21 And Jotham ran away, and fled, and went | brethren, and went over to Shechem: and the men to Beer, and dwelt there, for fear of Abimelech his of Shechem put their confidence in him. brother. 22 When Abimelech had reigned three years over Israel, 23 Then God sent "an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem "dealt treacherously with Abimelech: 24 That "the cruelty done to the threescore and ten sons of Jerubbaal might come, and their blood be laid upon Abimelech their brother, which slew them; and upon the men of Shechem, which aided *him in the killing of his brethren. 25 And the men of Shechem set liers in wait for him in the top of the mountains, and they robbed all that came along that way by them: and it was told Abimelech. 26 And Gaal, the son of Ebed, came with his t 28am. 20. 14. 1 Sam. 16. 14. 1 Kings 12. 15. 22. 22, 23. Is. 19. 14. 2 Thes. 2. 11, 12. v Is. 33. 1. to 1 Kings 2. 32. Esth. 9. 25. Pa. 7. 16. strengthened that was the blemish of his name and family, for he was the son of his maid-servant, whom all that had any respect to Gideon's honour, would endeavour to conceal, yet him they made their king. In both, they put the utmost contempt imaginable upon Gideon. 3. He leaves it to the event to determine whether they had done well, whereby he lodges the appeal with the divine providence: (1.) If they prospered long in this villany, he would give them leave to say they had done well, v. 19. If your conduct toward the house of Gideon be such as can be justified at any bar of justice, honour, or conscience, much good may it do you with your new king." But, (2.) If they had, as he was sure they had, dealt basely and wickedly in this matter, let them never expect to prosper, v. 20. Abimelech, and the Shechemites, that had strengthened one another's hands in this villany, would certainly be a plague and ruin one to another. Let none expect to do ill, and fare well. Jotham, having given them this admonition, made a shift to escape with his life, (v. 21;) either they could not reach him, or they were so far convinced, that they would not add the guilt of his blood to all the rest: but for fear of Abimelech, he lived in exile, in some remote obscure place. Those whose extraction and education are ever so high, know not to what difficulties and straits they may be reduced. V. 22-49. Three years Abimelech reigned, after a sort, without any disturbance; it is not said, He judged Israel, or did any service at all to his country, but, So long he enjoyed the title and dignity of a king; and not only the Shechemites, but many other places, paid him respect. They must have been fond of a king, that could please themselves with such a one as this. But the triumphing of the wicked is short. Within three years, as the years of a hireling, all this glory shall be contemned, and laid in the dust, Is. 16. 14. The ruin of these confederates in wickedness, was from the righteous hand of the God to whom vengeance belongs. He sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the Shechemites, (v. 23;) that is, they grew jealous one of another, and ill affected one to another. He slighted them that set him up, and countenanced, perhaps more than theirs, other cities which now began to come into his interests; and then they grew uneasy at his government, blamed his conduct, and quarrelled at his impositions. This was from God. He permitted the devil, that great mischief-maker, to sow discord between them, and he is an evil spirit, whom God not only keeps under his check, but sometimes serves his own purposes by. Their own lusts were evil spirits, they are devils in men's own hearts, from them come wars and fightings. These God gave them up to, and so might be said to send the evil spirits between them. When men's sin is made their punishment, though God is not the Author of the sin, yet the punishment is from him. The quarrel God had with Abimelech and the Shechemites, was for the murder of the sons of Gideon; (v. 24,) That the cruelty done to them might come, and their blood be laid as a burden upon Abimelech that slew them, and the men of Shechem that helped him. Note, 1. Sooner or later, God will make inquisition for blood, innocent blood, and will return it on the heads of those that shed it, who shall have blood given them to drink, for they are worthy. 2. Accessaries shall be reckoned with, as well as principals, in that and other sins. The Shechemites that countenanced Abimelech's pretensions, aided and abetted him in his bloody projects, and avowed the fact by making him king after he had done it, must fall with him, fall by him, and fall first. 3. Those that combine together to do wickedly, are justly dashed in pieces one against another. Blood cannot be a lasting cement to any interest. I. The Shechemites began to affront Abimelech; perhaps they scarcely knew why, or wherefore, but they were given to change. 1. They dealt treacherously with him, v. 23. It is not said, They repented of their sin in owning him, had they done so, it had been laudable to disown him; but they did it only upon some particular pique, conceived against him by their pride or envy. They that set him up were the first that deserted him, and endeavoured to dethrone him. It is not strange that those who were ungrateful to Gideon were unfaithful to Abimelech; for what will hold those that will not be held by the obligation 27 And they went out into the fields, and gathered their vineyards, and trode the grapes, and made tmerry, and went into the house of their god, and did eat and drink, and cursed Abimelech. 28 And Gaal, the son of Ebed, said, Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? is not he the son of Jerubbaal? and Zebul his officer? serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem; for why should we serve him? 29 And would to God this people were under my hand! then would I remove Abimelech. And he said to Abimelech, Increase thine army, and come out. 30 And when Zebul, the ruler of the city, heard the words of Gaal, the son of Ebed, his anger was 'kindled. his hands to kill. †or, songs. Is. 16. 