10), where "Mount Seir" is, not Edom, but a north boundary of Judah, now Mihsir, probably the same as Seirath (xvii. 15, 18)]. (27) And it came to pass, when he was come, that he blew a trumpet [compare ch. vi. 34; 1 Sam. xiii. 3] in the mountain of Ephraim [the mountainous region belonging to that tribe; often made the rallying place of the nation (ch. iv. 5, x. 1)], and the children of Israel went down with him from the mount [into the plain of Jericho], and he before them [as their leader to victory, of which Eglon's death was the earnest]. (28) And he said unto them [under the inspiration of God, as (ch. vii. 15)], Follow after me [not 'go,' but 'follow me'. If we would have others fight the good fight, we must lead the way]; for the Lord hath delivered your enemies the Moabites into your hand. they went down after him, and took the fords of Jordan [near Jericho (Josh. ii. 7)] towards Moab, and suffered not a man to pass over. (29) And they slew of Moab at that time [i.e., in the course of the campaign] about ten thousand men [the whole force of Moabites in the Holy Land for keeping down the Israelites] all lusty [literally fat; their rich pastures fed fat kine; hence arose the plenty which bred self-indulgence and pride (Isa. xvi. 6; compare ver. 17, "very fat"; Deut. xxxii. 13-15)], and all men of valour; and there escaped not a man. (30) So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. And the land [chiefly Benjamin and Ephraim] had rest fourscore years. (31) And after him was Shamgar [compare ch. v. 6] the son of Anath, which slew of the Philistines six hundred men with an ox-goad [the Syrians and the people of Palestine to this day use such an instrument of wood, eight feet long and six inches in circumference at the thick end, which had an iron scraper for removing dirt from the plough; the thin end has an iron point wherewith to spur the oxen ploughing]; and he also delivered Israel [probably after the fourscore years' rest secured by Ehud's judgeship (ver. 30), and in the early part of Jabin's twenty years' oppression (ch. iv.). Whilst Jabin was oppressing northern Israel, the Philistines ravaged southern Israel and Judah. Anath seems to be akin to Anah (Gen. xxxvi. 2, 14, 20, 25), and so an Edomite name. The Philistines brought Judah so low by inroads, that they probably had no

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better weapons than agricultural instruments (ch. v. 8), a later days (ch. xv. 15, 16; 1 Sam. xiii. 19, 22, xvii. 40, compare Homer, Iliad vi. 134, 135). Notwithstanding Sham prowess, "the highways were unoccupied, and the trav walked through by-ways," as there was no security (ch. So this deliverance by him from the Philistines had of temporary effect until Deborah arose].

1. Israel's apostasy, chastisement by Eglon, penitent cry, deliverance by Ehud.-(1) Israel's relapse into sin. significance there is in that little word 'again'! Israel chosen people of God, whose high calling was to "kingdom of priests and an holy nation" (Exod. xix. 6), evil," and this "in the sight of Jehovah," as if defying H His face; and, what was an awful aggravation, " Israel di again." After all that they had suffered by sin, and af recent and so gracious a deliverance vouchsafed by God, fell into apostasy again! "Neither ministry nor miracl misery nor mercy, could mollify their hard hearts" (T The same history is being continually repeated. We m at their proneness to fall: yet how often does the prof church, and do we ourselves decline from our first love our first works! Then when the Lord has in faithfu chastised us, and afterwards restored us, in answer to per prayer, too frequently we have forgotten the lesson chastisement was designed to teach us, and have relapse old sins again (compare 2 Pet. i. 9, ii. 20, 22). Whe Israelites had escaped from their old oppression, they b less vigilant in shunning their old sin. In trouble they v Jehovah, and poured out a prayer when His chastenin upon them (Isa. xxvi. 16). But "ease still recants vows in pain as recreant and void." When the pain was gone penitence went with it, and they did evil again.

