Chapter 6:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
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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 6
The calamities of Israel by the Midianites, ver. 1-6. The
message God sent them by a prophet, ver. 7-10. God's
commission to Gideon, confirmed by a sign, ver. 11-24. He
breaks down the altar of Baal, ver. 25-32. The preparation for war,
and encouragement by another sign, ver. 33-40.
Verse 1. Of Midian - For although the generality of the Midianites had
been cut off by Moses about two hundred years ago, yet many of
them doubtless fled into the neighbouring countries, whence
afterwards they returned into their own land, and in that time
might easily grow to be a very great number; especially, when
God furthered their increase, that they might be a scourge for
Israel when they transgressed. Let all that sin, expect to suffer: let
all that turn to folly, expect to return to misery.
Verse 3. Children of the east - That is, the Arabians, who are commonly
called the children of the east. Not all the Arabians; but the
eastern part of them.
Verse 4. Unto Gaza - That is, from the east, on which side they entered,
to the well, where Gaza was, near the sea: so they destroyed the
whole land.
Verse 5. Without number - That is, so many that it was not easy to
number them. And not in a regular army to engage, but in a
confused swarm, to plunder the country. Yet Israel, being
forsaken of God, had not spirit to make head against them; God
fighting against them with those very terrors, with which
otherwise he would have fought for them.
Verse 8. A prophet - We have reason to hope, God is designing mercy
for us, if we find he is by his grace preparing us for it.
Verse 10. Not obeyed my voice - He intends to bring them to
repentance. And our repentance is then genuine, when he
sinfulness of sin, as disobedience to God, is that in it which we
chiefly lament.
Verse 11. In Ophrah - In Manasseh: there was another Ophrah in
Benjamin, Josh. xviii, 23. The Abi-ezrite - Of the posterity of
Abiezer. Threshed - Not with oxen, as the manner was, Deut. xxv,
4, but with a staff to prevent discovery. Wine-press - In the place
where the wine-press stood, not in the common floor.
Verse 12. Is with thee - That is, will assist thee against thine enemies.
Man of valour - To whom I have given strength and courage for
this end.
Verse 13. With us - The angel had said, Peace be with Thee: but he
expostulates for All: herding himself with all Israel, and admitting
no comfort, but what they might be sharers in.
Verse 14. Looked - With a settled and pleasant countenance, as a
testimony of his favour, and readiness to help him. Go - Or, go
now, in thy might: in the strength which thou hast already
received, and dost now farther receive from me. Have not I sent
thee - I do hereby give thee command and commission for this
work. God's fitting men for his work, is a sure evidence of his
calling them to it.
Verse 15. My family - Hebrew. my thousand: for the tribes were
distributed into several thousands, whereof each thousand had his
peculiar governor. Is poor - That is, weak and contemptible. The
least - Either for age, or fitness for so great a work.
Verse 16. As one man - As easily, as if they were all but one man.
Verse 17. That thou - That it is thou, an angel or messenger sent from
God, that appears to me, and discourseth with me. Or, a sign of
that which thou talkest with me; that is, that thou wilt by me smite
the Midianites.
Verse 18. My present - A repast for the angel, whom he thought to be a
man. Set it - That thou mayest eat and refresh thyself.
Verse 19. An ephah - The choicest part of a whole ephah; as also he
brought to him the best part of a kid dressed; for a whole ephah,
and a whole kid had been superfluous, and improper to provide
for one man.
Verse 21. Consumed the flesh - By which, he shewed himself to be no
man that needed such provisions, but the Son of God; and by this
instance of his omnipotency, gave him assurance, that he both
could, and would consume the Midianites.
Verse 22. Alas - I am an undone man: I must die, and that speedily; for
that he feared, ver. 23, according to the common opinion in that
case.
Verse 23. Said unto him - Perhaps by an audible voice. Peace be to thee
- Thou shalt receive no hurt by this vision; but only peace, that is,
all the blessings needful for thy own happiness, and for the
present work.
Verse 24. There - On the top of the rock, as is evident from ver. 26,
where that which is here expressed only in general, is more
particularly described. Jehovah-shalom - That is, the Lord's peace;
the sign or witness of God's speaking peace to me, and to his
people: or the place where he spake peace to me, when I expected
nothing but destruction.
Verse 25. The second bullock - He was to offer one for himself, the
other for the sins of the people, whom he was to deliver. 'Till sin
be pardoned thro' the great sacrifice, no good is to be expected.