9, 10. Jer. 25. 30. ver. 4. y 1 Sam. 25. 10. 1 Kings 12. 16. Gen. 34, 2, 6. a 2 Sam. 15. 4. Ps. 10. 3. tor, hot. of such merits as Gideon's? Note, It is just with God, that those who tempt others to be once perfidious, should afterward be themselves betrayed by those whom they have taught to be perfidious. 2. They aimed to seize him when he was at Arumah, (v. 41,) his country seat; expecting him to come to town, they set liers in wait for him, (v. 25,) who should make him their prisoner, whom they had lately made their prince. Those who were thus posted, he not coming, took the opportunity of robbing travellers, which would help to make the people more and more uneasy under Abimelech, when they saw he could not, or would not protect them from highwaymen. 3. They entertained one Gaal, and set him up as their head in opposition to Abimelech, v. 26. This Gaal is said to be the son of Ebed, which signifies a servant, perhaps denoting the meanness of his extraction; as Abimelech was by the mother's side, so he by the father's, the son of a servant; here was one bramble contesting with another. We have reason to suspect that this Gaal was a native Canaanite, because he courts the Shechemites into subjection to the men of Hamor, who was the ancient lord of this city in Jacob's time. He was a bold ambitious man, served their purpose admirably well, when they were disposed to quarrel with Abimelech, and they also served his purpose; so he went over to them to blow the coals, and they put their confidence in him. 4. They did all the despite they could to Abimelech's name, v. 27. They made themselves very merry in his absence, as those who were glad he was out of the way, and who, now that they had another to head them, were in hopes to get clear of him: nay, they went into the house of their god, to solemnize their feast of ingathering, and there they did eat, and drink, and cursed Abimelech; not only said all the ill they could of him in their tabletalk and the song of their drunkards, but wished all the ill they could to him over their sacrifices, praying to their idol to destroy him. They drank healths to his confusion, and with as loud huzzas as ever they had drunk them to his prosperity. That very temple whence they had fetched money to set him up with, did they now meet in to curse him, and contrive his ruin. Had they deserted their idol god with their image king, they might have hoped to prosper; but while they still cleave to the former, the latter shall cleave to them to their ruin. How should Satan cast out Satan? 5. They pleased themselves with Gaal's defying of Abimelech, v. 28, 29. They loved to hear that impudent upstart speak scornfully, (1.) Of Abimelech; though, calling him in disdain Shechem, or a Shechemite, he reflected upon their own city. (2.) Of his good father likewise, Gideon; Is not he the son of Jerubbaal? So he calls him, perhaps in an impious indignation at his name and memory, for throwing down the altar of Baal; turning that to his reproach which was his praise. (3.) Of his prime minister of state, Zebul his officer, and ruler of the city. "We may well be ashamed to serve them, and need not be afraid to oppose them." Men of turbulent ambitious spirits, thus despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities. Gaal aimed not to recover Shechem's liberty, only to change their tyrant, "O that this people were under my hand, what I would do! I would challenge Abimelech to try titles for the crown ;" and it should seem he desired his friends to send him word that he was ready to dispute it with him, whenever he pleased; "Increase thine army and come out. Do thy worst; let the point be determined by the sword." This pleased the Shechemites, who were now as sick of Abimelech as ever they had been fond of him. Men of no conscience will be men of no constancy. II. Abimelech turned all his force upon them, and, in a little time, quite ruined them. Observe the steps of it. 1. The Shechemites' counsels were betrayed to Abimelech by Zebul his confidant, the ruler of the city, who continued hearty for him. His anger was kindled, (v. 30,) and the more, because Gaal had spoken slightly of him, (v. 28;) for perhaps if he had complimented and caressed him now that things were in this ferment, he might have gained him to his interest; but he, being disobliged, sends notice to Abimelech of all that was said and done in Shechem against him, v. 31. Betrayers are often betrayed by some among themselves, and the cursing of the king is sometimes strangely carried by a bird of the air. He prudently advises him to come against the eity immediately, 31 And he sent messengers unto Abimelech *privily, saying, Behold, Gaal, the son of Ebed, and his brethren, be come to Shechem; and, behold, they fortify the city against thee. 32 Now, therefore, up by night, thou and the people that is with thee, and lie in wait in the field. 33 And it shall be, that in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, thou shalt rise early, and set upon the city and, behold, when he and the people that is with him come out against thee, then mayest thou do to them as thou shalt find occasion. 34 And Abimelech rose up, and all the people that were with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies. 35 And Gaal, the son of Ebed, went out, and stood in the entering of the gate of the city: and Abimelech rose up, and the people that were with him, from lying in wait. 36 And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, Behold, there come people down from the top of the mountains. And Zebul said unto him, Thou seest the shadow of the mountains as if they were men. 37 And Gaal spake again, and said, See, there come people down by the middle of the land, and another company come along by the plain of Meonenim. 38 Then said Zebul unto him, Where is now thy mouth, wherewith thou saidst, Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him? Is not this the people that thou hast despised? go out, I pray now, and fight with them. craftily, or, to Tormah. † thine hand shall find. 1 Sam. 10. 7. 25. 8. Ec. 9. 10. I nave!. or, the regarders of the times. Deut. 18. 14. and lose no time, v. 32, 33. He thinks it best that he should march his forces by night into the neighbourhood, surprise the city in the morning, and then make the best of his advantages. How could the Shechemites hope to speed in their attempt, when the ruler of their city was in the interests of their enemy? They knew it, and yet took no care to secure him. 39 And Gaal went out before the men of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech. 40 And Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him; and many were overthrown and wounded, even unto the entering of the gate. 41 And Abimelech dwelt at Arumah: and Zebul thrust out Gaal and his brethren, that they should not dwell in Shechem. 42 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people went out into the field: and they told Abimelech. 43 And he took the people, and divided them into three companies, and laid wait in the field, and looked, and, behold, the people were come forth out of the city; and he rose up against them, and smote them. 44 And Abimelech, and the company that was with him, rushed forward, and stood in the entering of the gate of the city: and the two other companies ran upon all the people that were in the fields, and slew them. 45 And Abimelech fought against the city all that day: and he took the city, and slew the people that was therein, and beat down the city, and sowed it with salt. 46 And when all the men of the tower of Shechem heard that, they entered into an hold of the house of the god Berith 47 And it was told Abimelech that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together. 48 And Abimelech gat him up to mount Zalmon, he and all the people that were with him; and Abi b ver. 23, 29. c ver. 20. d 2 Kings 3. 25. e Deut. 29. 23. Ez. 47. 11. Zeph. 2.9. fc. 8. 33. g Ps. 68. 14. and did not oppose his expulsion, because, though he had talked big, both his conduct and courage had failed him when there was occasion for them. Most people judge of men's fitness for business by their success, and he that does not speed well, is concluded not to do well. Well, Gaal's interest in Shechem is soon at an end, and he that had talked of removing Abimelech, is himself removed, nor do we ever hear of him any more. Exit Gaal-Gaal retires. 2. Gaal, that headed their faction, having been betrayed by Zebul, Abimelech's confidant, was most wretchedly bantered by him. Abimelech, according to Zebul's advice, drew all his 5. Abimelech, the next day, set upon the city, and quite deforces down upon Shechem by night, v. 34. Gaal, in the morn-stroyed it, for their treacherous dealings with him. Perhaps ing, went out to the gate, (v. 35,) to see what posture things Abimelech had notice of their expelling Gaal who had headed were in, and to inquire, What news? Zebul, as a ruler of the the faction, with which they thought he would have been satiscity, met him there as a friend. Abimelech and his forces be-fied; but the crime was too deep to be thus atoned for, and his ginning to move toward the city, Gaal discovers them, (v. 36;) resentments too keen to be pacified by so small an instance of takes notice of their approach to Zebul that was standing with submission, beside that it was more Zebul's act than theirs; him, little thinking that he had sent for them, and was now ex-by it their hands were weakened, and therefore he resolved to folpecting them. "Look," says he, "do not I see a body of men low his blow, and effectually to chastise their treachery. (1.) coming down from the mountain toward us? Yonder they are,' He had intelligence brought him, that the people of Shechem pointing to the place; " No, no," says Zebul, "thine eyesight were come out into the field, (v. 42;) some think, into the field deceives thee, it is but the shadow of the mountains which thou of business, to plough and sow, (having lately gathered in their takest to be an army." By this he intended, (1.) To ridicule harvest,) or to perfect their harvest, for it was only their vintage him, as a man of no sense or spirit, and therefore very unfit for that they had made an end of, (v. 27,) and then it intimates that what he pretended to; as a man that might easily be imposed they were secure. And because Abimelech was retired, (v. 41,) upon, and made to believe any thing, and that was so silly and they thought themselves in no danger from him, and then the so cowardly, that he apprehended danger where there was none, issue of it is an instance of sudden destruction coming upon and was ready to fight with a shadow. (2.) To detain him, and those that cry, Peace and safety. Others think they went out hold him in talk, while the forces of Abimelech were coming up, into the field of battle; though Gaal was driven out, they would that thereby they might gain advantge. But when Gaal, being not lay down their arms, but put themselves into a posture for content to believe those he now saw to be but the shadow of another engagement with Abimelech, in which they hoped to the mountains, (perhaps the mountains of Ebal and Gerizim, retrieve what they had lost the day before. (2.) He himself, which lay close by the city,) was undeceived by the discovery with a strong detachment, cut off the communication between of two other companies that marched apace toward the city, them and the city; stood in the entering of the gate, (v. 44,) that then Zebul took another way to banter him, upbraiding him with they might neither make their retreat into the city, nor receive what he had said but a day or two before, in contempt of Abi- any succours from the city, and then sent two companies of his melech; (v. 38,)" Where is now thy mouth, that foul mouth of men, who were too strong for them, and they put them all to the thine, wherewith thou saidst, Who is Abimelech ?" Note, sword, ran upon them that were in the fields and slew them. Proud and haughty people are often made, in a little time, to When we go out about our business, we are not sure that we change their note, and to dread those whom they had most de- shall come home again; there are deaths both in the city and in spised. Gaal had, in a bravado, challenged Abimelech to in- the field. (3.) He then fell upon the city itself, and with a crease his army and come out; but now Zebul, in Abimelech's rage reaching up to heaven, though it was the place of his naname, challenges him: "Go out, and fight with them, if thou tivity, laid it in ruins, slew all the people, beat down all the darest." Justly are the insolent thus insulted over. buildings, and, in token of his desire that it might be a perpetual desolation, sowed it with salt, that it might remain a lasting monument of the punishment of perfidiousness. Yet Abimelech prevailed not to make its desolations perpetual, for it was afterward rebuilt, and became so considerable a place, that all Israel came thither to made Rehoboam king, 1 Kings 12. 