by John Lowe
(Woodruff, S.C.)
he that will plead for him, let him be put to death, while it is yet morning; immediately, instantly, without delay, for it was early morning when they came to him. He that shall farther plead for such a god as this deserves to die for his foolishness and irreverence. He said this to terrify them, and to express the hatred he now had of idolatry, and the truthful understanding of its being punishable with death by the law of God. He probably had a lot more to say for his son: but it is usual in scripture to give only short hints of things which were discussed in detail later. But why did he say these things? I suppose that it was said primarily, to save his son from their current anger and rage, and he hoped to gain time to find out some ways and means to ensure his safety:
if he be a god, let him plead for himself, because one hath cast down his altar. If he is a god, he knows who has done it, and is able to avenge himself on him, and put him to death himself, and therefore let him plead his own cause, and avenge his own injuries. He said this to mock the false deity; for though Joash had been a worshipper of Baal, yet he might now be convinced by his son of the sinfulness of it, and of the necessity for a reformation of the Hebrew people, in order to have a deliverance from the Midianites, for which Gideon had a commission, and had perhaps informed his father of it; or it may be that he was not so attached to Baal and that he preferred the life of his son to the worship of him. Accordingly, we ought to defend those who are zealous of Gods cause, though all the multitude is against us.
"Joash, his father, quieted the mob in a manner similar to that of the town clerk of Ephesus. It was not for them to take the matter into their own hands. The one, however, made an appeal to the magistrate; the other to the idolatrous god himself" CHALMERS.
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15(Acts 19.40) “For we are in danger to be called in question for this day's uproar, there being no cause whereby we may give an account of this concourse. To be called in question.” By the government; by the Roman authority. Such a tumult continued for so long a time, would be likely to attract the attention of the magistrates, and expose them to their displeasure. Popular commotions were justly dreaded by the Roman government; and such an assembly as this, convened without any good cause, would not escape their notice. There was a Roman law which made it capital for anyone to be engaged in promoting a riot. Qui caetum, et concursum fecerit, capite puniatur: "He who raises a mob, let him be punished with death." —Barnes' Notes on the New Testament
paragogic letters, in the Semitic languages are letters which are added to the ordinary forms of words, to express additional emphasis or some change in the sense.
Sottish—stupefied with or as if with drink; drunken. Given to excessive drinking. Pertaining to or befitting a sot.
32 Therefore on that day, he called
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