Verse 24:[1] And he said, Ye have taken away my gods which I made, and the priest, and ye are gone away: and what have I more? and what is this that ye say unto me, What aileth thee?
My gods which I made: So far was he besotted with superstition and idolatry, that he esteemed those gods which were man’s work. But he could not be so stupid as to think these were indeed the great Jehovah that made heaven and earth; but only a lower sort of gods, by whom, as mediators, he offered up his worship unto the true God, as it is manifest divers of the heathens did.
[And all that I have] Hebrew: And what to me more?[2] What do ye suppose to be left to me? That is to say, Ye have carried off what things were dearest to me (Vatablus). He seems to think little of the rest in comparison with his idols (Menochius).
What have I more? I value nothing I have in comparison of what you have taken away. Which zeal for idolatrous trash may shame multitudes that call themselves Christians, and yet apparently value their worldly conveniences more than all the concerns even of the true religion, and of their own salvation.
[1] Hebrew: וַיֹּ֡אמֶר אֶת־אֱלֹהַי֩ אֲשֶׁר־עָשִׂ֙יתִי לְקַחְתֶּ֧ם וְֽאֶת־הַכֹּהֵ֛ן וַתֵּלְכ֖וּ וּמַה־לִּ֣י ע֑וֹד וּמַה־זֶּ֛ה תֹּאמְר֥וּ אֵלַ֖י מַה־לָּֽךְ׃
[2] Hebrew: וּמַה־לִּ֣י ע֑וֹד.
Good lesson today and Hebrew reading. How sad that many in our day cling so hard to their idols that they cannot bear to lose them.
Ralph Erskine's "The Vanity of Earthly Things, and Worldly Enjoyments": 'The world is vanity, because it is vexatious; for "All is vanity and vexation of spirit," Ecclesiastes 1:14. You cannot grasp the thorn of this world but you must be hurt.—The world is vexation in the purchase of it. A man spends night and day for a conquest: he sits up late and rises early; sets his invention upon the rack, how to conquer such a fortune, how to make such a purchase.—The world is vexation in the possession of it: when a man hath it, what cares, what fears, what solicitude about the keeping of it! He knows not how to secure it. If but a tile or slat…
Jonathan Edwards' "Man Naturally God's Enemy": 'That which a man chooses for his god, he sets his heart mainly upon. And nothing will so soon excite enmity, as opposition in that which is dearest. A man will be the greatest enemy to him who opposes him in what he chooses for his god: he will look on none as standing so much in his way, as he that would deprive him of his god. Judges 18:24, "Ye have taken away my gods; and what have I more?" A man, in this respect, cannot serve two masters, that stand in competition for his service. And not only, if he serves one, he cannot serve the other; but if he cleaves t…
Joseph Alleine's Guide to Heaven: 'Know therefore that while you are unconverted...The infinite God is engaged against you. It is no small part of your misery that you are without God. How does Micah run crying after the Danites, 'Ye have taken away my gods, and what have I more?' (Judges 18:24). Oh what a mourning then must you lift up, who are without God, who can lay no claim to Him without daring usurpation! How piercing a moan is that of Saul in his last extremity, 'The Philistines are upon me, and God is departed from me!' (1 Samuel 28:15). Sinners, what will you do in the day of your visitation? Where will you flee to for help? Wher…
Matthew Henry: 'He insists upon the wrong they had certainly done him (Judges 18:24): "You have taken away my gods, my images of God, which I have an incontestable title to, for I made them myself, and which I have such an affection for that I am undone if I lose them; for what have I more that will do me any good if these be lost?" Now, (1.) This discovers to us the folly of idolaters, and the power that Satan has over them. What a folly was it for him to call those his gods which he had made, when he only that made us is to be worshipped by us as a God! Folly indeed to se…