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And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD: and the LORD delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years.

And the children of Israel did evil. — This was the bad fruit of their forty years’ peace. "Ease slayeth the foolish." Proverbs 1:32 , marg. See Trapp on " Judges 4:1 "

Into the hand of Midian. — Who once outwitted them and vexed them with their wiles, Numbers 25:17 now with their inroads: ever full of malignity against the Israelites, though they were of the posterity of Abraham by Keturah, and had been better taught by Jethro, a priest and prince of God amongst them.

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And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel: [and] because of the Midianites the children of Israel made them the dens which [are] in the mountains, and caves, and strong holds.

Made them the dens which are in the mountains. — These served for shelters, places of refuge and strength, until the last desolation of the Jews. See 1 Samuel 13:6 .

And caves, and strongholds. — They sought not to God till needs must; till these coverings were too short. Judges 6:6

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And [so] it was, when Israel had sown, that the Midianites came up, and the Amalekites, and the children of the east, even they came up against them;

And so it was, when Israel had sown. — This was threatened, Deuteronomy 28:14-68 but not believed till it befell them, and the proverb John 4:37 verified, "One soweth, and another reapeth."

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And they encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, till thou come unto Gaza, and left no sustenance for Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass.

And destroyed the increase of the earth. — A stratagem that was afterwards also used by Halyattes against the Milesians, Herod., lib. i. and is still by the great Turk, that scourge of Christendom and waster of the world.

Till thou come unto Gaza, — i.e., The whole length of the land: for Gaza was a city of the Philistines, bounding the land of Israel southward.

And left no sustenance for Israel. — None, to speak of: they became like a sweeping rain that leaveth no food, Proverbs 28:3 living on the spoil as long as it lasted, or as they listed. This was a sad case, but nothing so sad as theirs that suffer a famine of the word, as do at this day the Africans, Grecians, those seven churches of Asia, and many others, once famous and flourishing.

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For they came up with their cattle and their tents, and they came as grasshoppers for multitude; [for] both they and their camels were without number: and they entered into the land to destroy it.

And they came as grasshoppers. — Innumerable and devoratory. See Judges 6:4 Joel 2:25

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And Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites; and the children of Israel cried unto the LORD.

Cried unto the Lord. — They fled to the "Rock of Ages, the Lord Jehovah." Isaiah 26:4 When their other refuges failed them, they were a "poor and afflicted people," and then "they trusted in God," Zephaniah 3:12 they confessed their sins, repented of their wicked ways, and implored the divine help, putting themselves into the hands of justice in hope of mercy.

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And it came to pass, when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD because of the Midianites,

When the children of Israel cried. — If men can find a praying heart, God will find a pitying heart.

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That the LORD sent a prophet unto the children of Israel, which said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I brought you up from Egypt, and brought you forth out of the house of bondage;

That the Lord sent a prophet. — Heb., A man, a prophet; therefore not an angel, as Lyra and Comestor fancied. They had repented in part before, but this prophet is sent to stir them up to do it thoroughly. So Acts 2:37 , those who were before pricked at heart, are yet further excited to "repent, for the remission of sins," … Acts 2:38

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