| JUDGES |
| Explanatory Footnotes - page 2 |
| wisdom. His rash vow to God (11:31) and his harsh answer to a complaint (12:3) each had destructive results. 12:1 A Soft Answer "A gentle answer turns away wrath," says Proverbs 15:1. Compare Jephthah's answer to the men of Ephraim with Gideon's softer response to the same complaint in Judges 8:1-3. In Gideon's case, anger subsided. In this, civil war resulted, and 42,000 Israelites died. The word shibboleth (12:6), which the Ephraimites could not pronounce because of their accent, is one of the few Hebrew words to have become part of modern English. 14:1 The First Sign of Trouble Timnah was only four miles across the valley from Samson's hometown. Apparently, the Philistines and Israelites moved freely back and forth, and not all Isrealites opposed the Philistines (see 15:11). Samson, making the short stroll, was attracted to a young Philistine woman. His lack of concern for differences of religion and his lack of submission to his parents were bad omens. 15:14 The Spirit and Samson Four times (see also 13:25; 14:6, 19) Judges comments that "the Spirit of the Lord" came on Samson. The same comment is made of other judges, though less frequently. But the Spirit only gave Samson great strength, as far as we can see; fruits of the Spirit like love and self-control seem lacking from his life. 17:6 A State of Anarchy Four times the final chapters of Judges mention there was "no king." Twice Judges adds that "everyone did as he saw fit." This editorial remark was probably made later, after the monarchy had begn under Saul and David; a king unified the nation. Some problems of this period are evident in verse 5; idolatry and the installation of a priest |
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