Daily Truthbase: November 2011

Judges 13-16 Samson: Faith in the Belly of Failure

Judges 13-16 Samson: Faith in the Belly of Failure

Psalm 37:12-33 Keep the Law in Your Heart, Get Blessed

Ps 37:12 “The wicked plots against the just, and gnashes at him with his teeth. 13 The Lord will laugh at him, for he sees that his day is coming. 14 The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, to kill those who are upright in the way. 15 Their sword shall enter into their own heart. Their bows shall be broken. 16 Better is a little that the righteous has, than the abundance of many wicked. 17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, but Yahweh upholds the righteous. 18 Yahweh knows the days of the perfect. Their inheritance shall be forever. 19 They shall not be disappointed in the time of evil. In the days of famine they shall be satisfied. 20 But the wicked shall perish. The enemies of Yahweh shall be like the beauty of the fields. They will vanish—vanish like smoke.

21 The wicked borrow, and don’t pay back, but the righteous give generously. 22 For such as are blessed by him shall inherit the land. Those who are cursed by him shall be cut off. 23 A man’s goings are established by Yahweh. He delights in his way. 24 Though he stumble, he shall not fall, for Yahweh holds him up with his hand. 25 I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his children begging for bread. 26 All day long he deals graciously, and lends. His seed is blessed. 27 Depart from evil, and do good. Live securely forever. 28 For Yahweh loves justice, and doesn’t forsake his saints. They are preserved forever, but the children of the wicked shall be cut off. 29 The righteous shall inherit the land, and live in it forever. 30 The mouth of the righteous talks of wisdom. His tongue speaks justice. 31 The law of his God is in his heart. None of his steps shall slide. 32 The wicked watches the righteous, and seeks to kill him. 33 Yahweh will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged."

Observations: 37:1-11 See post on Numbers 6 for vv 1-11, on not fretting about the evil-doers, but being faithful.

37:12-33 The wicked hate the righteous and seek to destroy and kill them, but God protects those who are upright in heart, who have the law written in their heart. They will be protected and prospered/blessed. The children of the righteous will also be blessed, and not cut off from blessing as will those of the wicked. Remember the wicked are those who take God's law on their lips, but don't obey it (Ps 50). The righteous have internalized the law of God, so they victoriously follow it, and get blessed with blessings that endure.

Application: How are you getting and keeping God's law in your heart?

Prayer: God, thanks that You not only protect those who seek to be right in Your sight, but You bless them and their kids as well. Amen.

Proverbs 10:22-30 Delighting In What's Right

Pr 10:22 “Yahweh’s blessing brings wealth, and he adds no trouble to it. 23 It is a fool’s pleasure to do wickedness, but wisdom is a man of understanding’s pleasure. 24 What the wicked fear, will overtake them, but the desire of the righteous will be granted. 25 When the whirlwind passes, the wicked is no more; but the righteous stand firm forever. 26 As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to those who send him.

27 The fear of Yahweh prolongs days, but the years of the wicked shall be shortened. 28 The prospect of the righteous is joy, but the hope of the wicked will perish. 29 The way of Yahweh is a stronghold to the upright, but it is a destruction to the workers of iniquity. 30 The righteous will never be removed, but the wicked will not dwell in the land.“

Observations: 10:22-30 Yahweh blesses the righteous, those who fear Him (and do what's right in His sight) with riches, pleasure, joy, protection, permanence/peace in the land, and a long life. The wicked can experience all but the last two temporarily, because God will bring sudden judgment upon them for their folly and wickedness.

Application: In what do you find pleasure? Those who delight in what's right and wise, will live to enjoy the fruit of their ways. Those who delight in what's not good are goners.

Prayer: Lord, help me crave what is good and right in Your sight, so that You are pleased to grant my desires, and I may rejoice in Your provision. Thanks. Amen.