1. And the place proved an ill omen. Abimelech intended hereby to punish the Shechemites for their slighting him now, but God intended to punish them for their serving of him formerly in the murder of Gideon's sons. Thus when God makes use of men as instruments in his hand to do his work, he means one thing, and they another, Is. 10. 6, 7. They design to maintain their honour, but God to maintain his. 3. Abimelech routed Gaal's forces that sallied out of the town, v. 39, 40. Gaal, disheartened, no doubt, by Zebul's hectoring him, and perceiving his interest weaker than he thought it was, though he marched out against Abimelech with what little force he had, was soon put to the worst, and obliged to retire into the city with great precipitation. In this action the Shechemites' loss was considerable, many were overthrown and wounded; the common effect of popular tumults, in which the inconsiderate multitude are often drawn into fatal snares by those that promise them glorious success. 4. Zebul, that night, expelled Gaal, and the party he had brought with him into Shechem, out of the city, (v. 41,) sending him to the place whence he came. For though the generality of the city continued still averse to Abimelech, as appears by the sequel of the story, yet they were willing to part with Gaal, 6. Those that retired into a strong hold of their idol temple, were all destroyed there. These are called the men of the tower of Shechem, (v. 46, 47,) some castle that belonged to the city, melech took an axe in his hand, and cut down a bough from the trees, and took it, and laid it on his shoulder, and said unto the people that were with him, What ye have seen me do, make haste, and do as I have done. 49 And all the people likewise cut down every man his bough, and followed Abimelech, and put them to the hold, and set the hold on fire upon them; so that all the men of the tower of Shechem died also, about a thousand men and women. 50 Then went Abimelech to Thebez, and encamped against Thebez, and took it. 51 But there was a strong tower within the city, and thither fled all the men and women, and all they of the city, and shut it to them, and gat them up to the top of the tower. 52 And Abimelech came unto the tower, and fought against it, and went hard unto the door of the tower to burn it with fire. 53 And a certain woman cast a piece of a mill and slay me, that men say not of me, A woman slew him. And his young man thrust him through, and he died. 55 And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they departed every man unto his place. 56 Thus God rendered the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did unto his father, in slaying his seventy brethren : 57 And all the evil of the men of Shechem did God render upon their heads: and upon them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal, CHAPTER X. In this chapter we have, I. The peaceable times Israel enjoyed under the government of two judges, Tola and Jair, v. 1-5. II. The troublesome times that ensued. 1. Israel's sin that brought them into trouble, v. 6. 2. The trouble itself they were in, v. 7-9. III. Their repentance and humiliation for sin, their prayers and reformation; and the mercy they found with God thereupon, v. 10-16. IV. Preparation made for their deliverance out of the hand of their oppressora, v. 17, 18 ND Abimelech there arose, to defend stone upon Abimelech's head, and all-to brake his AIsrael, Tola the son of Puah, the son of Dodo, skull. 54 Then he called hastily unto the young man his armour-bearer, and said unto him, Draw thy sword I have done. h 2 Sam. 11. 21. i 1 Sam. 31. 4. k ver. 24. Job 31. 3. Ps. but lay at some distance from it; they, hearing of the destruction of the city, withdrew into a hold of the temple, trusting, it is likely, not so much to its strength, as to its sanctity: they put themselves under the protection of their idol; for thus all people will walk in the name of their god, and shall not we then choose to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of our life? For in the time of trouble he shall hide us in his pavilion, Ps. 27. 5. The name of the Lord is a strong tower, Prov. 18. 10. But that which they hoped would have been for their welfare, proved to them a snare and a trap, as those will certainly find, that run to idols for shelter; it will prove a refuge of lies. When Abimelech had them altogether penned up in that hold, he desired no more. That barbarous project immediately came into his head, of setting fire to the strong hold, and, so to speak, burning all the birds together in the nest. He kept the design to himself, but set all his men on work to expedite the execution of it, v. 48, 49. He ordered them all to follow him, and do as he did; as his father had said to his men, (ch. 7. 17,) Look on me, and do likewise; so said he to his, as becomes a general that will not be wanting to give both the plainest direction, and the highest encouragement that can be, to his soldiers, What ye have seen me do, make haste to do as I have done. Not Ite illuc-Go thither, but Venite huc-Come hither. The officers in Christ's army should thus teach by their example, Phil. 4. 