(2) Their consequent punishment.-God's message had one of love to Israel. But as they would not hear, He now send a sterner message-a message of punishment. has many voices wherewith He speaks to man (Job xxxii

God is at no loss for rods wherewith to chastise backsliders. The punishment increases in severity upon their increased rebellion. God will not cease to punish till men cease to rebel. Chushan Rishathaim, their former scourge, was from distant Mesopotamia. Now Jehovah strengthens their next neighbour, the king of Moab, to be the executioner of His vengeance on them. Eglon could have had no power against them, but that their apostasy constrained the Lord to put a sword in the hand of their enemy. Formerly Balak had no power to curse Israel, even though he had enlisted the prophet Balaam against them, so long as Israel was faithful to the covenant (Mic. vi. 5). But now another king of Moab, though a heathen, is made "the rod of Jehovah's anger" (Isa. x. 5), to smite the people. How sad it is when the God of Israel, who delights to "give strength and power unto His people" (Ps. lxviii. 35), is bound by His justice to strengthen their adversary against them! Let us learn to hate the sin of unfaithfulness, and to revere the holiness of God who will not spare even His own chosen people, when they backslide from Him (Rom. xi. 21, 22). It must have been most mortifying to Israel to see Jericho, the very city which had been delivered into their hands by a miracle, now made a Moabite stronghold to guard the passes of Jordan, and to keep Israel down in lasting subjection. Now too their old enemies Ammon and Amalek joined against them; for when the professing people of God seem depressed, their adversaries flock together to crush them (Ps. lxxxiii. 5-8). The Israelites would not serve their Lord with their corn, wine, and oil which He had given them; so now they must serve the oppressor, and pay him tribute of all (Hos. ii. 5-10; Deut. xxviii. 47, 48). Their former less severe servitude had failed permanently to amend them; therefore now they must suffer a worse one :- -that servitude was for eight years, this is for eighteen. So if we will not be reformed by God by less chastisements, but will walk contrary unto Him, then will He also walk contrary unto us, and will punish us yet more for our sins (Lev. xxvi. 23, 24).

(3) Israel's cry in distress, and the Lord's interposition.—Not even Israel's past renewed provocations could take away the

power of prayer, when they turned from sin to the Lord. new deliverer is raised up in answer to renewed pra When God means to deliver His people, He first stirs them to pray for deliverance (compare Isa. xxx. 18, lxv. 24). F was left-handed, and yet a man of Benjamin-a name w means son of the right hand. God uses weak thing confound the mighty; and can "make strong for Hims even the left-handed, so as to be "the man of His right ha (Ps. lxxx. 17). Thus all must see that it was not Isr arm that saved them; but God's right hand and God's arm (Ps. xl. 3, xcviii. 1). So it is especially in the salvation which Jesus has wrought for us. Like El tribal forefather, He was Benoni, "son of my sor (Gen. xxxv. 18, marg.); "a man of sorrows" (Isa. liii. 3); b He became Benjamin, "son of the right hand," exalted by right hand of the Father to be a Prince and Say (Acts v. 31; Ps. cx. 1).

(4) The manner of deliverance.-Israel presented tribu king Eglon by Ehud. The Hebrew word for 'pre (Minchah) here is the same as elsewhere is used of the th offering presented to Jehovah by pious worshippers accor to the Law. They had neglected to render to God the tr due to the loving God; so now, in retributive judgment, must render to a heathen oppressor the offerings which th their sin had become his due. But now they are penit returning to Him who smote them. So God will cas rod of His anger into the fire (Isa. x. 5-7). The he oppressor meant not to execute God's purposes, but to fu his own schemes. For these which he did mean, he sha given to destruction, after that God has used him to ch His people (compare 1 Kings xvi. 7, close). The si motive, not the issue, is the test of the quality of his a He shall not the less be condemned for his malice again people of God, though by it he unconsciously carried out purpose respecting them (Ps. lxxvi. 10; Mic. iv. 12; xvi. 4). Ehud took a plan which, unless he was spe directed to it by God, was unjustifiable. We must distin between Ehud's faith and Ehud's error. No expressi