Bible Study Notes in Judges- Chapter 16

Judges 16

-Samson went to Gaza on the west coast of the Promised Land and once again fell into sexual immorality. He lay with a harlot there, and it was told to the local Gazites who wanted to surround him, lay in wait, and take his life the next morning. Samson lay there assuredly with this knowledge until midnight, but then he arose and took hold of the doors of the city gate and its two posts. He pulled them along with the bars eventually putting them on his shoulders and carrying them up to the top of a mountain which was opposite Hebron (Judges 16:1-3). This was an incredibly impressive feat of strength, and his legend grew as a judge in Israel.

-Afterwards, things transpired to a point that he fell in love with a woman in the valley of Sorek, which was to the west of his hometown of Zorah. This woman was named in the Bible. She was the infamous, Delilah. She was a heathen who used Samson for financial gain. The lords of the Philistines came to her wanting her to discern what caused Samson’s mega human strength. They wanted her to entice him so that they could corral this tormenter of their society. They wanted to afflict him and make him an object of their propaganda-power over the region. So Delilah came to Samson asking him to please tell her where his mighty strength came from and how he might be able to be bound. Initially from text it seems that this was a fairly straightforward approach, which Samson discerned and obviously did not buy into. He messed with her by lying as he told her that seven fresh cords that were not yet dried should be able to hold him down in bondage. He told her that this would make him like any other man, but she would soon find out this deception. The lords of the Philistines brought the recommended seven fresh cords that had not been dried, and Delilah bound him with them. She had men lying in wait in an inner room where the two were staying, but when she exclaimed, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” “But he snapped the cords as a string of tow snaps when it touches fire.” Samson’s strength was not discovered. When Delilah went cunningly back to Samson, his love for her begin to really affect his wisdom. He put up with her nonsense some more and then again and again. She cried to him how he had deceived her with lies, and that he really should tell her what gave him his strength. There was money on the line. She was to gain 1,100 pieces of silver from each of the lords of the Philistines if she could discover Samson’s secret. The second time around Samson maintained that the cords were the key, but they had to be bound much tighter on him. So Delilah took new ropes once again and bound him with them screaming out, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” The men were again lying in wait in the inner room, but he simply snapped the ropes from his arms like a thread when threatened. Delilah was really put out this time, and Samson on his part could be considered moronic for staying in this ridiculous situation. But we all know what they say, “Love is blind.” He stayed with her, and kept putting up with her scheming ways. This next time he told her that if she were to weave the seven locks of his hair with the web fastened by a pin, he would become as weak as any other man. While he slept, Delilah took the seven locks of his hair and wove them into the web fastening it with the pin just like he said. Once again she screamed, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” However, and probably surprisingly, Samson woke up from his sleep and pulled the pin out of the loom and the web. His lust remained unaffected for her after these events, and soon the real tragedy would occur. Delilah continued to smooth talk him, and now brought guilt into the picture. She questioned how he could say he loved her when his heart certainly wasn’t with her to be honest. Three times now he had deceived her and kept true to his covenant with God. The LORD had kept him strong and safe in every ordeal. But now things would be different. “It came about when she pressed him daily with her words and urged him, that his soul was annoyed to death.” How many of us guys can relate, right? Women do have power of the voice. “So he told her all that was in his heart and said to her, ‘A razor has never come on my head, for I have been a Nazirite to God from my mother’s womb. If I am shaved, then my strength will leave me and I will become weak and be like any other man.’” Delilah seems to have perceived that this time was different. She sent and called the lords of the Philistines telling them that this time Samson really did tell all that was in his heart and to come once more. Therefore, the lucrative deal was moving forward as the lords brought their $ in their hands. Delilah made her man sleep on her knees, more than likely after a love session. She had a man come and shave off the seven locks of hair from the mighty warrior. “Then she began to afflict him, and his strength left him.” One more time she yelled out, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” Waking up, Samson thought he would just go out as at other times and shake himself free. “But, he did not know that the LORD had departed from him.” The Philistines seized him like a normal man, and then they gouged out his lustful eyes. They brought him down to Gaza and bound him up with bronze chains. He was a grinder (a grinder of a hand mill moved around by beasts or slaves) for them in the prison (Judges 16:4-21).

-However, the Bible states that his hair began to grow back after the shaving he had received post humorously. It so happened by the providence of God that the lords of the Philistines, who had been ruling over His Jewish people, assembled themselves together to offer a great sacrifice to their false god, Dagon. They rejoiced in their sinful pleasures, and bragged about the fact that this deity had given Samson, their enemy, into their hands. Samson was put on display for them to observe and mock. He was vehemently called the “destroyer” of their country, for he had slain many of them. When they were in high spirits, they said, “Call for Samson, that he may amuse us.” He was called out of the prison, and he entertained them. He was made to stand between two support pillars, but he astutely convinced one the lads that was attending to him to let him feel the pillars to lean against them (remember he was blind at this point). Whether he was exhausted from the abuse he was being dealt or maybe deceiving once more, we are not privy from the text. But, he called upon God on this occasion with the house full of men and women, and all the lords of the Philistines, at least 3,000 of the enemies of the LORD. Samson’s plea is sincere and the reason he was prophetically born (Judges 13:5), “O Lord GOD, please remember me and please strengthen me just this time, O God, that I may at once be avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes.” Samson, the mighty warrior judge of Israel, grasped the two middle pillars on which the house rested, braced himself against them with each hand, and shouted with all his might, “Let me die with the Philistines!” Then he stretched out (natah- to stretch out, extend, spread out, pitch, turn, pervert, incline, bend, bow) with all his might so that the house fell on the lords and all the people who were there. “So the dead whom he killed at his death were more than those whom he killed in his life.” His brothers and all his father’s household came down to that coastal area to take his body back up to home for a proper burial. He was buried between Zorah and Eshtaol in the tomb of Manoah, his father. “Thus he had judged Israel twenty years (Judges 16:22-31).” God was beginning to deliver His people from the dreaded Philistines.

-*Application* John tells us that the three things of the world that are not from the Heavenly Father that we all battle with are: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the boastful pride of life (1 John 2:16). Temptation is very real and can carry us away when we allow it. God took Samson’s eyesight I believe for this very reason. We should use our eyes to glorify God in every way, without the lust of this sinful world (Psalm 101:3). Though it is exceptionally difficult in this promiscuous day and age in which we live, it is possible through the Holy Spirit’s power. It’s like Martin Luther once said, “I can’t keep the birds from flying over my head, but I can keep them from building a nest in my hair.” In other words, look away and flee the temptation of the eyes (2 Timothy 2:22). Remember, it’s the second look at a thing of beauty that will get a person into trouble. One more thing here before we go, consider fleeing from the temptation of $ too (1 Timothy 6:9-11).

Verse to Memorize: Judges 16:28

Bible Study Notes in Judges- Chapter 15

Judges 15

-After a while from his dysfunctional wedding and the giving away of his wife by his father-in-law, Samson decided to make a visit to his wife with a young goat in the time of wheat harvest. He basically wanted to have sex with her, but her father would not let him enter. He said to Samson, “I really thought that you hated her intensely; so I gave her to your companion.” He did offer his younger daughter to him boasting that she was more beautiful than the older sister, but Samson wasn’t going for it. He proclaimed, “This time I shall be blameless in regard to the Philistines when I do them harm.” Then he went out and caught 300 foxes taking torches to their tails in pairs, tail to tail having the torches right in the middle of them. He set fire to the torches and released the foxes into the standing grain of the Philistines destroying their crops, along with their vineyards and groves (Judges 15:1-5).

-When the Philistines realized what damage had been done, they asked, “Who did this?” It was determined that indeed it had been the vengeful Samson, the son-in-law of the Timnite, “because he took his wife and gave her to his companion.” Therefore, the Philistines came up and burned Samson’s wife and her father with fire. This brought Samson’s wrath, but he promised to quit after a great slaughter so long as they left him alone. He did cause a great slaughter ruthlessly, and then he hightailed it down to the rock of Etam and lived there in a cleft of the rock. Not leaving well enough alone and probably looking to solidify power in the region, the Philistines went up and camped in Judah spreading out in Lehi, which was south and east of Zorah more towards Jerusalem. The men of Judah wanted to know why they had come up against them, and the Philistines related what Samson had done and what they intended to do with him. They wanted to bind him in order to do to him as he had done to them. This prompted 3,000 men of Judah to go down to the cleft of the rock of Etam and approach Samson on the subject at hand. They told Samson of their plight under the dominion of the Philistines, who currently ruled over them. They feared what was about to happen. But, Samson maintained his cause, “As they did to me, so I have done to them.” Nonetheless, the men of Judah wanted to bind him and give him over to the Philistines. Samson simply made them swear that they would not kill him, and he allowed them to bind his hands with two new ropes. They brought him up from the rock and took him to Lehi, where the Philistines greeted him with a shout. As this happened, the Spirit of the LORD came upon him mightily so that the ropes on his arms became as flax that had been burned with fire (very weak and fragile). In other words, he easily snapped out of his bonds. He found a handy weapon nearby, which was definitely providential. It was the jawbone of a donkey that he reached out and grabbed killing 1,000 men with it. Then Samson said, “With the jawbone of a donkey, heaps upon heaps, with the jawbone of a donkey I have killed a thousand men.” He named this place now “Ramath-lehi (the high place of the jawbone).” At this point of near exhaustion, he became very thirsty and called to the LORD for help. He uttered, “You have given this great deliverance by the hand of Your servant, and now shall I die of thirst and fall into the hands of the uncircumcised?” However, God provided for him a miracle. He split the hollow place that is in Lehi so that water came out as a spring. When Samson drank, his strength returned and he revived. Thus this place got the name, “En-hakkore (the spring of him who called).” To sum up, Samson judged Israel for 20 years in the days of the Philistines (Judges 15:6-20).

