John Gill Commentary Judges 1:24

"And the watchers saw a man come forth out of the city, and they said unto him, Show us, we pray thee, the entrance into the city, and we will deal kindly with thee." — Judges 1:24 (ASV)

And the spies saw a man come forth out of the city
Or "the keepers" ^F18 ; those that were sent to watch, and observe, and get what intelligence they could of the city, and the way into it:

and they said unto him, show us, we pray, you, the entrance into the
city ;
not the gate or gates of it, which no doubt were visible enough, but some private way into it; the Jews, as before observed, think the entrance was by the way of a cave, or some hidden passage, of which Jarchi and Kimchi make mention:

and we will show you mercy ;
give him a reward for it, or spare him and his family when the city came into their hands.

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FOOTNOTES:

• F18: (Myrmvh) "custodes", Pagninus, Montanus; "observatores", Vatablus, Drusius, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator.