Chapter 3:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Joshua Ruth
Judges 3
Concise Complete
The nations left to prove Israel. (1-7) Othniel delivers
Israel. (8-11) Ehud delivers Israel from Eglon. (12-30) Shamgar delivers and
judges Israel. (31)
Verses 1-7 As the
Israelites were a type of the church on earth, they were not to be idle and
slothful. The Lord was pleased to try them by the remains of the devoted nations
they spared. Temptations and trials detect the wickedness of the hearts of
sinners; and strengthen he graces of believers in their daily conflict with
Satan, sin, and this evil world. They must live in this world, but they are not
of it, and are forbidden to conform to it. This marks the difference between the
followers of Christ and mere professors. The friendship of the world is more
fatal than its enmity; the latter can only kill the body, but the former murders
many precious souls.
Verses 8-11 The
first judge was Othniel: even in Joshua's time Othniel began to be famous. Soon
after Israel's settlement in Canaan their purity began to be corrupted, and
their peace disturbed. But affliction makes those cry to God who before would
scarcely speak to him. God returned in mercy to them for their deliverance. The
Spirit of the Lord came upon Othniel. The Spirit of wisdom and courage to
qualify him for the service, and the Spirit of power to excite him to it. He
first judged Israel, reproved and reformed them, and then went to war. Let sin
at home be conquered, that worst of enemies, then enemies abroad will be more
easily dealt with. Thus let Christ be our Judge and Lawgiver, then he will save
us.
Verses 12-30 When
Israel sins again, God raises up a new oppressor. The Israelites did ill, and
the Moabites did worse; yet because God punishes the sins of his own people in
this world, Israel is weakened, and Moab strengthened against them. If lesser
troubles do not do the work, God will send greater. When Israel prays again, God
raises up Ehud. As a judge, or minister of Divine justice, Ehud put to death
Eglon, the king of Moab, and thus executed the judgments of God upon him as an
enemy to God and Israel. But the law of being subject to principalities and
powers in all things lawful, is the rule of our conduct. No such commissions are
now given; to pretend to them is to blaspheme God. Notice Ehud's address to
Eglon. What message from God but a message of vengeance can a proud rebel
expect? Such a message is contained in the word of God; his ministers are boldly
to declare it, without fearing the frown, or respecting the persons of sinners.
But, blessed be God, they have to deliver a message of mercy and of free
salvation; the message of vengeance belongs only to those who neglect the offers
of grace. The consequence of this victory was, that the land had rest eighty
years. It was a great while for the land to rest; yet what is that to the
saints' everlasting rest in the heavenly Canaan.
Verse 31 The side of
the country which lay south-west, was infested by the Philistines. God raised up
Shamgar to deliver them; having neither sword nor spear, he took an ox-goad, the
instrument next at hand. God can make those serviceable to his glory and to his
church's good, whose birth, education, and employment, are mean and obscure. It
is no matter what the weapon is, if God directs and strengthens the arm. Often
he works by unlikely means, that the excellency of the power may appear to be of
God.
Chapter 3:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Joshua Ruth
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalm
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Acts
Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews
James
1 Peter
2 Peter
1 John
2 John
3 John
Jude
Revelation
