In those times; when Israel lived in the gross neglect and contempt of God, and his law and worship.
No peace to him that went out, nor to him that came in; men could not go abroad about their private occasions without great danger; as it was in the days of Shamgar, Jud_5:6, which is a good comment upon this text.
Of the countries, Heb. of these countries, i.e. the divers parts of the land of Israel, both within and without Jordan.