-*Application* Samson, at this point was at least fulfilling the vows his family had committed to when the angel of the LORD approached them. He was not drinking strong drink or wine, and his hair remained uncut as to the covenant of the Nazirites (Numbers 6:2-5, Judges 13:5). He ate no unclean thing, and God was giving him incredible strength and fortune to deliver His people. God’s Spirit was upon this fallible individual. He still had a weakness for being with women, and his rage seemed insurmountable at times. He would fly off the handle in vengeance. But, God was using him in a special way, and Samson did acknowledge Him as his deliverer and strength. He called himself a “servant” of the LORD (Judges 15:18). From this we see again in Scripture that God understands our imperfections and works with a contrite and broken heart (Psalm 51:17, Isaiah 66:2). Even when we mess up, He can straighten out our paths and still get glory for His Kingdom. This is the lesson of Samson. Let us apply it to our lives when we still have faults and failures.

Verse to Memorize: Judges 15:15

Bible Study Notes in Judges- Chapter 14

Judges 14

-The character and tendencies of Samson begin to be revealed as his story plays out in this descriptive chapter. Samson went down towards the west to Timnah as a young adult and saw a woman that infatuated him to the point that he asked his father and mother to get her for him as a wife. His parents’ response was typical within their clan, “Is there not a daughter among the daughters of your relatives, or among all our people, that you go to take a wife from the uncircumcised Philistines?” This was also against their commands given by Moses from the LORD (Deuteronomy 7:1-3). But, she looked good to the young Samson, who was showing his propensity for beautiful women, and his parents eventually consented to the union at his request. Verse 4 tells us that even though his parents didn’t know it, this was of the LORD to begin bringing about the freeing of Israel from the Philistines for at this time these people were ruling over God’s chosen people in the Promised Land (Judges 14:1-4).

-While at the vineyards of Timnah with his parents, a strong young lion came roaring at Samson. The Spirit of the LORD came upon him mightily there to the degree that he tore the lion apart as one would tear a hapless young goat with his bare hands. So, we see his impressive and enormous strength from the Almighty revealed. His parents weren’t witness of this particular event, and he didn’t inform them of what occurred. From there, he went and talked to the woman that he liked, and she “looked good” in his eyes. He returned later to take her as his wife, but on the way back home he observed the dead carcass of the lion he had destroyed. He beheld a swarm of bees and honey in the body of the lion. Unusual. Seeing the opportunity and having courage I suppose, he scraped the honey into his hands and went on, eating as he went. He gave some of the honey to his parents, but he still didn’t tell them of his domination of the lion, nor that he had gotten the honey from its dead body. Then, in the customary tradition, his dad went down to the woman, and Samson made a feast there with 30 of the Philistine companions, which would accompany him. Samson, feeling confident and cocky (another trait that is initially revealed), propounded a riddle for them as a wager. If they could figure out the riddle by the time the feast was over within the seven days, they would get 30 linen wraps and changes of clothes. But if they couldn’t, Samson would get this from them. They accepted the challenge, and here was the riddle: “Out of the eater came something to eat, and out of the strong came something sweet.” For three days they surmised, but could not come up with the answer. On the fourth day, these “companions” of Samson’s went to his newly acquired wife threatening her to “entice” her husband so that he would tell her the riddle, which she could further relate to them. If she didn’t come through with their request, they told her they would burn her and her father’s house with fire. The reason? They felt like they had been invited to this wedding celebration to be made impoverished. It certainly wasn’t her fault, but the men who accepted the challenge of the riddle were assigning her the blame for their ineptitude. Samson’s wife therefore wept before him calling him a hater and unloving. She wanted to know the answer to the riddle. Samson maintained that not even his parents knew these things he was concealing, but she was persistent. She continued to weep before him seven days while the feast lasted. “And on the seventh day he told her because she pressed him so hard.” This begin to demonstrate the habitual notion that Samson could eventually be persuaded by the whims of a woman. She then told the answer of the riddle to the sons of her people, and they won the beat. On the seventh day, before the sun went down, they gave the answer to the riddle, “What is sweeter than honey? And what is stronger than a lion?” Samson’s anger burned as he responded, “If you had not plowed with my heifer, you would not have found out my riddle.” The Spirit of the LORD came upon him mightily as he went down to Ashkelon and killed 30 men taking their spoil. He fulfilled his end of the bargain giving the changes of clothes to those who had told him the answer to the riddle. Afterwards, still in rage, he went back up into the hill country to his father’s house. “But Samson’s wife was given to his companion who had been his friend (Judges 14:5-20).

-*Application* Twisted, convoluted, and peculiar. This was a match seemed to be made in hell, but God was at work in it even through the complete depravity of man that we see in this episode. Our character and our traits that demonstrate who we are and what we believe perpetually build and build through the course of our lives. Can a leopard change his spots (Jeremiah 13:23)? Only through the righteousness of Christ can our lives truly be radically altered and transformed permanently. Otherwise our destinies tend to go in a circular pattern of mishaps and destruction in self-repeating dysfunction. So let the LORD do His amazing and gracious work in your life starting today, if it hasn’t happened already. He is beginning to make all things new (Isaiah 48:6, Revelation 21:5). May the Spirit of the LORD come into all of us through our acceptance of the Father’s Son.

Verse to Memorize: Judges 14:2

Bible Study Notes in Judges- Chapter 13

Judges 13

-A new period in the history of Israel begins in this chapter as God’s people again did evil in the sight of the LORD with Him giving the disobedient rebels into the hands of the Philistines for 40 years (Judges 13:1). In this setting, God reaches out to a family in the tribe of Dan (the inherited area just to the north of Judah and west of Benjamin, not Tel Dan of the extreme north). The wife of Manoah of Zorah, who was barren having borne no children, is visited by the angel of the LORD. He relates to her that she needs to be careful not to “drink wine or strong drink, nor eat any unclean thing” for she shall conceive and give birth to a special son who will begin to deliver Israel from the hands of the Philistines (Judges 13:2-5).

-Upon hearing this news, she reported to her husband that this man from God with the appearance like that of an angel, very awesome, had brought this message. She didn’t think to ask where is He was from or what His name was. All she knew was that this boy would be a Nazarite to God from the womb to the day of his death. With the hearing of this, Manoah entreated the LORD asking Him for a second appearance of the man of God that He had sent for the purpose of teaching them what to do for the boy who was to be born. God certainly listened to the voice of Manoah and responded by sending the angel back to the woman while she was sitting in the field. Manoah wasn’t with her at the time, but she went to get her husband quickly. He came back with her to meet this special messenger. When Manoah asked if He was the person who had come previously to inform his wife, the angel said, “I am.” Manoah wanted to get information about what to do with the boy that they would be given in terms of his mode of life and vocation. However, the angel simply told them to pay attention to all He had given the woman about not eating anything unclean that comes from the vine, nor drink wine or strong drink, nor eat anything that was unclean. She was to observe all that the angel commanded. With that, Manoah invited the man of the LORD to be detained so that they could prepare a goat for Him to eat. The angel instead told them that if they were to prepare an animal that they should offer it to the LORD. Manoah did not yet know that this was an angel of the LORD. Manoah questioned him as to His name. He wanted to show Him honor when these words came to pass. “But the angel of the LORD said to him, ‘Why do you ask my name, seeing that it is wonderful (pil'iy- incomprehensible, extraordinary)?’” This truly seems to be a Christophany at this point (Judges 13:6-18).

-Now Manoah took the young goat with a grain offering and presented it on the rock to the LORD. The special guest performed “wonders” while Manoah and his wife looked on. “It came about when the flame went up from the altar toward heaven, that the angel of the LORD ascended in the flame of the altar.” Upon seeing this incredible miracle, both husband and wife fell on their faces to the ground. The angel never appeared to them again. But Manoah now knew that this was indeed an angel of the LORD (Judges 13:19-21). Manoah thought that they would surely die because they had seen God. But the wife assured him, “If the LORD had desired to kill us, He would not have accepted a burnt offering and a grain offering from our hands, nor would He have shown us all these things, nor would He have let us hear things like this at this time (Judges 13:22-23).” The son was eventually born and was named Samson. The child grew up, and the LORD blessed him with His Spirit stirring him in Mahaneh-Dan (the camp of Dan), between Zorah and Eshtaol (Judges 13:24-25).

-*Application* How quick are we to recognize the visitations of the LORD in our lives? Perceptive, open hearts are required to see the miracles of the Almighty when He wants to show up unannounced and unexpected. The LORD is creative in all His ways, but we see the figures and themes of the everlasting story. Think about how Christ is portrayed in this instance: He comes at a point of need when sin and oppression is prevailing, He offers a new and living hope, He makes a call to holiness, He listens to petitions and requests, He is wonderful (incomprehensible, extraordinary), He is the “I Am.” The list could go on and on. God wants to visit our lives in the same way today. Allow His presence to manifest. Take time to cultivate His Spirit in life. Don’t be distracted and consumed with other things. He wants to do a work to begin a deliverance.

