Bible in one year 5/17/2022 Judges introduction & chapter 1-5
By Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce
Christian
Arts Ministries: Biblical precepts & Gospel music; Pastoral ministry &
Counseling
Judges Introduction
Author: anonymous Date:1050-1000 B.C.
Historical Background
The events of this book cover the turbulent period in Israel’s history
from about 1380-1050 B.C. from the conquest of Palestine to the beginnings of
the monarchy. Though the land had been generally conquered and occupied under
Joshua, many important Canaanite strongholds had been bypassed, leaving their
subjugation to individual Israelite tribes. The book of Judges describes this
warfare, as the Hebrews tried to complete their occupation of the land.
The judges were military and civil leaders ruling during
this time, the Talmud suggests Samuel, and it is possible that he may have
written portions. Judges was written after the death of Samson and after the
coronation of King Saul, but before the conquest of Jerusalem by David about
990 B.C. (1:21;17:6;18:1;19:1;21:25).
Purpose Historically, the book serves to link the
conquest of Palestine and the monarchy. Theologically, it provides many
examples of the principle that obedience to the law brings peace, while
disobedience means oppression and death. Spiritually, the faithfulness of God
in forgiving His penitent people is seen even in this period when “ every man
did what was right in his own eyes”(17:6;21:25).
Judges Chapter 1 Background of the
period of the Judges
With the death of Joshua, another
era closed, as previously with the death of Moese (Josh.1:1). Canaanites.
Includes all the ethinic groups of Canaan. Judah said to the Simeonites. (v.3)
The tribes are referred to under the names of their ancestors. Judah had been
given a large territory (15:1-12), and Simeon was virtually incorporated into
Judah(Josh.19:1-9). The Perizzites (v.4) may have been a people of a race
different from the Canaanites. Cutting off thumbs and big toes (vv.6-7) served
two purposes: degradation, and inability to use weapons. Jerusalem was only
temporarily and partially captured (v.21 and Josh.15:63). The hill
country.(v.9) The Judean mountain range, including Jerusalem (2,500 ft. high)
and Hebron (3040 ft.high). the Negev. The semidesert area that begins just S.
of Hebron. The western foothills. The Shephelah, the foothills between the
coast and the Judean mountains, the scene of many battles between the
Israelites and the Philistines. The Kenite.(v.16; Num.10:29-32). City of Palms.
Jericho (Josh.6:26). Gaza…Ashelon…Ekron(v.18), the principal coastal cities of
the Philistines. The house of Joseph I.e., the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh.
The action now centers in central Palestine. On Bethel (Gen.28:19). These
cities (v.27) formed an east –to-west line of Canaanited fortifications along
the plain of Esdraelon. Acco.(v.31) The N.T. city of Ptolemais (Acts.21:7) or
present day Acre. Dan was eventually forced to search for new territory to the
north(18:1-31).
Judges Chapter 2 The Spiritual
Background
Angel of the Lord (v.1). The Lord
Himself. (Gen.16:9) Bokim (lit., the weepers v.4) was near Gilgal (Josh4:19).
Israel failed to fulfill part of her covenant responsibility (Deut.7:1-6) (v.2)
Baal (v.13). The rain and fertility god of Canaanites. The plural, Baals(v.11),
may include all the false deities of the land, for there many local Baals.
Ashtoreths. The female consorts of Baal. (Hos.2;13) The worship of these false
gods and goddesses included animal sacrifices, male and female prostitution,
and sometimes human sacrifices. The judges(v.16) God graciously gave Israel
are also called deliverers or saviors(3:9,15). They served as spiritual,
military, and governmental leaders for the people, but were often ignored or
rejected(2:17). A description of the recurring cycle of Israel’s history during
this period.(vv.18-19).
Judges Chapter 3 History of the period of the judges: Mesopotamian Oppression and Othniel’s Deliverance
In His providence, God used the
failure of the Israelites to drive out the Canaanites by using these pagans
(vv.1-5) to teach the art of warfare to the Israelites who had not been
involved in the initial wars under Joshua. These were the rulers of Ashdod,
Ashkelong, Ekron, Gath, and Gaza. Baal Hermon. Mount Hermon. Lebo-hamath was
about fourteen miles NE. of Baalbek in Syria. Asherahs (v.7). Some kind of wooden representation of the female
deity. Cushan-Rishathaim(v.8) means (doubly –wicked Cushan.) Othniel (v.9) was
already a proved conqueror (Josh.15:13-19). The Spirit of the Lord came upon
many in O.T. times as here with Othniel (Judg.6:34; 11:29;13:25;1Sam.10:9-10;16:13;1Chron.12:18).
