NOTES ON The Book of JUDGES

This book contains the history of the Israelites under the Judges, which lasted two hundred and ninety nine years: under Othniel, forty, under Ehud, eighty, under Barak, forty, under Gideon, forty, under Abimelek, three, under Tola, twenty - three, under Jair, twenty - two, under Jephtha, six, under Ibzan, seven, under Elon, ten, under Abdon, eight, under Samson, twenty. As for the years of their servitude, they coincide with the years of some or other of the Judges. In the five last chapters we have an account of some memorable events, which happened in the days when the Judges ruled. As to the state of Israel during this period,

They were miserably corrupted, and miserably oppressed. Yet we may hope, the tabernacle service was kept up, and that many attended it.

It seems, each tribe had its government within itself, and acted separately, without any common head. This occasioned many differences among themselves.

The government of the Judges was not constant but occasional. By their judging Israel is meant chiefly, their avenging Israel of their enemies, and purging them from their idolatries.

During the government of the Judges, God was in an especial manner the king of Israel. It is not improbably supposed, that the prophet Samuel was the penman of this book.
 
Judges Chapter 01 - The Continuing Conquest of Canaan, Failure to Complete the Conquest

The conquests made by Judah and Simeon, ver. 1 - 20. Benjamin failed, ver. 21. The house of Joseph took Bethel, ver. 22 - 26. But Manasseh did not drive out the Canaanites, ver. 27, 28. Nor Ephraim, ver. 29. Nor Zebulun, ver. 30. Nor Asher, ver. 31, 32. Nor Naphtali, ver. 33. Nor Dan, ver. 34 - 36.

1 After the death - Not long after it; for Othniel, the first judge, lived in Joshua's time. Asked the Lord - Being assembled together at Shiloh, they enquired of the high - priest by the Urim and the Thummim. Against the Canaanites first - Finding their people multiply exceedingly, and consequently the necessity of enlarging their quarters, they renew the war. They do not enquire who shall be captain general to all the tribes; but what tribe shall first undertake the expedition, that by their success the other tribes may be encouraged to make the like attempt upon the Canaanites in their several lots.
 
2 Judah - The tribe of Judah is chosen for the first enterprise, because they were both most populous, and so most needing enlargement; and withal most valiant, and therefore most likely to succeed: for God chooseth fit means for the work which he designs. Moreover the Canaanites were numerous and strong in those parts, and therefore to be suppressed, before they grew too strong for them.
 
3 To Simeon - As nearest to him both by relation, being his brother by both parents, and by habitation. The Canaanites - Specially so called, because they are distinguished from the Perizzites, ver.4.
 
4 In Bezek - Not in the city, for that was not yet taken, ver.5, but in the territory of it.
 
5 Adoni - bezek - The lord or king of Bezek; as his name signifies. In Bezek - Whither he fled when he lost the field. Against him - That is, against the city wherein he had encamped himself, and the rest of his army.
 
6 Great toes - And this they did, either by the direction of God, or upon notice of his former tyranny and cruelty.
 
7 Threescore and ten - Which is not strange in those times and places. For it is well known, that anciently each ruler of a city, or great town, was called a king, and had kingly power in that place; and many such kings we meet with in Canaan: and it is probable, that some years before, kings were more numerous there, 'till the greater devoured many of the less. Under my table - An act of barbarous inhumanity thus to insult over the miserable, joined with abominable luxury.
 
8 And took - Yet some of the inhabitants retired into the castle, and held out there 'till David's time.
 
10 Judah went - Under the conduct of Caleb, as is recorded, Josh 15:14, &c., for that relation, and this, are doubtless one and the same expedition, and it is mentioned there by anticipation.
 
16 Moses's father - in - law - That is, of Jethro, so called from the people whom he descended, Numb 24:21,22. And, whatsoever he did, it is evident, that his posterity came into Canaan with the Israelites, and were there seated with them, see chap. 4:11,17 5:24 1Sam 15:6 1Chron 2:1 - 54,55. City of palm - trees - That is, from Jericho, so called, Deut 34:3, not the city which was destroyed, but the territory belonging to it, where it seems they were seated, in a most pleasant, and fruitful, and safe place, according to the promise made by Moses to their father, Numb 10:29 - 32, and whence they might remove, either to avoid the neighboring Canaanites; or out of love to the children of Judah. South of Arad - In the southern part of the land of Canaan, where Arad was, Numb 21:1. They went - That is some of them, for others of them dwelt in a contrary quarter, in the most northern part of the land. Among the people - Heb. that people, namely, those children of Judah that lived there.
 
17 Judah went with Simeon - According to his promise, ver.3, and the laws of justice and gratitude. Hormah - Either,
The same place so called, Numb 21:3, and so what was there vowed, is here executed: or,
Some other place called by the same name upon the like occasion, which was frequent among the Hebrews. This seems more probable.
 
18 Judah took - It is only said, they took the cities, and probably contented themselves with making them tributary; but it is not said that they slew the people, as they ought to have done; and as it is said of the other cities here. And the people being thus spared, did by God's just judgment recover their strength, and expel the Jews out of their cities. It is farther observable, that Ekron here taken, was one of Dan's cities, Josh 19:43, and it was taken here by Judah and Simeon, partly out of love for their brother Dan, and partly to secure their new conquests, and other adjoining territories, from such potent neighbours.
 
19 Could not drive - Because of their unbelief, whereby they distrusted God's power to destroy those who had chariots of iron, and so gave way to their own fear and sloth, whereby God was provoked to withdraw his helping hand.
 
22 House of Joseph - That is, the tribe of Ephraim.
 
24 The entrance - On which side it is weakest, that we might best invade and take it.
 
25 His family - Together with his estate, as the following verse manifests.
 
26 The Hittites - Where the Hittites seated themselves after they were driven out of Canaan, which seems to be northward from Canaan, and near upon it.
 
27 Manasseh - That is, that half of this tribe which dwelt in Canaan.
 
29 In Gezer - Which they possessed 'till Solomon's time, 1Kings 9:16.
 
34 The valley - That is, into the plain country; which was the occasion of that expedition for the getting new quarters, of which we read Josh 19:47,48 and chap.Jud 18:1 - 31.
 
35 House of Joseph - That is, of the Ephraimites, who helped their brethren the Danites against the Amorites.
 
36 Akrabbim - Which was in the southern part of Canaan, Josh 15:2,3, from whence it went up towards the north. This is added to shew the great power and large extent of this people.
 
John Wesley Explanatory Notes

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