15The children of Israel said to Yahweh, “We have sinned! Do to us whatever seems good to you; only deliver us, please, today.”16They put away the foreign gods from among them and served Yahweh; and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel.
17Then the children of Ammon were gathered together and encamped in Gilead. The children of Israel assembled themselves together and encamped in Mizpah.18The people, the princes of Gilead, said to one another, “Who is the man who will begin to fight against the children of Ammon? He shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.”
15 The children of Israel said to Yahweh, “We have sinned! Do to us whatever seems good to you; only deliver us, please, today.”
16 They put away the foreign gods from among them and served Yahweh; and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel.
17 Then the children of Ammon were gathered together and encamped in Gilead. The children of Israel assembled themselves together and encamped in Mizpah.
18 The people, the princes of Gilead, said to one another, “Who is the man who will begin to fight against the children of Ammon? He shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.”
KJVKing James Version
15 And the children of Israel said unto the LORD, We have sinned: do thou unto 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 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.
Show all 3 translations
JPSJPS Tanakh (1917)
15 And the children of Israel said unto the LORD: 'We have sinned; do Thou unto us whatsoever seemeth good unto Thee; only deliver us, 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 Mizpah.
18 And the people, the princes of Gilead, said one 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.'
Isaiah 63:9(v16)In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them. In his love and in his pity he redeemed them. He bore…
1 Samuel 3:18(v15)Samuel told him every bit, and hid nothing from him. He said, “It is Yahweh. Let him do what seems good to him.”
Psalms 106:44-45(v16)Nevertheless he regarded their distress, when he heard their cry. He remembered for them his covenant, and repented according to the…
Judges 11:29(v17)Then Yahweh’s Spirit came on Jephthah, and he passed over Gilead and Manasseh, and passed over Mizpah of Gilead, and from Mizpah of Gilead…
2 Samuel 15:26(v15)but if he says, ‘I have no delight in you;’ behold, here I am. Let him do to me as seems good to him.”
Show all 42 cross-references
Judges 11:11(vv17–18)Then Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and chief over them. Jephthah spoke all his words before Yahweh…
Genesis 31:49(v17)and Mizpah, for he said, “Yahweh watch between me and you, when we are absent one from another.
Joshua 9:25(v15)Now, behold, we are in your hand. Do to us as it seems good and right to you to do.”
2 Samuel 24:14(v15)David said to Gad, “I am in distress. Let us fall now into Yahweh’s hand; for his mercies are great. Let me not fall into man’s hand.”
Proverbs 28:13(v15)He who conceals his sins doesn’t prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.
Jeremiah 31:20(v16)Is Ephraim my dear son? Is he a darling child? For as often as I speak against him, I still earnestly remember him. therefore my heart…
Hosea 11:8(v16)“How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I make you like Zeboiim? My heart…
1 John 1:8-10(v15)If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to…
Deuteronomy 32:36(v16)For Yahweh will judge his people, and have compassion on his servants, when he sees that their power is gone; that there is no one…
2 Samuel 10:12(v15)Be courageous, and let’s be strong for our people, and for the cities of our God; and may Yahweh do what seems good to him.”
2 Chronicles 15:8(v16)When Asa heard these words, and the prophecy of Oded the prophet, he took courage, and put away the abominations out of all the land of…
Ezekiel 18:30-32(v16)“Therefore I will judge you, house of Israel, everyone according to his ways,” says the Lord Yahweh. “Return, and turn yourselves from all…
Jonah 3:9(v15)Who knows whether God will not turn and relent, and turn away from his fierce anger, so that we might not perish?”
Luke 19:41(v16)When he came near, he saw the city and wept over it,
Ephesians 4:32(v16)And be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you.
Genesis 6:6(v16)Yahweh was sorry that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him in his heart.
Joshua 24:23(v16)“Now therefore put away the foreign gods which are among you, and incline your heart to Yahweh, the God of Israel.”
Judges 1:1(v18)After the death of Joshua, the children of Israel asked of Yahweh, saying, “Who should go up for us first against the Canaanites, to fight…
Judges 11:5-8(v18)When the children of Ammon made war against Israel, the elders of Gilead went to get Jephthah out of the land of Tob. They said to…
Judges 12:7(v18)Jephthah judged Israel six years. Then Jephthah the Gileadite died, and was buried in the cities of Gilead.
