THEOSISPhilaret of Moscow (Drosdow)
Following Aod, Samgar took up the cause. He rescued the Israelites, not merely from bondage but from the marauding Philistines, by striking down six hundred of them with a pair of oxen's yoke.
Judges 3:31Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers
After him was Samgar, the son of Anath, who slew of the Philistines six hundred men with a ploughshare: and he also defended Israel.
וְאַחֲרָ֤יו הָיָה֙ שַׁמְגַּ֣ר בֶּן־עֲנָ֔ת וַיַּ֤ךְ אֶת־פְּלִשְׁתִּים֙ שֵֽׁשׁ־מֵא֣וֹת אִ֔ישׁ בְּמַלְמַ֖ד הַבָּקָ֑ר וַיֹּ֥שַׁע גַּם־ה֖וּא אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
The Church Fathers on this verse
2 Church Fathers comment on this verse
Roshdestwenski W.G.
The duration of Aod's rule was recorded as one hundred and ten years, during which the land experienced peace for seventy years. The psalmist David observes that the span of a person's life typically extends to no more than seventy or eighty years: "The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years" (Psalm 89:10).
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An explanation follows. Similarly, as previously noted, the years of bondage are coupled with the years of tranquility. It is revealed in verse 14 that the Israelites were subjugated by Moab's king for eighty years following the death of Gethaniel. After this period, Aod was raised up by God, in response to the pleas of the Israelites, to serve as their leader. Aod governed for sixty-two years. When we combine these years of oppression with the eighty years of enslavement, the total reaches eighty years. It is important to recognize that the sixty-two years mentioned are attributed not only to Aod but also to Samegar, as indicated in verse 31.
Cross references
Passages read together with this verse.
- Judg 5:6In the days of Samgar, the son of Anath, in the days of Jahel, the paths rested: and they that went by them, walked through bye-ways.
- 1 Sam 17:47And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for it is his battle, and he will deliver you into our hands.
- 1 Cor 1:17For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not in wisdom of speech, lest the cross of Christ should be made void.
- 1 Sam 17:50And David prevailed over the Philistine, with a sling and a stone, and he struck, and slew the Philistine. And as David had no sword in his hand,
- 1 Sam 13:19Now there was no smith to be found in all the land of Israel, for the Philistines had taken this precaution, lest the Hebrews should make them swords or spears.
- 1 Sam 13:22And when the day of battle was come, there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people that were with Saul and Jonathan, except Saul and Jonathan his son.
- Judg 2:16And the Lord raised up judges, to deliver them from the hands of those that oppressed them: but they would not hearken to them,
- Judg 5:8The Lord chose new wars, and he himself overthrew the gates of the enemies: a shield and spear was not seen among forty thousand of Israel.