A Private Commentary on the Bible: Judges

By James D. Quiggle

Judges is the record of the failure of the people of God to possess what God had given them for a possession. God had given them the land, and led them into it, but they failed to fully possess their possessions. That is why the book has meaning for Christians. Through Israel’s failures, and their successes in the book of Judges, the Christian can learn how to fully possess all the spiritual benefits of salvation Christ has for them in this mortal life. This commentary explains the book and draws out the lessons for God’s saved people.

• Language: English
• Publisher: James D. Quiggle
• Release date: Oct 1, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463764886

James D. Quiggle

James D. Quiggle was born in 1952 at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. He grew up in Kansas and the Texas Panhandle. In the early 1970s he joined the United States Air Force. At his first permanent assignment in Indian Springs, Nevada in a small Baptist church, the pastor introduced him to Jesus and soon after he was saved. Over the next ten years those he met in churches from the East Coast to the West Coast, mature Christian men, poured themselves into mentoring him. In the 1970s he was gifted with the Scofield Bible Course from Moody Bible Institute. As he completed his studies his spiritual gift of teaching became even more apparent. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Bethany Bible College during the 1980s while still in the Air Force. Between 2006–2008, after his career in the Air Force and with his children grown up, he decided to continue his education. He enrolled in Bethany Divinity College and Seminary and earned a Master of Arts in Religion and a Master of Theological Studies.As an extension of his spiritual gift of teaching, he was prompted by the Holy Spirit to begin writing books. James Quiggle is now a Christian author with over fifty commentaries on Bible books and doctrines. He is an editor for the Evangelical Dispensational Quarterly Journal published by Scofield Biblical Institute and Theological Seminary.He continues to write and has a vibrant teaching ministry through social media.

Book preview

Judges

BOOKS BY JAMES D. QUIGGLE

DOCTRINAL SERIES

A Biblical Response to Same-gender Marriage

Adam and Eve, a Biography and Theology

Angelology, a True History of Angels

Antichrist, His Genealogy, Kingdom, and Religion

Biblical Essays

Biblical Essays II

Biblical Homosexuality

Christian Living and Doctrine

Dispensational Eschatology, Explanation and Defense of the Doctrine

First Steps, Becoming a Follower of Jesus Christ

God Became Incarnate

God’s Choices, Doctrines of Foreordination, Election, Predestination

Life, Death, Eternity

Marriage and Family: A Biblical Perspective

Spiritual Gifts

The Literal Hermeneutic

Why Christians Should Not Tithe

A PRIVATE COMMENTARY ON THE BIBLE SERIES

Judges, Ruth, Esther, Song of Solomon, Daniel, Jonah, Haggai

Matthew’s Gospel, Mark’s Gospel, John 1–12, John 13–21

(One volume edition: John’s Gospel)

The Passion and Resurrection of Jesus the Christ

Ephesians, Colossians, Philemon, Hebrews, James, 1 Peter, 2 Peter

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(One volume edition: Old and New Testament Chronology)

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A Private Commentary

on the Bible

Judges

James D. Quiggle

Copyright Page

A Private Commentary on the Bible: Judges

Copyright © 2019 James D. Quiggle. All rights reserved.

Published by James D. Quiggle, 2019

Smashwords Edition

Translation of the Book of Judges by James D. Quiggle

Some Bible versions cited or quoted were sourced from PC Study Bible®, version 5, release 5.2. Copyright© 1988–2008, by BibleSoft, Inc.

American Standard Version (ASV). Public Domain.

Authorized (King James) Version (KJV). Public Domain.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB). Scripture quotations marked HCSB are from the Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Holman CSB®, and HCSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.

New King James Version® (NKJV). Copyright © 1982, 1983 by Thomas Nelson Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV). Copyright © 2000, 2001 by Crossway Bibles, A Division of Good News Publishers, 1300 Crescent Street, Wheaton, Illinois 60187, USA. All rights reserved.

The Holy Bible: New International Version (NIV), Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.

Holy Bible, New Living TRANSLATION (NLT) ® Copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

The Jewish Study Bible (JSB), featuring the Jewish Publication Society Tanakh Translation (copyright 1999). New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 2004.

Young's Literal TRANSLATION of the Holy Bible (YLT), by Robert Young, Originally Published In 1862, Edinburgh. Revised Edition 1887. Public Domain.

