Bible Commentaries
Judges 3

Introduction

Overview

Judges 3:1, The nations which were left to prove Israel; Judges 3:5, By communion with them they commit idolatry; Judges 3:8, Othniel delivered them from Chushan-rishathaim; Judges 3:12, Ehud from Eglon; Judges 3:31, and Shamgar from the Philistines.

Verse 1

am 2561, bc 1443, An, Ex, Is, 48

the nations: Judges 2:21, Judges 2:22, Deuteronomy 7:22

prove: Deuteronomy 8:2, Deuteronomy 8:16, 2 Chronicles 32:31, Job 23:10, Proverbs 17:3, Jeremiah 6:27, Jeremiah 17:9, Jeremiah 17:10, Zechariah 13:9, John 2:24, 1 Peter 1:7, 1 Peter 4:12, Revelation 2:23

as had not: Judges 2:10

Reciprocal: Genesis 19:37 - Moabites Exodus 15:25 - proved Exodus 23:29 - in one year Deuteronomy 6:19 - General Joshua 13:2 - the land Judges 3:4 - to prove 1 Samuel 28:1 - Philistines 1 Kings 9:21 - left 2 Chronicles 12:8 - that they may

Verse 2

might know: Genesis 2:17, Genesis 3:5, Genesis 3:7, 2 Chronicles 12:8, Matthew 10:34-39, John 16:33, 1 Corinthians 9:26, 1 Corinthians 9:27, Ephesians 6:11-18, 1 Timothy 6:12, 2 Timothy 2:3, 2 Timothy 4:7

to teach: Their fathers fought by a divine power. God taught their hands to war and their fingers to fight, that they might be the instruments of destruction to the wicked nations on whom the curse rested; but now that they had forfeited His favour, they must learn what it is to fight like other men.

Reciprocal: 1 Chronicles 5:22 - the war was of God

Verse 3

five lords: Judges 10:7, Judges 14:4, Joshua 13:3, 1 Samuel 4:1, 1 Samuel 4:2, 1 Samuel 6:18, 1 Samuel 13:5, 1 Samuel 13:19-23, 1 Samuel 29:2

Canaanites: Judges 4:2, Judges 4:23, Judges 4:24, Genesis 10:15-19, Numbers 13:29

Sidonians: Judges 10:12, Judges 18:7, Genesis 49:13, Joshua 11:8-13, Joshua 19:28

in mount: Numbers 34:8, Deuteronomy 1:7, Deuteronomy 3:9, Joshua 11:3, Joshua 13:5

Reciprocal: Joshua 5:1 - which were by Joshua 11:22 - only in Gaza Judges 1:18 - Also Judah Judges 2:21 - General Judges 16:5 - the lords 1 Samuel 6:4 - Five golden 1 Samuel 6:16 - the five 1 Samuel 17:1 - gathered 1 Kings 8:65 - from the entering 2 Kings 8:2 - land Jeremiah 39:5 - Hamath Zephaniah 2:5 - O Canaan

Verse 4

to prove: Judges 3:1, Judges 2:22, Exodus 15:25, Deuteronomy 33:8, 1 Corinthians 11:19, 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12

Verse 5

dwelt: Judges 1:29-32, Psalms 106:34-38

Canaanites: Genesis 10:15-18, Genesis 15:19-21, Exodus 3:8, Exodus 3:17, Deuteronomy 7:1, Joshua 9:1, Nehemiah 9:8

Reciprocal: Psalms 78:57 - But Psalms 106:36 - And

Verse 6

Exodus 34:16, Deuteronomy 7:3, Deuteronomy 7:4, 1 Kings 11:1-5, Ezra 9:11, Ezra 9:12, Nehemiah 13:23-27, Ezekiel 16:3

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 7:16 - for that will Judges 2:3 - their gods 1 Kings 11:2 - surely Nehemiah 9:26 - they were Ezekiel 16:15 - and playedst Malachi 2:11 - and hath