1 Samuel 17:25(v18)The men of Israel said, “Have you seen this man who has come up? He has surely come up to defy Israel. The king will give great riches to…
2 Samuel 12:13(v15)David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against Yahweh.” Nathan said to David, “Yahweh also has put away your sin. You will not die.
2 Samuel 24:10(v15)David’s heart struck him after he had counted the people. David said to Yahweh, “I have sinned greatly in that which I have done. But now,…
2 Chronicles 7:14(v16)if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves, pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then I will hear from…
2 Chronicles 33:15(v16)He took away the foreign gods, and the idol out of Yahweh’s house, and all the altars that he had built in the mountain of Yahweh’s house,…
Job 33:27(v15)He sings before men, and says, ‘I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it didn’t profit me.
Job 34:31-32(v15)“For has any said to God, ‘I am guilty, but I will not offend any more. Teach me that which I don’t see. If I have done iniquity, I will do…
Isaiah 3:1-8(v18)For, behold, the Lord, Yahweh of Armies, takes away from Jerusalem and from Judah supply and support, the whole supply of bread, and the…
Isaiah 34:12(v18)They shall call its nobles to the kingdom, but none shall be there; and all its princes shall be nothing.
Jeremiah 18:7-8(v16)At the instant I speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up and to break down and to destroy it; if that nation,…
Hosea 14:1-3(v16)Israel, return to Yahweh your God; for you have fallen because of your sin. Take words with you, and return to Yahweh. Tell him, “Forgive…
Hosea 14:8(v16)Ephraim, what have I to do any more with idols? I answer, and will take care of him. I am like a green cypress tree; from me your fruit is…
Jonah 2:4(v15)I said, ‘I have been banished from your sight; yet I will look again toward your holy temple.’
Luke 15:20(v16)“He arose, and came to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him, and was moved with compassion, and ran, and fell on…
Hebrews 3:10(v16)Therefore I was displeased with that generation, and said, ‘They always err in their heart, but they didn’t know my ways.’
Hebrews 4:15(v16)For we don’t have a high priest who can’t be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but one who has been in all points tempted like…
John 11:34(v16)and said, “Where have you laid him?” They told him, “Lord, come and see.”
42 distinct cross-references across this passage (43 total citations).
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this passage (16 sources)
Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.
Geneva Bible translators1599 · Public DomainOn vv15–16That is, from this present danger.
That is, from this present danger.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp1656 · Public DomainOn vv15–18Jdg 10:15 And the children of Israel said unto…
Jdg 10:15 And the children of Israel said unto the LORD, We have sinned: do thou unto us whatsoever seemeth good unto thee; deliver us only, we pray thee, this day.
Ver. 15. We have sinned: do thou unto us.] They do not yet despair, but put themselves into the hands of divine justice, in hope of mercy; they make a total resignation of all that they are and have to God; they pray on, and put away the evil of their doings from before his eyes. {Jdg 10:16} An excellent pattern of repentance for all to imitate.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole1685 · Public DomainOn vv15–17Do not give us up into the hands of…
Do not give us up into the hands of these cruel men, but do thou chastise us with thine own hand as much as thou pleasest, to wit, if we be not more faithful and constant to thee than we have hitherto been.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill1763 · Public DomainOn vv15–18And the children of Israel said unto the Lord,…
And the children of Israel said unto the Lord, we have sinned,.... By serving other gods particularly; and they seemed to have a true sense of their sin, and their confessions of it to be ingenuous, by what follows:
do thou unto us whatsoever seemeth good unto thee; inflict what punishment he would upon them, as famine or pestilence, they could not but own it would be just and righteous, and what their sins deserved:
Read full note →
deliver us only, we pray thee, this day; out of the hands of men; they chose rather to fall into the hands of God; and however he thought fit to deal with them, they entreated that this once he would save them out of the hands of their enemies.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley1765 · Public DomainOn vv15–17Do thou unto us - Do not give us…
Do thou unto us - Do not give us up into the hands of these cruel men, but do thou chastise us with thine own hand as much as thou pleasest; if we be not more faithful and constant to thee, than we have hitherto been.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke1810 · Public DomainOn vv15–18Verse 15. We have sinned] The reprehension of this…
Verse 15. We have sinned] The reprehension of this people was kind, pointed, and solemn; and their repentance deep. And they gave proofs that their repentance was genuine, by putting away all their idols: but they were ever fickle and uncertain.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson1811 · Public DomainOn vv15–16Jdg 10:15. Do thou unto us, &c. — Do…
Jdg 10:15. Do thou unto us, &c. — Do not give us up into the hands of these cruel men, but do thou chastise us with thine own hand as much as thou pleasest, if we be not more faithful and constant to thee than we have hitherto been.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Albert Barnes1834 · Public DomainOn vv17–18The historian, having related the preliminary incidents, now comes…
The historian, having related the preliminary incidents, now comes to the final issue which forms the subject matter of his narrative. On a certain occasion, as on many previous ones, the Ammonites were encamped in Gilead, with the intention of dispossessing the Israelites of the whole country, or at least as far as the river Jabbok Jdg 11:13, and of invading the West-Jordanic tribes. The children of Israel on the East of Jordan assembled together to resist them, and pitched their camp in Mizpeh. The narrative proceeds to detail what happened.