Thy father hath - Which thy father built in his own ground, tho'
for the common use of the city. The grove - Planted by the altar
for idolatrous uses, as the manner of idolaters was. This action
might seem injurious to his father's authority; but God's command
was a sufficient warrant, and Gideon was now called to be the
supreme magistrate, whereby he was made his father's superior,
and was authorized to root out all idolatry, and the instruments
thereof.
Verse 26. Of this rock - Hebrew. of this strong hold: for in that
calamitous time the Israelites retreated to such rocks, and hid and
fortified themselves in them. Ordered place - That is, in a plain
and smooth part of the rock, where an altar may be conveniently
built. And offer - Gideon was no priest, nor was this the appointed
place of sacrifice; but God can dispense with his own institutions,
though we may not; and his call gave Gideon sufficient authority.
Verse 27. Ten men - Whom doubtless he had acquainted with his design,
and the assurance of success in it, whereby they were easily
induced to assist him. He feared - Not so much, lest he should
suffer for it, as lest he should be prevented from doing it.
Verse 28. Was offered - Not upon Baal's altar, for which it was
designed; but upon an altar erected in contempt of Baal.
Verse 30. They said - Probably some of the persons employed in it.
Verse 31. Will ye plead - Why are you so zealous in pleading for that
Baal, for the worship whereof you suffer such grievous calamities
at this day? It is plain, that Joash had been a worshipper of Baal:
but probably he was now convinced by Gideon. He that will plead
- He that shall farther plead for such a God as this, deserves to die
for his folly and impiety. It is not probable, that this was all which
he said for his son: but it is usual in scripture to give only short
hints of things which were more largely discoursed. While it is
morning - That is, instantly, without delay. Let him plead - As the
God of Israel hath often done when any indignity or injury hath
been done him. But Baal hath now shewed, that he is neither able
to help you, nor himself; and therefore is not worthy to be served
any longer. This resolute answer was necessary to stop the torrent
of the peoples fury; and it was drawn from him, by the sense of
his son's extreme danger; and by the confidence he had, that God
would plead his son's cause, and use him for the rescue of his
people.
Verse 32. He called - Joash called Gideon so, chap. viii, 29, in
remembrance of this noble exploit, and to put a brand upon Baal.
Jerub-baal - That is, Let Baal plead. It is a probable conjecture,
that that Jerombalus, whom Sanchoniathon, (one of the most
ancient of all the Heathen writers) speaks of as a priest of Jao, (a
corruption of Jehovah) and to whom he was indebted for a great
deal of knowledge, was this Jerub-baal.
Verse 33. Of Jezreel - Not Jezreel in Judah, but another in the borders of
Manasseh and Issachar, which was not far distant from Ophrah,
where Gideon dwelt.
Verse 34. The spirit came - Inspiring him with extraordinary wisdom,
and courage, and zeal to vindicate God's honour, and his country's
liberty. The Hebrew is, The Spirit of the Lord clothed Gideon;
clothed him as a robe, to put honour upon him; clothed him as a
coat of mail to put a defense upon him. Those are well clad that
are thus clothed. Abiezer - That is, the Abiezrites, his kindred, and
their servants, and others; who finding no harm coming to him for
destroying Baal, but rather a blessing from God, in giving him
strength and courage for so great an attempt, changed their minds,
and followed him as the person by whose hands God would
deliver them.
Verse 35. All Manasseh - On Both sides of Jordan. Unto Asher, &c. -
Because these tribes were nearest, and so could soonest join with
him; and were nearest the enemy also, ver. 33, and therefore were
most sensible of the calamity, and would in all reason be most
forward to rescue themselves from it.
Verse 36. Gideon said - In a way of humble supplication, for the
strengthening his own faith, and for the greater encouragement of
his soldiers in this great attempt.
Verse 37. On all the earth - That is, upon all that spot of ground which
encompasses the fleece.
Verse 39. On the ground - Which was more preternatural than the
former instance, because if there be any moisture, such bodies as
fleeces of wool are likely to drink it up.
Verse 40. And God did so - See how tender God is, even of the weak;
and how ready to condescend to their infirmities! These signs
were very expressive. They are going to engage the Midianites.
Could God distinguish between a small fleece of Israel, and the
vast floor of Midian? Yes, by this token it appears that he can. Is
Gideon desirous, that the dew of divine grace might descend on
himself in particular? He sees the fleece wet with dew, to assure
him of it. Does he desire, that God will be as the dew to all Israel?
Behold all the ground is wet!
Chapter 6:
| 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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