EXPOSITION. Ver. 11. -An angel, &c. Rather, the of the angel is introduced, as if, .it were n angel of the Lord, otherwise called •• the matter of course in the eyes of him who is angel of his presence" (Isa. !xiii. 9). In the Lord of the millions of the heavenly vers. 14, 16, 23, for the angel of the Lord host, those ministers of his who do his plea- we have simply the Lord (see eh. ii. 1, note). sure., Human scepticism, the twin sister of An oak. Rather the oak, or terebinth, as it human selfishness, would blot out all crea- should be rendered. It was doubtless a tion except itself. To hide it, &c. TheB11 well-knoWII tree still standing in the writer's graphic touches give a lively picture of the time (see ver. 19). Compare the mention of straits to which the Israelites were reduced the oalc (terebinth) at Shechem (Gen. nxv. by the Midi.anite occupation. 4); the great oak (terebinth) in which .Absa- Ver. 12.-Appee.red. Angels were not lom was caught (2 Sam. xviii. 9) ; Deborah's always visible when present (see Numb. :uii palm trree (eh. iv. 5, where see note). Observe 31 ; 2 Sam. xxiv. 17; 2 Kings vi. 19, &c.). the simple we.y lll which tl-,e ministration Ver. 13.-If the Lord be with us, &c. CR. YI. 11--24.] THE BOOK OF JUDGES. 61
The utter dejection caused by the Midian- flees and offerings (Amos v. 25). ibe oppression breathes in every word spoken Ver. 20.-Lay them upon this rock, as by Gideon. But how re1tssuring the angel's upon an altar, and pour ont the broth, as words were. Which our fathers told us of. a drink offering or a libation (see eh. xiii. This is a distinct reference to the national 19). • traditions, which are elsewhere alluded to Ver. 21.-There rose up fire, &c. The (cf. Exod. xii. 26, 27; Ps. xliv. l ; lxxviii. consuming of the sacrifice by fire from heaven 3-5; Jer. xvi. 14). was the token of its being accepted (cf. eh. Ver. 15.-Wherewith shall leave Israell xiii. 20, 23 ; also 1 Kings xviii. 23, 33, 38 ; &c. Compare the unwillingness of Moses 1 Chron. xxi. 26). The angel of the Lord (Exod. iii. 11; iv. 10, 13), of Saul (1 Sam. departed, &c. In the very similar case of x. 21, 22), of Jeremiah (Jer. i. 6), of Amos the angel who appeared to :'.\Ianoah (eh. xiii. (Amos vii. 14, 15), and of St. Peter (Luke 15-20), the angel ascended in the flame of v. 8). Also in ecclesiastical history that of the altar. It is probable that he did so in Ambrose, Gregory the Great, and others. the present instance, though it is not ex- The least fit are usually the most forward, pressly stated how he disappeared (cf. Acts the most fit the most backward, to under- viii. 39). . take great offices (eh. ix. 8-15). True Ver. 22.-Gideonperceived, &c. Gideon's humility is the usual companion of true suspicions were now turned into a certainty. greatness (see 2 Cor. ii. 16; iii. 5). It was indeed God that had spoken to him Ver. 17.-A si~ that thou talkest with by his angel (ver. 17). Alas, &c. Gideon me-that it is mdeed thou thyself that speaks thus in terror of the death which he speakest to me, even God, and that there is thought must be the penalty of seeing the no illusion. angel of the Lord (see eh. xiii. 22, and note). Ver. 18.-My present. Minchak means Because. Rather, tkenfore, or to this end, sometimes a present made to man, as in eh. viz,, that I should die. iii. 18 ; but it more commonly means a Ver. 23.-Peace, &c. Cf. Dan. x. 19, and sacrificial offering (Gen. iv. 3 - 5), which John xx. 21, 26; Lnke xri,. 36--39. seems to be its meaning here, as explained Hence the name of the altar, Jehovah- vers. 19, 20. When coupled with zevack, shalom-" The Lord is peace," is at peace the animal sacrifice, minchak means the meat with me. and drink offering. Ver. 24.-For naming altars built in com- Ver. 19.-Unleavened cakes (Gen. xix. memoration of particular evet1ts see Gen. 3 ; 1 Sam. xxviii. 24). The necessary haste xxii. 14; xxxi. 47-49; :=xiii. 20; Josh. gave no time for the use of leaven, which is xxii. 34, &c. one explanation of the unleavened bread at Ver. 25.-The grove. See eh. iii. 7. The the passover (Exod. xii. 33, 34, 39). Pre- size of the asherak is indicated by the order sented it. A word specially used of sacri- in ver. 26 to use it for the altar fire.
HOMILETICS. Vere. 11-24.-The preparation. God's agents, whether kings, or judges, •or propliets, or apostles, are reasonable agents. They are not inanimate machines or lilind instruments; they are living, thinking, feeling, reasonable, men. When they are called to great and heroic works they must be endued with great and heroic thoughts. A high sense of justice (2 Sam. xxiii. 3), a noble contempt of gain (1 Sam. xiii. 3), wisdom with lofty courage (Ezek. ii. 6, 7), the enthusiasm of love with the moderation of prudence (2 Cor. vi. 3-10), are the qualities that mnst be found in them respectively. The sword which is to pierce must first be sharpened ; the intelligence which is to guide must first be enlightened ; the arm which is to prevail must be strengthened ; the spirit which is to triumph over difficulties nnd obstacles must be awakened, and fed, and sustained. The work to which Gideon was called was no common work. A nation to be upheaved from the lowest vassalage of spiritless slaves and dejected helots into victory and freedom ; another nation to be drngged down from power, and possession, and supremacy, and dominion, with no apparent instruments with which to effect it. And who was Gideon? The least con- sidered member of a poor family, of a divided tribe, of which no name was famous in the annals of his country; a man unknown and unheard of, whose occupation was to thresh corn stealthily, lest the Midianites should take it; a man thought nothing of by his own countrymen, and contemptuously overlooked by his foreign masters. But he was the chosen instrument for delivering Israel. HE MUST THEN DE PRE- PA.BED. And two things were necessary in the first place: one to awaken in him a 62 THE I300K OF JUDGES. [err. v1. 11-24.