He was also in some people (Num.27:18; Dan.4:8; 6:3;1Pet.1:11) and filled some
for special service (Ex.31:3;35:31) These relationships are characterized by
the Lord, as the Spirit, being “with” them, in contrast to His permanent indwelling
of all believers from the day of Pentecoston John14:17). The Spirit of the Lord came upon Othniel and he became
Isael’s judge. And went to war. The Lord
gave Cushan-Rishathaim king of Aram into the hands of Othniel, who overpowered
him. So the land had peace for forty years, until Othniel son of Kenaz died
(vv.10-11).
Once again the Israelites
did evil in the eyes of the Lord. The Lord gave Eglon king of Moab power over
Israel Getting the Ammonites and Amalekites to join him, Eglon came and
attached Israel, and they took possession of the City of Palms. The Israelites
were subject to Eglon king of Moab for eighteen years.(vv.1-12-15). Israelites
cried out to the Lord, the Lord gave them a left-handed man, the son of Gera
the Benjamite to kill Eglon the king of Moab.The Israel and the land had peace
for eighty years. The Ammonites lived E. and N. of
Moab.(v.13)
Regarding the Amalekites, (Ex.17:8 and Esther 3:1) the city of Palms Jericho (1:16)
. A cubit (v.16). Not the usual
Hebrew word for cubit. This dagger was about a foot long. Verse 31, an oxgoad
might have been as long as eight feet with a spoke on one end and a
chisel shaped blade on the other. Normally used for cleaning a plow, it
substituted nicely for a pear.
Old Testament (NIV) Judges Chapter 1-3
Judges
Chapter 1 Israel Fights the Remaining Canaanites
1:1 After the death of
Joshua, the Israelites asked the LORD, "Who will be the first to go up and
fight for us against the Canaanites?"
1:2 The LORD answered,
"Judah is to go; I have given the land into their hands."
1:3 Then the men of
Judah said to the Simeonites their brothers, "Come up with us into the
territory allotted to us, to fight against the Canaanites. We in turn will go
with you into yours." So the Simeonites went with them.
1:4 When Judah
attacked, the LORD gave the Canaanites and Perizzites into their hands and they
struck down ten thousand men at Bezek.
1:5 It was there that
they found Adoni-Bezek and fought against him, putting to rout the Canaanites
and Perizzites.
1:6 Adoni-Bezek fled,
but they chased him and caught him, and cut off his thumbs and big toes.
1:7 Then Adoni-Bezek
said, "Seventy kings with their thumbs and big toes cut off have picked up
scraps under my table. Now God has paid me back for what I did to them."
They brought him to Jerusalem, and he died there.
1:8 The men of Judah
attacked Jerusalem also and took it. They put the city to the sword and set it
on fire.
1:9 After that, the
men of Judah went down to fight against the Canaanites living in the hill
country, the Negev and the western foothills.
1:10 They advanced
against the Canaanites living in Hebron (formerly called Kiriath Arba) and
defeated Sheshai, Ahiman and Talmai.
1:11 From there they
advanced against the people living in Debir (formerly called Kiriath Sepher).
1:12 And Caleb said,
"I will give my daughter Acsah in marriage to the man who attacks and
captures Kiriath Sepher."
1:13 Othniel son of
Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother, took it; so Caleb gave his daughter Acsah to
him in marriage.
1:14 One day when she
came to Othniel, she urged him to ask her father for a field. When she got off
her donkey, Caleb asked her, "What can I do for you?"
1:15 She replied,
"Do me a special favor. Since you have given me land in the Negev, give me
also springs of water." Then Caleb gave her the upper and lower springs.
1:16 The descendants
of Moses' father-in-law, the Kenite, went up from the City of Palms with the
men of Judah to live among the people of the Desert of Judah in the Negev near
Arad.
1:17 Then the men of
Judah went with the Simeonites their brothers and attacked the Canaanites
living in Zephath, and they totally destroyed the city. Therefore it was called
Hormah.
1:18 The men of Judah
also took Gaza, Ashkelon and Ekron--each city with its territory.
1:19 The LORD was with
the men of Judah. They took possession of the hill country, but they were
unable to drive the people from the plains, because they had iron chariots.
