Scofield Reference Bible Notes/Judges
Book Introduction - Judges[edit]
Read first chapter of Judges
This book takes its name from the thirteen men raised up to deliver Israel in the declension and disunion which followed the death of Joshua. Through these men Jehovah continued His personal government of Israel. The key-verse to the condition of Israel is (Judges 17:6), "Every man did that which was right in his own eyes." Two facts stand out--the utter failure of Israel; the persistent grace of Jehovah. In the choice of the Judges is illustrated Zechariah's great word (Zechariah 4:6), "not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord"; and Paul's word (1 Corinthians 1:25), "not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called."
The book records seven apostasies, seven servitudes to seven heathen nations, seven deliverances. The spiritual parallel is found in the history of the professing church since the Apostles, in the rise of sects and the lost sense of the unity of the one body (1 Corinthians 12:12,13).
Judges is in two parts:
- 1-16 inclusive; key-verse, Judges2:18.
- 17-21; key-verse, Judges21:25.
The events recorded in Judges cover a period of 305 years (Ussher).
CHAPTER 2[edit]
Verse 1[edit]
angel
See note. (See Scofield "Hebrews 1:4").
Verse 9[edit]
Timmathheres
Timnathserah. Joshua 19:50.
Verse 13[edit]
Ashtaroth
Ashtaroth, plural of Ashtoreth 1 Kings 11:5 were figures of Ashtoreth the Phoenician goddess (the Astarte of the Greeks), which were worshipped as idols during times of spiritual declension in Israel. ; Judges 10:6; 1 Samuel 7:3,4; 12:10; 31:10; 1 Kings 11:5,33; 2 Kings 23:13. Jeremiah refers Jeremiah 44:18,19 to Ashtoreth as the "queen of heaven."
Verse 18[edit]
judges
The judges were tribesmen in Israel upon whom the Lord laid the burden of Israel's apostate and oppressed state. They were the spiritual ancestors of the prophets; that is to say, men raised up of God, the theocratic King, to represent Him in the nation. They were patriots and religious reformers because national security and prosperity were inseparably connected with loyalty and obedience to Jehovah. Not one of the chosen deliverers had anything whereof to glory in the flesh. Othniel was but the son of the younger brother of Caleb; Ehud was a left-handed man and an assassin; Shamgar, a rustic with an ox-goad; Deborah, a woman; Gideon, of an obscure family in the smallest tribe, etc. Each of the classes mentioned in 1 Corinthians 1:27,28 is illustrated among the judges.
repented
(See Scofield "Zechariah 8:14").
CHAPTER 3[edit]
Verse 7[edit]
Groves
Groves, like high places, have been associated with idolatrous worship from time immemorial. The Heb. asherah, trans. grove means also the idol enshrined there. Deuteronomy 16:21. This idol seems often to have been a sacred tree, the figure of which is constantly found on Assyrian monuments. In apostate Israel, however, such groves were associated with every form of idolatry, e.g. 2 Kings 17:16,17.
(See Scofield "1 Kings 3:2") and Ashtaroth See Scofield "Judges 2:13".
CHAPTER 4[edit]
Verse 2[edit]
sold them
See, 1 Samuel 12:9; Psalms 83:9. It seems to concern only north Israel.
Verse 13[edit]
gathered
gathered by cry, or, proclamation.
CHAPTER 5[edit]
Verse 23[edit]
angel
(See Scofield "Hebrews 1:4").
CHAPTER 6[edit]
Verse 21[edit]
angel
(See Scofield "Hebrews 1:4").
Verse 25[edit]
grove
See, Deuteronomy 16:21. (See Scofield "Judges 3:7").
CHAPTER 8[edit]
Verse 1[edit]
Ephraim
Cf. Judges 12:1; 2 Samuel 2:8; 1 Kings 12:16. Here begins that deep-rooted division in Israel which culminated in the division of Solomon's kingdom under Jeroboam and Rehoboam.
CHAPTER 9[edit]
Verse 15[edit]
trust
(See Scofield "Psalms 2:12")
CHAPTER 10[edit]
Verse 4[edit]
Havothjair
Or, The villages of Jair. Numbers 32:41.
CHAPTER 11[edit]
Verse 29[edit]
Jephthah
Jephthah seems to have been judge only of northeast Israel.
CHAPTER 12[edit]
Verse 6[edit]
Shibboleth
Signifying a stream or flood.
Verse 8[edit]
Ibzan
He seems to have been only a civil judge in northeast Israel.
CHAPTER 13[edit]
Verse 3[edit]
angel
(See Scofield "Hebrews 1:4").
Verse 17[edit]
angel
(See Scofield "Hebrews 1:4").
Verse 21[edit]
angel
(See Scofield "Hebrews 1:4").
Verse 22[edit]
God
(See Scofield "John 1:18").
CHAPTER 15[edit]
Verse 17[edit]
Ramathlehi
The hill of the jawbone.
Verse 19[edit]
Enhakkore
The well of him that cried.
CHAPTER 16[edit]
Verse 20[edit]
wist not
Contra, Exodus 34:29.
Verse 31[edit]
judged
The character and work of Samson are alike enigmatical. Announced by an angel Judges 13:1-21. He was a Nazarite ; Numbers 6:1-27; Judges 13:5 who constantly defiled his Nazarite separation through fleshly appetites. Called of God to judge Israel, and endued wonderfully with the Spirit, he wrought no abiding work for Israel, and perished in captivity to his enemies the Philistines. What was real in the man was his mighty faith in Jehovah in a time of doubt and apostasy, and this faith God honoured Hebrews 11:32.
CHAPTER 17[edit]
Verse 1[edit]
judged
The character and work of Samson are alike enigmatical. Announced by an angel Judges 13:1-21. He was a Nazarite ; Numbers 6:1-27; Judges 13:5 who constantly defiled his Nazarite separation through fleshly appetites. Called of God to judge Israel, and endued wonderfully with the Spirit, he wrought no abiding work for Israel, and perished in captivity to his enemies the Philistines. What was real in the man was his mighty faith in Jehovah in a time of doubt and apostasy, and this faith God honoured Hebrews 11:32.
Verse 13[edit]
Now know I
A striking illustration of all apostasy. With his entire departure from the revealed will of God concerning worship and priesthood, there is yet an exaltation of false priesthood. Saying, "Blessed be thou of Jehovah," Micah's mother makes an idol; and Micah expects the blessing of Jehovah because he has linked his idolatry to the ancient levitical order.
CHAPTER 18[edit]
Verse 1[edit]
Now know I
A striking illustration of all apostasy. With his entire departure from the revealed will of God concerning worship and priesthood, there is yet an exaltation of false priesthood. Saying, "Blessed be thou of Jehovah," Micah's mother makes an idol; and Micah expects the blessing of Jehovah because he has linked his idolatry to the ancient levitical order.
Verse 7[edit]
Laish
called Leshem. Joshua 19:47.
CHAPTER 19[edit]
Verse 24[edit]
vile
the matter of this folly.
CHAPTER 21[edit]
Verse 3[edit]
tribe
There is here no mourning for sin, no humbling because of national transgression, no return to Jehovah. Accordingly, no word from Jehovah comes to them. They act wholly in self-will (Judges 21:10). CF. ; 21:10; Daniel 9:3-13.
Verse 6[edit]
repented
(See Scofield "Zechariah 8:14").