A Complete History and Mystery of the Old and New Testament, Biblical tract · Volume 2 · Commentary on the book of Judges · Chapter 1
CHAP. I. The Hiſtory and Myſtery of Iſrael under the Judges Government.
THE Book of Judges containeth the Hiſtory of the State of Iſrael after the Death of Joſhua, unto the Death of Sampſon, whereon ſome General Remarks may be made before the Particulars.
The Firſt General Remark is, The Writer of this Book is uncert…in, ſome ſuppoſe it to be Ezra, but more probably it was Samuel who might Collect this Hiſtory out of the publick Records kept in the Treaſury from one Judges time to another: But whether Samuel wrote it (as the Rabbins affirm) or ſome other Holy Prophet, it is not material. Regis Epiſtolis acceptis, &c. ſaith Gregory, when a King ſends his Letters Patents to his Subjects, it matters not who was the King's Secretary, and 'tis ridiculous to enquire with what Peo it was written, if once it be known that it is the King's Order or Royal Decree. That God was the Author of this Book, the account we have both in this ſecond Chapter, and in Pſal. 106.34 &c. doth plainly evidence: Nor did Chriſt or his Apoſtles blame the Jews (to whom thoſe Oracles of the Old Teſtament were committed, as to God's Library Keepers, Rom. 3.2.) for falſifying their Truſt, in corrupting any part of the Canonical Scripture.
The Second General Remark is, Thoſe Judges which giveth the Title to this Book, were not ordinary Magiſtrates, but were Men endued with Heroick Minds extraordinarily raiſed up by God, as occaſion required in caſes of extremity, ſo they were indeed God's Deputy-Lieutenants, for in all their times God was their King, and kept the Jura Regalia, or Royal Rights in his own hands, unto whom they were to appeal in Caſes of greateſt difficulties, until Samuel's time, wherein they are ſaid to reject God, and his Government, 1 Sam. 8.7. and 12.12. Then would they have a King of their own to Reign over them like other Nations: 'Till then they could Triumph and ſay, [The Lord is our Judge, the Lord is our Law-giver, the Lord is our King, he will ſave us] Iſa. 33.22. While they kept cloſe to God and his Covenant. Theſe are call'd Judges here, becauſe they executed God's juſt Judgments upon Iſrael's Enemies, &c.
The Third Remark is, The time of theſe Judges Judging Iſrael is affirmed by the Apoſtle to be about four hundred and fifty years, Acts 13.19, 20. Whereas this Book ſets down the Hiſtory of the ſpace of two hundred ninety nine years only, under thirteen ſeveral Judges called out by God from ſeveral Tribes, as in thoſe ſums and parcels appeareth,
I. Othniel of Judah Judged Iſrael forty years, Chap. 3.11.
II. Ehud of Benjamin. And,
III. Shamgar, Chap. 3.30, 31. 80 years.
IV. Deborah and Barack of Napthali 40 years, Chap. 5.31.
V. Gideon of Manaſſeh 40 years, Chap. 8.28.
VI. Abimelech, Gideon's Son, 3 years, Chap. 9.22.
VII. Tola of Iſſachar 23 years, Chap. 10.2.
VIII. Jair of Manaſſeh 22 years, Chap. 10.3.
IX. Jephtah of Manaſſeh 6 years, Chap. 11.1. and 12.7.
X. Ibſan of Judah 7 years, Chap. 12.8, 9.
XI. Elon of Zebulon 12 years, Chap. 12.11, 12.
XII. Abdon of Ephraim 8 years, Chap. 12.13, 14.
XIII. Samſon of Dan 20 years, Chap. 13.2. and 16.31.
The Total Sum is Two Hundred Ninety Nine Years, unto which if the Forty Years of Eli's Judging Iſrael with Samuel, (mentioned 1 Sam. 4.18.) be added, it makes Three Hundred Thirty Nine Years. Now add the Years of the Oppreſſors as they are expreſſed.
I. Eight years, Chap. 3.8.
II. Eighteen years, Chap. 3.14.
III. Twenty years, Chap. 4.3.
IV. Seven years, Chap. 6.3.
V. Eighteen years, Chap. 10.8.
VI. Forty years, Chap. 13.1.
In all an Hundred and Eleven Years, which being added to the Three Hundred Thirty Nine, makes up the Four Hundred and Fifty, that Paul ſpeaks of, Acts 13.20. Such Harmony there is betwixt the Old and New Teſtament, in a Congruous Chronology.
