Bible Commentary (1871–1879 Edition) (continued)
Zebah and Zalmunna Taken. JUDGES IX. Abimelech is made King by the SheckemUea, of husbandry being dragged over them. 8. lie went to Peimel, and spake to tliem likewise—A neighbouring city, situated also in the territory of Gad, near the Jabbok, and honoured with this name by Jacob (Genesis 32.
lanites being synonymous terms, Genesis 37. 2\ 28) were gorgeously adorned with barbaric pearl and gold, an immense amount of such valuable booty had fallen into the hands of the Israelitish soldiers. The contribution Avas liberally made, and the quantity of gold given to him is estimated at £3113 sterling, ornaments—Crescent-like plates of gold suspended from the necks, or placed on the breasts of the camels, collars—Rather ear-rings, or drops of gold or pearl, pui-ple—a royal colour. Th(3 ancient, as well as modern Arabs, adorned the necks, breasts, and legs, of their riding animals with sumptuous housing. 37. Gideon made an ephod thereof, and put it in his city, Oplirah—That no idolatrous use was in view, nor any divisive course from Shiloh contemplated,
30, 31). 9. lie said, AVlicn I come again I will break down tills tower—Intent on the pursuit, and afraid of losing time, he postponed the merited vengeance till his return. His confident anticipation of a triumphant return evinces the strength of liis faith, and his specific threat was probably provoked by some proud and presumptuous boast, that in their lofty watch-tower the Penuelites would set him at defiance.
10-27. Zebah and Zalmunna Taken. 10. Now Zebali and Zalmnnna were In Karkor—A town on the eastern confines of Gad. The wreck of the Midianite army halted is manifest from v. 33. Gideon proposed, with the gold he received, to make an ephod for his use only as a civil magistrate or ruler, as David did (1 Chronicles 15. 27), and a magnificent pectoral or breast-plate also. It would seem, from the history, that he was not blamable In making this ephod, &c., as a civil robe or ornament merely, but that It afterward became an object to which religious ideas were attached ; whereby it proved a snare, and consequently an evil, by perversion, to Gideon and his house. [Taylor's Fragment.]
there. 11. Gideon went up by tlie way of tlieni tliat dwell In tents on tlie east—He tracked the fugitives across the mountain-range of Gilead to the north-east of the Jabbok, and there came upon them unexpectedly, while they were resting secure among their own nomadic tribes. Jogbehah is supposed to be Ramoth-gilead ; and, therefore, the Midianites must have found refuge at or near Abela, "Abel-cheramim," the plain of the vineyards. 1^. when Zebah and Zalmnnna fled, he pursued them—A third conflict took place. His arrival at their last quarters, which was by an unwonted path, took the fugitives by surprise, and the conquest was there completed of the Midianite horde. 13. Gideon returned from battle before the sun was up—He seems to have returned by a nearer route to Succoth, for what is rendered in our version "before the sun w.is up,'' means " the heights of Heres, the sun-hills." 14. he described— Wrote the names of the seventy princes or elders. It was from tliem he had received so inliospitable a treatment. 16. he toyk the thorns of the wilderness and briers, and with them he taught the men of Succoth—By refusing his soldiers refreshment, they liad committed a public crime, as well as an act of inhumanity, and were subjected to a horrible punisliment, which the great abundance and remarkable size of tlie thorn bushes, together with the thinness of clothing in the East, has probaiily suggested. 18. then said he unto Zebah and Zalmunna, What manner of men tvere they whom ye slew at Tabor T—This was one of the countless atroci-
28. JIiniAN SmnuED. 38. Thus was Mldian subdued before the children of Israel—This invasion of the Arab hordes into Canaan was as alarming and desolating as the irruption of the Huns Into Europe. It was the severest scourge ever inflicted upon Israel; and both It and the deliverance under Gideon lived for centuries in the minds of the people (Psalm 83. 11).
CHAPTER IX.
