THE BOOK OF JUDGES THE ARGUMENT THE author of this book is not certainly known, whether it was Samuel, or Ezra, or some other prophet; nor is it material to know. 1. It matters not who was the king’s secretary, or with what pen it was written, if it be once known that it was.

After the death of Joshua; not long after it, because Othniel, the first judge, lived in Joshua’s time. The children of Israel asked the Lord; being assembled together at Shiloh, they inquired of the high priest by the Urim and Thummim. See Num. 27:21, Judg. 20:18, 1 Sam. 23:9.

Not a person so called, but the tribe of Judah, as is manifest from Judg. 1:3–4, Judg. 1:8–9, which is chosen for the first enterprise, because they were both most populous, and so most needing enlargement; and withal most valiant, and therefore most likely to succeed; for God chooseth fit means…

Unto Simeon his brother; as nearest to him both by relation, being his brother by both parents, which few of them were; and by habitation, as appears from Josh. 19:1–2. Against the Canaanites; specially so called because they are distinguished from the Perizzites, Judg. 1:4.

Not in the city, for that was not yet taken, Judg. 1:5, but in the territory of it, or near to it; as in Hor is taken, Num. 33:37; and in Jericho, Josh. 5:13.

Adoni-bezek; the lord or king of Bezek, as his name signifies, in Bezek; whither he fled, when he had lost the field. Against him, i.e. against the city wherein he had encamped himself, and the rest of his army.

That he might be disenabled to fight with his hands, or to run away upon his feet. And this they did, either by the secret instinct and direction of God, or upon notice of his former tyranny and cruelty expressed upon others, in this manner, as it follows: either way it was a just requital.

Threescore and ten kings; which is not strange in those times and places; for these might be either, first, kings successively, and so there might be divers of those kings in one place, and so in others; or, secondly, contemporary kings.

To wit, in Joshua’s time; which though done before, may be here repeated, to show why they brought Adoni-bezek to Jerusalem, because that city was in their hands, having been taken before, as may be gathered from Josh. 15:63.

Judah went, under the conduct of Caleb, as it is recorded, Josh. 15:11;c. for that relation, and this here following, are doubtless one and the same expedition and war, as appears by all the circumstances; and it is mentioned either there by anticipation, or here by repetition.

Children of the Kenite, i.e. of Jethro, so called from the people from whom he descended, Num. 24:21–22. And whatsoever he did, it is evident that his posterity came into Canaan with the Israelites, and were there seated with them. See Judg. 4:11, Judg. 4:17, Judg. 5:24, 1 Sam. 15:6, 1 Chron. 2:55.

Judah went with Simeon his brother, according to his promise, Judg. 1:3, and the laws of justice and gratitude. Hormah; either, 1. The same place so destroyed and called, Num. 21:3, and so what was there vowed is here executed; or, 2.

The principal cities of the Philistines. Quest. How could this be, when among the people left to try Israel, are the five lords of the Philistines, Judg. 3:3. Answ.

On account of their unbelief, whereby they doubted and distrusted God’s power to destroy those who had chariots of iron and so gave way to their own fear and sloth, whereby God was provoked to withdraw his helping hand from them, and so they were really made impotent, as they were unwilling.

Above mentioned Judg. 1:20

The house of Joseph, i.e. the tribe of Ephraim, as appears from their opposition to the tribe of Manasseh, Judg. 1:27.

The entrance into the city; on which side it is weakest, that we may best invade and take it.

Together with his estate, as the following verse manifests.

The land of the Hittites; where the Hittites seated themselves after they were driven out of Canaan, which seems to be northward from Canaan, and near unto it. See 1 Kings 11:1, 2 Chron. 1:17.

Manasseh, i.e. that half of this tribe which dwelt in Canaan. Beth-shean; a place near Jordan, Josh. 17:11. Taanach; of which see Josh. 12:21, Josh. 17:11. Dor; a great city with large territories. See Josh. 11:2, Josh. 12:23, Josh. 17:11. Megiddo; a royal city. See Josh. 12:21, Josh. 17:11.

Which they possessed till Solomon’s time.

Beth-shemesh; a place differing from that Beth-shemesh, Josh. 15:10.

Into the plain country; which was the occasion of that expedition for the getting of new quarters; of which we read Josh. 19:0; Judg. 18:0.

Of the house of Joseph, i.e. of the Ephraimites, who helped their brethren the Danites against the Amorites, and that with good success.

Akrabbim was in the southern part of Canaan, Josh. 15:2–3, from whence it went up towards the north. This is added to show the great power and large extent of this people.