Mizpeh - , as its name, “watch-tower” or “look-out” indicates was situated on a height of Mount Gilead, and was, as such, a strong post. It is almost always written, “THE Mizpeh,” or watch-tower. Four or five places of the name occur in Scripture.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary1859 · Public DomainOn vv15–18Time. They are willing to suffer from the hand…
Time. They are willing to suffer from the hand of God, (2 Kings xxiv. 14,) if they prove inconstant any more. (Menochius)
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures1864 · Public DomainOn v17Repentance followed by energy, concord, and mutual confidence.
Repentance followed by energy, concord, and mutual confidence.
Jdg_10:17-18.
Read full note →
17Then [And] the children [sons] of Ammon were gathered together, and encamped in Gilead. And the children [sons] of Israel assembled themselves together, and encamped in Mizpeh [Mizpah]. 18And the people and princes [the people (namely) the chiefs] of Gilead said one to another, What man is he [Who is the man] that will [doth] begin to fight against the children [sons] of Ammon? he shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.
EXEGETICAL AND DOCTRINAL
The call of Gideon to be a deliverer took place just when the national distress was at its greatest height, and Midian had entered on a new expedition of pillage and plunder. A like coincidence marked the present crisis. The sons of Ammon were just making a new incursion into Gilead, when they met with a new spirit. The signature of apostasy and sin, is discord and weakness, despondency and self-seeking, issuing in failure and disaster, whenever action be undertaken. The sign of conversion and true penitence is concord and confidence, leading, by God’s assistance, to victory.
Jdg_10:17. And the sons of Ammon were gathered together . . . . the sons of Israel also assembled themselves. The phrase “sons of Israel” does not always include all the tribes. The men of any single tribe may be so designated. The narrator uses the expression here, however, in order to intimate that though Gilead alone actually engages in the war it is nevertheless done as Israel, according to the mind and spirit of the whole nation. As soon as Israel repents, the collective national spirit, the consciousness of national unity through the calling of God, reawakes in each of the tribes. The localities at which the respective armies are said to have assembled and prepared for the conflict, will be considered under Jdg_11:29.
Jdg_10:18. And the body of the nobles of Gilead said. The hitherto cowed Israelites assembled themselves; but that was not all: they were moreover united in all they did. The narrative says expressly הָעָם שָׂרֵי גִלְעָד, “the people of the nobles of Gilead,” i. e. all, without exception.7 No envious, self-seeking voice of protest or dissent was heard. In times in which distress is recognized with real repentance, private interests cease to govern. People then begin to honor truth and actual merit. No deference is then paid to personal vanity, family connections, or wealth; but, all by-views and self-seeking being set aside, he is sought after who renders service. The nobles of Gilead could not more clearly indicate their new temper, than by unitedly promising to subordinate themselves to him who begins to render the banners of Israel once more victorious, as their head.
It is to be noted that they say, “whoso beginneth to fight against the sons of Ammon.” In him who first again gains an advantage over the enemy in battle, it will be manifest that God is with him. He, accordingly, is to be, not what Gideon’s legions desired him to become, their מֹשֵׁל, ruler, nor what the sinful people of Shechem made of Abimelech, their מֶלֶךְ, king, but their רֹאשׁ, leader. Him, who conquers with God, they desire to follow unanimously, as a common head.
And this one soon appeared.
Footnotes:
[7][Dr. Cassel evidently takes הָעָם as stat. const. Scarcely correct. First, because of the article (cf. Ges. Gram. 110, 2); and, secondly, because עַם never stands for the mere notion of totality. It is better to take גִלְעָד שָׁרֵי as standing in apposition to הָעָם; “the people (namely) the chiefs of Gilead,” i. e. the people through their chiefs, as represented by them.—Tr.]
Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures (Critical, Doctrinal, and Homiletical), ed. John Peter Lange, English translation edited by Philip Schaff (1864–1880) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown1871 · Public DomainOn vv16–17THEY REPENT; GOD PITIES THEM. (Jdg 10:16-18)
THEY REPENT; GOD PITIES THEM. (Jdg 10:16-18)
they put away the strange gods . . . and served the Lord; and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel--On their abandonment of idolatry and return to purity of worship, God graciously abridged the term of national affliction and restored times of peace.
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon1874 · Public DomainOn vv15–1815. We have sinned — Now their repentance becomes…
15. We have sinned — Now their repentance becomes deeper and profounder. They had before (Jdg_10:10) confessed their sins, but had not forsaken them. Now, brought into deep humiliation by the divine threat, (Jdg_10:13.) they are ready to do or receive whatsoever seemeth good unto Jehovah.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges1878 · Public DomainOn vv15–1815. For the submission to Jehovah’s will cf. 1Sa_3:18,…
15. For the submission to Jehovah’s will cf. 1Sa_3:18, 2Sa_15:26.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers1878 · Public DomainOn vv15–18(15) Deliver us only, we pray thee, this day.—The…
(15) Deliver us only, we pray thee, this day.—The invariable cry of the soul in trouble. With the former half of the verse comp. 1Sa_3:18; 1Sa_15:26.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary1880 · Public DomainOn vv15–18Vers. 15, 16. "Works meet for repentance.
Vers. 15, 16. "Works meet for repentance.
A wonderful summary; an evangelical anticipation.
Read full note →
I IN WHAT THESE CONSIST.
1. Heartfelt sorrow and confession of sin.
2. Absolute yielding of oneself into the hands of God.
3. Forsaking the sins that have deceived and destroyed.
4. Serving Jehovah with new obedience and zeal.
II How THESE APPEAL TO THE MIND OF GOD. "His soul was grieved for (literally, endured no longer) the misery of Israel." The alternate hardening and melting of God"s soul an accommodation to man"s conceptions and feelings; yet with a reality corresponding to them in the Divine nature. They have a disciplinary effect, and their succession is impressive. So God "repents." To our heavenly Father the proofs of our sincerity are an irresistible petition. He welcomes the first signs of true repentance, and leads it forth into saving faith. The truly repentant were never yet rejected. In working this repentance in their minds he began to answer their prayer even whilst rejecting it. M.
Vers. 15, 16. Repentance.
I REPENTANCE INVOLVES CONFESSION OF SIN. The people admit their guilt to themselves and declare it frankly to God.
1. We must confess sin. We cannot turn from sin till we are conscious of sin. God will not forgive our sin till we confess our guilt. These two things, the self-knowledge and the self-revelation before God, which are implied in confession, must be found in true repentance. Pride would simply forget the past, but this cannot be forgotten till it is forgiven, nor forgiven till it is confessed. (1Jn_1:9)
2. The confession must be to God; because
1. it is against God that sin is committed;
2. he alone can forgive sin;
3. we have no warrant for believing that he delegates this Divine prerogative to any human deputy.
II REPENTANCE INVOLVES SUBMISSION TO GOD. No repentance is complete which does not involve self-renunciation. This is necessary,
(1) because, since sin arises from self-will and rebellion against the will of God, the return from sin must be marked by a return to obedience;
(2) because the penitent is conscious of his utter ill desert, and of his absolute dependence on the mercy of God, so that he dares claim nothing but what God may think fit to give him, and knows that at the worst this can be no harder than what he merits; and
(3) because repentance involves the admission that while we were sinful and foolish in forsaking God, he was always good to us, and will never do for us anything short of what is best. Repentance thus recognises again the despised fatherhood of God, and willingly trusts to his grace.
III REPENTANCE INVOLVES PRACTICAL AMENDMENT. The children of Israel put away the strange gods from among them, and served the Lord. If repentance is genuine it will show itself in conduct it will bring forth fruits. (Mat_3:8) This does not imply
1. That we must complete the reformation of our own lives before God will forgive us, because
1. that is impossible; (Jer_13:23) and
2. the very object of the gospel is to do thisi.e. to save us from our sins. (Act_3:26)
2. Neither does it imply that any measure of reformation will be regarded as penance, as sacrifice, as a meritorious work securing forgiveness, since the essence of forgiveness lies in its freeness. But it implies that the genuineness of repentance must be tested by its effects. Repentance is not a mere feeling of grief; it is not seated in the emotions, but in the will. It is a change of desire, and the wish to do better. This is active, and must manifest itself in conduct. The conduct will be twofold:
1. the giving up of old evil ways, and
2. the commencement of the service of God.
