tion of words and phrases, for rigid preciseness in fixing the connexion, and for skill in drawing out his didactic inferences, he is almost unrivalled. He is indeed prone to dwell unduly upon trifles, but this was the fault of the age, rather than of the man. His works are a rich store-house of biblical exposition, and the Commentary on Judges is the most finished of his productions. Walch says of it, in his Bibliotheca Theologica,' that it is 'a distinguished work, at the head of all the commentaries which our countrymen have written. The author treats every thing, both words and things, diligently, learnedly, and copiously, and whoever consults this work, can easily dispense with all others.' Buddeus, in his 'Isagoge,' is equally decided in his testimony to the merits of Schmid as a commentator. NICOLAI SERRARII Judices et Ruth explanati. Moguntiæ. 1609. Fol. VICTORINI STRIGELN Liber Judicum, argumentis et scholiis illustratus. Lipsiæ. 1575, 1586. 8vo. DAVIDIS CHYTREI in historiam Judicum populi Israel dilucidus et per spicuus commentarius, cum inserta illius temporis historiarum chronologia. Francofurti. 1589. 8vo. Jo. ADAMI OSIANDRI Commentarius in Librum Judicum, exhibens sacrum cum exegesi textum, lectionum et versionum varietatem, conciliatas antilogias, chronologiam, utilium quæstionum solutiones, objectiones cum vindiciis observationes philologicas, et locos communes doctrinales. Tubinga. 1682 Fol. 'To be enumerated among the best interpretations of this book.' Walch. MARTINI BUCERI Commentarius in Librum Judicum. Parisiis. 1554, 1563. Fol. PETRI MARTYRI Commentarius in Librum Judicum. Tiguri. 1561. Londini. 1564. Fol. JACOBI BONFRERI Commentarius in Josuam, Judices, et Ruth. Parisiis. 1631, 1659. Fol. Jo. ENR. GRABI Epistola ad clarissm. vir. Joannem Millium, qua ostenditur, Libri Judicum genuinam LXX. interpretum versioncm eam esse, quam MS. codex Alexandrinus exhibet; Romanam autem editionem, quod ad dictum librum, ab illa prorsus diversàm, atque eandem cum Hesychiano esse. Oxoniæ. 1707. 4to. JOHN COLERIDGE Miscellaneous Dissertations arising from Judg. xvn. and XVIII. Lond. 1768. 8vo. CHRIST. FRED. Schnurrer R. Tanchum Hierosylumitam ad libros Vet. Testamenti Commentarii Arabici Specimen, una cum annotationibus ad aliquot loca libri Judicum. Tuging. 1791. 4to. WERN. CARL. Ludw. ZIEGLER Bemerkungen über das Buch der Richter aus dem Geist des Heldenalters; nebst Beurtheilung der grieschischen Ver sionem, und ihrer Abweichung vom Originaltext; in Auctoris Theologischen Abhandlugen, erster Band. Gotting. 1791. 8vo. pp. 262. seqq. HEINR. EBERH. GOTTL. PAULUS Blicke in das Buch der Richter, wahrscheinlich den altesten Rest anoder altehebraischen Literatur, in Auctoris Theolog. Exeget. Conservatorium, P. II. (Heidelberg, 1822.) p. 180. seqq. GOTTL. LUDW. STUDER das Buch der Richter grammatisch und historisch erklärt. Bern. 1835. 8vo. A valuable and well digested work; devoted principally to philological illustration, and, after the German fashion, keeping studiously clear of every practical remark, and of every thing, in fact, beyond the bare letter. In addition to the above, much valuable matter bearing upon the elucidation of different parts of this book, will be found in 'Lowth's Hebrew Poetry,'' Green's Poetical Parts of the Old Testament,'' Herder's Spirit of Hebrew Poetry,' and Prof. Robinson's Interpretation of Judges ch. 5, the Song of Deborah and Barak, in the Biblical Repository,' No. III. June, 1831. See also Schnurrer, in 'Eichorn's Repert. vol. ix., p. 54. See a summary of its contents in Actis Eruditt. Leips. An. 1691, p. 167; and an essay by Schnurrer, in Paulus N. Repert. vol. i., p. 117, seqq.-Reland, Dissert. ii., p. 314. 1706. Hottinger, Exercit Antimor. pp. 105. seqq. Smeg. Or. p. 437. Hist. Or. pp. 40, 120. Disp. Lib. V. T. Supposit., No. I.-Exeg. Handb. A. T vol. iii., p. 18. seqq. THE BOOK OF JUDGES. CHAPTER I. for us against the Canaanites Now after the death of Josh-first to fight against them? ua it came to pass, that the children of Israel asked the LORD, saying, Who shall go up a Numb. 27. 21. ch. 20. 