Verse to Memorize: Judges 13:5

Bible Study Notes in Judges- Chapter 12

Judges 12

-Some finishing events in the time of Jephthah’s judging of Israel is summarized as this chapter begins. The men of Ephraim, who are called “fugitives” involving men of both Ephraim and Manasseh that rose up for no apparent good reason to cross over and fight with Gilead. The LORD allowed Gilead to prevail in this conflict that revolved around Jephthah not calling on them to go to war with them against Ammon. The fugitives of Ephraim even threatened to burn down Jephthah’s house on him, but the Gileadite judge could not understand why they had such animosity. He harkened back to a time of “great strife” with the sons of Ammon. When he had called on them to help in that time, they were unwilling to deliver his enemies from his hand with him. Jephthah recounted how he had to take his own life in his hands to cross over against the Ammonites, and it was indeed the LORD who had given them into his hand. It ended up that the Gileadites fought with the fugitives of Ephraim and took the fords of the Jordan opposite Ephraim as their possession. It happened when any of the fugitives of Ephraim wanted to cross over, they would test them with a pronunciation of the word “Shibboleth.” A mispronunciation would reveal their true identity; then, they would seize them and slew them there at the fords of the Jordan. An incredible 42,000 some odd Ephraimites fell at that horrific time in Israel’s history. Brother against brother, a civil conflict of immense proportions. Jephthah ended up judging Israel for six years, died and was buried in one of the cities of Gilead (Judges 12:1-7).

-Ibzan of Bethlehem (the city in Zebulun, not the more famous one of Judah where Jesus was born) judged Israel after Jephthah for seven years. He had many sons (30) and daughters (30) that intermarried outside of the family. Nothing more is mentioned of him (Judges 12:8-10).

-Elon, also of Zebulun, judged Israel after Ibzan. He judged Israel for ten years, then died and was buried at Aijalon in the land of Zebulun (Judges 12:11-12).

-Finally in this litany of judges, we see that Abdon, the son of Hillel the Pirathonite of Ephraim, followed Elon. Abdon had 40 sons and 30 daughters (large family, right?) who rode on 70 donkeys. Abdon judged as ruler for eight years, died, and was buried at Pirathon in the hill country of the Amalekites in the land of Ephraim (Judges 12:13-15).

-*Application* Brotherly conflicts are some of the most agonizing situations to deal with in life. Misunderstandings and miscommunications often get over blown, and then hard feelings develop. Recognize the potential for destructive behavior within our close confines, and do everything we can possibly do to make things better (Romans 12:18). Let the love of Jesus Christ prevail (Proverbs 10:12, 1 Peter 4:8). Only He can truly change a heart.

Verses to Memorize: Judges 12:7, 8, 11, 13

Bible Study Notes in Judges- Chapter 11

Judges 11

-The saga of Jephthah, Israel’s 9^th judge, is chronicled in this breathe-taking chapter. Jephthah is first described as a “valiant warrior” as the chapter commences. But, he, like Abimelech, was an illegitimate son, the son of a harlot. Gilead was his father. Gilead’s wife had sons, which drove him away without inheritance in their father’s house since he was not fully of the family. “So Jephthah fled from his brothers and lived in the land of Tob; and worthless fellows gathered themselves about Jephthah, and they went out with him (Judges 11:1-3).” Rough beginnings.

-But, it came about in the land that the sons of Ammon and the sons of Israel began to fight, which led the elders of Gilead to reach out to Jephthah, the warrior, for military superiority. They called him to be their chief. This brought Jephthah to say, “Did you not hate me and drive me from my father’s house? So why have you come to me now when you are in trouble?” The elders’ about-face was humbling for them indeed, and they ate their crow. But in the end both parties resolved to unite against a common enemy with Jephthah being acknowledged as the head if indeed the LORD would deliver them from the sons of Ammon. These words of verification they all spoke before the LORD at Mizpah (Genesis 31:49, Judges 10:17; 11:4-11).

-Now Jephthah sent his messengers to the king of the sons of Ammon asking why they had come to fight against his land. Ammon replied that Israel had taken their land when they had come up from Egypt and it was rightfully theirs. To this, Jephthah initiated a lengthy response explaining the history of his people in justification for their actions. The LORD had given these kingdoms into their hands for a possession. Jephthah mocked their god, Chemosh, in the reply to their claims. He also said that they had had plenty of time to make their arguments and defenses, but they had not done so. Therefore, they were unjustified in their attempt to make war with his people. He summed it all up with these final words, “May the LORD, the Judge, judge between the sons of Israel and the sons of Ammon.” The king of the sons of Ammon disregarded Jephthah’s retort dispatch, and war became inevitable (Judges 11:12-28).

-“Now the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah, so that he passed through Gilead and Manasseh; then he passed through Mizpah of Gilead, and from Mizpah of Gilead he went on to the sons of Ammon.” He was gaining strength, but then did a very foolish thing. He made a vow before the LORD, “If You will indeed give the sons of Ammon into my hand, then it shall be that whatever comes out of the doors of my house to meet me when I return in peace from the sons of Ammon, it shall be the LORD’s, and I will offer it up as a burnt offering.” The battle was actually won by Jephthah and the armies of Israel against the sons of Ammon. They were given into God’s peoples’ hands completely. The LORD struck them with a “very great slaughter” from Aroer to the entrance of Minnith, 20 cities, as far as Abel-keramim. But tragedy occurred upon Jephthah’s return to his home at Mizpah. His daughter, his only offspring, came out to him with tambourines and dancing in celebration of what had been accomplished. His response showed that he had remembered his obtuse vow before the LORD. He tore his clothes saying, “Alas, my daughter! You have brought me very low, and you are among those who trouble me; for I have given my word to the LORD, and I cannot take it back.” Complete sadness after his greatest victory. She accepted her fate with resilience and courage, “My father, you have given your word to the LORD; do to me as you have said, since the LORD has avenged you of your enemies, the sons of Ammon.” She requested to have just two more months of life alone to go and weep upon the mountains because of her virginity along with her companions. Jephthah allowed for this, and she returned as promised after the two months were completed. Jephthah did to her according to the vow which he had so foolishly made. His only child was sacrificed to the LORD, a thing which the LORD never requested or sought. “Thus it became a custom in Israel, that the daughters of Israel went yearly to commemorate the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite four days in the year (Judges 11:29-40).”

-*Application* Never after this was anyone in Israel so insensitive as to make a vow of this nature. It teaches us to think about all the possibilities before uttering things out of our mouth. Just watch our current day politicians for examples about ridiculous promises or bravado that can end of making them look foolish. Jephthah, for all his weaknesses, was considered in the hall of faith chapter in Hebrews when the New Testament rolls around (Hebrews 11:32). He did fear the LORD and followed through with his commitments to Him. This shows his moxie, even though he was very impetuous. We need to have wisdom in our vows along with our faith though as this narrative teaches.

Verses to Memorize: Judges 11:32, 35

Bible Study Notes in Judges- Chapter 10

Judges 10

-Chapter ten gives a quick word about the next two judges of Israel, Tola and Jair, after the death of Abimelech, the son of Gideon, before a prologue that led up to the next deliver for the nation. Tola was a man of Issachar who lived in the hill country of Ephraim in a city by the name of Shamir. He ruled Israel for 23 years before passing away and being buried there in Shamir. After him, Jair the Gileadite arose in an era that saw leadership come from the eastern side of the Jordan. Jair, interestingly enough, had 30 sons who the Bible describes as having 30 donkeys that they rode on with 30 cities under their control, which became known as Havvoth-jair. Jair ruled for 22 years, and then he died being buried in Kamon of Gilead (Judges 10:1-5).

-Then the prologue with commentary to the condition of the state of Israel is taken up in the rest of this brief chapter. The sons of Israel found themselves going back into evil in the sight of the LORD serving the Baals and Ashtaroth of the Canaanite land, and all the gods of Aram, Sidon, Moab, Ammon, and Philista. “They forsook the LORD and did not serve Him (Judges 10:6).” Therefore, the anger of the LORD burned against His unfaithful people again, and He sold them into the hands of the Philistines and the sons of Ammon. They “afflicted” and “crushed” the sons of Israel for some 18 years, especially in the land of Gilead of the Amorites to the east of the Jordan. The sons of Ammon actually crossed over and fought against Judah, Benjamin, and the house of Ephraim, which caused Israel as a whole to be “greatly distressed.” Then, as could be predicted by now, the sons of Israel cried out to the LORD confessing their sin against Him, their covenant God. They realized once more that serving the Baals and forsaking the Living God was fruitless and demoralizing. God reminded them at this point of His faithful deliverance from Egypt, the Amorites, the sons of Ammon, the Philistines, the Sidonians, the Amalekites, and the Maonites who oppressed them. Now He replied, “Yet you have forsaken Me and served other gods; therefore I will no longer deliver you. Go and cry out to the gods which you have chosen; let them deliver you in the times of your distress.” In other words, God was telling that they really could have things their own desired way if they wanted. The sons of Israel come back to Him though. They acknowledge their depravity and are willing to accept His punishments for their transgression. They say, “We have sinned, do to us whatever seems good to You; only please deliver us this day.” They put away their foreign gods from among them and decided to serve the LORD. The Word says, as a result, “He could bear the misery of Israel no longer (Judges 10:6-16).”

-The last two verses of the chapter forecast the looming battle that the LORD will use to deliver His people in Gilead. The sons of Ammon were summoned and camped in Gilead, while the sons of Israel gathered together and camped at Mizpah (east of the Jordan near the Jabbok, or Zarqa, River). There, the leaders began to ask, “Who is the man who will begin to fight against the sons of Ammon?” Then they concluded, “He shall become head over all the inhabitants of Gilead (Judges 10:17-18).”

-*Application* God has to get tired of the patterns of sin in our lives that tend to be cyclical just like the sons of Israel. We go from sin to slavery (or oppression) to supplication (petition, crying out to God for help) to His salvation. Then, for some strange reason, we hit replay and go back to our junk. His patience can run out, and when that happens we can be left to our own foolish devices. Thankfully, as we see here in the text today, He relents showing compassion and pity on our poor souls when we finally get serious about putting all else aside to be fully devoted to Him. He does not like to bear our misery. Let’s get ourselves serious about following God alone and serving only Him. Put away the foreign gods from our lives that set us back from living the blessed life in Christ Jesus by His Holy Spirit.