Judges 13-16 This section reveals the last of our trio of unlikely candidates for Faith's Hall of Fame, Samson the Womanizer. Like others supernaturally born of barren women, great things were expected from him. Strong of body and weak of will, he brought himself and those around him much unnecessary pain. However, he did deliver Israel, and can provide us with deliverance if we understand the lessons from his life and one of the keys to exercising Hall of Fame Faith.

Judges 13 A Nazarite is Promised and Delivered

13:1 The children of Israel again did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh; and Yahweh delivered them into the hand of the Philistines forty years. 2 There was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren, and didn’t bear. 3 The angel of Yahweh appeared to the woman, and said to her, "See now, you are barren, and don’t bear; but you shall conceive, and bear a son. 4 Now therefore please beware and drink no wine nor strong drink, and don’t eat any unclean thing: 5 for, behold, you shall conceive, and bear a son; and no razor shall come on his head; for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb: and he shall begin to save Israel out of the hand of the Philistines." 6 Then the woman came and told her husband, saying, "A man of God came to me, and his face was like the face of the angel of God, very awesome; and I didn’t ask him where he was from, neither did he tell me his name: 7 but he said to me, ‘Behold, you shall conceive, and bear a son; and now drink no wine nor strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing; for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb to the day of his death.’"

8 Then Manoah entreated Yahweh, and said, "Oh, Lord, please let the man of God whom you did send come again to us, and teach us what we shall do to the child who shall be born." 9 God listened to the voice of Manoah; and the angel of God came again to the woman as she sat in the field: but Manoah, her husband, wasn’t with her. 10 The woman made haste, and ran, and told her husband, and said to him, "Behold, the man has appeared to me, who came to me that day." 11 Manoah arose, and went after his wife, and came to the man, and said to him, "Are you the man who spoke to the woman?" He said, "I am." 12 Manoah said, "Now let your words happen. What shall the child’s way of life and mission be?" 13 The angel of Yahweh said to Manoah, "Of all that I said to the woman let her beware. 14 She may not eat of anything that comes of the vine, neither let her drink wine or strong drink, nor eat any unclean thing; all that I commanded her let her observe."

15 Manoah said to the angel of Yahweh, "Please, let us detain you, that we may make a young goat ready for you." 16 The angel of Yahweh said to Manoah, "Though you detain me, I won’t eat of your bread; and if you will prepare a burnt offering, you must offer it to Yahweh." For Manoah didn’t know that he was the angel of Yahweh. 17 Manoah said to the angel of Yahweh, "What is your name, that when your words happen, we may honor you?" 18 The angel of Yahweh said to him, "Why do you ask about my name, since it is wonderful?" 19 So Manoah took the young goat with the meal offering, and offered it on the rock to Yahweh. Then the angel did a wonderful thing as Manoah and his wife looked on. 20 For it happened, when the flame went up toward the sky from off the altar, that the angel of Yahweh ascended in the flame of the altar: and Manoah and his wife looked on; and they fell on their faces to the ground. 21 But the angel of Yahweh didn’t appear to Manoah or to his wife any more. Then Manoah knew that he was the angel of Yahweh. 22 Manoah said to his wife, "We shall surely die, because we have seen God." 23 But his wife said to him, "If Yahweh were pleased to kill us, he wouldn’t have received a burnt offering and a meal offering at our hand, neither would he have shown us all these things, nor would at this time have told such things as these." 24 The woman bore a son, and named him Samson: and the child grew, and Yahweh blessed him. 25 The Spirit of Yahweh began to move him in Mahaneh Dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol.

Observations: After 40 years of suffering consequences for their sin, God raised up the next deliverer, Samson. Unlike other judges, he is to adhere to a higher standard of holiness as a Nazarite (See comments on Numbers 6).

Nothing necessary to the story is added after 13:6, just confirmation of God's promise, perhaps to get Manoah on board, and the revelation of the name of the angel as incomprehensible/secret/wonderful.

Application: When God promises, He delivers.

Prayer: God, I trust You to fulfill all Your promises to me. Amen.