1:20 As Moses had
promised, Hebron was given to Caleb, who drove from it the three sons of Anak.
1:21 The Benjamites,
however, failed to dislodge the Jebusites, who were living in Jerusalem; to
this day the Jebusites live there with the Benjamites.
1:22 Now the house of
Joseph attacked Bethel, and the LORD was with them.
1:23 When they sent
men to spy out Bethel (formerly called Luz),
1:24 the spies saw a
man coming out of the city and they said to him, "Show us how to get into
the city and we will see that you are treated well."
1:25 So he showed
them, and they put the city to the sword but spared the man and his whole
family.
1:26 He then went to
the land of the Hittites, where he built a city and called it Luz, which is its
name to this day.
1:27 But Manasseh did
not drive out the people of Beth Shan or Taanach or Dor or Ibleam or Megiddo
and their surrounding settlements, for the Canaanites were determined to live
in that land.
1:28 When Israel
became strong, they pressed the Canaanites into forced labor but never drove
them out completely.
1:29 Nor did Ephraim
drive out the Canaanites living in Gezer, but the Canaanites continued to live
there among them.
1:30 Neither did
Zebulun drive out the Canaanites living in Kitron or Nahalol, who remained
among them; but they did subject them to forced labor.
1:31 Nor did Asher
drive out those living in Acco or Sidon or Ahlab or Aczib or Helbah or Aphek or
Rehob,
1:32 and because of
this the people of Asher lived among the Canaanite inhabitants of the land.
1:33 Neither did
Naphtali drive out those living in Beth Shemesh or Beth Anath; but the
Naphtalites too lived among the Canaanite inhabitants of the land, and those
living in Beth Shemesh and Beth Anath became forced laborers for them.
1:34 The Amorites
confined the Danites to the hill country, not allowing them to come down into
the plain.
1:35 And the Amorites
were determined also to hold out in Mount Heres, Aijalon and Shaalbim, but when
the power of the house of Joseph increased, they too were pressed into forced
labor.
1:36 The boundary of
the Amorites was from Scorpion Pass to Sela and beyond.
Judges
Chapter 2 The Angel of the Lord at Bokim
2:1 The angel of the LORD
went up from Gilgal to Bokim and said, "I brought you up out of Egypt and
led you into the land that I swore to give to your forefathers. I said, 'I will
never break my covenant with you,
2:2 and you shall not make
a covenant with the people of this land, but you shall break down their
altars.' Yet you have disobeyed me. Why have you done this?
2:3 Now therefore I tell
you that I will not drive them out before you; they will be thorns in your
sides and their gods will be a snare to you."
2:4 When the angel of the
LORD had spoken these things to all the Israelites, the people wept aloud,
2:5 and they called that
place Bokim. There they offered sacrifices to the LORD.
Disobedience and Defeat
2:6 After Joshua had
dismissed the Israelites, they went to take possession of the land, each to his
own inheritance.
2:7 The people served
the LORD throughout the lifetime of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him
and who had seen all the great things the LORD had done for Israel.
2:8 Joshua son of Nun,
the servant of the LORD, died at the age of a hundred and ten.
2:9 And they buried
him in the land of his inheritance, at Timnath Heres in the hill country of
Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash.
2:10 After that whole
generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation grew up, who
knew neither the LORD nor what he had done for Israel.
2:11 Then the Israelites
did evil in the eyes of the LORD and served the Baals.
2:12 They forsook the
LORD, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of Egypt. They
followed and worshiped various gods of the peoples around them. They provoked
the LORD to anger
2:13 because they
forsook him and served Baal and the Ashtoreths.
2:14 In his anger
against Israel the LORD handed them over to raiders who plundered them. He sold
them to their enemies all around, whom they were no longer able to resist.
2:15 Whenever Israel
went out to fight, the hand of the LORD was against them to defeat them, just
as he had sworn to them. They were in great distress.
2:16 Then the LORD
raised up judges, who saved them out of the hands of these raiders.
2:17 Yet they would not
listen to their judges but prostituted themselves to other gods and worshiped
them. Unlike their fathers, they quickly turned from the way in which their
fathers had walked, the way of obedience to the LORD'S commands.
2:18 Whenever the LORD raised up a judge for them,
he was with the judge and saved them out of the hands of their enemies as long
as the judge lived; for the LORD had compassion on them as they groaned under
those who oppressed and afflicted them.
