CHAPTER VI. we gather that the country lying to the east of Palestine as far as the river Euphrates Ver. 1.-Midian. In Numb. x.xii. 7 we was called the east country, and that the read of the Midianites as allied with the various tribes of Arabs and others who Moabites in their hostility to the children peopled that desert were called "the chil- of Israel, and we find them willing agents of dren of the east" (see ver. 33 and eh. vii. Balaam's iniquitous couusels (Numb. xxv. 6, 12; viii. 10). 17, 18; xxxi. 7, 8), and suffering a terrible Ver. 4.-Left ·no sustenance, r&c., i. e. chastisement from the Israelites in conse- neither grass, nor corn, nor fruit. It is quence. An abiding national feud was the added, neither sheep, nor ox, nor a.as. natural consequence ; and this, added to These all either died for want of food or their love of plunder, no doubt led to the were seized by the :Midianites. The next present invasion in company with the Amale- verse explains that the enormous multitudes kites (eh. iii. 13, note). Observe the contrast of their cattle and camels consumed the between the victory described in Numb. whole produce of the ground. xxxi. and the defeat narrated in this Ver. 5.-As grasshoppers. See the strik- chapter. ing description of the destruction caused by Ver. 2.-The dens .. . e.nd caves. In the locusts in Joel iii. I have heard travellers writer's time certain hiding-places called by iu India describe the sudden darkening of the above names were traditionally known the sky by a flight of locusts. as the places where the Israelites took refuge Ver. 8.-A prophet. Literally, a man, during the terrible Midianite invasion. The a prophet, just as Deborah was described as limestone hills of Palestine abounded in a woman, a prophetess (eh. iv. 4). It is such coves. interesting to observe the flow of the spirit Ver. 3.-Children of the ee.st. We first of prophecy in those early days between find this term in Gen. nix. 1, where it is Moses and Samuel, before the dispensation applied to the people of Haran. Comparin<> of the prophets had risen to its height. I the analogous phrases, " the east country 11 brought you up from Egypt. Note the (Gen. xxv. 6), " the mountains of the east" constant reference to the exodus as o. fixed (Numb. xxiii. 7), "the men of the east" point in their national and religious life (Job i. 3), "the east" (Isa. ii. 3 ; Matt. ii, 1), (see ver. 13 ; eh. ii 1).
HOMILETICS. Vere. 1-10.-Tlie fruit of ingratitude. What a condemnation of Israel there wns in the simple statement of fa.cts by the mouth of the prophet, without exaggeration and without comment. God had brought them up from the land of Egypt with a mighty hand and a stretched-out arm; when they were in bondage he had broken their yoke ; when they were oppressed he had set them free ; when the multitudes of Moabites, and Ammonites, and Midianites, and Canaanites, hud opposed their entrance into the land of promise, God hud brushed them all away and given their land to the Israelites. He had accompanied these acts of grnce and power with a simple com- mand not to worship the idols of Canaan, but to remember that Jehovah was their God, but they had not obeyed his voice. They had forsaken God, to whom they owed all they had, and they had turned to heathen vanities. What need to say uny more? They were now reaping what they had sown. They were helpless because they had cast off him who had helped them so wondrously, and who would have been their help in every time of need if they had not so wantonly forsaken him. And in like manner how often will a bare statement of facts be enough to overwhelm us with guilt and shame I Let any man be his own prophet, and with unflinching truth record the incidents of u yeur or a day of his own life. "God in his abounding grace and love redeemed me by the blood of his dear Son; he freely forgave me my tres- pusses and sins; he recei_ved mo into th~ ~doption o! children, by Jesus C)1rist, 1!-nto himself; he sealed me with the !Inly Spmt of promise; he crowner! me w1tli lovmg• THE BOOK OF JUDGES. [ea. VI, 1-10.
kindness nnd tender mercy; he showed me the kingdom of heaven and bid me enter into it ; he showed me the deadly evil of sin ; he showed me.> the beauty and loveli- ness of goodness; he said to me, Abhor that which is evil, and cleave to that which is g?od. _But I haYe not ~eark_ened t? his voice ; I have forgotten his love, 1md despised Ins grace; I have disbelieved !us word, and have believed the lying promises of ~in; I lrnve loved tl~e world; I have been. the ~lave of my own lusts, and the subJect of my own passions; I have turned aside with the multitude of evil-doers and I am now eating the fruit of my own doings; I have forsaken God and so God has forsaken me." '