Judges 14 Samson Gets and Loses a Wife

14:1 Samson went down to Timnah, and saw a woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines. 2 He came up, and told his father and his mother, and said, "I have seen a woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines: now therefore get her for me as wife." 3 Then his father and his mother said to him, "Is there never a woman among the daughters of your brothers, or among all my people, that you go to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines?" Samson said to his father, "Get her for me; for she pleases me well." 4 But his father and his mother didn’t know that it was of Yahweh; for he sought an occasion against the Philistines. Now at that time the Philistines had rule over Israel. 5 Then went Samson down, and his father and his mother, to Timnah, and came to the vineyards of Timnah: and behold, a young lion roared against him. 6 The Spirit of Yahweh came mightily on him, and he tore him as he would have torn a young goat; and he had nothing in his hand: but he didn’t tell his father or his mother what he had done. 7 He went down, and talked with the woman, and she pleased Samson well. 8 After a while he returned to take her; and he turned aside to see the carcass of the lion: and behold, there was a swarm of bees in the body of the lion, and honey. 9 He took it into his hands, and went on, eating as he went; and he came to his father and mother, and gave to them, and they ate: but he didn’t tell them that he had taken the honey out of the body of the lion.

10 His father went down to the woman: and Samson made there a feast; for so used the young men to do. 11 It happened, when they saw him, that they brought thirty companions to be with him. 12 Samson said to them, "Let me tell you a riddle now. If you can declare it to me within the seven days of the feast, and find it out, then I will give you thirty linen garments and thirty changes of clothing; 13 but if you can’t declare it to me, then you shall give me thirty linen garments and thirty changes of clothing." They said to him, "Put forth your riddle, that we may hear it." 14 He said to them, "Out of the eater came forth food. Out of the strong came forth sweetness." They couldn’t in three days declare the riddle. 15 It happened on the seventh day, that they said to Samson’s wife, "Entice your husband, that he may declare to us the riddle, lest we burn you and your father’s house with fire. Have you called us to impoverish us? Is it not so?" 16 Samson’s wife wept before him, and said, "You just hate me, and don’t love me. You have put forth a riddle to the children of my people, and haven’t told it me." He said to her, "Behold, I haven’t told it my father nor my mother, and shall I tell you?" 17 She wept before him the seven days, while their feast lasted: and it happened on the seventh day, that he told her, because she pressed him severely; and she told the riddle to the children of her people. 18 The men of the city said to him on the seventh day before the sun went down, "What is sweeter than honey? What is stronger than a lion?" He said to them, "If you hadn’t plowed with my heifer, you wouldn’t have found out my riddle." 19 The Spirit of Yahweh came mightily on him, and he went down to Ashkelon, and struck thirty men of them, and took their spoil, and gave the changes of clothing to those who declared the riddle. His anger was kindled, and he went up to his father’s house. 20 But Samson’s wife was given to his companion, whom he had used as his friend.

Observations: 14:1 Samson seems to suffer from the same lack of self-control that plagued the children of the patriarchs. He sees, wants, and demands, regardless of what God has said.

14:4 God is again orchestrating the deliverance of His people though nefarious means, although there is no specific mention of Israel's repentance and crying out to His as upon other occasions.

14:6,19 Twice in this chapter, the Spirit of Yahweh comes upon Samson to accomplish God's purposes.

14:15 The Philistines weren't a nice people, which is one of the reasons God planned to judge them.

14:16-17 Not a good start to a relationship of lifelong bliss.

14:20 Samson left burning in anger, and makes the situation worse: he loses his wife and she gets burned (literally - see next verses in 15:1-6). Acting in the passion of anger is never wise, yet God uses Samson's failures for His ultimate purposes and glory. But Samson suffered loss as the consequence of his anger and actions.

Application: Like Cain, if we don't master our passions, they will master us.

Prayer: Lord, may I add to my faith, self-control. Amen.

