Judges 10:16

16 So they put away the foreign gods from among them and served the LORD, and He could no longer bear the misery of Israel.

Judges 10:16 Meaning and Commentary

Judges 10:16

And they put away the strange gods from among them
Which was an evidence of the truth of their repentance, and showed their confessions and humiliations to be genuine:

and served the Lord;
and him only, both in private and public; in the observance of duties, both moral and ceremonial; in an attendance on the service of the sanctuary, and by offering sacrifices to God there, according to his will:

and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel;
which is to be understood after the manner of men; for grief properly does not belong to God, there being no passion in him; but it denotes a carriage or behaviour of his, which shows what looks like sympathy in men; a love and affection for Israel, notwithstanding their ill behaviour to him, and a change of his dispensations Providence towards them, according to his unchangeable will; so Maimonides ^F2 understands it of the good will and pleasure of God, to cease from afflicting the people of Israel; but Abarbinel is of opinion that this refers to the soul of Israel, which was shortened and contracted, as the word signifies, because of the labour of servitude, the affliction and distress they were in.

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FOOTNOTES:

F2 Moreh Nevochim, par. 1. c. 41.

Judges 10:16 In-Context

14 Go and cry out to the gods you have chosen. Let them save you in your time of trouble.”

15 “We have sinned,” the Israelites said to the LORD. “Deal with us as You see fit; but please deliver us today!”

16 So they put away the foreign gods from among them and served the LORD, and He could no longer bear the misery of Israel.

17 Then the Ammonites were called to arms and camped in Gilead, and the Israelites assembled and camped at Mizpah.

18 And the rulers of Gilead said to one another, “Whoever will launch the attack against the Ammonites will be the head of all who live in Gilead.”