A10933:1275
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.
Sermon 58 › Chapter 9 › Part 3: The third part of the Chapter.
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.
Vers. 26. Then Gaal, the son of Ebbed came with his brethren, and they went to Shechem, and the men of Shechem put their confidence in him. 27. And therefore they went into the field, and gathered in their grapes, and trod them and made merry, and went into the house of their gods, and did eat and drink, and cursed Abimelech. 28. Then Gaal, the son of Ebbed said, Who is Abimelech? And who is Shechem, that we should serve him? is he not the son of Jerubbaal, and Zebul is his officer? Serve rather the men of Hamor, the father of Shechem, for why should we serve him? 29. Now would to God this people were under my hand, then would I put away Abimelech; and he said to Abimelech, increase thine army and come out.
Vers. 26. Then Gaal, the sonne of Ebed came with his brethren, and they went to Shechem, and the men of Shechem put their confidence in him. 27. And therefore they went into the field, and gathered in their grapes, and trod them and made merry, and went into the house of their gods, and did eate and drinke, and cursed Abimelech. 28. Then Gaal, the sonne of Ebed said, Who is Abimelech? And who is Shechem, that we should serue him? is hee not the sonne of Ierubbaal, and Zebul is his officer? Serue rather the men of Hamor, the father of Shechem, for why should wee serue him? 29. Now would to God this people were vnder my hand, then would I put away Abimelech; and he said to Abimelech, encrease thine army and come out.
OF the first occasion of Abimelechs and the Shechemites destroying one 1another: the next occasion of the mischiefs that followed, is here set down, namely this; that they being thus incensed, one against the other, they fall to open war, and to set it forward, there came in the way one Gaal, and the men of Shechem hired him for their Captain to be for them against Abimelech. And by his help they went out, and gathered their grapes, which otherwise they durst not have done, and made merry, and cursed Abimelech. And that boaster Gaal hardened them against him, affirming Thrasonically, that he would put him down. If the men of Shechem knew him not, as the Scripture sets not down from whence he came, but his behaviour bewrayed him. If (I say) they knew him not, they did foolishly, to receive and rest upon him, being a stranger, though a boaster: and if they did know him, what madness was it, to take and trust in him, though a stranger, yet a boaster? But howsoever their sin was great, in their entertaining of him, yet indeed, it was of and by God (who hereby hastened their destruction) that they should light upon such a Captain; themselves being such soldiers, they might well go together; and no wonder, if boasters and the ambitious so easily accorded, although if they had not been given up to themselves, they would not have trusted to him. Thus the men of Shechem provided for themselves, and how Abimelech did the like, it follows after.