9. He and they fetched each of them a bough from a wood, not far off, laid all their boughs together under the wall of this tower, which, it is probable, was of wood, set fire to their boughs, and so burned down their hold, and all that were in it, who were either burned or stifled with the smoke. What inventions men have to destroy one another! Whence come these cruel wars and fightings, but from their lusts? Some think that the men of the tower of Shechem were the same with the house of Millo, and then Jotham's just imprecation was answered in the letter, Let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour not only in general the men of Shechem, but in particular the house of Millo, v, 20. About one thousand men and women perished in these flames, many of whom it is probable, were no way concerned in the quarrel between Abimelech and the Shechemites, nor meddled with either side, yet, in this civil war, came to this miserable end; for men of factious turbulent spirits, perish not alone in their iniquity, but involve many more, that follow them in their simplicity, in the same calamity with them. V. 50-57. We have seen the ruin of the Shechemites completed by the hand of Abimelech; and now it comes to his turn to be reckoned with, who was their leader in villany. Thebez was a small city, probably, not far from Shechem, dependent upon it, and in confederacy with it. Now, v. 51. I. Abimelech attempted the destruction of this city, (v. 50,) drove all the inhabitants of the town into the castle, or citadel, When he had them there, he did not doubt but he should do the same execution here that he had lately done at the strong hold of the temple of Baal-berith, not considering that the tower of an idol temple lay more exposed to divine vengeance than any other tower. He attempted to set fire to this tower, at least to burn down the door, and so force an entrance, v. 52. Those who have escaped and succeeded well in one desperate attempt, are apt to think the like attempt another time not desperate. This instance was long after quoted, to show how dangerous it is to come near the wall of a besieged city, 2 Sam. 11. 20, &c. But God infatuates those whom he will ruin. II. In the attempt, he was himself destroyed, having his brains knocked out with a piece of a millstone, v. 57. No doubt this man was a murderer, whom, though he had escaped the dangers of the war with Shechem, yet vengeance suffered not to live, Acts 28. 4. Evil pursues sinners, and sometimes overtakes them then when they are not only secure, but triumphant. Thebez, we may suppose, was a weak inconsiderable place, a man of Issachar; and he dwelt in Shamir in mount Ephraim. 94.23. Prov. 5. 22. Matt. 7. 2. Gal. 6. 7. I ver. 20, 45. t save, or, deliver. conquered with Shechem. Abimelech, having conquered the bigger, makes no doubt of being master of the less without any difficulty, especially when he had taken the city, and had only the tower to deal with; yet he lays his bones with that, and there is all his honour buried. Thus are the mighty things of the world often confounded by the weakest, and those things that are most made light of. See here what rebukes those are justly put under many times by the divine providence, that are unreasonable in their demands of satisfaction for injuries received. Abimelech had some reason to chastise the Shechemites, and he had done it with a witness; but when he will carry his revenges further, and nothing will serve but that Thebez also must be sacrificed to his rage, he is not only disappointed there, but destroyed, for verily there is a God that judges in the earth. Three circumstances are observed in the death of Abimelech. 1. That he was slain with a stone, as he had slain his brethren all upon one stone. 2. That he had his skull broken : vengeance aimed at that guilty head which had worn the usurped crown. 3, That the stone was cast upon him by a woman, v. 53. He saw the stone come, it was therefore strange he did not avoid it; but, no doubt, it made it so much the greater mortification to him, to see from what hand it came. Sisera died by a woman's hand, and knew it not; but Abimelech knew it, and when he found himself ready to breathe his last, nothing troubled him so much as this, that it should be said, A woman slew him. See, (1.) His foolish pride, in laying so much to heart this little circumstance of his disgrace. Here was no care taken about his precious soul, no concern what would become of that, no prayer to God for his mercy; but very solicitous he is to patch up his shattered credit, when there is no patching of his shattered skull. O let it never be said that such a mighty man as Abimelech was killed by a woman! The man was dying, but his pride was alive and strong, and the same vainglorious humour that had governed him all along, appears now at last. Qualis vita, finis ita-As was his life, such was his death. As God punished his cruelty by the manner of his death, so he punished his pride by the instrument of it. (2.) His foolish project to avoid this disgrace; nothing could be more ridiculous; his own servant must run him through, not to rid him the sooner out of his pain, but that men say not, A woman slew him. Could he think that this would conceal what the woman had done, and not rather proclaim it the more? Nay, it added to the infamy of his death, for hereby he becomes a self-murderer. Better have it said, A woman slew him, than that it should be said, His servant slew him by his own order; yet now both will be said of him to his everlasting reproach. And it is observable, that this very thing which Abimelech was in such care to conceal, appears to have been more particularly remembered by posterity, than most passages of this history; for Joab speaks of it, as that which he expected David would reproach him with, for coming so nigh the wall, 2 Sam. 11. 