2:19 But when the judge
died, the people returned to ways even more corrupt than those of their
fathers, following other gods and serving and worshiping them. They refused to
give up their evil practices and stubborn ways.
2:20 Therefore the LORD
was very angry with Israel and said, "Because this nation has violated the
covenant that I laid down for their forefathers and has not listened to me,
2:21 I will no longer
drive out before them any of the nations Joshua left when he died.
2:22 I will use them
to test Israel and see whether they will keep the way of the LORD and walk in
it as their forefathers did."
2:23 The LORD had
allowed those nations to remain; he did not drive them out at once by giving
them into the hands of Joshua.
3:1 These are the
nations the LORD left to test all those Israelites who had not experienced any
of the wars in Canaan
3:2 (he did this only
to teach warfare to the descendants of the Israelites who had not had previous
battle experience):
3:3 the five rulers of the Philistines, all
the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites living in the Lebanon mountains
from Mount Baal Hermon to Lebo Hamath.
3:4 They were left to
test the Israelites to see whether they would obey the LORD'S commands, which
he had given their forefathers through Moses.
3:5 The Israelites
lived among the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and
Jebusites.
3:6 They took their
daughters in marriage and gave their own daughters to their sons, and served
their gods.
Othniel
3:7 The Israelites did
evil in the eyes of the LORD; they forgot the LORD their God and served the
Baals and the Asherahs.
3:8 The anger of the
LORD burned against Israel so that he sold them into the hands of
Cushan-Rishathaim king of Aram Naharaim, to whom the Israelites were subject
for eight years.
3:9 But when they cried out to the LORD, he raised
up for them a deliverer, Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother, who
saved them.
3:10 The Spirit of the
LORD came upon him, so that he became Israel's judge and went to war. The LORD
gave Cushan-Rishathaim king of Aram into the hands of Othniel, who overpowered
him.
3:11 So the land had peace
for forty years, until Othniel son
of Kenaz died.
Ehud
3:12 Once again the
Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD, and because they did this evil the
LORD gave Eglon king of Moab power over Israel.
3:13 Getting the
Ammonites and Amalekites to join him, Eglon came and attacked Israel, and they
took possession of the City of Palms.
3:14 The Israelites
were subject to Eglon king of Moab for eighteen years.
3:15 Again the Israelites cried out to the LORD,
and he gave them a deliverer--Ehud, a left-handed man, the son of Gera the
Benjamite. The Israelites sent him with tribute to Eglon king of Moab.
3:16 Now Ehud had made
a double-edged sword about a foot and a half long, which he strapped to his
right thigh under his clothing.
3:17 He presented the
tribute to Eglon king of Moab, who was a very fat man.
3:18 After Ehud had
presented the tribute, he sent on their way the men who had carried it.
3:19 At the idols near
Gilgal he himself turned back and said, "I have a secret message for you,
O king." The king said, "Quiet!" And all his attendants left
him.
3:20 Ehud then
approached him while he was sitting alone in the upper room of his summer
palace and said, "I have a message from God for you." As the king
rose from his seat,
3:21 Ehud reached with
his left hand, drew the sword from his right thigh and plunged it into the
king's belly.
3:22 Even the handle
sank in after the blade, which came out his back. Ehud did not pull the sword
out, and the fat closed in over it.
3:23 Then Ehud went
out to the porch; he shut the doors of the upper room behind him and locked
them.
3:24 After he had
gone, the servants came and found the doors of the upper room locked. They
said, "He must be relieving himself in the inner room of the house."
3:25 They waited to
the point of embarrassment, but when he did not open the doors of the room,
they took a key and unlocked them. There they saw their lord fallen to the
floor, dead.
3:26 While they
waited, Ehud got away. He passed by the idols and escaped to Seirah.
3:27 When he arrived
there, he blew a trumpet in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites
went down with him from the hills, with him leading them.
3:28 "Follow
me," he ordered, "for the LORD has given Moab, your enemy, into your
hands." So they followed him down and, taking possession of the fords of
the Jordan that led to Moab, they allowed no one to cross over.
3:29 At that time they
struck down about ten thousand Moabites, all vigorous and strong; not a man
escaped.
3:30 That day Moab was made subject to Israel, and
the land had peace for eighty years.
Shamgar
3:31 After Ehud came
Shamgar son of Anath, who struck down six hundred Philistines with an oxgoad.
He too saved Israel.
Bibliography,
Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie
study Bible (NIV).Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986
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