18. CHAPTER I. 1. After the death of Joshua. How long after we have no means of determining; probably not long, for Othniel, the first judge after Joshua's decease, had been his contemporary, and was the son-in-law of Caleb. 2 And the LORD said, Judah shall go up: behold, I have delivered the land into his hand. Gen. 49. 8. do not inquire what individual should be chosen as successor to Joshua and commander of the forces, but which of the tribes shall take the precedency in the expedition. Whether each tribe was ambitious of the honor or fearful of the danger of being first, it is not possible to determine, but by common consent it was resolved to refer the matter to God, the proper arbiter in every doubtful case. Happy is it for us that we have the same infallible source of guidance to which to apply in all our perplexities.— Asked the Lord. The original phrase is the usual one for consulting the oracle, or inquiring by the ministry of the high-priest, and through the medium of the Urim and Thummim, the will of Jehovah | as to the great matters of duty and policy. As we read of no particu- Who shall go up for us? The lar person, who succeeded Joshua common term for a military expedias commander-in-chief of the Isra- tion. See Is. 7. 1; Jer. 50. 3. The elites, it is probable that every tribe phrase 'for us' puts the 'going up' was governed by one or more of its in relation to the whole body of the elders for a number of years, and people. The success of whatever that in their wars with the Canaan- tribe took the lead would be an earites they also were their military nest and assurance of the success leaders. As the people were now of the rest in obtaining complete becoming more numerous and capa-possession of their respective alble of occupying a larger extent of lotments. territory, they deemed it expedient to renew the war, but having no single head to take the lead in the enterprise, they very properly sought direction from above as to the man-erally in the sequel. ner in which the war should be con- dency was given to Judah, because ducted It will be observed that they it was the most numerous, powerful, 2. Judah shall go up. That is the tribe of Judah, not a person of this name. So in v. 3, Simeon stands for the tribe of Simeon, and so also geuThe prece 3 And Judah said unto Simeon his brother, Come up with me into my lot, that we may fight against the Canaanites; and I likewise will go with thee into hy lot. So Simeon went with him. c ver. 17. and valiant of all the tribes, and that which the Lord designed should possess the pre-eminence in all respects, as being the one from which the Messiah was to spring, and for that reason crowned with the 'excellency of dignity' above all its fellows. Judah therefore must lead in this perilous enterprise; for God not only appoints service according to the strength and ability he has given, but would also have the burden of honor and the burden of labor go together.' Those who have the precedency in rank, reputation, or influence, should always be disposed to go before others in every good work, undismayed by danger, difficulty, or obloquy, that they may encourage others by their example. I have delivered the land into his hand. Have determined that he shall subdue it. Not the whole land, but the land or district destined for his inheritance. This God has so firmly purposed to deliver into his hand that it might be considered as already done, and such assurance of victory would naturally give courage for the contest. 3. Judah said unto Simeon-come up with me, &c. This proposition was made to Simeon because these tribes being descended, by their progenitors, from the same father and mother, Jacob and Leah, were brethsen in the strictest sense, and because 4 And Judah went up, and the LORD delivered the Canaanites and the Perizzites into their hand: and they slew of them in "Bezek ten thousand men. 5 And they found Adoni-bezek in Bezek: and they fought d 1 Sam. 11. 8. also the lot of Simeon fell within that of Judah. This laid a natural ground for their union and co-operation in the enterprise. 