Judges 4:3: Judges-Cycle--Israel's Cry to God
- Dr. Dilday
- Feb 9, 2018
- 1 min read
Verse 3:[1] And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD: for he had nine hundred (Judg. 1:19) chariots of iron; and twenty years (Judg. 5:8; Ps. 106:42) he mightily oppressed the children of Israel.
[He had exceedingly oppressed (similarly Munster, Tigurinus), בְּחָזְקָה] In strength (Montanus, similarly Pagnine); in rigor (Jonathan); with violence (Syriac, Arabic, Junius and Tremellius); imperiously (Septuagint); τυραννικῶς/ tyrannically (Drusius).
He mightily oppressed: More than the former tyrants; partly from his malice and hatred against the Israelites; and principally from God’s just judgment, the growing punishment being most suitable to their aggravated wickedness.
[1] Hebrew: וַיִּצְעֲק֥וּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל אֶל־יְהוָ֑ה כִּ֠י תְּשַׁ֙ע מֵא֤וֹת רֶֽכֶב־בַּרְזֶל֙ ל֔וֹ וְ֠הוּא לָחַ֞ץ אֶת־בְּנֵ֧י יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל בְּחָזְקָ֖ה עֶשְׂרִ֥ים שָׁנָֽה׃
Matthew Henry: 'Israel returning to their God: They cried unto the Lord, when distress drove them to him, and they saw no other way of relief. Those that slight God in their prosperity will find themselves under a necessity of seeking him when they are in trouble.'