Commentary on the Old Testament Volume 2-4, Biblical commentary 1 · Judges · Preface
The PREFACE.
WHo wrote this Booke it is uncertaine, some thinke it was Samuel, some Ezra, some divers writers successively, as the time, that this History goeth through, is very long, viz. of 299 yeares, in which God stirred up 13 Iudges, whose yeares if they bee summed up together, amount to so many. If it bee demanded, what a Judge differed from a King, and what the Office of a Judge was? it is easily determined. The Judges Office was first to fight against the enemy, and deliver the people of Israel from their oppression. Secondly, to judge the causes brought before them, as did Deborab, Eli and Samuel. Wherefore they had the supreame place and Authority over others in civill things, and a coactive power to call the people after them to warre, and to punish offendors, and to inforce to the execution of their judgements. The difference betwixt a Judge and a King yet was great: because the Judge ruled onelyonly by the Laws of God, and made none other Laws, or constitutions, but in weightier matter stood to the decrees of the great Synedrion or councell of 72: but Kings had power to make other new Ordinances, yet not repugnant to the Laws of God, so that in the time of the Judges God and his Laws were as the onelyonly King, 1 Sam. 12. 12. but when they desired to have a King, they are censured, as rejecting the Lord, that hee should no longer raigne over 2 Sam. 8. 7.them, because although all good Kings would rule according to Gods Laws, yet hee knew, that being puffed up by so high a dignity, they would for the most part play the tyrants and doe contrary to Gods Laws, and so bring the people to a more miserable condition, as is foretold, 1 Sam. 8. 11. 13. &c. to. v. 18. Secondly, Kings were anointed, ware Crownes, of gold, and went forth, and lived in great pompe, having a guard of men and Officers about them, but Judges not. Thirdly, many Kings came to their Kingdome, as the inheritance of their Fathers, but Judges not, but by election, God setting up one of one Tribe, and then another of another, as seemed good unto him: 1 Othniel of Judah, 2 Ehud of Benjamin, Barak of Nephtali, Gedeon of Manasseh, Tholah of Issachar, Elon of Zebulun, Abdon of Ephraim, Samson of Dan, Eli of the Tribe Levi. Fourthly, Kings tooke tribute of their Subjects, 20 Sam. 20. 24. 1 Kings 4. 6. but Iudges not. And yet as the word King may be taken in a large sense for the supreame Magistrate, a Judge may bee called a kinde of King, as Moses is, Deut. 33 5. Ferus Ferus.sheweth the difference in briefe thus, Judges were not set over the people, Emperor-like, but as deliverers, directors, & counsellours, wherefore Gedeon refused Judg. 8.this kinde of Rule being offered unto him, saying, I will not rule over you, but the Lord shall. And he onelyonly was made a Judge, that was by God set up by miracles to deliver the people & to containe them in the obedience of Gods laws, so that the state of the people of Israel then was a free and golden estate to that it was afterwards in the time of the most flourishing King, because then they were made servants, and were greatly exacted upon. Judges ruled, saith Lyra, non per modum imperii, seu; alicujus dominii, sed tantum per modum ministerii, exhortationis & confilii, Deo sibi istud Dominium re…inente, ut patet per istud Gedeonis, c. 8. The scope of this Booke is to shew, how the transgressours of Gods Laws were not threatned with judgements in vaine, nor the obedient fed with gracious promises without effect: for here are both these exemplified at large, sinners not being then especially suffered to goe unpunished, lest the threatnings of transgressours against the Law lately given should have beene contemned, as being without effect. For at the first it was necessary for the confirmation of Gods Laws, that Israel offending should bee severely judged, and repenting againe, received to mercy, that all living in after ages might be assured, that although judgements have not since beene so frequent, yet at last all the wicked shall beare their punishments, and repentant sinners shall be received to mercy. For this Booke of Judges, although the Authour be unknown, yet 2 Tim. 3. 16.it being a part of Canonicall Scriptures, wee are sure that the Spirit of God was the prime & the cheife Authour of it, and therefore we learn reverently to read and attend unto it.