them, Go, enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron whether I shall recover of this disease. But the angel of the LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite, Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say unto them, Is it not because there is not a God in Israel, that ye go to enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron?”

Verses 6-18

Ammonite Oppression and Deliverance by Jephthah The story of Jephthah’s leadership over Israel during the period of the Judges offers readers one of the most amazing stories to deal with in the Holy Scriptures. This judge made a vow unto the Lord that resulted in the offering of his daughter as a burnt sacrifice unto the Lord. Yet, the great victory that the Lord gave him in defeating the Ammonites won him recognition in the “Hall of Faith” found in Hebrews 11:1-40. Jephthah is listed with a number of other judges because he demonstrated tremendous faith in God (Hebrews 11:32-34).

Hebrews 11:32-34, “And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.”

Haddon Robinson says this story teaches us that “God overlooks ignorance, but not unbelief.” [22]

[22] Haddon W. Robinson, “The Story of Jephthah: Judges 11:0,” Expository Homiletical Conference, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, Hamilton, Massachusetts, 14 October 2011.