Translations not marked are by James D. Quiggle.

Table of Contents

Preface

Abbreviations

Introduction

Judges One

Judges Two

Judges Three

Outline: Judge Othniel

Outline: Judge Ehud

Outline: Judge Shamgar

Judges Four

Outline: Judges Deborah and Barak

Judges Five

Judges Six

Outline: Judge Gideon

Judges Seven

Judges Eight

Judges Nine

Outline: Judge Abimelech

Judges Ten

Outline: Judges Tola and Jair

Judges Eleven

Outline: Judge Jephthah

Judges Twelve

Outline: Judges Ibzan, Elon, Abdon

Judges Thirteen

Outline: Judge Samson

Judges Fourteen

Judges Fifteen

Judges Sixteen

Judges Seventeen

Outline: The Idolatry of Micah

Judges Eighteen

Outline: The Idolatry of Dan

Judges Nineteen

Outline: The Judgement of Benjamin

Judges Twenty

Judges Twenty-One

Appendix One: List of the Judges

Appendix Two: Does God Approve Of Sin?

Sources

Preface

The Private Commentary on the Old and New Testaments is my interpretation of the Bible, neither more nor less. I am responsible for the use made of all quoted and cited material.

The scope of the Private Commentary series is to bring the reader to a practical understanding of Scripture. I explain and discuss each verse, idea, theme, and biblical truth as discovered in turn during the course of the exposition. My target audience is the Bible college/seminary student, Bible study/small group leader, Sunday School teacher, and local church Pastor. My point of view is a conservative theology. Other opinions concerning the Scripture are presented and discussed as I believe will profit the target audience. Bible students who desire to understand and apply the scriptures are invited to study the book with me and come to their own conclusions.

This material is copyrighted to prevent misuse or abuse. Those persons using this material in their teaching/preaching ministry may copy and distribute individual pages (e.g., an excursus, a table/list, or an appendix) for distribution to one’s students or auditors. The entire book may not be copied and/or distributed, nor large portions of the book, such as a chapter or extended comments on Scripture passages. The cost of this work has been kept as low as possible so every interested teacher, preacher, and student may afford a personal copy.

This print edition of A Private Commentary on the Bible: Judges contains the same material as the digital versions.

Abbreviations

AD Anno Domini (In the year of YHWH [since Christ was born])

ANF Ante-Nicene Fathers

Ant. Antiquities of the Jews

BC Bello Christo (Before Christ [was born])

ca. about (an approximate date) (Latin: circa)

CE Current Era (year since Christ was born).

cf. compare (Latin: confer)

e.g. for example (Latin: exempli gratia)

etc. and so forth, and so on (Latin: et cetera)

GWT Great White Throne judgment (Revelation 20:11–15)

HCSB Holman Christian Standard Bible

Ibid in the same place (referring to the source cited in the previous entry) (Latin: ibidem)

i.e. that is (Latin: id est)

ISBE International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

JDQT TRANSLATION by James D. Quiggle

KJV King James Version

NASB95 New American Standard Bible 1995 edition.

NEB New English Bible

NICNT New International Commentary New Testament

NIV New International Version

NKJV New King James Version

NPNF Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers

LXX Septuagint (Greek translation of the Old Testament completed ca. 130 BC)

n. note (referring to a footnote or endnote in the work cited)

m. Mishnah (followed by tractate name, e.g., m. Baba Metzia)

Song Song of Solomon

s. v. under the word (Latin: sub verbo)

TDNT Theological Dictionary of the New Testament

TNTC Tyndale New Testament Commentary

TWOT Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament

v. verse

vv. verses

WSDNT Complete Word Study Dictionary New Testament

Introduction

Judges is the record of the failure of the people of God to possess what God had given them for a possession. Although they occupied the land—according to their inheritance as allocated to them by Moses and Joshua—the pagan inhabitants of the land remained, either in isolated villages or, as with the Philistines, in their original lands. In some cases the pagan inhabitants were numerous enough and strong enough to rise up against various tribes of Israel and put them under subjection or tribute. The sons of Israel compounded the matter by forsaking God and worshiping the idols of the land. They gave their sons and daughters to the pagans in marriage. Through intermarriage and idolatry Israel became just like the inhabitants of the land whom God had commanded them to drive out. When they forgot their God, God delivered them into the hands of their enemies. When Israel cried out to God for deliverance, God raised up a judge to judge their sin, to deliver them from oppression, and to lead them back into true worship. Unfortunately, when the judge was dead, the people returned to idolatry. This cycle repeats throughout the approximately 300–350 years covered by the book of Judges.

