Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Judges
Book: Judges
Chapter: 10
Overview:
Tola and
Jair Judge Israel.
(1-5) The
Philistines and
Ammonites oppress
Israel.
(6-9) Israel's
Repentance.
(10-18)
1-5 Quiet and peaceable reigns, though the best to live in,
yield least variety of matter to be spoken of. Such were the
days of
Tola and
Jair. They were humble, active, and useful men,
rulers appointed of
God.
6-9 Now the threatening was fulfilled, that the Israelites
should have
No power to stand before their enemies, Le
26:17,37.
By their evil ways and their evil doings they
procured this to themselves.
10-18 God is able to multiply men's punishments according to
the
Numbers of their sins and idols. But there is
Hope when
sinners cry to the
Lord for help, and lament their ungodliness
as
Well as their more open transgressions. It is necessary, in
true
Repentance, that there be a full conviction that those
things cannot help us which we have set in competition with
God.
They acknowledged what they deserved, yet prayed to
God not to
Deal with them according to their deserts. We must submit to
God's
Justice, with a
Hope in his
Mercy. True
Repentance is not
only for
Sin, but from
Sin. As the disobedience and misery of a
Child are a grief to a tender
Father,
So the provocations of
God's people are a grief to him. From him
Mercy never can be
sought in vain. Let then the trembling sinner, and the almost
despairing backslider, cease from debating about
God's secret
purposes, or from expecting to find
Hope from former
experiences. Let them cast themselves
On the
Mercy of
God our
Saviour, humble themselves under his
Hand, seek deliverance from
the powers of
Darkness, separate themselves from
Sin, and from
occasions of it, use the
Means of Grace diligently, and wait the
Lord's time, and
So they shall certainly rejoice in his
Mercy.