Judges 10:16

16 And they said these things, and casted forth from their coasts all the idols of alien gods, and served the Lord; which had ruth, either compassion, on (all) the wretchednesses of them.

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 ye, and call (on) [the] gods which ye have chosen; deliver they you in the time of anguish (let them save you in your time of anguish).

15 And the sons of Israel said to the Lord, We have sinned; yield thou to us whatever thing pleaseth to thee; only deliver us now. (And the Israelites said to the Lord, We have sinned; yield thou to us later whatever pleaseth thee; but right now, please save us!)

16 And they said these things, and casted forth from their coasts all the idols of alien gods, and served the Lord; which had ruth, either compassion, on (all) the wretchednesses of them.

17 And so the sons of Ammon cried together, each moving (the) other to battle against Israel, and setted tents in Gilead, and the sons of Israel were gathered against them, and setted tents in Mizpeh. (But then the Ammonites cried together, each moving the other to battle against Israel, and pitched their tents at Gilead; and the Israelites gathered themselves together against them, and pitched their tents at Mizpeh.)

18 And the princes of Gilead said each to his neighbours, He, that beginneth first of us to fight against the sons of Ammon, shall be duke of the people of Gilead. (And the people and the rulers of Gilead said to each other, He of us who first beginneth to fight against the Ammonites, shall be the leader of all the people of Gilead.)