Verses to Memorize: Judges 10:6, 10, 13-14, 16

Bible Study Notes in Judges- Chapter 9

Judges 9

-This chapter chronicles the conspiracy and self-proclaimed kingship over a portion of Israel by Abimelech, Gideon’s (or Jerubbaal’s) son through a concubine of Shechem (Judges 8:31). Abimelech went to his mother’s relatives in Shechem and spoke to them, the whole clan of the household of his mother’s father, about being the sole ruler over the region rather than splitting authority between the other 70 sons of Gideon. Idolatry had overtaken their hearts again (Judges 8:33), and the nation was going wayward as we can discern in this narrative. Abimelech’s family spoke to all the leaders of Shechem, and they were inclined to follow a local legend and relative. He was power hungry, over confident, and ruthless, but a qualified tactical planner and organizer. The leaders of Shechem gave him 70 pieces of silver from the house of Baal-berith (Baal, lord of the covenant, an idol in substitute for the Living Covenant God of Israel). With this money, Abimelech hired mercenaries, which the Bible describes as “worthless and reckless fellows.” These despicable men followed Abimelech as they went led by the illegitimate son of Gideon up to Ophrah (Gideon’s hometown), and killed all his 70 brothers on one execution stone except one, Jotham, who was the youngest of Jerubbaal (Gideon). He hid himself and survived. Now all the men of Shechem and all of Beth-millo assembled together to make Abimelech their king by the oak of the pillar (a place of idolatry) which was in Shechem (Judges 9:1-6).

-When Jotham was told of what had transpired, he courageously went and stood on the top of Gerizim, the mount of blessing (Deuteronomy 27:12, Joshua 8:33-34), lifting his voice and crying out, “Listen to me, O men of Shechem, that God may listen to you.” He gave a parable of trees representing Gideon’s sons with the bramble representing Abimelech as a worthless person obsessed with power politics, which proves unproductive in the end. He prophesied fire consuming the men of Shechem if they had not treated Gideon and his family, who had fought for them and risked his life and delivered them from Midian, righteously by promoting an illegitimate relative into leadership. Abimelech would consume Shechem and Beth-millo with his fire, and then the reverse would come upon Abimelech from the men of Shechem and Beth-millo if they had done a dastardly deed. If Abimelech was on the up and up, and they had dealt in truth and integrity with Gideon (Jerubbaal), then all would rejoice in peace and tranquility. Then Jotham escaped and fled for his life to Beer and remained there in that safe haven because of his brother, Abimelech (Judges 9:7-21).

-Some three years later, when I am sure the words of Jotham had faded and everyone felt pretty good about things in the idolatrous land, God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem. This led the men of Shechem to deal treacherously with Abimelech “so that the violence done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might come, and their blood might be laid on Abimelech their brother, who killed them, and on the men of Shechem, who strengthened his hands to kill his brothers.” An ambush was set in the mountains against Abimelech by the men of Shechem, and they robbed all who might pass by them on the road. When Abimelech found out and a man by the name of Gaal, the son of Ebed, came with his relatives crossing over into Shechem as a usurper, things got very tense. The inhabitants of Shechem went out into the field and gathered the grapes of their vineyards, trod them, and held a festival. They went into the house of their god and ate and drank cursing Abimelech. In the mocking spirit, Gaal ended up saying, “Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? Is he not the son of Jerubbaal, and is Zebul not his lieutenant? Serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem; but why should we serve him? Would, therefore, that this people were under my authority! Then I would remove Abimelech.” Then he taunted Abimelech to come out with his army increased. Zebul, the ruler of the city under Abimelech, burned with much anger at the hearing of this boast. He sent messengers to Abimelech deceitfully (tormah- fraudulent, treachery, deceit), saying how Gaal and his relatives had come to Shechem stirring up the city against him. He advised for Abimelech and the people with him to arise and lie in wait in the field for his enemy. They were to rise the next morning early and rush upon the city to fight them as boldly as they possibly could. Abimelech followed this advice in four different companies of warriors. Now Gaal went out and stood in the gate entrance of the city, and the fight was on. Zebul had a conversation with Gaal before the ruckus wondering where his boasting was now. Gaal thought he saw people coming down the mountains, but Zebul persuaded him it was only shadows on the mountains. He prompted Gaal, with the leaders of Shechem at his side, to go out and fight Abimelech and his men. When he did go out to fight, the battle turned against Gaal and he fled. Abimelech stayed put in a place by the name of Arumah, but his lieutenant Zebul drove out Gaal and his relatives so that they could not remain in Shechem (Judges 9:22-41). Now it came about on the next day that the people went out to the field from Shechem. Abimelech was told that they had abandoned their city, so he divided his people into three companies and lay in wait out in the fields. When he looked and saw the people coming out of the city, his company arose and fought against them and slew them. Then they rushed the gate of the city of Shechem and stood in its entrance. The other two companies dashed against their opponents who were in the field and slew them also. Abimelech fought against the city of Shechem all that day. He finally captured it and killed the people who were left in it. “Then he razed (nathats- to tear down, beat down, destroy, overthrow) the city and sowed it with salt (a ritual of that time to symbolize the perpetual desolation of a city, Shechem would not be rebuilt for another 150 years).” Abimelech, in a show of mighty and unyielding force tormented his very own hometown as a sign to all who might oppose him (Judges 9:42-45).

-But the story doesn’t end there. There was a further completion of Jotham’s prophecy of a curse. When the leaders of the tower of Shechem heard of the events, they gathered together in this inner chamber tower of the city known as the temple of El-berith (God of alliance, agreement, or covenant, again a place of idolatry). A thousand people were killed as Abimelech found out that they were in there. He took his people to Mount Zalmon, outside the city, and axed down branches from the trees. He then had them carry down the branches on their shoulders, put them in the inner chamber, and set it on fire. Devastating. Abimelech next went to Thebez, camped against it, and captured it. But there was a strong tower in this city also as there was in Shechem. All the men and women of the city fled there and shut themselves in for protection as best they could, and then they went up on the roof of the tower so as to not be caught in a fire this time. So Abimelech came and fought against the people in the tower attempting to set the structure on fire as he previously had done in Shechem. “But a certain woman threw a millstone on Abimelech’s head, crushing his skull.” He quickly called to his young armor bearer to have him draw a sword to kill him so it would not be said that a woman killed him. The armor bearer obeyed, thrust him through, and the disobedient son of Gideon died horrifically. Upon seeing the destruction of this leader, the men of Israel, who had been so deceived and misinformed, each turned and departed back to his home. “Thus God repaid the wickedness of Abimelech, which he had done to his father in killing his seventy brothers. Also God returned all the wickedness of the men of Shechem on their heads, and the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal came upon them (Judges 9:46-57).”

-*Application* God observes everything that goes on and will eventually deal righteously with any situation. For God is not mocked, whatever a man sows, this he will also reap (Galatians 6:7-9).

Verses to Memorize: Judges 9:56-57

Bible Study Notes in Judges- Chapter 8

Judges 8

-The men of Ephraim wanted to know why Gideon had not called on them in the initial fight with Midian. In fact, the Scriptures say they “contended with him vigorously” on this matter. Gideon’s response settled them entirely, “What have I done now in comparison with you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer? God has given the leaders of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb, into your hands; and what was I able to do in comparison with you (Judges 8:1-3)?” In other words, he was saying, “Look, what you have been able to do has exceeded my operation by a lot. We are all in this together, to God be the glory.”

-As the narrative continues, Gideon and his 300 valiant soldiers who were with him came to the Jordan and crossed it, “weary yet pursuing.” They encountered the men of Succoth, who refused to give bread to Gideon’s hungry brigade probably fearing a retaliation from Midian since they had not yet been completely defeated. Gideon was pursuing the kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna. He frankly told the men of Succoth that when the LORD had given Zebah and Zalmunna into his hands, which he was absolutely confident in faith to do, he promised a reckoning on these worthless men for their stubbornness to help in their time of intense need. He warned them that he would “thrash their bodies with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers.” From there, Gideon and his men went up to Penuel and spoke similarly to them in searching entreaty for bread. When they too refused, he promised when he safely came back that he would tear down their city’s security tower. Now, Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor. They had about 15,000 men from their army of the sons of the east still with them out of the some 135,000 that started this campaign. 120,000 swordsmen had already fallen. Amazing, even miraculous, numbers when we think of it. Gideon went up by the way of those who lived in tents on the east of Nobah (in Eastern Manasseh) and attacked the Midianite camp when they were least suspecting it. The kings, Zebah and Zalmunna, fled. They were pursued and captured as the whole army was routed. Gideon returned from the battle by the ascent of Heres to capture a youth from Succoth and question him as to who the princes and elders were in his city. It came to 77 men. Gideon fulfilled his word coming back to Succoth to avenge his position on those who taunted him and his men over Zebah and Zalmunna. He “disciplined” these men with the thorns and briars of the wilderness. Then, he went and tore down the tower of Penuel just as he had guaranteed, plus he killed the men of that unhelpful city. Then he turned his attention to the two kings, Zebah and Zalmunna. He asked them what kind of men they had killed at Tabor. When they responded that they were like Gideon and his crew, resembling the son of a king, Gideon was infuriated. He told them that he would have spared them, but those that they killed were his “brothers, the sons of his mother.” So, he instructed his firstborn son, Jether, to rise up and take their lives. However, the youth did not draw his sword because he was too afraid. Zebah and Zalmunna at that point encouraged Gideon to carry out his own vengeance on them for they said, “Rise up yourself, and fall on us; for as the man, so is his strength.” Therefore, Gideon did arise and killed these two Midianite kings. Then he took their crescent ornaments which were on their camels’ necks (Judges 8:4-21).

