Komentarz do Sędziów 10:23

Ben Dodo. This was his name.

Thoroughbreds.עוּלִין,¹This is Targum Yonasan’s translation. the choicest horses.

They owned thirty towns. They owned thirty unwalled municipalities. This is why they are described as עַיָרִים, "towns", meaning the same as עַיָירָוֹת.²Rather than עָרִים meaning walled cities.

The Baals. Seven pagan gods are enumerated here.³Beitzah, 25:b. “The deities of Aram, Tzidon, etc.” does not explain where the Baals and Ashteros were worshiped, but lists deities in addition to them. Hence, the total is seven.

They abandoned Adonoy, and did not worship Him. Not even concurrently with these.⁴Otherwise, “and did not worship Him” is redundant. (Beitzah, ibid).

That year when Yair died.

They battered. Half the book in [quantity of] verses.

Across the Yardein. The territory of Reuven, Gad, and half of Menasheh; they were neighbors.⁵Of the Ammonites. See below, ch.11.

Was it not from Mitzrayim. There are seven salvations here, corresponding with the seven pagan gods they worshiped.⁶V. 6. See Rashi there.

And Maon. The name of a nation.⁷But not, as generally translated, “a dwelling place.”

Could not contain Himself at [Yisroel's] anguish. As if one could depict God as lacking the space to bear and encompass His pain at Yisroel's anguish.

Were called together. They were assembled by proclamation.