Verse 7

did evil: Judges 3:12, Judges 2:11-13

the groves: Judges 6:25, Exodus 34:13, Deuteronomy 16:21, 1 Kings 16:33, 1 Kings 18:19, 2 Kings 23:6, 2 Kings 23:14, 2 Chronicles 15:16, 2 Chronicles 24:18, 2 Chronicles 33:3, 2 Chronicles 33:19, 2 Chronicles 34:3, 2 Chronicles 34:7

Reciprocal: Genesis 21:33 - Beersheba Deuteronomy 6:11 - when thou Deuteronomy 7:3 - General Deuteronomy 7:4 - so will Judges 2:13 - served Judges 2:14 - the anger Judges 4:1 - did evil Judges 10:6 - Baalim Judges 13:1 - did 1 Samuel 12:9 - forgat 1 Samuel 12:10 - Baalim 1 Kings 11:2 - surely 1 Kings 14:22 - Judah 1 Kings 16:31 - served Baal 2 Kings 22:17 - have forsaken Nehemiah 9:26 - they were Jeremiah 17:2 - their altars Jeremiah 23:27 - as Hosea 2:13 - the days Hosea 11:2 - they sacrificed

Verse 8

am 2591, bc 1413, An, Ex, Is, 78

was hot: Judges 2:14, Judges 2:20, Exodus 22:24, Deuteronomy 29:20, Psalms 6:1, Psalms 85:3

he sold: Judges 2:14, Judges 4:9, Deuteronomy 32:30, 1 Samuel 12:9, Isaiah 50:1, Romans 7:14

Chushanrishathaim: Habakkuk 3:7

Mesopotamia: Heb. Aram-naharaim. Aram-naharayim, "Syria of the two rivers," or Mesopotamia, "between the rivers," is a famous province situated between the Tigris and Euphrates. It is called by Arabian geographers, Maverannaher, "the country beyond the river;" and is now called Diarbek.

Reciprocal: Genesis 24:10 - Mesopotamia Deuteronomy 7:4 - so will Joshua 23:15 - so shall 2 Kings 13:3 - and he delivered 2 Kings 22:17 - have forsaken 1 Chronicles 17:10 - And since 2 Chronicles 28:9 - because the Lord God Nehemiah 9:27 - thou deliveredst Psalms 78:34 - General Psalms 106:40 - the wrath Psalms 106:41 - he gave Isaiah 42:24 - General Ezekiel 39:23 - gave them Daniel 1:2 - the Lord John 8:33 - and were Acts 2:9 - Mesopotamia

Verse 9

am 2599, bc 1405, An, Ex, Is, 86

cried: Judges 3:15, Judges 4:3, Judges 6:7, Judges 10:10, 1 Samuel 12:10, Nehemiah 9:27, Psalms 22:5, Psalms 78:34, Psalms 106:41-44, Psalms 107:13-19

raised up: Judges 2:16

deliverer: Heb. saviour

Othniel: Judges 1:13

Reciprocal: Joshua 15:17 - Othniel Judges 3:11 - Othniel Judges 6:6 - cried 1 Chronicles 4:13 - Kenaz 1 Chronicles 27:15 - Othniel 2 Chronicles 15:4 - in their trouble Psalms 106:44 - General Obadiah 1:21 - saviours

Verse 10

the Spirit: Judges 6:34, Judges 11:29, Judges 13:25, Judges 14:6, Judges 14:19, Numbers 11:17, Numbers 27:18, 1 Samuel 10:6, 1 Samuel 11:6, 1 Samuel 16:13, 2 Chronicles 15:1, 2 Chronicles 20:14, Psalms 51:11, 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, Hebrews 6:4

came: Heb. was

Mesopotamia: Heb. Aram

Reciprocal: Judges 2:16 - the Lord Judges 7:9 - I have delivered Judges 11:32 - the Lord Judges 15:14 - the Spirit 1 Samuel 7:6 - judged 1 Samuel 7:15 - judged 2 Chronicles 15:4 - in their trouble Acts 13:20 - he gave

