- no king:
- The word mailech, which generally means a king, is sometimes taken for a supreme ruler, governor, or judge (see note on "And these¹ [are] the kingsª that¹ reignedª° in the landª of Edom,ª beforeª there reignedª° any kingª over the childrenª of Israel.ª" {Gen 36:31}, and see note on "And he was¹ kingª in Jeshurun,ª when the headsª of the peopleª [and] the tribesª of Israelª were gatheredª° together.ª" {Deu 33:5}); and it is probable it should be so understood here, and in the parallel passages. "In those¹ daysª [there was] no¹ kingª in Israel,ª [but] every manª didª° [that which was] rightª in his own eyes.ª" {Jdg 17:6} + "And it came to pass¹ in those¹ days,ª when [there was] no¹ kingª in Israel,ª that there was¹ a certainª Leviteª sojourningª° on the sideª of mountª Ephraim,ª who tookª° to him a concubineªª out of Bethlehemjudah.ªª¹" {Jdg 19:1} + "In those¹ daysª [there was] no¹ kingª in Israel:ª every manª didª° [that which was] rightª in his own eyes.ª" {Jdg 21:25}
|