Chapter 12:
| 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 12
Jephthah's encounter with, and slaughter of the Ephraimites,
ver. 1-6. His death, ver. 7. A short account of three other Judges
ver. 8-15.
Verse 1. Northward - Over Jordan, where Jephthah was, in the northern
part of the land beyond Jordan. And said - Through pride and
envy, contending with him as they did before with Gideon. Over -
Not over Jordan, for there he was already; but over the borders of
the Israelites land beyond Jordan.
Verse 2. When I called - Hence it appears, that he had craved their
assistance, which they had denied; though that be not elsewhere
expressed.
Verse 3. Put my life - That is, I exposed myself to the utmost danger; as
a man that carries a brittle and precious thing in his hand, which
may easily either fall to the ground, or be snatched from him.
Wherefore - Why do you thus requite my kindness in running
such hazards to preserve you and yours?
Verse 4. Ye Gileadites - These words are a contemptuous expression of
the Ephraimites concerning the Gileadites, whom they call
fugitives of Ephraim; the word Ephraim being here taken largely,
as it comprehends the other neighbouring tribes, of which
Ephraim was the chief; and especially their brethren of Manasseh,
who lived next to them, and were descended from the same father,
Joseph. By Gileadites here they seem principally to mean the
Manassites beyond Jordan, who dwelt in Gilead. And although
other Gileadites were joined with them, yet they vent their passion
against these; principally, because they envied them most; as
having had a chief hand in the victory. These they opprobriously
call fugitives, that is, such as had deserted their brethren of
Ephraim and Manasseh, planted themselves beyond Jordan, at a
distance from their brethren, and were alienated in affection from
them.
Verse 5. Said Nay - To avoid the present danger.
Verse 6. Shibboleth - Which signifies a stream or river, which they
desired to pass over: so it was a word proper for the occasion, and
gave them no cause to suspect the design, because they were
required only to express their desire to go over the Shibboleth or
river. Sibboleth - It is well known, that not only divers nations,
but divers provinces, or parts of the same nation who use the same
language, differ in their manner of pronunciation. Could not frame
- Or rather, he did not frame to speak right; so as he was required
to do it. The Hebrew text doth not say, that he could not do it, but
that he did it not, because suspecting not the design he uttered it
speedily according to his manner of expression. There fell - Not in
that place, but in that expedition, being slain either in the battle, or
in the pursuit, or at Jordan. See the justice of God! They had
gloried, that they were Ephraimites: But how soon are they afraid
to own their country? They had called the Gileadites, fugitives:
And now they are in good earnest become fugitives themselves. It
is the same word, ver. 5, used of the Ephraimites that fled, which
they had used in scorn of the Gileadites. He that rolls the stone, or
reproach unjustly on another, it may justly return upon himself.
Verse 9. Took in - That is, took them home for wives to his sons. What a
difference between his and his predecessor's family! Ibzan had
sixty children, and all married: Jephthah but one, and she dies
unmarried. Some are increased, others diminished: all is the
Lord's doing.
Verse 15. Mount of the Amalekites - So called from some remarkable
exploit, done by, or upon the Amalekites in that place. It is
strange, that in the history of all these Judges, there is not so much
as once mention of the high-priest, or of any other priest or
Levite, appearing either for council or action in any public affair,
from Phinehas to Eli, which may well be computed two hundred
and fifty years! Surely this intimates, that the institution was
chiefly intended to be typical, and that the benefits which were
promised by it, were to be chiefly looked for in its anti-type, the
everlasting priesthood of Christ, in comparison of which that
priesthood had no glory.
Chapter 12:
| 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
This version of Wesley's Notes on the Bible is a derivative of an electronic version, Copyright 1997, by Sulu D. Kelley. All rights reserved. Used by permission. It may not be modified or used commercially without permission of Wesleyan Heritage Publishing and Sulu Kelley. A special thanks to Mr. Kelley and Wesleyan Heritage Publishing for permission to create and post this version of Wesley's Notes on the Bible.
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