21. The ignominy we seek to avoid by sin, we do but perpetuate the remembrance of. Now the issue of all, is, that Abimelech being slain, [1.] Is rael's peace was restored, and an end was put to this civil war, for they that followed him departed every man unto his place, v. 55. [2.] God's justice was glorified, v. 56, 57, Thus God punished the wickedness of Abimelech, and of the men of Shechem, and performed Jotham's curse, for it was not a curse causeless. Thus he preserved the honour of his government, and gave warning to all ages to expect blood for blood. The Lord is known by these judgments which he executes, when the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Though wickedness may prosper a while, it will not prosper always. 2 And he judged Israel twenty and three years, and died, and was buried in Shamir. 3 And after him arose Jair, a Gileadite, and judged Israel twenty and two years. 4 And he had thirty sons that rode on thirty ass-colts, and they had thirty cities, which are called Havoth-jair unto this day, which are in the land of Gilead. 5 And Jair died, and was buried in Camon. 6 And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim, and Ashtaroth, and the gods of Syria, and the gods of "Zidon, and the gods of Moab, and the gods of the children of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines, and forsook the LORD, and served not him. 7 And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he sold them into the hands of the Philistines, and into the hands of the children of Ammon. a c. 5. 10. 12. 14. b Deut. 3. 14. or, the villages of Jair. Num. 32. 41. 2. Jair was a Gileadite, so was his next successor Jephthah, both of that half tribe of the tribe of Manasseh which lay on the other side Jordan; though they seemed separated from their brethren, yet God took care, while the honour of the government was shifted from tribe to tribe, and before it settled in Judah, that they who lay remote, should sometimes share in it, putting more abundant honour on that part which lacked. Jair bore the name of a very famous man of the same tribe, who in Moses's time was very active in reducing this country, Num. 32. 41. Josh. 13. 30. That which is chiefly remarkable concerning this Jair, is, the increase and honour of his family, he had thirty sons, v. 4. And, (1.) They had good preferments, for they rode on thirty ass-colts; that is, they were judges itinerant, who, as deputies to their father, rode from place to place in their several circuits to administer justice. We find afterward that Samuel made his sons judges, though he could not make them good ones, 1 Sam. 8. 1-3. (2.) They had good possessions; every one a city, out of those that were called, from their ancestor, of the same name with their father, Havoth-jair; the villages of Jair; yet they are called cities, either because those young gentlemen to whom they were assigned enlarged and fortified them, and so improved them into cities, or because they were as well pleased with their lot in those country towns, as if they had been cities compact together, and fenced with gates and bars. Villages are cities to a contented mind. V.6-9. While those two judges, Tola and Jair, presided in the affairs of Israel, things went well, but afterward, I. Israel returned to their idolatry, that sin which did most easily beset them; (v. 6,) They did evil again in the sight of the Lord, from whom they were unaccountably bent to backslide, as a foolish people and unwise. I. They worshipped many gods; not only their old demons Baalim and Ashtaroth, which the Canaanites had worshipped, but, as if they would proclaim their folly to all their neighbours, they served the gods of Syria, Zidon, Moab, Ammon, and the Philistines. It looks as if the chief trade of Israel were to import deities from all countries. It is hard to say, whether it was more impious or impolitic to do this. By introducing these foreign deities, they rendered themselves mean and despicable, for no nation that had any sense of honour changed their gods. Much of the wealth of Israel, we may suppose, was carried out, in offerings to the temples of the deities in the several countries whence they came, on which, as their mother churches, their temples in Israel were expected to own their dependence; the priests and devotees of those sorry deities would follow their gods, no 8 And that year they vexed and oppressed the children of Israel eighteen years, all the children of Israel that were on the other side Jordan, in the land of the Amorites, which is in Gilead; 9 (Moreover, the children of Ammon passed over Jordan, to fight also against Judah, and against Benjamin, and against the house of Ephraim;) so that Israel was sore distressed/ 10 And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, saying, We have sinned against thee, both because we have forsaken our God, and also served Baalim. 11 And the LORD said unto the children of Israel, Did not I deliver you from the Egyptians, and from the Amorites, from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines? 12 The Zidonians also, and the Amalekites,' and the Maonites, did oppress you; and ye cried to me, and I delivered you out of their hand. terushed. f 1 Sam. 28. 15. g Ex. 14. 30. h Num. 21. 21-25. i c. 3. 12-15, 31. k c. 5. 19. 1 c. 6. 3, m B. 106, 42. doubt, in crowds into the land of Israel, and if they could not live in their own country, would take root there, and so "strangers would devour their strength." If they did it in compliment to the neighbouring nations, and to ingratiate themselves with them, justly were they disappointed; for those nations which by their wicked arts they sought to make their friends, by the righteous judgments of God became their enemies and oppressors. In quo quis peccat, in eo punitur-Wherein a person offends, therein he shall be punished. 2. They did not so much as admit the God of Israel to be one of those many deities they worshipped, but quite cast him off; they forsook the Lord, and served not him at all. Those that think to serve both God and mammon, will soon come entirely to forsake God, and to serve mammon only. If God have not all the heart, he will soon have none of it. II. God renewed his judgments upon them, bringing them under the power of oppressing enemies. Had they fallen into the hands of the Lord immediately, they might have found that his mercies were great; but God let them fall into the hands of man, whose tender mercies are cruel; he sold them into the hands of the Philistines that lay south-west of Canaan, and of the Ammonites that lay north-east, both at the same time; so that between those two millstones they were miserably crushed, as the original word is, (v. 8,) for oppressed. God had appointed that if any of the cities of Israel should revolt to idolatry, the rest should make war upon them, and cut them off, Deut. 13. 