Ver. 1-6. Abimelech is made King by the ShechemITES. 1. Abimelech tlic son of .Terubbaal went to Shechein—The idolatry which had been stealthily creeping into Israel during the latter years of Gideon was now openly professed; Sheehem was wholly Inhabited by Its adherents ; at least Idolaters had the ascendency. Abimelech, one of Gideon's numerous sons, was connected with that place—was ambitious of sovereign power, and having plied successfully the arts of a demagogue with liis maternal relatives and friends, he acquired both the Influence and money by which he raised himself to a throne, communed with all the family of the house of his luotlier's father—Here is a striking Instance of the evils of polygamy—one son has connections and Interests totally alien to those of his brothers. 3. whether ties which the Midianite chiefs had perpetrated during their seven years' lawless occupancy. It is noticed now for the first time, when their fate was about to be determined, each one resembled the children of a king An Orientalism for great beauty, majesty of appearance, uncommon strength, and grandeur of form. 19. they were my brethren, even the sons of my motlier—Tliat is better for you that all the sons of Jerubbaal, or one should reign over you—A false Insinuation, artfully contrived to stir up Jealousy and alarm. Gld(H)n had rejected, with abhorrence, the proposal to make lilmself or any of his family king, and there Is no evidence that any of his other sons coveted the title. *. the house of Baal-berlth-Either the temple, or the place where this
Is, uterine brothers; but. In all countries where polygamy prevails, "the son of my mother" implies a closeness of relationship and a warmth of aircctlon never awakened by the looser term, "brother." !40. he said unto .Tether his flrst-bom. Up, and slay them—The nearest of kin was the l)loo(l avenger ; but a magistrate might order any one to do the work of the executioner, and the person selected was always of a rank e(iual or proportioned to
Idol was worshipped ; liaiil-berlth, " god of the covenant," by Invocation of whom the league of cities was formed. Alilinelerli hired vain and light persons, which followed hlui— Idle, worth1(>ss vagabonds, the scum of sothat of the party doomed to sull'er fl Kings 2. SO). Gideon Intended, then, by the order to Jether, to put an honour on his son, by employing him to slay two enemies of his country; and on the youth (h'cllnlng, pcrforiiieil the bloo<ly deed himself. !4'4, 'M. Tlic men of iNraei Hi<ld unto Gideon, Rule thoit over us . . . <»ldeon aiiid iiiito (hem, Tlie Iord shall rule oi er you—Their unhotuuled admiration and gratltiidt! prompttd Ihcm, In the (enthusiasm of the moment, to raise their deliverer to a throne, and to eslabllsli a royal dynasty In his house. Hut Gideon knew loo well, and revered too i)iously tlu! prli)cli)les of the theocracy to enlcrlaln llu! proposal lor a inoineiit. Personal and family ambition was chei Tfully sacrillced ciety, who had notiilng to lose, but much to gain from the success of a revolutionary movement. 5. went unto Ophrah, and slew his l)rethren on one stone—This Is lh(! Ilrsl mention of a barbarous atrocity which has, with apiialling fr('<]uency, been perpetrated in tho despotic countries of the East—that of some one son of the deceased monarch usurping the throne, and hastening to confirm himself In the possession by the massacre of nil the natural or legitimate competitors. AblineU>oh Blew his brethren (m one Dtonr, either by dashing them frohi one
I'ocic, or sacriricliig them on one stone altar, In revenge for the deniolltlon of Haal's altar by their fallier. This latter view Is the more probable, from the Sheehemltes to a sense of duty, and every worldly motive was kept In check by a supremo reganl to the Divine honour. Ho would willingly act as Judge, but tli(> Lord alone was King of Israel, lit, '£7. Gideon siild, 1 would deulre a request of you—This was the (Contribution of an ear-ring
(v. 21) aiding In It. threescore and ten persons—a round number Is used, but It Is evident that two ar(> wanting to coniplclc that aniouut. ail <he men of Shceliem, and all the house of niillo— i'. c, a mound or rampart, so that the meaning is, all the men li> the house or temple*
[Si ay.], for, Ute auclonl Aruhlanii (Ishniaulltes and Mld104