-At that point, the men of Israel wanted to make Gideon their king. After all, he had saved them from the oppression of the Midianites, Amalekites, and sons of the east. In fact, they wanted his son and his son’s son to rule over them as well. Gideon’s response is humble, classic, and God-fearing, “I will not rule over you, nor shall my son rule over you; the LORD shall rule over you.” But Gideon did have one request from them. He asked that each of them give him an earring of gold from their spoil of these Ishmaelites. They willingly complied and spread out a garment with everyone throwing their earrings of gold onto it. The weight of this was an impressive 1,700 shekels, besides the crescent ornaments and the pendants and purple robes which had been the kings of Midian, and besides the crescent neck bands that were on their camels’ necks. Gideon made this into an ephod (a priestly garment, Exodus 28:4) and placed it in his home city of Ophrah. But unfortunately, all Israel played the harlot with it there (worshipped it as an idol). This indeed made it a snare to Gideon and his household as a result (Judges 8:22-27).

-Thus Midian was subdued before Gideon and the sons of Israel by the LORD’s strength. They did not lift up their heads anymore to oppress and pillage. The land was undisturbed for 40 years in the days of Gideon with this hero otherwise known as “Jerubbaal (let Baal contend for himself)” living in his own house. Some facts about Gideon’s life are now given. He had 70 sons who were direct descendants by many different wives. His concubine who was in Shechem also bore him a son by the name of “Abimelech.” He would prove to be a real problem as the future unfolded (see Judges 9). Gideon lived to a ripe old age and was buried in the tomb of his father, Joash, in the city of Ophrah of the Abiezrites. As soon as Gideon died, we see a sad commentary for the nation of Israel once more. “The sons of Israel again played the harlot with the Baals, and made Baal-berith (lord of the covenant) their god. Thus the sons of Israel did not remember the LORD their God, who had delivered them from the hands of all their enemies on every side; nor did they show kindness to the household of Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon) in accord with all the good that he had done to Israel (Judges 8:28-35).”

-*Application* How humble are we when the LORD blesses us? This is a great thing to ponder from this narrative. Do we give God the credit and the glory when people want to make us king, even when it might be a small dominion? Do we receive our own glory, or reflect the glory of the real King? In many ways Gideon succeeded in these tests of grandiosity, but we do see some evidence of faltering too. The Bible is a truth book, and our lives often reflect the same disparity, or shall we say inconsistency.  We should always look to become more faithful and dependent on our God, even when times are good and He is blessing in mighty-powerful ways. Just like Jesus said and taught, wealth can be an indicator of our real heart and motivations (Matthew 19:16-30, Mark 10:17-30, Luke 18:18-30).

Verses to Memorize: Judges 8:22-23

Bible Study Notes in Judges- Chapter 7

Judges 7

-Now that the LORD had given His Divine signs to Gideon performing a new miraculous work in a new generation, Jerubbaal (that is Gideon) and all his people rose and camped beside the spring of Harod. Midian was camping on the north side of them by the hill of Moreh in the valley. Gideon’s men had the high ground. But, the LORD spoke to His leader, “The people who are with you are too many for Me to give Midian into their hands, for Israel would become boastful, saying, ‘My own power has delivered me (Judges 7:1-2).’” Therefore, God commanded Gideon to seek out those who were afraid and trembling to let them return from their position on Mount Gilead. Approximately 22,000 returned to their homes, but 10,000 valiant warriors still remained. The LORD told his servant Gideon that they were still too numerous. They were brought down to the water of the springs to be tested by the LORD. If they lapped the water like a dog or knelt to drink, they were to be sent home. The only ones putting hands to their mouth to drink were a sparse 300 men. The rest knelt down to drink the refreshing water. The LORD then spoke to Gideon, “I will deliver you with the 300 men who lapped and will give the Midianites into your hands; so let all the other people go, each to his home.” This is what Gideon did in obedience to the Sovereign. The 300 took their provisions and their trumpets. That same night it came about that the LORD spoke further, “Arise, go down against the camp, for I have given it into your hands.” The LORD knew there could be some fear to go alone, so He permitted Purah, Gideon’s servant, to go along with him down to the camp of the enemy. God told them they would hear what their enemies would say, and this would strengthen them. And, so they did. “Now the Midianites and the Amalekites and all the sons of the east were lying in the valley as numerous as locusts; and their camels were without number, as numerous as the sand on the seashore.” When Gideon approached, he heard one of the enemies relating a dream to his friend. In the dream, a loaf of barley was tumbling into the camp of Midian coming to a tent and striking it so that it fell turning the tent upside down and flattening it. The friend replied that this was indeed a sign that the sword of Gideon, the son of Joash of Israel, was given by God to defeat them. When Gideon heard the account and interpretation of the dream, he bowed and worshipped his LORD. He returned to his camp now positive of the LORD’s dominion over this affair. He told his small group of fighters to arise, for the LORD has given the camp of Midian into their hands. He divided the 300 men into three companies putting trumpets and empty pitchers into their hands with torches inside the pitchers. He told them to follow his example when they got to the outskirts of the camp. He instructed that when he blew the trumpet, they were to blow their trumpets all around the camp and proclaim, “For the LORD and for Gideon (Judges 7:3-18).”

-So Gideon took his company of 100 men and came to the outskirts of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch (middle of the night) when the new crew had just posted their watch. They blew the trumpets and smashed the pitchers that were in their hands. Likewise, the rest of the companies blew their trumpets and smashed their pitchers in a brilliant tactical maneuver for all time. Their torches were in their left hands and their trumpets were in their right hands for blowing. They cried out as loud as they could, “A sword for the LORD and for Gideon!” This totally spooked the enemy as they arose from their slumber. They ran, crying out as they fled from their camp. The LORD set the sword of one against the other in their confusion and chaos. The army fled as far as Beth-shittah toward Zererah, as far as the edge of Abel-meholah, by Tabbath. They were going back east as the men of Gideon’s army now summoned back warriors from Naphtali and Asher and all Manasseh to pursue the vanquished foe, Midian. Gideon sent out messengers throughout all the hill country of Ephraim calling them to come down against Midian and take the waters before them as far as Beth-barah and the Jordan. This the men from Ephraim did, and they captured the two leaders of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb. They killed Oreb at the rock of Oreb, and they killed Zeeb at the wine press of Zeeb even as they pursued Midian in battle. They eventually brought back the heads of these two leaders from across the Jordan in the east back to their leader, God’s valiant warrior, Gideon (Judges 7:19-25).

-*Application* This is an incredible adventure that God got the glory in because of complete obedience and trust. God gave the word, a few miraculous signs, and Gideon followed to complete the assignment in the deliverance of Israel during this time. God will often whittle down numbers in our own lives to get our attention that it is Him, not us that has the power for deliverance. Think of times that God has made much out of little and multiplied His glory in doing so (Luke 9:13-17, John 6:1-13).

Verse to Memorize: Judges 7:2

Bible Study Notes in Judges- Chapter 6

Judges 6

-The next generation of judges begin to arise in this chapter that begins with the sons of Israel once again doing what was evil in the sight of the LORD. Therefore, the LORD gave them into the hands of Midian for seven long-arduous years. The power of Midian prevailed over Israel causing the sons of Israel to hide in mountains and caves and strongholds. When Israel would sow their land, the Midianites, along with the dreaded Amalekites and other sons of the east, came up against them and destroyed the produce of the earth as far west as Gaza. They left no sustenance in Israel. Sheep, oxen, and donkeys were confiscated too. These enemies would come in like locusts in number with their own livestock and tents including an innumerable amount of camels. They were a devastating force sent by the LORD due to Israel’s disobedience. “So Israel was brought very low because of Midian, and the sons of Israel cried to the LORD (Judges 6:1-6).”

-Midian, which was to the east and south of Edom and to the east of the Sinai Peninsula, were nomadic marauders who brought the wrath of God for seven seasons of what should have been growth in the land. But, when the chosen people finally cried out to their covenant Master, He sent a prophet to them to remind them that it is was He who brought them up from Egypt and out of the house of slavery. The LORD alone was their Deliverer from their oppressors, and He, by Himself, dispossessed their enemies and gave them their Promised Land. The LORD reprimanded them, “I am the LORD your God; you shall not fear the gods of the Amorites in whose land you live. But you have not obeyed Me (Judges 6:7-10).”

-Now He would take action in the most unusual and unique way as the Creative Engineer that He is. The angel of the LORD came and sat under the oak that was in Ophrah (in the Jezreel Valley of Manasseh), which belonged to Joash the Abiezrite. Joash’s youngest son, Gideon, was beating out wheat in the wine press. This was a hiding place from the Midianites. They were in constant fear of being raided and stolen from. Therefore, a wine press was being used for another purpose here with the beating out of the wheat in secret for sustenance. The angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon, who now takes center stage as God’s called one. The angel says to him, “The LORD is with you, O valiant warrior.” Gideon’s first response was not that of confidence or assurance. He questioned why the LORD would be with his people. The miracles of his nation’s fathers had disappeared, or so he thought. He had heard of the fame of the LORD, but that seemed a foreign concept in his current state of oppression. He and the people of Israel were feeling abandoned and devoured in these current circumstances with the Midianites. However, the LORD reassured him, “Go in this your strength and deliver Israel from the hand of Midian. Have I not sent you?” Gideon still lacked faith. He asked “how” he could possibly deliver Israel. He was from the “least” family in Manasseh. Further than that, he was the youngest in his father’s house. But we can discern the LORD had a plan as He responded, “Surely I will be with you, and you shall defeat Midian as one man.” Now Gideon wanted more than just the word of the LORD. He asked for a series of signs beginning with an offering that he asked the LORD to stay for. The angel of the LORD remained until Gideon returned with a young goat and unleavened bread. At the LORD’s command he lay the meat and bread on a rock and poured out broth on it. The angel of the LORD put out the end of the staff that was in His Hand and touched the meat and unleavened bread causing fire to spring up from the rock consuming the meat and bread instantly. “Then the angel of the LORD vanished from his sight.” Gideon now knew something special was going on, duh!?! He proclaimed, “Alas, O Lord GOD! For now I have seen the angel of the LORD face to face.” God told him, “Peace to you, do not fear; you shall not die.” Out of reverence and awe Gideon immediately built an altar there to his God and named it “The LORD is Peace.” This altar remained until at least the writing of this text (Judges 6:11-24).