Judges 15 Two Burns and a Bone

15:1 But it happened after a while, in the time of wheat harvest, that Samson visited his wife with a young goat; and he said, "I will go in to my wife into the room." But her father wouldn’t allow him to go in. 2 Her father said, "I most certainly thought that you had utterly hated her; therefore I gave her to your companion. Isn’t her younger sister more beautiful than she? Please take her, instead." 3 Samson said to them, "This time I will be blameless in regard of the Philistines, when I harm them." 4 Samson went and caught three hundred foxes, and took torches, and turned tail to tail, and put a torch in the midst between every two tails. 5 When he had set the brands on fire, he let them go into the standing grain of the Philistines, and burnt up both the shocks and the standing grain, and also the olive groves. 6 Then the Philistines said, "Who has done this?" They said, "Samson, the son-in-law of the Timnite, because he has taken his wife, and given her to his companion." The Philistines came up, and burnt her and her father with fire. 7 Samson said to them, "If you behave like this, surely I will be avenged of you, and after that I will cease." 8 He struck them hip and thigh with a great slaughter: and he went down and lived in the cleft of the rock of Etam.

9 Then the Philistines went up, and encamped in Judah, and spread themselves in Lehi. 10 The men of Judah said, "Why have you come up against us?" They said, "We have come up to bind Samson, to do to him as he has done to us." 11 Then three thousand men of Judah went down to the cleft of the rock of Etam, and said to Samson, "Don’t you know that the Philistines are rulers over us? What then is this that you have done to us?" He said to them, "As they did to me, so have I done to them." 12 They said to him, "We have come down to bind you, that we may deliver you into the hand of the Philistines." Samson said to them, "Swear to me that you will not fall on me yourselves." 13 They spoke to him, saying, "No; but we will bind you fast, and deliver you into their hand; but surely we will not kill you." They bound him with two new ropes, and brought him up from the rock. 14 When he came to Lehi, the Philistines shouted as they met him: and the Spirit of Yahweh came mightily on him, and the ropes that were on his arms became as flax that was burnt with fire, and his bands dropped from off his hands. 15 He found a fresh jawbone of a donkey, and put forth his hand, and took it, and struck a thousand men therewith. 16 Samson said, "With the jawbone of a donkey, heaps on heaps; with the jawbone of a donkey I have struck a thousand men." 17 It happened, when he had made an end of speaking, that he cast away the jawbone out of his hand; and that place was called Ramath Lehi.

18 He was very thirsty, and called on Yahweh, and said, "You have given this great deliverance by the hand of your servant; and now shall I die for thirst, and fall into the hand of the uncircumcised?" 19 But God split the hollow place that is in Lehi, and water came out of it. When he had drunk, his spirit came again, and he revived: therefore its name was called En Hakkore, which is in Lehi, to this day. 20 He judged Israel in the days of the Philistines twenty years.

Observations: 15:4 Samson considered himself to be justly paying back the Philistines for their unjust treatment of him. It looks like God was helping him; ever try to catch a fox?

15:11-13 The Israelites would rather live under oppression than risk God's deliverance. Samson trusted that God would empower him to escape.

15:14-20 The Spirit of Yahweh again comes upon Samson resulting in deliverance for Israel and freedom for 20 years. God also answers him when he calls, miraculously providing water from a rock (in Hebrew = “spring of one calling”). Note that Samson has a better relationship with God than his contemporaries (and lots of folks today): trusting God, Spirit-filled/controlled/empowered, being used by Him to accomplish greater purposes of deliverance and rulership, and having God meet his needs supernaturally.

Application: How does your relationship with God compare to Samson's?

Prayer: God who delivers and meets the needs of His servants, may I be empowered by Your Spirit to accomplish Your purposes, not only in my life, but that of others. Amen.

Judges 16 Faith in the Belly of Failure

16:1 Samson went to Gaza, and saw there a prostitute, and went in to her. 2 The Gazites were told, "Samson is here!" They surrounded him, and laid wait for him all night in the gate of the city, and were quiet all the night, saying, "Wait until morning light, then we will kill him." 3 Samson lay until midnight, and arose at midnight, and laid hold of the doors of the gate of the city, and the two posts, and plucked them up, bar and all, and put them on his shoulders, and carried them up to the top of the mountain that is before Hebron.

