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