IV REPENTANCE IS FOLLOWED BY TOKENS OF GOD"S MERCY. When the people repented God could no longer endure their misery. He never willingly afflicts. (Lam_3:33) He only waits for our repentance to show his compassion. It is possible then because
(1) there is no longer the necessity for continued chastisement;
(2) the justice and righteousness of God no longer require him to look upon us in wrath; and
(3) we shall not be injured by the kindness which fails upon us in our humiliation, but rather healed and strengthened for a better life by the influence of God"s love. A.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0On vv15, 17foreign gods among them
foreign gods among them
You can make explicit the implicit meaning of this statement. AT: "foreign gods whose images they possessed" (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)
Read full note →
Yahweh could bear Israel's misery no longer
Here Israel refers to the people of Israel. AT: "And Yahweh did not want the people of Israel to suffer any longer" (See: Metonymy)
Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On vv15–16 That is, from this present danger.
That is, from this present danger.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv15–18 Jdg 10:15 And the children of Israel said unto…
Jdg 10:15 And the children of Israel said unto the LORD, We have sinned: do thou unto us whatsoever seemeth good unto thee; deliver us only, we pray thee, this day.
Ver. 15. We have sinned: do thou unto us.] They do not yet despair, but put themselves into the hands of divine justice, in hope of mercy; they make a total resignation of all that they are and have to God; they pray on, and put away the evil of their doings from before his eyes. {Jdg 10:16} An excellent pattern of repentance for all to imitate.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv15–17 Do not give us up into the hands of…
Do not give us up into the hands of these cruel men, but do thou chastise us with thine own hand as much as thou pleasest, to wit, if we be not more faithful and constant to thee than we have hitherto been.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv15–18 And the children of Israel said unto the Lord,…
And the children of Israel said unto the Lord, we have sinned,.... By serving other gods particularly; and they seemed to have a true sense of their sin, and their confessions of it to be ingenuous, by what follows:
do thou unto us whatsoever seemeth good unto thee; inflict what punishment he would upon them, as famine or pestilence, they could not but own it would be just and righteous, and what their sins deserved:
Read full note →
deliver us only, we pray thee, this day; out of the hands of men; they chose rather to fall into the hands of God; and however he thought fit to deal with them, they entreated that this once he would save them out of the hands of their enemies.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On vv15–17 Do thou unto us - Do not give us…
Do thou unto us - Do not give us up into the hands of these cruel men, but do thou chastise us with thine own hand as much as thou pleasest; if we be not more faithful and constant to thee, than we have hitherto been.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv15–18 Verse 15. We have sinned] The reprehension of this…
Verse 15. We have sinned] The reprehension of this people was kind, pointed, and solemn; and their repentance deep. And they gave proofs that their repentance was genuine, by putting away all their idols: but they were ever fickle and uncertain.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On vv15–16 Jdg 10:15. Do thou unto us, &c. — Do…
Jdg 10:15. Do thou unto us, &c. — Do not give us up into the hands of these cruel men, but do thou chastise us with thine own hand as much as thou pleasest, if we be not more faithful and constant to thee than we have hitherto been.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain On vv17–18 The historian, having related the preliminary incidents, now comes…
The historian, having related the preliminary incidents, now comes to the final issue which forms the subject matter of his narrative. On a certain occasion, as on many previous ones, the Ammonites were encamped in Gilead, with the intention of dispossessing the Israelites of the whole country, or at least as far as the river Jabbok Jdg 11:13, and of invading the West-Jordanic tribes. The children of Israel on the East of Jordan assembled together to resist them, and pitched their camp in Mizpeh. The narrative proceeds to detail what happened.
Mizpeh - , as its name, “watch-tower” or “look-out” indicates was situated on a height of Mount Gilead, and was, as such, a strong post. It is almost always written, “THE Mizpeh,” or watch-tower. Four or five places of the name occur in Scripture.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On vv15–18 Time. They are willing to suffer from the hand…
Time. They are willing to suffer from the hand of God, (2 Kings xxiv. 14,) if they prove inconstant any more. (Menochius)
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures 1864 · Public Domain On v17 Repentance followed by energy, concord, and mutual confidence.