Typologically, Judges is the story of the Christian who fails to possess fully all the spiritual benefits of salvation. A believer in Jesus Christ as Savior is fully and eternally saved. However, a believer must mature in his or her faith, learn how to appropriate and use his or her spiritual gifts, and discipline their spirit to overcome the motions of sin in the flesh. This is a gradual process of spiritual growth, which is the maturation process by which the Holy Spirit conforms a believer into the image of Christ. As the believer spiritually matures to become more like Christ, he or she enters into the fullness of salvation; they possess their possessions in Christ. The Christian who compromises with sin, self, and the world never inhabits all the spiritual territory which is his in Christ: he never fully possesses his possessions. The book of Judges serves as an illustration of the spiritually immature Christian, generally defeated by reason of his unwillingness to follow Christ, always in chastisement, seldom entering into rest or blessing.

This application to Christianity does not mean Judges is not authentic, accurate, and credible history; it is. Judges is an historical account of the early history of Israel for some 300–350 years following the death of Joshua, encompassing the years 1350–1051 BC. The book of Acts, 13:17–20, counts 450 years, a statement that sums 111 years of oppression, 96 years of judgeships, 3 years under Abimelech (Judges 9), 200 years of rest, and 40 years of Eli’s judgeship (1 Samuel 4:18). Obviously there are overlaps during these time periods. For example, Samson’s twenty years overlaps some of Eli’s judgeship. The time covered by the book of Judges—from the death of Joshua to Eli—is estimated between 300–350 years. See Appendix One for a chronological list of the Judges and the dates of their ministries.

Not every event occurring in the years of the Judges was recorded as Scripture, but the events selected and presented in the book of Judges are historical accounts of the times, and are Scripture. Out of an abundance of oral and written history, the compilers and editors of Judges selected the materials that effectively communicated God’s purposes. The Holy Spirit superintended the editor’s choices, so that what is in the book is the very Word of God.

We should not stumble at the fact the Book of Judges was compiled from documents written throughout the 350 year history. Editorial comments such as, in those days there was no king in Israel, tell us certain parts were compiled after there was a king in Israel. The Holy Spirit was in charge of the entire process of creating the Book of Judges. He inspired the original writers of the historical documents, preserved those documents he wanted to appear in Judges, and during the same 350 years inspired the editors who selected which documents would form and complete the Book of Judges. The book is obviously a running history of the people of Israel, added to from time to time as new events occurred, and given its final form after all the events were completed, when there was a king in Israel.

Judges is not a chronological presentation of Israel’s history. The chronology of this book is exceedingly embarrassed and difficult [Bush, Judges, vi] and the order of events will always be in some dispute. In part this is because the events described did not affect all of Israel, but affected some tribe or tribes. The judgeships of Othniel and Ehud provide an example. Othniel appears to have delivered all Israel, as might be expected during oppression from Mesopotamia. Ehud judged and delivered his own tribe Benjamin and that of neighbor Ephraim. Some accounts may overlap in chronology, like that of Shamgar and Ehud, as different judges worked with different tribes at about the same period of time. The editors, under the guidance of the Spirit, may have literarily arranged some accounts out of chronological order to highlight some spiritual decline, or victory, that was common to one or more periods of history. Generally, however, the book moves in a straight historical line from Joshua to Samuel. That the events took place is certain, for the Bible is accurate, authentic, and credible in everything it records. However, not enough information is recorded to allow an exact chronology.

Chapters 17–21 form a sort of appendix to the whole, to give some historical context to the period. These chapters describe the religious and moral conditions which prevailed during the time of Judges, probably (most scholars seem to agree) toward the beginning of the period. For example, chapter 18:1 appears to correspond with 1:34. Ruth is, in my opinion, a third appendix to Judges (see my work, A Private Commentary on the Book of Ruth). The famine that occurs at the beginning of Ruth most likely takes place about the time of the Midianite oppression resolved by the judgeship of Gideon.

As noted above the events chronicled in Judges cover a period of about 300–350 years. To help the reader grasp the time period, note some of the events which took place during the first 350 years of American history:

1607, Jamestown settlement founded in Virginia.