12, &c. They had been jealous enough in this matter, almost to an extreme, in the case of the altar set up by the two tribes and a half, (Josh. 22,) but now they were grown so very bad, that when one city was infected with idolatry, the next took the infection, and, instead of punishing it, imitated and outdid it; and therefore since they that should have been revengers to execute wrath on them that did this evil, were themselves guilty, or bore the sword in vain, God brought the neighbouring nations upon them to chastise them for their apostacy. The oppression of Israel by the Ammonites, the posterity of Lot, was, 1. Very long; it continued eighteen years. Some make those years to be part of the judgeship of Jair, who could not prevail to reform and deliver Israel as he would. Others make them to commence at the death of Jair, which seems the more probable, because that part of Israel which was most infested by the Ammonites was Gilead, Jair's own country, which we cannot suppose to have suffered so much while he was living, but that part at least would be reformed and protected. 2. Very grievous; they vexed them and oppressed them. It was a great vexation to be oppressed by such a despicable people as the children of Ammon were. They began with those tribes that lay next them on the other side Jordan, here called the land of the Amorites, (v. 8,) because the Israelites were so wretchedly degenerated, and had made themselves so like the heathen, that they were become, in a manner, perfect Amorites, Ez. 16. 3. Or, because by their sin they forfeited their title to this land, so that it might justly be looked upon as the land of the Amorites again, from whom they took it. But by degrees they pushed forward, came over Jordan, and invaded Judah, and Benjamin, and Ephraim, (v. 9,) three of the most famous tribes of Israel; yet thus insulted by them, when they had forsaken God, and unable to make head against the invader. Now the threatening was fulfilled, that they should be slain before their enemies, and should have no power to stand before them, Lev. 26. 17, 37. Their ways and their doings procure this to themselves; they are sadly degenerated, and so they come to be sorely distressed. V. 10-18. Here is, I. An humble confession which Israel make to God in their distress, v. 10. Now they own themselves guilty, like a malefactor upon the rack, and promise reformation, like a child under the rod. They did not only complain of the distress, but acknowledged it was their own sin that had brought them into the distress; therefore God was righteous, and they had no reason to repine. They confess their omissions, for in them their sin began, "We have forsaken our God ;" and their commissions, "We have served Baalim, and herein have done foolishly, treacherously, and very wickedly." 13 Yet ye have forsaken me," and served other gods: wherefore I will deliver you no more. 14 Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation. 15 And the children of Israel said unto the Lord, We have sinned: do thou Punto us whatsoever *seemeth good unto thee; deliver us only, we pray thee, this day. 16 And they put away the strange gods from among them, and served the LORD: and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel. 17 Then the children of Ammon were gathered together, and encamped in Gilead: and the children of Israel assembled themselves together, and encamped in Mizpeh. 18 And the people and princes of Gilead said one n Jer. 2. 13. o Deut. 32. 37, 38. 2 Kings 3. 13. Jer. 2. 28. p1 Sam. 3. 18. 2 Sam. 15. 26. ⚫ is good in thine eyes. 92 Chr. 7. 14. 15.8. t gods of strangers. to another, What man is he that will begin to fight against the children of Ammon? he shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead. CHAPTER XI. This chapter gives us the history of Jephthah, another of Israel's judges, and numbered among the worthies of the Old Testament, that by faith did great things, (Heb. 11. 32,) though he had not such an extraordinary call as the rest there mentioned had. Here is, 1. The disadvantages of his rise and original, v. 1-3. II. The Gileadites' choice of him to be commander-in-chief against the Ammonites, and the terms he made with them, v. 4-11. III. His treaty with the king of Ammon about the rights of the two nations, that the matter might be determined, if possible, without bloodshed, v. 12-28. IV. His war with the Ammonites, which he enters upon with a solemn vow, (v. 29-31,) prosecutes with bravery, (v. 32,) and ends with a glorious victory, v. 33. V. The straits he was brought into at his return to his own house, by the vow he had made, v. 34-40. Now Jephthah "the Gileadite was a mighty man of valour, and he was the son of an harlot : and Gilead begat Jephthah. Gen. 31. 49. c. 11. 11, 29. I shortened. r Ps. 106. 44, 45. Is. 63. 9. § cried. IV. A blessed reformation set on foot hereupon. They II. An humbling message which God thereupon sends to Israel; whether by an angel, (as ch. 2. 1,) or by a prophet, (as ch. 6. 8,) is not certain. It was kind that God took notice of their cry, and did not turn a deaf ear to it, and send them notice, with a hope in his mercy. answer at all; it was kind likewise that when they began to repent, he sent them such a message as was proper to further and promote their repentance, that they might be qualified and prepared for deliverance. Now in this message, 1. He upbraids them with their great ingratitude, reminds them of the great things he had done for them, delivering them from such and such enemies; the Egyptians first, out of whose land they were rescued: the Amorites whom they conquered, and into whose land they entered; and since their settlement there, when the Ammonites had joined with the Moabites to oppress them, (ch. 3. 