-That very night the LORD spoke to the enlightened and chosen one further, “Take your father’s bull and a second bull seven years old, and pull down the altar of Baal which belongs to your father, and cut down the Asherah that is beside it; and build an altar to the LORD your God on the top of this stronghold in an orderly manner, and take a second bull and offer a burnt offering with the wood of the Asherah which you shall cut down.” Gideon did this in obedience, but he did it in the cover of night. He took ten men of his servants and followed the LORD’s directions. He was still afraid of his father’s household and men of the city. These false gods were political figures, and a disruption to them could certainly cause tension in the community. When morning came and Gideon’s deed was discovered with the Baal altar torn down, the Asherah cut down, and the second bull sacrificed on the newly constructed altar which had been built, the men of the city asked, “Who did this thing?” It was quickly surmised that Gideon had done it. They wanted him brought out to be killed. Joash, Gideon’s father, stands up for his son at this point. He asks, “Will you contend for Baal, or will you deliver him?” He implored them to see if Baal had the power to defend his name by himself. So he renamed his son Jerubbaal, meaning “Let Baal contend against him.” No small disturbance was created when Baal did not contend for himself. The powers that were began to assemble themselves with the unrest that was going on in Ophrah. All the Midianites, the Amalekites, and the sons of the east came over the Jordan and camped in the valley of Jezreel. “So the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon; and he blew a trumpet, and the Abiezrites were called together to follow him.” Messengers were sent out throughout Manasseh, Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali to come up and meet with this new leader of revolt (Judges 6:25-35).

-Gideon just wanted some more signs now to cement the call of God on his mission. He spoke to God asking that a fleece of wool that he put out at night on the threshing floor contain dew on it with dry ground all around it. This, to Gideon, would prove that the LORD was with him to deliver Israel. And so it was that God put water in the fleece only. When Gideon arose early the next morning and squeezed the fleece, he drained a bowl full of water from the dew in it. Gideon respectfully asked for one more assurance that the LORD was with him. He reversed the request just to make sure the dewed fleece was more than coincidence. This test was that the fleece remain dry while the dew saturated the ground. “God did so that night; for it was dry only on the fleece, and dew was on all the ground (Judges 6:36-40).” After three miraculous signs now, God had indeed spoken, and Gideon (or Jerubbaal) could go forward with all the confidence he needed to deliver the sons of Israel.

-*Application* Talk about speaking life into a situation. Gideon was anything but a “valiant warrior” when the LORD called upon him. He was fearfully beating out wheat in a wine press, cowering from his enemies. He questioned when he was told that the LORD was with him. He doubted the veracity of the angel’s claims for his country at this low point in their national history. He rationalized that he was from the “least” family in Manasseh and the youngest of his father’s house. But God keep speaking life into a helpless situation to give hope, confidence, and clarity. After some serious and miraculous convincing, God moved His servant forward in faith and dependence. That’s how the LORD works in our lives too. Seek Him out and listen for His Voice when we have questions. Be earnest, be respectful, and have the right heart to do only His will. He will show us Himself more powerfully than we could ever imagine. He turns sissies into valiant warriors.

Verse to Memorize: Judges 6:16

Bible Study Notes in Judges- Chapter 5

Judges 5

-Chapter five brings us the song that Deborah and Barak sang on the day that their enemies were destroyed and peace again reigned in the Promised Land. This peace would last 40 years undisturbed (Judges 5:31b). This song recounts the rise of God’s people in their yearnings for justice and redemption from their oppressors. It acknowledges Israel’s sin in choosing new gods to their detriment (Judges 5:8). This unfaithfulness produced the conflict from the enemy and weakened them as a people. The prophets’ hearts went out to the leaders, the commanders, the volunteers, the peasants among the people for a new beginning, for the LORD to show Himself powerful and glorious in their midst (Judges 5:9-11). A rising up is put to lyrics, led by a woman, Deborah and her commander, Barak. Warriors waged war. Tribe by tribe is denoted for their contribution or lack thereof. Zebulun and Naphtali were extolled for their commitment to the cause and their valiant spirit as the kings came and fought with one another at Taanach near the waters of Megiddo. The stars fought from Heaven against the formidable Sisera and his armies, and they prevailed. The torrent of Kishon swept upon them and washed them away. Israel’s soul marched on with strength (Judges 5:13-23).

-Jael is honored as the “most blessed of women.” She took down the mighty Sisera with her tent peg and hammer giving him curd milk rather than water. “Between her feet he bowed, he fell, he lay; between her feet he bowed, he fell; where he bowed, there he fell dead (Judges 5:24-27).”

-Sisera’s mother lamented as she looked out of her window wondering of her son’s delay in returning. “Are they not finding, are they not dividing the spoil?” The neck of the spoiler has destroyed the enemy (Judges 5:28-30). The song ends like this: “Thus let all Your enemies perish, O LORD; but let those who love Him be like the rising of the sun in its might (Judges 5:31a).

-*Application* It’s not wrong to celebrate when God does a monumental act for us. Next time He has given an incredible victory, after we’ve been unfaithful, depraved, and broken, honor Him with praise and song. Who knows, maybe we could even write our own lyrics glorifying the mighty things He has done for us.

Verses to Memorize: Judges 5:19-20, 24, 27, 31

Bible Study Notes in Judges- Chapter 4

Judges 4

-After Ehud, the sons of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD. The all-seeing God sold them into the hand of the Jabin, king of Canaan, this particular time. He reigned in Hazor, north of the Sea of Galilee, and his commander of army operations was a man by the name of Sisera. He lived to the west near Mt. Carmel and modern day Haifa, in place known as Harosheth-hagoyim. The oppressed sons Israel cried out once again to the LORD in their distress, for Sisera had 900 iron chariots, and had ruled over them for 20 years (Judges 4:1-3). This chapter denotes two amazing women who were used by the LORD mightily in His plans to rescue Israel from their enemies. They stood up in a time when men cowered. They faithfully executed God’s plan in the absence of strong-male leadership. These women were Deborah, the judge, and Jael, Heber’s wife. Here’s how it went down:

-Deborah was a prophetess and the wife of Lappidoth. She was judging Israel at the time of this oppression, sitting under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim. The sons of Israel would come to her for judgment that was fair and decisive. It came about that she summoned Barak, who was a military leader from Kedesh-naphtali, and told him the LORD had commanded that he march to Mount Tabor with 10,000 men from the sons of Naphtali and Zebulun. She prophetically told him Sisera would be drawn out with his chariots and many troops to the river Kishon. There they would be given into the hand of Israel. Barak, interestingly enough, replied that he would only go if she went with them. Deborah responded that she would “surely go” with Barak and the armies of Israel. But, she assured him that because of this (his shrinking back from male leadership), the honor would not be his on the journey he was about to take “for the LORD will sell Sisera into the hands of a woman.” Deborah arose and went with Barak to Kedesh. Naphtali and Zebulun were called together, and the 10,000 went up with him and Deborah for the fight. Meanwhile, Heber the Kenite (from the sons of Hobab, the father-in-law of Moses) had separated himself from most of his family and had pitched his tent as far away as the oak in Zaanannim (near Kedesh). Sisera was told that Barak had gone up to Mount Tabor, which prompted him to mount up his 900 chariots and all the people with him. They went out to battle from Harosheth-hagoyim to the river Kishon. Deborah spoke to Barak, “Arise! For this is the day in which the LORD has given Sisera into your hands; behold the LORD has gone out before you.” So Barak went down Mount Tabor with his 10,000 men following him. “The LORD routed Sisera and all his chariots and all his army with the edge of the sword before Barak.” Sisera fled on foot departing his personal chariot, and then he went the opposite direction of his army (which was being chased and totally defeated towards Harorseth-hagoyim) toward what he thought to be an ally in Zaanannim, near Kedesh and the Sea of Galilee. He went directly to the tent of Jael, wife of Heber the Kenite, who had made peace with Jabin, king of Hazor (Sisera’s king). Jael went out to meet the fleeing commander and told him to turn aside and rest at their tent unafraid. He gratefully took up this offer, and she covered him with a rug. He was thirsty, so he asked for water. She instead gave him a bottle of milk and covered him with the rug so he could rest and sleep. He wanted her to stand at the tent doorway and deter anyone from coming in, even by lying if she had to. “But Jael, Heber’s wife, took a tent peg and seized a hammer in her hand, and went secretly to him and drove the peg into his temple, and it went into the ground; for he was sound asleep and exhausted. So he died.” Barak came pursuing Sisera, and Jael came out to meet him saying, “Come, and I will show you the man whom you are seeking.” He entered the tent with her, and witnessed the dead commander with the tent peg through his temple. A woman had gotten the glory for rescuing Israel. “So God subdued on that day Jabin the king of Canaan before the sons of Israel. The hand of the sons of Israel pressed heavier and heavier upon Jabin the king of Canaan, until they had destroyed Jabin the king of Canaan (Judges 4:3-24).”