The Fourth General Remark is, the Cauſes of Iſrael's Corruption, and of its Calamity, by conſequence is deſcribed at large in this Book: The Corruption of the Church and its general Apoſtacy in its Cauſes, which are two fold, (1.) Privative, and (2.) Poſitive.
Firſt, The Privative Cauſe was the Death of Joſhua, and of the Elders that were contemporary with him, Judg. 2.7. who had hitherto prohibited Corruption: Their Death was the Removens Prohibens Removing that Remora and Rampart which hindred Iniquity to come in like a flood upon the Church of God; but when God gave them Godly Judges, then the Spirit of the Lord did lift up a Standard againſt it, Iſa. 59.19. Nor was this all, but there was a ſecond Privative Cauſe, to wit, the want of a King, or Supream Magiſtrate, and therefore the Holy Ghoſt rendreth this very reaſon of their wickedneſs no fewer than three times in the Hiſtory of Micha's Idolatry, and of the Gibeonites laſciviouſneſs, Judg. 17.61. and 18.1. and 21.25. Hence it is the Opinion of Sir Walter Rawleigh, that the War between the Benjamites (in the defence of luſtful. Gibeah, and the other Tribes of Iſrael did likely fall out betwixt the times of Joſhua and Othniel, for then (ſaith he) there was no King in Iſrael, and the Tribe of Judah who led the People againſt the Canaanites, Judg. 1. ver. 2, 3. led them alſo againſt the Benjamites, Judg. 20.18. and both theſe things of Judah's Conduct was by God's direction, but,
Secondly, The Poſitive Cauſe both of their Corruption, and of their Calamity thereby, was (1.) Their Neglect of God's Command in driving out the Curſed Canaanites, they became ſloathful, conſulting their own eaſe, and contenting themſelves with what they had already got in their poſſeſſions, they began to converſe familiarly with thoſe Nations which God had charged them to deſtroy root and branch, and ſo it came to paſs, that (2.) They mixed Marriages with them, Judg. 3.6. whereby they became notoriouſly debauched both in their Worſhip, and in their Manners. Iſrael now fouly degenerates (1.) In their Worſhip, they ſerve Baalim, and Aſhtaroth, &c. Judg. 2.11, 12 13, 17. And particularly Idolatry was found in Micha's Family, Judg. 17. And ſo it ſpread into the whole Tribe of Dan, who (1.) Rob Micah of his Graven Image, his Ephod and Teraphim, and his Molten Image, (2.) Entice away his Idolatrous Prieſt, and (3.) Eſtabliſh Idolatry in their Tribe, which made a Schiſm of a long continuance, Judg. 18. 2dly In their Manners, oh what wickedneſs was committed in that one City Gibea, Judg. 19. beſides the obſtinacy of the other Tribes in their Sins, ſo that they repented not, neither at the reproof of an Angel, nor of a Prophet, but went on in their own ſtubborn ways, Judg. 2.2.19. for which God puniſh'd them, not only by ſelling them into Oppreſſors hands, but alſo in their Battel againſt Benjamin.
The Particular Remarks now follow the General, which will add a farther illuſtration to their darkneſs, &c:
The Firſt Chapter of Judges holds forth Iſrael's negligence in expelling the Canaanites, and becauſe [contraria juxta ſe poſita, magis Eluceſcunt] one contrary gives light and luſtre to another, when they are aptly placed together; therefore Iſrael's Valour and Victory is firſt related from ver. 1. to ver. 18. in the Expedition of Judah's Tribe, to which is ſubjoined the ſame ſucceſs in Joſeph's Tribe, from ver. 22. to ver. 26. that it might the more manifeſtly appear, what little Reaſon Iſrael had for their following ſlothfulneſs in neglecting to extirpate thoſe Nations, which they, contrary to God's Command, ſpared as is Recorded from ver. 19. and ſo on ver. 21.27, 28. to 36. Their foregoing Succeſſes were a ſufficient Demonſtration, that the reaſon why they Conquered no more, was becauſe in God's Name they undertook no more to Conquer from Love of Eaſe, or Cowardly fear, &c.