1611, King James Bible published.

1776, American Declaration of Independence.

1812, British/American War.

1865, American Civil War ends.

1917, World War I ends.

1945, World War II ends.

1952, Korean War Ends.

1957, 350 years from the founding of Jamestown.

The transmission of American history through this period gives some indication as to how the book of Judges came into being. The history of the Jamestown settlement is known through a variety of sources. There are legal documents relating to the permission of the settlers to leave England and occupy the land; official records by the colony’s leaders; journal’s and diaries kept by the settlers; literary works of the time describing or mentioning the settlement; and oral histories later committed to writing. In succeeding years historians gathered these source materials and wrote their histories. Their works, in turn, were used by succeeding generations of historians, authors, etc., to present the history or make comments on the Jamestown settlement.

A variety of documents inform Americans of events in their history. The book of Judges probably came into existence in a similar manner. The historical events were recorded by those who experienced them, either in written or oral form. These were in turn copied, or committed to writing, by those who succeeded the original participants in the events. These histories were probably gathered as tribal histories. Several persons, inspired by the Holy Spirit, began collecting the tribal histories. One or more persons brought them together as a history of Israel between Joshua and Saul the king, thereby creating a history for the use of the people of Israel.

The Jews believed Samuel was the final editor of Judges. Samuel and the writers before him were superintended by the Holy Spirit as they wrote. If we believe all Scripture is given by inspiration of God then we must believe God the Holy Spirit watched over the various source writers, those who copied their works, and the person or persons who gave Judges (and Ruth) their final form, so that the events recorded in these books are the accurate, authentic, and therefore credible facts of the period.

The date of the final form of the book is unknown. By that I mean that the (very few) editorial comments found in Judges were inserted into the text over a long period of time. These comments are mostly an identification of place names that changed as history progressed, e.g., Judges 1:11, And they went from there against the residents of Debir. (The name of Debir used to be Kirjath Sepher.) Such a note would not be needed by those who were contemporaries of the event, or by their children. However, in later times there would be a need for this comment. At least one such editorial comment, Judges 18:30, probably dates to the end of the eighth century BC, as it has reference to the captivity of the land, most likely a reference to the Assyrian conquest of the Northern Kingdom in 723 BC. (And the sons of Dan set up for themselves the carved image. And Jonathan son of Gershom, son of Manasseh—he and his sons were priests to the tribe of Dan until the day of the captivity of the land.) Regardless of when, the Spirit ensures all such comments are inspired. They confirm the inspiration of the original source documents and later editorial work.

The historical accounts were written shortly after the events occurred.

These historical accounts were maintained by tribal historians.

The historical accounts were put into book form during the time of Samuel, substantially as we now have it.

The book was revived and reviewed at critical periods of Israel’s history.

The factual, historical nature of the book was not changed during these revivals. The editorial comments to identify ancient places and events to (then) modern readers indicate the original materials were left intact.

The book was revived for the same reasons originally written: as a warning to a current generation not to follow in the destructive patterns of the past.

The book of Judges was formed for the same reasons any history is written: to provide an account of the past for future generations, and to provide a lesson or warning to present generations. The historical materials selected for the book of Judges reflect of these purposes. The selection and arrangement of the materials presents the decline of the people religiously and morally. The book may almost be viewed as series of sermons drawing on historical materials to teach religious and moral lessons. Should that surprise us? Romans 15:4, For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. To the Jews were committed the oracles of God (Romans 15:2), and though the Scriptures believers learn of the successes and failures of the people of God. As Paul wrote, 1 Corinthians 10:6, Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. The believer should view the events in the Book of Judges as historically authentic, accurate, and credible accounts of the life of the people of God, that we might turn away from evil and do good" (1 Peter 3:11).

Judges One

Translation Judges 1:1

1 And after the death of Joshua, the sons of Israel asked YHWH, saying, Who shall go up for us first against the Canaanites, to fight against them?

TRANSLATION NOTE

The constant use of and in my translation of Judges will undoubtedly irritate some readers. However, the translation is true to the text. The conjunction waw (ו) occurs over 50,000 times in the Hebrew text, an average of 2.5 times per verse. The conjunction is always prefixed to another word, never occurring independently. Waw may be translated and, but, also, even, then [Pratico et al., Basics, 43, 46 (5.7; 5.9)].

