Judges 3:10Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The Father bestows everything through the Son along with the Holy Spirit, not as separate gifts from each, but united in purpose. There is one salvation, one power, one faith, one God the Father, one Lord, His only begotten Son, and one Holy Spirit, the Comforter. It is enough for us to have knowledge of these truths; however, we should refrain from probing into the nature or essence of God. If these details were documented, we might express them; yet what remains unwritten is beyond our declaration. It suffices for our redemption to comprehend the existence of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This Spirit has come upon all the righteous and the Prophets. Through the strength of this Spirit, as recorded in the book of Judges, Gophoniel served as judge.

Following the first prophet referenced in the book of Judges, Judah Gethoniel emerges as a notable leader among the Israelites. He is identified as the courageous nephew of Caleb, empowered by the Spirit of the Lord. While the memories of prophetic utterance from his predecessors may have faded among the people, he is recognized in the epistle to the Hebrews as one of those chosen who ‘through faith overcame kingdoms.’ From the accounts in the book of Judges, it becomes clear that he engaged in battles not only with the neighboring foes of Judah, such as the Philistines and the Edomites, but also triumphed over Husarsaphem of Mesopotamia, who invaded Palestine from across the Jordan. During this time, the Hittites and Canaanites dominated the northern regions of Syria.