Verse 11

the land: Judges 3:30, Judges 5:31, Judges 8:28, Joshua 11:23, Esther 9:22

Othniel: Judges 3:9, Joshua 15:17, 1 Chronicles 4:13

Reciprocal: Genesis 49:15 - rest Joshua 14:15 - And the land Judges 2:19 - when the Judges 10:11 - children Judges 11:26 - three hundred 1 Samuel 7:15 - judged 2 Chronicles 14:6 - for the land Nehemiah 9:28 - did evil again

Verse 12

am 2662, bc 1342, An, Ex, Is, 148

did evil: Judges 2:19, Hosea 6:4

and the Lord: Exodus 9:16, 2 Kings 5:1, Isaiah 10:15, Isaiah 37:26, Isaiah 45:1-4, Ezekiel 38:16, Daniel 4:22, Daniel 5:18, John 19:11

the king: 1 Samuel 12:9

Reciprocal: Joshua 23:15 - so shall Judges 3:7 - did evil Judges 4:1 - did evil Judges 10:9 - passed 1 Kings 14:22 - Judah 2 Kings 13:20 - the Moabites Nehemiah 9:28 - did evil again Psalms 78:34 - General Psalms 78:57 - But Psalms 106:41 - he gave

Verse 13

Ammon: Judges 5:14, Psalms 83:6

the city: Judges 1:16, Deuteronomy 34:3, Psalms 83:7

Reciprocal: Judges 6:3 - Amalekites Judges 10:9 - passed Judges 12:15 - in the mount

Verse 14

served: Leviticus 26:23-25, Deuteronomy 28:40, Deuteronomy 28:47, Deuteronomy 28:48

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 28:29 - thou shalt be

Verse 15

am 2679, bc 1325, An, Ex, Is, 166

cried unto: Judges 3:9, Psalms 50:15, Psalms 78:34, Psalms 90:15, Jeremiah 29:12, Jeremiah 29:13, Jeremiah 33:3

a Benjamite: or, the son of Jemini

lefthanded: Heb. shut of his right hand, This Hebrew phrase intimates that, either through disease or disuse, he made little or no use of the right hand, but of his left only, and so was the less fit for war, because he would most likely wield a dagger awkwardly: yet God chose this left-handed man to be the minister of his retributive justice. It was God's right hand that gained Israel the victory, Psalms 44:3, not the right hand of the instruments he employed. Judges 20:16, 1 Chronicles 12:2

sent a present: 1 Samuel 10:27, Proverbs 18:16, Proverbs 19:6, Proverbs 21:14, Isaiah 36:16

Reciprocal: Genesis 49:27 - a wolf Judges 2:16 - the Lord Judges 4:3 - cried Judges 6:6 - cried Judges 7:13 - a cake 1 Samuel 12:10 - And they 1 Kings 10:25 - every man 1 Chronicles 7:10 - Ehud 1 Chronicles 8:5 - Gera Nehemiah 9:27 - in the time Psalms 119:66 - Teach me

Verse 16

two edges: Psalms 149:6, Hebrews 4:12, Revelation 1:16, Revelation 2:12

upon: Judges 3:21, Psalms 45:3, Song of Solomon 3:8

Verse 17

a very fat: Judges 3:29, *marg. 1 Samuel 2:29, Job 15:27, Psalms 73:7, Psalms 73:19, Jeremiah 5:28, Jeremiah 50:11, Ezekiel 34:20

Verse 19

quarries: or graven images, Joshua 4:20

a secret: Judges 3:20, 2 Kings 9:5, 2 Kings 9:6, Acts 23:18, Acts 23:19

And all that: Genesis 45:1

Reciprocal: Genesis 31:46 - an heap Judges 3:26 - the quarries 2 Samuel 13:9 - And Amnon

