Judges 6:39

Jdg 6:39. Gideon said — In a way of humble supplication, for the strengthening his own faith, and for the greater encouragement of his soldiers in this great attempt. On all the earth — That is, upon all that spot of ground which encompasses the fleece. On the ground — Which was more preternatural than the former instance, because, if there be any moisture, such bodies as fleeces of wool are likely to drink it up.

Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

(39) Let not thine anger be hot against me, and I will speak but this once.—The phrase is the same as in Gen_18:32. The word rendered “anger” is literally nose. The Hebrew language is very picturesque in its metaphors, and “anger” is so often expressed by the dilatation of the nostrils, that “nose” became a graphic term for anger, as it is to this day in many Eastern languages. I have given some illustrations in my Language and Languages, p. 197, &c.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

39. I will speak but this once] recalls the language of Abraham in Gen_18:32 J. The dew would naturally soak the fleece more than the rocky threshing-floor; so Gideon asks for a sign still more extraordinary.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

And God did so that night,.... The night following, the night being the season in which the dew falls:

for it was dry upon the fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground; and this might signify, that not Gideon only, as before, should partake of the divine favour, but all the Israelites, who would share in the salvation wrought by him. Many interpreters observe, that all this is an emblem of the different case and state of the Jews and Gentiles under the different dispensations; that whereas under the former dispensation the Jews partook of the divine favour only, and of the blessings of grace, and enjoyed the words and ordinances with which they were watered, when the Gentiles all around them were like a barren wilderness; so, under the Gospel dispensation, the Gentiles share the above benefits to a greater degree, while the Jews are entirely destitute of them.

Next: Judges Chapter 7

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Which was more difficult and preternatural than the former instance, because if there be any moisture, such bodies as fleeces of wool are most likely to drink it up.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

39. Dry only upon the fleece — This of the two was the more astounding miracle, for that the wool, which so naturally absorbs dew, should be dry, and all the earth around wet with the dews of night, was an all-controlling evidence in this case that God would save Israel by Gideon’s hand.

This sign of the fleece has been thought to have its typical significance. Dew may well represent the grace and blessings of Almighty God. According to Origen, the fleece wet with dew while all around was dry represented the Israelitish people blessed with the Covenants and Law, while all surrounding nations were left without them. The reversed sign, of the fleece dry and dew on all the ground, prefigured the coming time when Israel for unbelief would be rejected, and all the Gentiles receive the dews of heavenly grace. Others have given the signs a slightly different reference. But we may better make the allusion more general, and say that this double miracle symbolizes the course of the Divine Government in the history of nations. That Almighty Power that wrought these miracles will ever, in his government of the world, bestow or withhold his grace according to his infinite wisdom and the deserts of men and nations. If Israel, or any other nation, honour his Name and Law, they shall receive the blessings of his heavenly grace and power; but if they reject him, vengeance is his, and they may not hope to escape the rod of his anger.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

On the ground - Which was more preternatural than the former instance, because if there be any moisture, such bodies as fleeces of wool are likely to drink it up.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.

translationWords

Gideon

God

anger

test

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.