4 It came to pass afterward, that he loved a woman in the valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah. 5 The lords of the Philistines came up to her, and said to her, "Entice him, and see in which his great strength lies, and by what means we may prevail against him, that we may bind him to afflict him; and we will each give you eleven hundred pieces of silver." 6 Delilah said to Samson, "Please tell me where your great strength lies, and what you might be bound to afflict you." 7 Samson said to her, "If they bind me with seven green cords that were never dried, then shall I become weak, and be as another man." 8 Then the lords of the Philistines brought up to her seven green cords which had not been dried, and she bound him with them. 9 Now she had an ambush waiting in the inner room. She said to him, "The Philistines are on you, Samson!" He broke the cords, as a string of tow is broken when it touches the fire. So his strength was not known. 10 Delilah said to Samson, "Behold, you have mocked me, and told me lies: now please tell me with which you might be bound." 11 He said to her, "If they only bind me with new ropes with which no work has been done, then shall I become weak, and be as another man." 12 So Delilah took new ropes, and bound him therewith, and said to him, "The Philistines are on you, Samson!" The ambush was waiting in the inner room. He broke them off his arms like a thread. 13 Delilah said to Samson, "Until now, you have mocked me and told me lies. Tell me with what you might be bound." He said to her, "If you weave the seven locks of my head with the web." 14 She fastened it with the pin, and said to him, "The Philistines are on you, Samson!" He awakened out of his sleep, and plucked away the pin of the beam, and the web. 15 She said to him, "How can you say, ‘I love you,’ when your heart is not with me? You have mocked me these three times, and have not told me where your great strength lies."

16 It happened, when she pressed him daily with her words, and urged him, that his soul was troubled to death. 17 He told her all his heart, and said to her, "No razor has ever 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 go from me, and I will become weak, and be like any other man." 18 When Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called for the lords of the Philistines, saying, "Come up this once, for he has told me all his heart." Then the lords of the Philistines came up to her, and brought the money in their hand. 19 She made him sleep on her knees; and she called for a man, and shaved off the seven locks of his head; and she began to afflict him, and his strength went from him. 20 She said, "The Philistines are upon you, Samson!" He awoke out of his sleep, and said, "I will go out as at other times, and shake myself free." But he didn’t know that Yahweh had departed from him. 21 The Philistines laid hold on him, and put out his eyes; and they brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he ground at the mill in the prison.

22 However the hair of his head began to grow again after he was shaved. 23 The lords of the Philistines gathered them together to offer a great sacrifice to Dagon their god, and to rejoice; for they said, "Our god has delivered Samson our enemy into our hand." 24 When the people saw him, they praised their god; for they said, "Our god has delivered our enemy and the destroyer of our country, who has slain many of us, into our hand." 25 It happened, when their hearts were merry, that they said, "Call for Samson, that he may entertain us." They called for Samson out of the prison; and he performed before them. They set him between the pillars; 26 and Samson said to the boy who held him by the hand, "Allow me to feel the pillars whereupon the house rests, that I may lean on them." 27 Now the house was full of men and women; and all the lords of the Philistines were there; and there were on the roof about three thousand men and women, who saw while Samson performed.
28 Samson called to Yahweh, and said, "Lord Yahweh, remember me, please, and strengthen me, please, only this once, God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes." 29 Samson took hold of the two middle pillars on which the house rested, and leaned on them, the one with his right hand, and the other with his left. 30 Samson said, "Let me die with the Philistines!" He bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell on the lords, and on all the people who were therein. So the dead that he killed at his death were more than those who he killed in his life. 31 Then his brothers and all the house of his father came down, and took him, and brought him up, and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the burial site of Manoah his father. He judged Israel twenty years.

Observations: 16:1-4 Failure to subdue his passions was Samson's undoing.

