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Matthew Henry on Judges 5:12-23
Deborah called on her own soul to be in earnest. He that will set the hearts of other men on fire with the love of Christ, must himself burn with love. Praising God is a work we should awake to, and awake ourselves unto…
Matthew Henry on Judges 5:12-23
Here, I. Deborah stirs up herself and Barak to celebrate this victory in the most solemn manner, to the glory of God and the honour of Israel, for the encouragement of their friends and the greater confusion of their en…
Matthew Henry on Judges 5:24-31
Jael had a special blessing. Those whose lot is cast in the tent, in a low and narrow sphere, if they serve God according to the powers he has given them, shall not lose their reward. The mother of Sisera looked for his…
Matthew Henry on Judges 5:24-31
Deborah here concludes this triumphant song, I. With the praises of Jael, her sister-heroine, whose valiant act had completed and crowned the victory. She had mentioned her before (Judges 5:6) as one that would have ser…
Matthew Henry on Judges 6:1-6
Israel's sin was renewed, and Israel's troubles were repeated. Let all that sin expect to suffer. The Israelites hid themselves in dens and caves; such was the effect of a guilty conscience. Sin dispirits men. The invad…
The Inroads of the Midianites. (b. c. 1249.)
THE INROADS OF THE MIDIANITES. (B. C. 1249.) We have here, I. Israel's sin renewed: They did evil in the sight of the Lord, Judges 6:1. The burnt child dreads the fire; yet this perverse unthinking people, that had so o…
The Pulpit Commentary on Judges 6:1-10
EXPOSITION 6:1 Midian. In Numbers 22:7 we read of the Midianites as allied with the Moabites in their hostility to the children of Israel, and we find them willing agents of Balaam s iniquitous counsels (Numbers 25:6, N…
Matthew Henry on Judges 6:7-10
They cried to God for a deliverer, and he sent them a prophet to teach them. When God furnishes a land with faithful ministers, it is a token that he has mercy in store for it. He charges them with rebellion against the…
Matthew Henry on Judges 6:7-10
Observe here, I. The cognizance God took of the cries of Israel, when at length they were directed towards him. Though in their prosperity they had neglected him and made court to his rivals, and though they never looke…
Matthew Henry on Judges 6:11-24
Gideon was a man of a brave, active spirit, yet in obscurity through the times: he is here stirred up to undertake something great. It was very sure that the Lord was with him, when his Angel was with him. Gideon was we…
The Call of Gideon. (b. c. 1249.)
THE CALL OF GIDEON. (B. C. 1249.) It is not said what effect the prophet's sermon had upon the people, but we may hope it had a good effect, and that some of them at least repented and reformed upon it; for here, immedi…
The Pulpit Commentary on Judges 6:11-24
EXPOSITION 6:11 An angel, etc. Rather, the angel of the Lord, otherwise called "the angel of his presence" (Isaiah 63:9). In 6:14, 6:16, 6:23, for the angel of the Lord we have simply the Lord (see 2:1, note). An oak. R…
Matthew Henry on Judges 6:25-32
See the power of God's grace, that he could raise up a reformer; and the kindness of his grace, that he would raise up a deliverer, out of the family of a leader in idolatry. Gideon must not think it enough not to worsh…
Gideon Overturns the Altar of Baal; Gideon Rescued from the Mob. (b. c. 1249.)
GIDEON OVERTURNS THE ALTAR OF BAAL; GIDEON RESCUED FROM THE MOB. (B. C. 1249.) Here, I. Orders are given to Gideon to begin his government with the reformation of his father's house, Judges 6:25-26. A correspondence bei…
The Pulpit Commentary on Judges 6:25-32
EXPOSITION 6:25 The same night, etc. The iron was hot; it was time to strike. As regards what follows, there are two ways of understanding the verse. One, that of the A.V supposes that only one bullock is spoken of, and…
Matthew Henry on Judges 6:33-40
These signs are truly miraculous, and very significant. Gideon and his men were going to fight the Midianites; could God distinguish between a small fleece of Israel, and the vast floor of Midian? Gideon is made to know…
Gideon's Fleece. (b. c. 1249.)
GIDEON'S FLEECE. (B. C. 1249.) Here we have, I. The descent which the enemies of Israel made upon them, Judges 6:33. A vast number of Midianites, Amalekites, and Arabians, got together, and came over Jordan, none either…
The Pulpit Commentary on Judges 6:33-40
EXPOSITION 6:33 The Midianites, etc. See 6:3, note. The valley of Jezreel. Rather, the plain, "the great plain of Esdraelon," as the Book of Judith styles it (Judith 1:8; see 4:13, note). The great plain of Jezreel, or…
Matthew Henry on Judges 7:1-8
God provides that the praise of victory may be wholly to himself, by appointing only three hundred men to be employed. Activity and prudence go with dependence upon God for help in our lawful undertakings. When the Lord…
Gideon's Three Hundred Men. (b. c. 1249.)
GIDEON'S THREE HUNDRED MEN. (B. C. 1249.) Here, I. Gideon applies himself with all possible care and industry to do the part of a good general, in leading on the hosts of Israel against the Midianites (Judges 7:1): He r…
The Pulpit Commentary on Judges 7:1-8
EXPOSITION 7:1 Jerubbaal. The mention of this name seems intended to keep before our minds that it is emphatically the servant of the Lord who is going forth to victory. The well of Harod, i.e. of trembling, so called,…
Matthew Henry on Judges 7:9-15
The dream seemed to have little meaning in it; but the interpretation evidently proved the whole to be from the Lord, and discovered that the name of Gideon had filled the Midianites with terror. Gideon took this as a s…
Matthew Henry on Judges 7:9-15
Gideon's army being diminished as we have found it was, he must either fight by faith or not at all; God therefore here provides recruits for his faith, instead of recruits for his forces. I. He furnishes him with a goo…
The Pulpit Commentary on Judges 7:9-25
EXPOSITION 7:9 Get thee down, etc; i.e. attack the camp at once with thy 300 men. But if thou art afraid to do so, go down first alone with Phurah thy servant, and hear what they are saying in the camp. 7:11 The armed m…