'Observe here that the strongest should not despise but desire the assistance even of those that are weaker. It becomes Israelites to help one another against Canaanites; and all Christians, even those of different tribes, to strengthen one another's hands against the com mon interests of Satan's kingdom. Henry. Caleb was probably com mander in this war. 4. The Lord delivered the Canaan ites and the Perizzites. Or, Heb 'the Canaanite, even the Perizzite.' It is not clear that distinct tribes are intended.- - They slew of them in Bezek, &c. That is, in the city and the adjacent territory. This city is supposed to have been in the tribe o Judah, though there was another ly. ing to the south of Beth-shean (Scythopolis) seven miles from Sichem where Saul reviewed his army be fore marching against Jabesh-Gile. ad. This verse is to be considered merely as a brief compend of the nar rative which is more fully expanded in v. 5.-7. No feature of the historical style of the Scriptures is more common than this. 5. And they found Adoni-bezek. That is, 'lord or king of Bezek ;' probably the common title of the kings of that place. The original against him, and they slew the Canaanites and the Perizzites. 6 But Adoni-bezek fled; and they pursued after him, and caught him, and cut off his thumbs and his great toes. word Nyn mâtzâ, found, is sometimes used to denote a hostile encounter; to attack, to surprise, and probably has that sense here. The first word of this verse, 'and,' would be better rendered 'for' in accordance with the remark made above respecting the drift of v. 5-7. 6. Cut off his thumbs and his great toes. Heb. 'the thumbs of his hands and of his feet.' Either by express direction or secret impulse from God, who thus purposed to 'mete to him the measure he had meted to others.' 'The Hindoos call the thumb the revia-viril, the great finger of the hand, and the large toe is named the great finger of the foot. This punishment was exceedingly common in ancient times, and was inflicted principally on those who had committed some flagrant offence with their hands and their feet. Thus, those convicted of forgery, or numerous thefts, had their thumbs cut off. The practice is abolished, but its memory will remain, as it is now one of the scare-crows of the nursery and domestic life: 'If you steal any inore, I will cut off your thumbs.' 'Let me find out the thief, and I will soon have his thumbs'-Roberts. The loss of the thumbs would disable them from drawing the bow or handling to advantage the sword or the spear, and so would in effect utterly incapacitate them for war. As to the loss of the great toes, independently of the inconvenience occa 7 And Adoni-bezek said, Threescore and ten kings, having their thumbs and their great toes cut off, gathered their meat under my table; as I have done, so e Lev. 24. 19. 1 Sam. 15. 33. Jam 2. 13. sioned in the act of running or walking, the disabling effect to an Oriental is infinitely greater than to an European. The feet and toes are much employed in all the handicraft operations throughout the East, and in many cases the loss of the great toes would completely disqualify a man from earning his subsistence. Besides the many little active operations which they are tutored to exe. cute, the artisans, as they work with their hands, seated on the ground, hold fast and manage all their work with their feet and toes, in which the great toes have a very prominent duty to perform. Ward, in his' View of the Hindoos,' has fully shown to what excellent uses the toes are ap plied in India. 'They are secondhand fingers; they are called feetfingers in Bengalee. In his own house a Hindoo makes use of them to fasten a clog to his feet by means of a button, which slips between the two middle toes. The tailor, if he does not thread his needle, certainly twists his thread with them. The cook holds his knife with his toes while he cuts fish, vegetables, &c The joiner, the weaver, &c., coul not do without them, and almos every native has twenty differen uses for his toes.'-Pict. Bible. 7. Three-score and ten kings, &c Not perhaps all at one time, but firs. and last, during his whole cign. It would seem that wasting civil wars had very much prevailed among the |