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3,811 commentary entries
Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible
The Death of Joshua. (b. c. 1427.)
THE DEATH OF JOSHUA. (B. C. 1427.) This book, which began with triumphs, here ends with funerals, by which all the glory of man is stained. We have here 1. The burial of Joseph, Joshua 24:32. He died about 200 years bef…
Judah Attacks the Canaanites; The Punishment of Adoni-bezek. (b. c. 1425.)
JUDAH ATTACKS THE CANAANITES; THE PUNISHMENT OF ADONI-BEZEK. (B. C. 1425.) Here, I. The children of Israel consult the oracle of God for direction which of all the tribes should first attempt to clear their country of t…
Conquests of Judah. (b. c. 1425.)
CONQUESTS OF JUDAH. (B. C. 1425.) We have here a further account of that glorious and successful campaign which Judah and Simeon made. 1. The lot of Judah was pretty well cleared of the Canaanites, yet not thoroughly. T…
The Israelites Mixed with the Canaanites. (b. c. 1425.)
THE ISRAELITES MIXED WITH THE CANAANITES. (B. C. 1425.) We are here told upon what terms the rest of the tribes stood with the Canaanites that remained. I. Benjamin neglected to drive the Jebusites out of that part of t…
An Angel Rebukes the Israelites. (b. c. 1425.)
AN ANGEL REBUKES THE ISRAELITES. (B. C. 1425.) It was the privilege of Israel that they had not only a law in general sent them from heaven, once for all, to direct them into and keep them in the way of happiness, but t…
The Idolatry of the Israelites. (b. c. 1425.)
THE IDOLATRY OF THE ISRAELITES. (B. C. 1425.) The beginning of this paragraph is only a repetition of what account we had before of the people's good character during the government of Joshua, and of his death and buria…
The Idolatry of the Israelites. (b. c. 1406.)
THE IDOLATRY OF THE ISRAELITES. (B. C. 1406.) We are here told what remained of the old inhabitants of Canaan. 1. There were some of them that kept together in united bodies, unbroken (Judges 3:3): The five lords of the…
The Government of Othniel. (b. c. 1336.)
THE GOVERNMENT OF OTHNIEL. (B. C. 1336.) We now come to the records of the government of the particular judges, the first of which was Othniel, in whom the story of this book is knit to that of Joshua, for even in Joshu…
Israel Oppressed by Eglon; Eglon Slain by Ehud. (b. c. 1336.)
ISRAEL OPPRESSED BY EGLON; EGLON SLAIN BY EHUD. (B. C. 1336.) Ehud is the next of the judges whose achievements are related in this history, and here is an account of his actions. I. When Israel sins again God raises up…
Shamgar Slays Six Hundred Philistines. (b. c. 1316.)
SHAMGAR SLAYS SIX HUNDRED PHILISTINES. (B. C. 1316.) When it is said the land had rest eighty years, some think it meant chiefly of that part of the land which lay eastward on the banks of Jordan, which had been oppress…
The Israelites Enslaved by Jabin. (b. c. 1285.)
THE ISRAELITES ENSLAVED BY JABIN. (B. C. 1285.) Here is, I. Israel backsliding from God: They again did evil in his sight, forsook his service, and worshipped idols; for this was the sin which now most easily beset them…
The Project of Deborah and Barak. (b. c. 1258.)
THE PROJECT OF DEBORAH AND BARAK. (B. C. 1258.) The year of the redeemed at length came, when Israel was to be delivered out of the hands of Jabin, and restored again to their liberty, which we may suppose the northern…
Defeat of Sisera. (b. c. 1258.)
DEFEAT OF SISERA. (B. C. 1258.) Here, I. Barak beats up for volunteers, and soon has his quota of men ready, Judges 4:10. Deborah had appointed him to raise an army of 10,000 men (Judges 4:6), and so many he has present…
Matthew Henry on Judges 4:17-24
We have seen the army of the Canaanites totally routed. It is said (Psalm 83:9-10, where the defeat of this army is pleaded as a precedent for God's doing the like in after times) that they became as dung for the earth.…
The Song of Deborah and Barak. (b. c. 1285.)
THE SONG OF DEBORAH AND BARAK. (B. C. 1285.) The former chapter let us know what great things God had done for Israel; in this we have the thankful returns they made to God, that all ages of the church might learn that…
Matthew Henry on Judges 5:6-11
Here, I. Deborah describes the distressed state of Israel under the tyranny of Jabin, that the greatness of their trouble might make their salvation appear the more illustrious and the more gracious (Judges 5:6): From t…
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
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…