Verse 20

a summer parlour: Heb. a parlour of cooling, The aleeyah, or upper chamber, seems to have been of the same description as the oleah of the Arabs, but properly ventilated, described by Dr. Shaw, who says, that to most of their houses there is a smaller one annexed, which sometimes rises one story higher than the house; at other times, it consists of one or two rooms only, and a terrace; while others that are built, as they frequently are, over the porch or gateway, have, if we except the ground floor, which they want, all the conveniences that belong to the house itself. There is a door of communication from them into the gallery of the house; besides another, which opens immediately from a private staircase, down into the porch or street, without giving the least disturbance to the house. In these back houses strangers are usually lodged and entertained; and to them likewise the men are wont to retire from the noise and hurry of their families, to be more at leisure for mediation or diversions. Amos 3:15

I have: Judges 3:19, 2 Samuel 12:1-15, 2 Samuel 24:12, Micah 6:9

he arose: Psalms 29:1, Jeremiah 10:7

Reciprocal: Numbers 23:18 - Rise up 2 Kings 4:10 - a little chamber 1 Chronicles 8:6 - Ehud Nehemiah 8:5 - stood up

Verse 21

thrust it: Numbers 25:7, Numbers 25:8, 1 Samuel 15:33, Job 20:25, Zechariah 13:3, 2 Corinthians 5:16

Reciprocal: Judges 3:16 - upon Judges 4:21 - took 2 Samuel 20:10 - in Joab's

Verse 22

the dirt came out: or, it came out at the fundament, Judges 3:22

Verse 24

covereth: etc. or, doeth his easement, 1 Samuel 24:3

Verse 26

the quarries: Judges 3:19

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 9:10 - he opened

Verse 27

he blew: Judges 5:14, Judges 6:34, 1 Samuel 13:3, 2 Samuel 20:22, 2 Kings 9:13

mountain: Judges 7:24, Judges 17:1, Judges 19:1, Joshua 17:15, Joshua 17:18

Reciprocal: Numbers 10:9 - oppresseth Judges 7:8 - trumpets Judges 12:15 - in the mount 2 Samuel 20:1 - he blew

Verse 28

Follow: Judges 4:10, Judges 7:17

the Lord: Judges 7:9, Judges 7:15, 1 Samuel 17:47

the fords: Judges 12:5, Joshua 2:7

Reciprocal: Judges 7:24 - take before 1 Kings 20:21 - went out

Verse 29

lusty: Heb. fat, Judges 3:17, Deuteronomy 32:15, Job 15:27, Psalms 17:10

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 8:2 - he smote 1 Chronicles 18:2 - He smote

Verse 30

And the land: Judges 3:11, Judges 5:31

Reciprocal: Joshua 14:15 - And the land Judges 8:28 - forty years Judges 11:26 - three hundred 2 Samuel 8:2 - he smote 1 Chronicles 18:2 - He smote 2 Chronicles 14:6 - for the land Nehemiah 9:28 - did evil again Acts 9:31 - the churches

Verse 31

Shamgar: Judges 5:6, Judges 5:8

an ox goad: This implement, Mr. Maundrell informs us, in Palestine and Syria is of an extraordinary size. He measured several, and "found them about eight feet long; and at the bigger end about six inches in circumference. They were armed at the lesser end with a sharp prickle for driving the oxen; and at the other end with a small paddle of iron, strong and massive, for cleansing the plough from the clay. In the hand of a powerful man such an instrument must be more dangerous and fatal than a sword." Judges 15:15, 1 Samuel 13:19-22, 1 Samuel 17:47, 1 Samuel 17:50, 1 Corinthians 1:17

also: Judges 2:16

Israel: "So part is called Israel." Judges 4:1, Judges 4:3-24, Judges 10:7, Judges 10:17, Judges 11:4-33, 1 Samuel 4:1,"It seems to concern only the country next to the Philistines.

Reciprocal: Joshua 23:10 - One man Judges 4:21 - took Judges 7:13 - a cake Judges 10:11 - Philistines 1 Samuel 17:40 - staff