Judges 10:6

(6) Did evil again.—Literally, added to do evil: “joining new sins to their old ones,” as the Vulg. paraphrases it (Judges 2:11; Judges 3:7, &c).

Served Baalim, and Ashtaroth.—Judges 2:19. Seven kinds of idols are mentioned, in obvious symmetry with the seven retributive oppressions in Judges 10:11-12.

The gods of Syria.—Heb. Aram. (See Genesis 35:2; Genesis 35:4.) Manasseh seems to have had an Aramean concubine (1 Chronicles 7:14), who was mother of Machir. Of Syrian idolatry we hear nothing definite till the days of Ahaz (2 Kings 16:10; 2 Kings 16:12):—

“Thammuz came next behind,Whose annual wound in Lebanon alluredThe Syrian damsels to lament his fateIn amorous ditties all a summer’s day.”—Par. Lost, 1

The gods of Zidon.—1 Kings 11:5. As Milton borrowed his details from the learned Syntagma de Diis Syris of Selden, we cannot find better illustration of these allusions than in his stately verse:—

“Ashtoreth, whom the Phoenicians cali

Astarte, queen of heaven, with crescent horns,To whose bright image nightly by the hourSidonian virgins paid their vows and songs, “—Id.

The gods of Moab.—1 Kings 11:7.

“ Chemosh, the obscene dread of Moab’s sons. From Areer to Nebo, and the wildOf southmost Abarim . . .Peor his other name.”—Id.

The gods of the children of Ammon—Leviticus 18:21; 1 Kings 11:7.

“First Moloch, horrid king. . . . Him the AmmoniteWorshipped in Rabba and his watery plain,In Argob and in Basan, to the streamOf utmost Arnon.”—Id.

The gods of the Philistines.—1 Samuel 5:2; 1 Samuel 16:23.

“One

“Who mourned in earnest when the captive arkMaimed his brute image; head and hands lopt offIn his own temple on the grunsel edge,Where he fell flat and shamed his worshippers.Dagon his name—sea-monster—upwards manAnd downwards fish.”—Id.