Repentance followed by energy, concord, and mutual confidence.
Jdg_10:17-18.
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17Then [And] the children [sons] of Ammon were gathered together, and encamped in Gilead. And the children [sons] of Israel assembled themselves together, and encamped in Mizpeh [Mizpah]. 18And the people and princes [the people (namely) the chiefs] of Gilead said one to another, What man is he [Who is the man] that will [doth] begin to fight against the children [sons] of Ammon? he shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.
EXEGETICAL AND DOCTRINAL
The call of Gideon to be a deliverer took place just when the national distress was at its greatest height, and Midian had entered on a new expedition of pillage and plunder. A like coincidence marked the present crisis. The sons of Ammon were just making a new incursion into Gilead, when they met with a new spirit. The signature of apostasy and sin, is discord and weakness, despondency and self-seeking, issuing in failure and disaster, whenever action be undertaken. The sign of conversion and true penitence is concord and confidence, leading, by God’s assistance, to victory.
Jdg_10:17. And the sons of Ammon were gathered together . . . . the sons of Israel also assembled themselves. The phrase “sons of Israel” does not always include all the tribes. The men of any single tribe may be so designated. The narrator uses the expression here, however, in order to intimate that though Gilead alone actually engages in the war it is nevertheless done as Israel, according to the mind and spirit of the whole nation. As soon as Israel repents, the collective national spirit, the consciousness of national unity through the calling of God, reawakes in each of the tribes. The localities at which the respective armies are said to have assembled and prepared for the conflict, will be considered under Jdg_11:29.
Jdg_10:18. And the body of the nobles of Gilead said. The hitherto cowed Israelites assembled themselves; but that was not all: they were moreover united in all they did. The narrative says expressly הָעָם שָׂרֵי גִלְעָד, “the people of the nobles of Gilead,” i. e. all, without exception.7 No envious, self-seeking voice of protest or dissent was heard. In times in which distress is recognized with real repentance, private interests cease to govern. People then begin to honor truth and actual merit. No deference is then paid to personal vanity, family connections, or wealth; but, all by-views and self-seeking being set aside, he is sought after who renders service. The nobles of Gilead could not more clearly indicate their new temper, than by unitedly promising to subordinate themselves to him who begins to render the banners of Israel once more victorious, as their head.
It is to be noted that they say, “whoso beginneth to fight against the sons of Ammon.” In him who first again gains an advantage over the enemy in battle, it will be manifest that God is with him. He, accordingly, is to be, not what Gideon’s legions desired him to become, their מֹשֵׁל, ruler, nor what the sinful people of Shechem made of Abimelech, their מֶלֶךְ, king, but their רֹאשׁ, leader. Him, who conquers with God, they desire to follow unanimously, as a common head.
And this one soon appeared.
Footnotes:
[7][Dr. Cassel evidently takes הָעָם as stat. const. Scarcely correct. First, because of the article (cf. Ges. Gram. 110, 2); and, secondly, because עַם never stands for the mere notion of totality. It is better to take גִלְעָד שָׁרֵי as standing in apposition to הָעָם; “the people (namely) the chiefs of Gilead,” i. e. the people through their chiefs, as represented by them.—Tr.]
Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures (Critical, Doctrinal, and Homiletical), ed. John Peter Lange, English translation edited by Philip Schaff (1864–1880) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On vv16–17 THEY REPENT; GOD PITIES THEM. (Jdg 10:16-18)
THEY REPENT; GOD PITIES THEM. (Jdg 10:16-18)
they put away the strange gods . . . and served the Lord; and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel--On their abandonment of idolatry and return to purity of worship, God graciously abridged the term of national affliction and restored times of peace.
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv15–18 15. We have sinned — Now their repentance becomes…
15. We have sinned — Now their repentance becomes deeper and profounder. They had before (Jdg_10:10) confessed their sins, but had not forsaken them. Now, brought into deep humiliation by the divine threat, (Jdg_10:13.) they are ready to do or receive whatsoever seemeth good unto Jehovah.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv15–18 15. For the submission to Jehovah’s will cf. 1Sa_3:18,…
15. For the submission to Jehovah’s will cf. 1Sa_3:18, 2Sa_15:26.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv15–18 (15) Deliver us only, we pray thee, this day.—The…
(15) Deliver us only, we pray thee, this day.—The invariable cry of the soul in trouble. With the former half of the verse comp. 1Sa_3:18; 1Sa_15:26.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv15–18 Vers. 15, 16. "Works meet for repentance.
