[circa 1316 BC] Verse 1:[1] And (Judg. 2:19) the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD, when Ehud was dead.
[They added…to do evil…after the death of Ehud (similarly Munster)] Hebrew: and Ehud died.[2] Hence Montanus gathers that they began to backslide with Ehud was yet living, etc. But others translate it, with Ehud dead (Pagnine, Junius and Tremellius). ו/and in Hebrew often means, for, because (Bonfrerius). [Tigurinus connects this clause with what follows in this way, And, with Ehud dead, He sold them.] No mention is made of Shamgar, for his principate was exceedingly brief (Menochius); and because he did not protect Israel in its entirety, nor did he bring back those erring into the right way (Drusius out of Kimchi).
[1] Hebrew: וַיֹּסִ֙פוּ֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת הָרַ֖ע בְּעֵינֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה וְאֵה֖וּד מֵֽת׃
[2] Hebrew: וְאֵה֖וּד מֵֽת׃.
Matthew Henry: 'Here is...Israel backsliding from God: They again did evil in his sight, forsook his service, and worshipped idols; for this was the sin which now most easily beset them, Judges 4:1. See in this, 1. The strange strength of corruption, which hurries men into sin notwithstanding the most frequent experience of its fatal consequences. The bent to backslide is with great difficulty restrained. 2. The common ill effects of a long peace. The land had rest eighty years, which should have confirmed them in their religion; but, on the contrary, it made them secure and wanton, and indulgent of those lusts which the worship of the false gods was calculated for the gratification of. Thus the prosperity o…