-*Application* God will use whoever is hearing from him and bold in their faith and action. When there is a vacuum of leadership from a male perspective, women are usually lifted up to the prophetic role and God still gets the glory in the end. Just look at our American churches for evidence of this. The American church would be in grave trouble without the vital contribution of Godly women stepping in and fulfilling important roles that men have abdicated. While it is His desire to use men in these roles (1 Timothy 3), He will, as we see in this instance, use women to accomplish His Kingdom purposes when needed.

Verses to Memorize: Judges 4:4, 21, 24

Bible Study Notes in Judges- Chapter 3

Judges 3

-This chapter begins with just a few more verses explaining how Israel’s idolatry led to their posture of servitude to the foreign nations God had promised they could have otherwise dispossessed. The nations that the LORD left to test them in their devotion to Himself and vigilance for war were: the five lords of the Philistines, all the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites who lived in Mount Lebanon from Mount Baal-hermon as far as Lebo-hamath. This Israeli generation disobediently took foreign daughters for wives and actually gave their own daughters to the pagans’ sons, plus they served their gods. “The sons of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, and forgot the LORD their God and served the Baals and the Asheroth.” (Judges 3:1-7). Now that the groundwork had been laid for why God did what He did in their midst in the text, we see His anger burn toward them by selling them back into slavery for eight years by the hands of the Mesopotamians, namely King Cushan-rishathaim. But, when the children of Abraham cried out to the LORD, God raised up for them a “deliverer,” Othniel, the brother of righteous Caleb and son of Kenaz of the tribe of Judah. “The Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he judged Israel.” He took the Hebrews out to war, and the LORD gave Cushan-rishathaim into their hand. The land had rest after that episode for 40 years, and then Othniel passed away (Judges 3:8-11).

-The second period of the judges begins again with Israel returning to their evil practices in departure from their One-true Living God. So the LORD strengthened Eglon, the king of Moab, and he came against Israel gathering together the sons of Ammon and Amalek. From the eastern side of the Jordan, these invaders came and defeated Israel. They ended up possessing the city of the palm trees (probably around the remains of Jericho) of the Jordan Valley. Israel served Eglon for 18 years providing tribute under bondage inside their Promised Land. But when they cried out to the LORD, finally, the LORD again raised up a leader to once again “deliver.” This time it was Ehud, the son of Gera who was a Benjamite and left-handed at that. An unusual characteristic gave Ehud the opportunity to assassinate the foreign oppressor. He made himself a sword with two cutting edges a cubit in length (about 18 inches). He bound this weapon to his right thigh and went to pay Eglon his demanded tribute in Gilgal, near the Jordan River. He presented the tribute and then asked the people who’d helped him bring it to leave. “But he himself turned back from the idols which were at Gilgal,” and said, “I have a secret message for you, O king.” He asked that he keep silent and was able to get all who attended the king to depart for this secret word. Ehud came to King Eglon, who was described as “a very fat man,” while he was on his cool roof chamber (because this area can be very warm) sitting alone. Ehud approached him and said, “I have a message from God for you.” As Eglon arose from his seat Ehud stretched out his dominant left hand taking his sword from his right thigh (an unexpected maneuver) and thrust it into his enemy’s blubbery belly. The piercing went so deep, and Eglon was so fat, that the handle of the sword went into him after the blade and the fat closed over the blade. So the sword was not withdrawn and refuse came out of the slain king. Ehud calmly went out into the vestibule and shut the doors of the roof chamber behind him locked up. After some time after Ehud had departed, the king’s servants came and looked and perceived that the doors were locked. They assumed everything was alright and that the king was just relieving himself in privacy of the cool room. They waited until they became anxious, and eventually determined to get the keys and check on him. When they did this, they discovered their king fallen dead on the floor. The delay had allowed Ehud to escape. He passed by the idols and went to Seirah. There in the hill country of Ephraim he blew the trumpet of war and summoned the sons of Israel to action. Leading the way, Ehud took these warriors back down into the valley. They pursued the Moabites and destroyed every one of them, about 10,000 robust and valiant men, before they could escape back across the Jordan. The LORD had given their enemies into their hands once again. “So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. And the land was undisturbed for eighty years (Judges 3:12-30).”

-After Ehud came a third judge, Shamgar the son of Anath. He struck down 600 Philistines with an oxgoad as another savior of Israel (Judges 3:31). Thus in chapter 3 we get details on 25% of the judges listed in the book.

-*Application* This narrative chapter is definitely themed around the concept of crying out to the LORD when we have fallen short of His glory and made a mess of things. God will many times let us suffer when we know we are going in the wrong direction. We too face tests and trials that the LORD allows in an effort to draw us back to Him when distance has been created by our unfaithfulness. This unfortunately is just the nature of the human. We need His discipline, and His corrective measures are a demonstration that, in fact, He does care (Hebrews 12:5-13). Let’s all thank Him for His ultimate Deliverer, Jesus Christ, who gives us back the victory every time we cry to Him in repentant distress and fight the good fight in His strength going forward. Let’s also praise Him for the periods of peace that follow by His grace.

Verses to Memorize: Judges 3:9, 15

Bible Study Notes in Judges- Chapter 3

Judges 3

-This chapter begins with just a few more verses explaining how Israel’s idolatry led to their posture of servitude to the foreign nations God had promised they could have otherwise dispossessed. The nations that the LORD left to test them in their devotion to Himself and vigilance for war were: the five lords of the Philistines, all the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites who lived in Mount Lebanon from Mount Baal-hermon as far as Lebo-hamath. This Israeli generation disobediently took foreign daughters for wives and actually gave their own daughters to the pagans’ sons, plus they served their gods. “The sons of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, and forgot the LORD their God and served the Baals and the Asheroth.” (Judges 3:1-7). Now that the groundwork had been laid for why God did what He did in their midst in the text, we see His anger burn toward them by selling them back into slavery for eight years by the hands of the Mesopotamians, namely King Cushan-rishathaim. But, when the children of Abraham cried out to the LORD, God raised up for them a “deliverer,” Othniel, the brother of righteous Caleb and son of Kenaz of the tribe of Judah. “The Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he judged Israel.” He took the Hebrews out to war, and the LORD gave Cushan-rishathaim into their hand. The land had rest after that episode for 40 years, and then Othniel passed away (Judges 3:8-11).

-The second period of the judges begins again with Israel returning to their evil practices in departure from their One-true Living God. So the LORD strengthened Eglon, the king of Moab, and he came against Israel gathering together the sons of Ammon and Amalek. From the eastern side of the Jordan, these invaders came and defeated Israel. They ended up possessing the city of the palm trees (probably around the remains of Jericho) of the Jordan Valley. Israel served Eglon for 18 years providing tribute under bondage inside their Promised Land. But when they cried out to the LORD, finally, the LORD again raised up a leader to once again “deliver.” This time it was Ehud, the son of Gera who was a Benjamite and left-handed at that. An unusual characteristic gave Ehud the opportunity to assassinate the foreign oppressor. He made himself a sword with two cutting edges a cubit in length (about 18 inches). He bound this weapon to his right thigh and went to pay Eglon his demanded tribute in Gilgal, near the Jordan River. He presented the tribute and then asked the people who’d helped him bring it to leave. “But he himself turned back from the idols which were at Gilgal,” and said, “I have a secret message for you, O king.” He asked that he keep silent and was able to get all who attended the king to depart for this secret word. Ehud came to King Eglon, who was described as “a very fat man,” while he was on his cool roof chamber (because this area can be very warm) sitting alone. Ehud approached him and said, “I have a message from God for you.” As Eglon arose from his seat Ehud stretched out his dominant left hand taking his sword from his right thigh (an unexpected maneuver) and thrust it into his enemy’s blubbery belly. The piercing went so deep, and Eglon was so fat, that the handle of the sword went into him after the blade and the fat closed over the blade. So the sword was not withdrawn and refuse came out of the slain king. Ehud calmly went out into the vestibule and shut the doors of the roof chamber behind him locked up. After some time after Ehud had departed, the king’s servants came and looked and perceived that the doors were locked. They assumed everything was alright and that the king was just relieving himself in privacy of the cool room. They waited until they became anxious, and eventually determined to get the keys and check on him. When they did this, they discovered their king fallen dead on the floor. The delay had allowed Ehud to escape. He passed by the idols and went to Seirah. There in the hill country of Ephraim he blew the trumpet of war and summoned the sons of Israel to action. Leading the way, Ehud took these warriors back down into the valley. They pursued the Moabites and destroyed every one of them, about 10,000 robust and valiant men, before they could escape back across the Jordan. The LORD had given their enemies into their hands once again. “So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. And the land was undisturbed for eighty years (Judges 3:12-30).”

-After Ehud came a third judge, Shamgar the son of Anath. He struck down 600 Philistines with an oxgoad as another savior of Israel (Judges 3:31). Thus in chapter 3 we get details on 25% of the judges listed in the book.

-*Application* This narrative chapter is definitely themed around the concept of crying out to the LORD when we have fallen short of His glory and made a mess of things. God will many times let us suffer when we know we are going in the wrong direction. We too face tests and trials that the LORD allows in an effort to draw us back to Him when distance has been created by our unfaithfulness. This unfortunately is just the nature of the human. We need His discipline, and His corrective measures are a demonstration that, in fact, He does care (Hebrews 12:5-13). Let’s all thank Him for His ultimate Deliverer, Jesus Christ, who gives us back the victory every time we cry to Him in repentant distress and fight the good fight in His strength going forward. Let’s also praise Him for the periods of peace that follow by His grace.