Vers. 15, 16. "Works meet for repentance.
A wonderful summary; an evangelical anticipation.
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I IN WHAT THESE CONSIST.
1. Heartfelt sorrow and confession of sin.
2. Absolute yielding of oneself into the hands of God.
3. Forsaking the sins that have deceived and destroyed.
4. Serving Jehovah with new obedience and zeal.
II How THESE APPEAL TO THE MIND OF GOD. "His soul was grieved for (literally, endured no longer) the misery of Israel." The alternate hardening and melting of God"s soul an accommodation to man"s conceptions and feelings; yet with a reality corresponding to them in the Divine nature. They have a disciplinary effect, and their succession is impressive. So God "repents." To our heavenly Father the proofs of our sincerity are an irresistible petition. He welcomes the first signs of true repentance, and leads it forth into saving faith. The truly repentant were never yet rejected. In working this repentance in their minds he began to answer their prayer even whilst rejecting it. M.
Vers. 15, 16. Repentance.
I REPENTANCE INVOLVES CONFESSION OF SIN. The people admit their guilt to themselves and declare it frankly to God.
1. We must confess sin. We cannot turn from sin till we are conscious of sin. God will not forgive our sin till we confess our guilt. These two things, the self-knowledge and the self-revelation before God, which are implied in confession, must be found in true repentance. Pride would simply forget the past, but this cannot be forgotten till it is forgiven, nor forgiven till it is confessed. (1Jn_1:9)
2. The confession must be to God; because
1. it is against God that sin is committed;
2. he alone can forgive sin;
3. we have no warrant for believing that he delegates this Divine prerogative to any human deputy.
II REPENTANCE INVOLVES SUBMISSION TO GOD. No repentance is complete which does not involve self-renunciation. This is necessary,
(1) because, since sin arises from self-will and rebellion against the will of God, the return from sin must be marked by a return to obedience;
(2) because the penitent is conscious of his utter ill desert, and of his absolute dependence on the mercy of God, so that he dares claim nothing but what God may think fit to give him, and knows that at the worst this can be no harder than what he merits; and
(3) because repentance involves the admission that while we were sinful and foolish in forsaking God, he was always good to us, and will never do for us anything short of what is best. Repentance thus recognises again the despised fatherhood of God, and willingly trusts to his grace.
III REPENTANCE INVOLVES PRACTICAL AMENDMENT. The children of Israel put away the strange gods from among them, and served the Lord. If repentance is genuine it will show itself in conduct it will bring forth fruits. (Mat_3:8) This does not imply
1. That we must complete the reformation of our own lives before God will forgive us, because
1. that is impossible; (Jer_13:23) and
2. the very object of the gospel is to do thisi.e. to save us from our sins. (Act_3:26)
2. Neither does it imply that any measure of reformation will be regarded as penance, as sacrifice, as a meritorious work securing forgiveness, since the essence of forgiveness lies in its freeness. But it implies that the genuineness of repentance must be tested by its effects. Repentance is not a mere feeling of grief; it is not seated in the emotions, but in the will. It is a change of desire, and the wish to do better. This is active, and must manifest itself in conduct. The conduct will be twofold:
1. the giving up of old evil ways, and
2. the commencement of the service of God.
IV REPENTANCE IS FOLLOWED BY TOKENS OF GOD"S MERCY. When the people repented God could no longer endure their misery. He never willingly afflicts. (Lam_3:33) He only waits for our repentance to show his compassion. It is possible then because
(1) there is no longer the necessity for continued chastisement;
(2) the justice and righteousness of God no longer require him to look upon us in wrath; and
(3) we shall not be injured by the kindness which fails upon us in our humiliation, but rather healed and strengthened for a better life by the influence of God"s love. A.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv15, 17 foreign gods among them
foreign gods among them
You can make explicit the implicit meaning of this statement. AT: "foreign gods whose images they possessed" (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)
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Yahweh could bear Israel's misery no longer
Here Israel refers to the people of Israel. AT: "And Yahweh did not want the people of Israel to suffer any longer" (See: Metonymy)
translationWords
Israel
Yahweh
sin
turn
false god
worship
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.