13,) when the Philistines were vexatious in the days of Shamgar, and afterward other enemies had given them trouble; upon their petition, God had wrought many a great salvation for them, v. 11, 12. Of their being oppressed by the Zidonians and the Maonites we read not elsewhere: God had in justice corrected them, and in mercy delivered them, and therefore might have expected that either through fear or through love they would have adhered to him and his service; well therefore might the word cut them to the heart, (v. 13,) yet ye have forsaken me that have brought you out of your troubles, and served other gods that brought you into your troubles. Thus did they forsake their own mercies for their own delusions. 2. He shows them how justly he might now abandon them to ruin, by abandoning them to the gods that they had served. To awaken them to a thorough repentance and reformation, he lets them see, (1.) Their folly in serving Baalim; they had been at a vast expense to obtain the favour of such gods as could not help them, then when they had most need of their help. "Go, and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen, (v. 14,) try what they can do for you now; you have worshipped them as gods, try if they have now either a divine power, or a divine goodness, to be employed for you; you paid your homage to them as your kings and lords, try if they will now protect you; you brought your sacrifices of praise to their altars as your benefactors, imagining that they gave you your corn, and wine, and oil; but a friend indeed will be a friend in need; what stead will their favour stand you in now?" Note, It is necessary, in true repentance, that there be a full conviction of the utter insufficiency of all those things to help us and do us any kindness, which we have idolized and set upon the throne in our hearts in competition with God. We must be convinced that the pleasures of sense on which we have doted, cannot be our satisfaction, nor the wealth of the world which we have coveted, be our portion; that we cannot be happy or easy any where but in God. (2.) Their misery and danger in forsaking God. "See what a pass you have brought your selves to; now you can expect no other than that I should say, I will deliver you no more; and what will become of you then v. 13. This he tells them, not only as what he might do, but as what he would do, if they rested in a confession of what they had done amiss, and did not put away their idols, and amend for the future, III. An humble submission which Israel hereupon made to God's justice, with an humble application to his mercy; (v. 15,) The children of Israel met together, it is probable, in a solemn assembly at the door of the tabernacle; received the impressions of the message God had sent them; were not driven by it to despair, though it was very threatening; but resolve to lie at God's feet, and if they perish, they will perish there. They not only repeat their confession, We have sinned; but, 1. They surrender themselves to God's justice, Do thou unto us whatsoever seemeth good unto thee. Hereby they own that they deserved the severest tokens of God's displeasure, and were sure he could do them no wrong, whatever he laid upon them; they humbled themselves under his mighty and heavy hand, and accepted of the punishment of their iniquity, which Moses had made the condition of God's return in mercy to them, Lev. 26. 41. Note, True penitents dare and will refer themselves to God to correct them as he thinks fit, knowing that their sin is highly malignant in his deserts, and that God is not rigorous or extreme in his demands. 2. They supplicate for God's mercy, and implore that; "Deliver us only, we VI. Things are now working toward their deliverance from the Ammonites' oppression, v. 17, 18. God had said, "I will deliver you no more" but now they are not what they were, they are other men, they are new men, and now he will deliver them. That threatening was denounced, to convince and humble them; and now that it had taken its desired effect, it is revoked in order to their deliverance. 1. The Ammonites are hardened to their own ruin; they gathered together in one body, that they might be destroyed at one blow, Rev. 16. 16. 2. The Israelites are animated to their own rescue. They assembled likewise, v. 17. During their eighteen years' oppression, as in their former servitudes, they were run down by their enemies, because they would not incorporate; each family, city, or tribe, would stand by itself, and act independently, and so they all became an easy prey to the oppressors, for want of a due sense of a common interest to cement them; but whenever they got together, they did well; so they did here. When God's Israel become as one man to advance a common good, and oppose a common enemy, what difficulty can stand before them? The people and princes of Gilead, being met, consult first about a general that should command in chief against the Ammonites. Hitherto most of the deliverers of Israel had an extraordinary call to the office, as Ehud, Barak, Gideon; but the next is to be called in a more common way, by a convention of the states, who inquired out a fit man to command their army, found out one admirably well qualified for the purpose, and God owned their choice by putting his Spirit upon him, ch. 11. 29. So that this instance is of use for direction and encouragement in after ages, when extraordinary calls are no longer to be expected. Let such be impartially chosen to public trust and power, whom God has qualified, and then God will graciously own those who are thus chosen. NOTES TO CHAPTER XI. V. 1-3. The princes and people of Gilead we left, in the close of the foregoing chapter, consulting about the choice of a general, being come to this resolve, that whoever would undertake to lead their forces against the children of Ammon, should by common consent bo head over all the inhabitants of Gilead, |