The Firſt Remark is, Here we have Iſrael's firſt Expedition againſt the Canaanites after Joſhua's Death which could not but encourage the Enemy, and diſcourage Iſrael: For the Canaanites might happily hope to hold their own, now that the Lyon was dead; who had ſo lately and largely devoured their Land; and the Iſraelites might well have miſgiving fears, that the loſs of ſo Valiant and Victorious a General may prove the loſs and ruine of the Common-wealth of Iſrael: This hath befallen ſome other States in the World, whoſe Weal hath been wrapped up in the Life of a brave Leader. Joſhua had told them before of his Death, that thoſe Nations, yet left in the Land, muſt be ſubdued, Joſh. 23.5. and now all the Tribes were ſo encreaſed, that they wanted room, therefore a War muſt be undertaken now for inlarging their Quarters, which might not be done before, Exod. 23.29.30. and becauſe the Succeſs of this firſt Expedition, had ſo much influence (for encouraging or diſcouraging the Enemy) hanging upon it, therefore they ſolemnly ſeek Counſel of God, by Ʋrim and Thummim, which Tribe ſhould begin this Expedition, and Judah, the Royal Tribe is choſen by God for that Work to avoid Emulation among the Tribes, and this Tribe muſt be honoured, in reference to the Meſſiah, the Lyon of this Tribe, who by his Scepter ſhould Rule all Nations, Gen. 49.8. as likewiſe becauſe this Tribe marched under the Conduct of Caleb their General, unto whom Joſhua had allotted Hebron, Joſh. 14.8.13. Ten or Twelve Years (ſaith Dr. Lightfoot) before this, all which time was ſpent in dividing the Land, and bringing every Tribe into its Poſſeſſion: So that Caleb had hitherto little leiſure (becauſe of Publick Service) or if he had any leiſure, he knew himſelf [diſtinct from the publick) too weak to work his own ſettlement, eſpecially conſidering the Canaanits during this interval of time had gathered great ſtrength: Hereupon the whole Tribe of Judah and of Simeon do unanimouſly engage for him, they make him their General, ſo under the Conduct of Caleb, Hebron and Debir are Conquered, and the Anakins ſubdued Judg. 1.2.3.9, 10, 11, 12, &c. Thus Caleb became thus far Joſhua's Succeſſor in the Generalſhip (though but over two Tribes) and who more fit than he who had been Joſhua's Faithful Partner in Eſpying Canaan, &c. And therefore the ſame Story ſet down in Joſh. 15.14. comes in there (as ſome ſuppoſe) by way of Anticipation.
N. B. 'Tis not at all improbable, that God would not have ſo Faithful a Servant of his as Caleb had been [who followed the Lord ſo fully, &c.] Numb. 14.24. &c. to depart this World in obſcurity, without bearing any conſiderable figure therein before his Death, therefore the Lord conferr'd this Signal Honour upon him to become a chief General to Judah and Simeon's whole Tribes, though not univerſally ſo over all the other Tribes, as Joſhua had been, and though he was not conſtituted one of the Judges of all Iſrael, as Othniel, &c. for theſe were extraordinarily raiſed up of God after Caleb to ſave Iſrael from thoſe ſad Calamities which came upon them for their abominabl Apoſtacies, which happened not in Caleb's time.
The Second Remark is, The Succeſs of this firſt Exp…dition (which is expreſly ſaid to be wholly tranſacted after the Death of Joſhua, ver. 1.) The Tribe of Judah and of Simeon, had,
Firſt, For Humane Help the Kenites to aſſiſt them, ver. 16. being the Poſterity of Jethro (Moſes Father in Law) who left their own Country, and for Religion-ſake follow'd Iſrael into the Land of Promiſe, whom Saul Reſpected in his time for old kindneſſes, 1 Sam. 15.6. But,
Secondly, For Divine Help, the preſence of the Lord of Hosts, ver. 4. and 19. by whoſe aſſiſtance principally they became Victorious over, (1.) Bezek, ver. 4, 5. (2.) Jeruſalem, ver. 8. (3.) Hebron, ver. 9. to 16. (4.) Hormah, ver. 17. (5.) Gaza, Askelon and Ekron, ver. 18. The firſt of all theſe was moſt famous in the Narrative, the King whereof being deſcribed.
