They all hold swords, [being] expert in war: every man [hath] his sword upon his thigh because of fear in the night.
Ver. 8. They all hold swords, being expert in war.] They not only bear arms, but can handle them. Young Jether wore a sword, but he durst not draw it, Jdg 8:20 or strike with it when he should have killed Zeba and Zalmunna. Themistocles said of the Eretrians, a cowardly people, that they were like the sword fish, which hath a sword indeed, but wants a heart. a Such white livered soldiers, such faint hearted swordmen our Solomon hath no need of; our Gideon will not employ them so far as to break a pitcher or to bear a torch. Jdg 7:3 The fearful and unbelieving shall never set foot in his kingdom, much less be esquires of his body; those in that office must hold fast the faithful word, that sword of the Spirit, that twoedged sword, far beyond that of Goliath, and yet David said there was none to that, that they may be able and apt by sound doctrines both to exhort the tractable and to "convince the gainsayer." Tit 1:9 Those that either cannot or will not do thus, are no way fit to be of Christ's guard, because they are more likely to betray him into the hands of his enemies than to defend him from them, to act a Judas's part than a Peter's, who manfully cut off Malchus's ear, and chose rather to be held temerarious than timorous. Jeremiah complains of the pastors of his time that they were "not valiant for the truth," Jer 9:3 they had no spiritual metal in them; but as harts and stags have great horns and strength, but want courage, so it was with these. St Augustine professeth this was it that heartened him, and made him to triumph in his former Manicheeism, that he met with feeble opponents, and such as his nimble wit was easily able to overturn. If gainsayers be not powerfully convinced, how will they set up their crests and cry victoria! If they be not stoned with arguments, b how will they start up and outstare the truth! There must be, therefore, skill and will in all her champions. They must also every man have his sword upon his thigh, and be ready for an assault. Seneca reports of Caesar that he had quickly sheathed his sword, but never took it off. And Suetonius tells us that he would never tell his soldiers of any set time of removal or onset, that he might never find them unready, c Christ expects the like care and courage in his ministers, lest the proverb be verified on them, ungirt, unblest.
And because of fear in the night.] Lest evil should befall Solomon, as it did Ishbosheth, who was slain upon his bed by the sons of Rimmon; lest deeds of darkness be done in a land of light, and while the watchmen slack their duty, the rulers of the darkness of this world break in and play their pranks. While men slept, tares were sown by the evil man. Mat 13:25
a Mαχαιραν μεν εχει, καρδιαν δε ου - Plutarch.
b Haeretici argumentis lapidandi. - Hilar.
c Scilicet ut paratum et intentum momentis omnibus, &c.