A10933:1085
A commentary upon the whole book of Judges Preached first and delivered in sundry…A commentary vpon the vvhole booke of Iudges Preached first and deliuered in sundrie…
A commentary upon the whole book of Judges Preached first and delivered in sundry lectures; since collected, and diligently perused, and now published. For the benefit generally of all such as desire to grow in faith and repentance, and especially of them, who would more clearly understand and make use of the worthy examples of the saints, recorded in divine history. Penned by Richard Rogers preacher of Gods word at Wethersfield in Essex.A commentary vpon the vvhole booke of Iudges Preached first and deliuered in sundrie lectures; since collected, and diligently perused, and now published. For the benefit generally of all such as desire to grow in faith and repentance, and especially of them, who would more cleerely vnderstand and make vse of the worthie examples of the saints, recorded in diuine history. Penned by Richard Rogers preacher of Gods word at Wethersfield in Essex.
London: printed by Felix Kyngston for Thomas Man, 1615
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
14 And took a servant of the men of Succoth, and enquired of him, and he wrote to him the Princes of Succoth, and the Elders thereof, even seventy and seven men. 15 And he came unto the men of Succoth, and said, Behold Zeba and Zalmunna, by whom ye upbraided me, saying, Are the hands of Zeba and Zalmunna already in thy hands, that we should give bread unto thy weary men? 16 Then he took the Elders of the city, and thorns of the wilderness, and briers, and did tear the men of Succoth with them. 17 Also he brake down the tower of Penuel, and slew the men of the city.
14 And tooke a seruant of the men of Succoth, and enquired of him, and hee wrote to him the Princes of Succoth, and the Elders thereof, euen seuentie and seuen men. 15 And he came vnto the men of Succoth, and said, Behold Zeba and Zalmunna, by whom ye vpbrayed me, saying, Are the hands of Zeba and Zalmunna already in thy hands, that we should giue bread vnto thy wearie men? 16 Then he tooke the Elders of the citie, and thornes of the wildernesse, and briers, and did teare the men of Succoth with them. 17 Also he brake downe the tower of Penuel, and slew the men of the citie.
Now in these verses following it is showed that when Gideon had taken 1the Princes of Midian, and was returned to Succoth, he seeks diligently to know the names of the chief men and Elders thereof: and he brought and showed the Princes Zeba and Zalmunna unto them: for he kept them alive, not to make his boast of them, but that he might show them that God had delivered them into his hands, as he made no doubt thereof before, that so they might be the more ashamed and accused for that which they had done to him and his men, in denying them bread. And thereupon he did unto them as he had threatened, for he tare their flesh, to wit, of them of Succoth, with the thorns and briers of the wilderness: and then overthrew the tower of the men of Penuel, and slew the citizens, either because they insulted more arrogantly then the men of Succoth did, or else because they resisted Gideon, trusting in their tower, and so were slain. Whether they of Succoth died by the pain & punishment, (as it is most like) or whether their flesh was only torn, and yet life remaining in them, though the story doth not declare; yet we cannot be ignorant, how sore and extreme the pain was. What kind of execution was done upon the men of Penuel themselves in putting them to death, the story setteth not down, but as it is sure they were slain, so it is (not without good probability) that the other were torn to death also.