Firſt, By his Name, Adonibezek] that is, Lord or King of Bezek.
Secondly, By his State. He loſt the Field, fled, was taken, and had his Thumbs and Great Toes cut off, that he might no more fight with his Hands, nor run away with his Feet, ver. 5, 6. And,
Thirdly, By his Cruelty, ver. 7. He had done the ſame to Threeſcore and Ten Kings, and therefore this was done to him by Divine Direction to retaliate upon himſelf his own barbarous Tyranny over others; Whom he had thus inhumanely tortured, and then trode upon them (lying under his Table) as Trophies of his Victories: However, here was an over-ruling hand of God in ſuffering ſuch Civil [Uncivil] Wars among the Canaanites, wherein one Tyrant ſubdues ſo many of their Kings, this made the Conqueſt of Canaan the more eaſie to Iſrael; for Judah, &c. under Caleb's Conduct Conquers Seventy Kings in the Conqueſt of one Adonibezek? This Tyrant they bring before Jeruſalem (to ſtrike a terrour upon the Jebuſites) and there they kill him in terrorem to all ſuch Tyrants: Then ſacks and burns the City, ver. 8. Moreover, the City Hormah we find was once utterly deſtroyed by Moſes, Numb. 21.3. but being ſince that time Re-edified, as a City Anathematized and devoted to Deſtruction (as the Word Hormah, Hebr. ſignifies) it is utterly deſtroyed the ſecond time here, ver. 17.
N. B. Now by a ſmall tranſpoſition of one Letter, and laying by the Aſpirates which is uſual as in Anna and Hannah, then Horma reſembleth Roma, devoted to Deſtruction alſo.
Roma, diu Titubans, Variis erroribus Acta,
Corruet, & Mundi Deſinet eſſe Caput.
Rome, was once deſtroyed when it was Pagan, and when now Papagan the ſecond time it ſhall be deſtroyed.
The Third Remark is, The ſad Conſequences of this Victorious Succeſs: Namely, Iſrael ſins, and God puniſheth them for their ſins.
Firſt, Iſrael ſinned in ſuffering thoſe ſinful Nations, contrary to God's Command, to live among them, thoſe Sinners became Snares and Traps, &c. to Iſrael (as they had been forewarned) Exod. 23.32. Joſh. 23.13. and Numb. 33, 55, &c. for by Converſing with them, they learned their Works, ſerved their Idols, Sacrificed their Sons and Daughters to Devils, &c. Pſal. 106.34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39. in which Dreadful Apoſtacy they impudently declared their Horrible Ingratitude to that moſt Gracious God, who by ſuch a Mighty and Miraculous Hand had brought them out of the Bondage of Egypt, had fed them Forty Years with daily Miracles in the Wilderneſs, and had now according to his Promiſe, driven out the Curſed Canaanites, brought them into the poſſeſſion of the Land of Promiſe, a Land flowing with Milk and Honey. Beſides, their ſhameful ſin bewrayed their moſt ſhameleſs perſidiouſneſs in ſo ſoon breaking that Solemn Covenant which Joſhua had lately ſworn them into twice, Joſh. 8.33, &c. and Joſh. 24.14. Notwithſtanding all theſe ſtupendious Obligations, yet ſundry Tribes are branded here for their ſinful neglect of routing out thoſe ſinful Nations (which was indeed the Inlet of all their Apoſtacies) either out of Cowardly fear, or love of eaſe, &c. for this the Tribe of Judah is found fault with, ver. 19. Benjamin, ver. 21. Manaſſeh, ver. 27, 28. Ephraim, ver. 29. Zabulon, ver. 30. Aſſer, ver. 31, 32. Naphthali, ver. 33. but above all, Dan was ſingular in this ſinful ſloth, ver. 34, 35, 36. which occaſion'd (through the ſtraitneſs of their Borders) their Expedition to Laiſh, mention'd, Judg. 18 &c.
Secondly, God puniſhed them for thoſe ſins, Pſal. 106.40, 41, 42. his Wrath was kindled againſt them, &c. Therefore,
1. God refuſeth to drive out the Nations as he had promiſed, Judg. 3.1, 2, 3. &c. And,
2. God delivers them into the hands of Cruel Oppreſſors round about, and renders all their Enterprizes unſucceſsful, Judg. 2.14, 15.