The Hebrew word hāyâ, occuring 3,540 times in the Old Testament, is also used as a conjunction. Hāyâ means to be, become, exist, happen [Harris et al., TWOT, s. v. 491]. For example, Exodus 3:14, where YHWH identifies himself as, hāyâ ‘āsher hāyâ, I exist because I exist. Hāyâ is the word the KJV translated, and it came to pass. When used as a conjunction, the thought is the next thing that happens. Modern translations often ignore hāyâ as a conjunction. Hāyâ is used as the first word of several Old Testament books to give the sense of the continuing, uninterrupted history of Israel. For example, the book of Joshua begins, "and [hāyâ] after the death of Moses. The book of Judges continues the history of Israel with the opening, and [hāyâ] after the death of Joshua. The story continues in Ruth, now it happened [hāyâ]"; and so on throughout the Old Testament.

EXPOSITION

And after the death of Joshua

Chapters 1:1 through 3:6 form an overview of the book of Judges. The initial victories of the people following the death of Joshua are soon diminished by their failure to drive out the Canaanites and their compromise with them in the areas of religion and immorality. (Some commentators believe 1:1–2:8 take place before Joshua’s death.) Judges begins in a manner similar to that of the book of Joshua, 1:1–2, After the death of Moses the servant of YHWH. So Judges, And after the death of Joshua. The intent of the repetition is to emphasize both the change in leadership occasioned by the death of Joshua, and the continuing history of the people of Israel. When Moses died Joshua moved into the vacant leadership position. Now, Joshua has been gathered to his people and a new leadership must emerge. Who shall be the new leader?

The God of Israel, YHWH, is to be the new leader of Israel. Some readers may be unfamiliar with the Hebrew YHWH. In almost all Bible versions (translations), the word YHWH is given the form LORD, occasionally GOD. The word Lord is (usually) the translation of the Hebrew ’ādôn (or ’ādōnî), and the word God (usually) translates the Hebrew ’ěl1ōhîm. The word ’ādôn means sir, lord, or master. The Hebrew YHWH may be pronounced YaHWeH. (The English Jehovah is not a biblical word, but was constructed from YHWH and ’ādôn for the 1881 Revised Version.) The nations surrounding Israel worshiped many ’ěl1ōhîm, making the distinction YHWH of critical importance. The ’ěl1ōhîm of Israel was YHWH.

Excursus: YHWH

The tetragrammaton YHWH is an ancient Hebrew word for God. The ancient Hebrew alphabet did not have vowels, only consonants. Later, small points were added to the words, representing vowel sounds, as an aid to pronunciation. But these points were never added to YHWH. The English equivalent Jehovah had a curious development. The Jews believed the name YHWH was too sacred to pronounce. In oral presentation (but not in the written text) they substituted the word ’ādôn (or ’ādōnî), meaning lord or master, where ever YHWH appeared in the text. Medieval Jewish scholars conformed to this view by adding the vowel points of ’ādôn (or ’ādōnî) to the consonantal word YHWH, when YHWH appeared in the written text, thus changing the word and pronunciation to YaHoWaH. The English translators for the RSV phonetically smoothed YaHoWaH to Jehovah.

YHWH was always the true leader, but the spiritually immature people followed YHWH through human mediators appointed by YHWH. Spiritual maturity requires the believer to recognize YHWH is the true leader and man merely the servant of YHWH. Many Christians follow the man: the pastor, the evangelist, the teacher. Maturity is to recognize the person in whom is the Spirit of YHWH (the one who is serving Christ) and follow Christ as he works through his servant. Israel never reached that necessary level of spiritual maturity. They followed men into idolatry and they followed men—the judges—in the worship of YHWH (outwardly worshiping YHWH). See Judges 2:18, 19. Every calamity and every deliverance Israel experienced was a call to worship YHWH and serve him alone. But compromise with the world and the call of sin was too strong for a people who could not worship a God whom they could not see.

Joshua had divided the land among the twelve tribes prior to his death. However, it was not Joshua’s task to conquer all the land. God’s plan is always to give his people significant tasks of faith to accomplish as a means to prove their faith. To prove means to demonstrate. Trials are an opportunity to find the depth and breadth of one’s faith, its strengths and weaknesses, in a word the

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