Verses to Memorize: Judges 3:9, 15

Bible Study Notes in Judges- Chapter 2

Judges 2

-The Angel of the LORD (which was quite possibly a Christophany) came up from Gilgal, where He had met with Joshua previously (Joshua 5:13-15), to Bochim. His message was clear enough, “I brought you up out of Egypt and led you into the land which I have sworn to your fathers; and I said, ‘I will never break My covenant with you, and as for you, you shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land; you shall tear down their altars (Exodus 23:20-33).’ But you have not obeyed Me; what is this you have done?” God also told them what He had sworn before that if they did not drive out the pagan influences, they would become as thorns in their sides with their gods being a snare to them. When these words were proclaimed to the sons of Israel, the people lifted up their voices in weeping. Therefore, the place got the name “Bochim (weepers).” They sacrificed to the LORD there because they knew that they had transgressed a faithful God. Their sorrow was genuine, but it was not permanent (Judges 2:1-5).

-There are some canonical ties in the text next here as Joshua’s legacy is mentioned in reiteration of the last parts of the book of Joshua (Joshua 24:28-31). The people of Israel served the LORD all the days of Joshua and the elders who survived him and had seen the great work of the LORD which He had done for Israel. Joshua’s death came at 110 years old, and he was buried in the territory of his inheritance in Timnath-heres, in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash. “All that generation also were gathered to their fathers; and there arose another generation after them who did not know the LORD, nor yet the work which He had done for Israel (Judges 2:6-10).” This was a sad turning point in the national history of Israel. Somehow the elders had not transmitted their relational knowledge of the LORD to the younger generation. They had failed to do what God had commanded in the “Shema (Deuteronomy 6).” Or maybe it was just the rebellious spirit of the younger generation. Who knows for sure?

-What we do know is that from that point the sons of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD provoking Him to anger by serving (worshipping) the Baals (the pagan god of storms and rain thought to control the vegetation and agriculture) and the Ashtaroth (the pagan mother goddess of love, war, and fertility, also called Astarte or Ishtar, temple prostitution and child sacrifice were a part of her worship rituals). They forsook the LORD of their fathers Who had done so much good for them in bringing them out of false religions and slavery in Egypt. Therefore, God gave them into the hands of their enemies who plundered them. They could no longer stand in victory over them because they had gone against their covenant God. “Wherever they went, the Hand of the LORD was against them for evil” in fulfillment of His threat to them should such a violation happen (Joshua 24:19-20). They were indeed “severely distressed (Judges 2:11-15).”

-Then the LORD raised up judges who delivered them from the hands of those who plundered them. Yet they did not listen to their judges, for they played the harlot after other gods and bowed themselves down to them. They turned aside quickly from the way in which their fathers had walked in obeying the commandments of the LORD; they did not do as their fathers. When the LORD raised up judges for them, the LORD was with the judge and delivered them from the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge; for the LORD was moved to pity by their groaning because of those who oppressed and afflicted them. But it came about when the judge died, that they would turn back and act more corruptly than their fathers, in following other gods to serve them and bow down to them; they did not abandon their practices or their stubborn ways (Judges 2:16-19).” The anger of the LORD revealed His infuriation with their inconsistency. Because of their transgression of His covenant and not listening to His Voice, He decreed that He would no longer drive out their enemies, which Joshua left when he died. These enemies would be a constant test for them now to see if they would keep the way of the LORD to walk in it as their fathers did, or not. So, the LORD allowed these nations to remain in the Promised Land, and they were not driven out as quickly as they otherwise would have been (Judges 2:20-23).

-*Application* This saga has intense spiritual significance for us as believers. How much are we compromising with the world around us? Why would we ever forsake the incredible things that God has saved us from? Are we relationally imparting the faithfulness of Christ into the next generation who will one day take up the mantle of leadership in our society? This passage gives us clear indication as to why we still have enemies around us and have not completed total victory on this side of Heaven. Meditate on these things today and cultivate consistency in the walk with the LORD.

Verses to Memorize: Judges 2:10-11, 16-19

Bible Study Notes in Judges: Introduction and Chapter 1

Judges 1

-Introduction: Judges covers the period of time from the late 1300’s B.C. to the time of the monarchy period somewhere around 1050 B.C. So the composition covers several hundred years of Israeli history during the period when they had no king and every man did what was right in his own eyes (Judges 17:6, 21:25). The book lists twelve judges who ruled primarily as military saviors for the tribes during this period of time when the nation would wonder from their covenant God and fall into the pitfalls of sin and foreign oppression. It was more than likely written during the time of the early monarchy and some have suggested Samuel as its possible writer, though authorship is not ascribed in the text and is therefore really unknown. The book could be outlined in structure as follows: Deterioration (or Failure in Israel, Judges 1:1-3:6), Deliverances (or Rescue in Israel, Judges 3:7-16:31), and Depravity (or Moral Failure in Israel, Judges 17:1-21:25). There are repeated cycles throughout the book within the tribes of Israel that give rise to the workings of the LORD through His judges. These cycles can be described as 1) sin, 2) slavery, 3) sorrow (or supplication), and finally 4) salvation (or a savior). History keeps repeating itself, and the LORD keeps faith with His people even in their struggles to intervene when they cry out to Him. Therefore, we can say that the themes this Scripture revolves around include: decline/compromise, decay/apostasy, defeat/oppression, repentance, and deliverance/heroes/salvation. There is a unique foreshadowing to the work of Christ in the propitiation for our sins in this work. Let’s enjoy our study of this relevant and timely book in the saga of God’s grace and glory.

(Ideas extracted from “New American Standard Bible: Life Application Study Bible.” Zondervan: Grand Rapids, MI, 1995, pgs. 376-378 & “Talk Thru the Bible: A Quick Guide to Help You Get More Out of the Bible.” Bruce Wilkinson and Kenneth Boa. Nelson Reference & Electronic: Nashville, TN, 2002, pgs. 58-64)

-Chapter 1: The book starts with the incomplete conquest of the land after the death of the great and courageous leader Joshua. The sons of Israel inquired of the LORD for the tribe to go up first against the Canaanites to fight against them, and Judah was selected. Judah elicited the help of his brother Simeon, who was within their territory for this attack. They complied and the LORD gave the Canaanites and the Perizzites into their hand, defeating ten thousand men at Bezek. There they found Adoni-bezek and fought against him. He fled, but they pursued him and caught him cutting off his thumbs and big toes. Adoni-bezek acknowledged his time of reckoning. He had dealt out vengeance as a ruler, but now “God has repaid me,” he said. He was brought to Jerusalem and eventually died there. The sons of Judah fought against Jerusalem, captured it, struck it with the edge of the sword, and then set the city on fire. Afterwards, the sons of Judah went south to fight the Canaanites living in the hill country and in the Negev and in the lowland. Hebron was attacked and defeated along with Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai. Caleb was the one leading this attack by now (Joshua 14 & 15), and they went against the inhabitants of Debir (or formerly known as Kiriath-sepher). This was a recount from the book of Joshua where his younger brother, Othniel, won the hand of Caleb’s daughter by leading in the capture of this city. Achsah therefore became Othniel’s wife, and she persuaded her husband to ask of her father a field, a blessing, in the land of the Negev with springs of water. Caleb obliged and gave them the upper springs and the lower springs (Judges 1:1-15). Moses’ father-in-law, the descendants of the Kenite, chose to go up from the city of palms to live among the sons of Judah inhabiting the desert parts of the land in the south of Arad (Judges 1:16). More conquest is described then by the tribe of Judah with Simeon, his brother. They struck the Canaanites living in Zephath and utterly destroyed it. The city got a new name after that, Hormah. Judah also took Gaza with its territory along with Ashkelon and Ekron with their territories. The LORD was with Judah in these conquests as they took possession of the hill country, “but they could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley because they had iron chariots.” Caleb received Hebron, as Moses had previously promised (Numbers 14:24), and he drove out the three sons of Anak. “But the sons of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites who lived in Jerusalem; so the Jebusites have lived with the sons of Benjamin in Jerusalem to this day (that being the early monarchy period more than likely).” In the same manner, the house of Joseph went up against Bethel, and the LORD was with them. They spied out the city. In much the same way as Rahab helped the two spies of Jericho, this man that helped the Israelis find entrance into the city was treated kindly and given life and freedom after the conquering of it. He ended up moving to the land of the Hittites and built a city by the name of Luz, which survived a long-long time (Judges 1:17-26). “But Manasseh (of Joseph’s sons) did not take possession of Beth-shean and its villages, or Taanach and its villages, or the inhabitants of Dor and its villages, or the inhabitants of Ibleam and its villages, or the inhabitants of Megiddo and its villages; so the Canaanites persisted in living in that land.” Israel had become strong and put the Canaanites to forced labor for them, but they did not drive them out completely as the LORD had told them to do. Ephraim did not drive out the Canaanites in Gezer, Zebulun did not drive out the pagan inhabitants of Kitron and Nahalol. Asher did not drive out the inhabitants of Acco, Sidon, Ahlab, Achzib, Helbah, Aphik, and Rehob. Naphtali did not drive out the Canaanites of Beth-shemesh and Beth-anath. The sons of Dan were not allowed to come down into the valley by the Amorites. Dan was thus contained in the hill country not realizing their full potential. Even in the hill country areas of Mount Heres, Aijalon, and Shaalbim the Amorites survived even though they became forced laborers. “The border of the Amorites ran from the ascent of Akrabbim, from Sela and upward (Judges 1:27-36).”

-*Application* When God calls us to a task, He expects us to complete it according to the word He gives us. Israel was incomplete in their conquest. They were told to utterly destroy and take the land without compromise. Thus they inherited not only the Promised Land, but also some of the pagan influences that went with it. In time this would prove to be a fatal flaw. Don’t do things half-hearted. Finish the assignment to 100%. Be diligent in everything that God asks of you. This is the only way to get 100% satisfaction and favor (Proverbs 4:23; 21:5, Romans 12:10-11, Colossians 3:23, 2 Timothy 2:15, 2 Peter 1:2-10).

Verses to Memorize: Judges 1:28