John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 6:35
And he sent messengers through all Manasseh ,.... Of which tribe he was; not only he called by the trumpet that part of the tribe, the Abiezrites, who were within the sound of it, but the rest of the tribe at a greater distance from him he sent messengers to, acquainting them with his design, and inviting them to his assistance. Some think this refers both to the half tribe of Manasseh within Jordan, and the other half tribe on the other side Jordan; but that is not very probable, only the... read more
John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 6:34
But the Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon ,.... Not the spirit of prophecy, as Maimonides F24 Moreh Nevochim, par. 2. c. 45. , who calls this spirit the first degree of prophecy, but a spirit of fortitude and courage, as the Targum; the Spirit of God filled him, or, as in the Hebrew text, "clothed" F25 לבשח "induit", Pagninus, Montanus, &c.; Vid. Maimon. ut supra. (T. Bab. Temurah, fol. 28. 2. & 29. 1.) So Homer often represents his heroes as clothed with fortitude and... read more