16:16-21 Delilah might have been pretty, but she was a world-class nag. Samson might have been super strong, but was weak-willed. When people think with anything other than their brain, they become blind to reality. You think Samson would have perceived her ploy, but he sacrificed long term service of God for temporary “peace.” What was he thinking? Oh, wait, he wasn't.

16:22-31 A bittersweet ending to a semi-tragic life. On one hand, Samson had huge potential, but lacked the discipline to harness it for the greatest good and glory. On the other hand, Samson exercised Hall of Fame Faith by calling on God in the belly of failure. As Samson put his faith into action in pushing the pillars, a plaque went up in Hebrews 11 saying “Samson Pleased God” (11:2,6). God answered in response to his call, as well as to deliver Israel and destroy Dagon. Samson ended far better than Gideon.

Heb 11:32 “What more shall I say? For the time would fail me if I told of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets”

Application: It is never too late to do the right thing and trust God, calling upon Him, even if ensnared by our own stupidity. We'd do better if we avoided the stupidity part.

Prayer: God, You always answer so that You are glorified; use my life to glorify you. Amen.

Digging Deeper:

God in a nutshell: God uses various means to accomplish His purposes, rarely raising up an individual from birth. God uses imperfect vessels, incorporating their foolish choices, but lets them reap the painful consequences of their sin. God answers His servants when they call, delivering in such a way as to glorify Himself and accomplish His plans.

Us in a nutshell: We often seek the low road of temporal gratification and comfort even when it results in more pain than doing the right thing. We sometimes use the gifts and abilities God has given us for our glory rather than God's. We don't have to be perfect to be used by God and be occasionally pleasing to Him, but we would have less pain and a more pleasant existence if we strove for perfection (or at least not being blooming idiots).

Where to Go for More:

Truthbase.net

Samson: Faith in the Belly of Failure

Judges complete text

Judges 13

15 Manoah said to the angel of Yahweh, "Please, let us detain you, that we may make a young goat ready for you." 16 The angel of Yahweh said to Manoah, "Though you detain me, I won’t eat of your bread; and if you will prepare a burnt offering, you must offer it to Yahweh." For Manoah didn’t know that he was the angel of Yahweh. 17 Manoah said to the angel of Yahweh, "What is your name, that when your words happen, we may honour you?" 18 The angel of Yahweh said to him, "Why do you ask about my name, since it is wonderful?" 19 So Manoah took the young goat with the meal offering, and offered it on the rock to Yahweh. Then the angel did a wonderful thing as Manoah and his wife looked on. 20 For it happened, when the flame went up toward the sky from off the altar, that the angel of Yahweh ascended in the flame of the altar: and Manoah and his wife looked on; and they fell on their faces to the ground. 21 But the angel of Yahweh didn’t appear to Manoah or to his wife any more. Then Manoah knew that he was the angel of Yahweh. 22 Manoah said to his wife, "We shall surely die, because we have seen God." 23 But his wife said to him, "If Yahweh were pleased to kill us, he wouldn’t have received a burnt offering and a meal offering at our hand, neither would he have shown us all these things, nor would at this time have told such things as these."

24 The woman bore a son, and named him Samson: and the child grew, and Yahweh blessed him. 25 The Spirit of Yahweh began to move him in Mahaneh Dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol.

Judges 14

Judges 15

Judges 16

18 When Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called for the lords of the Philistines, saying, "Come up this once, for he has told me all his heart." Then the lords of the Philistines came up to her, and brought the money in their hand. 19 She made him sleep on her knees; and she called for a man, and shaved off the seven locks of his head; and she began to afflict him, and his strength went from him. 20 She said, "The Philistines are upon you, Samson!" He awoke out of his sleep, and said, "I will go out as at other times, and shake myself free." But he didn’t know that Yahweh had departed from him. 21 The Philistines laid hold on him, and put out his eyes; and they brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he ground at the mill in the prison.

22 However the hair of his head began to grow again after he was shaved. 23 The lords of the Philistines gathered them together to offer a great sacrifice to Dagon their god, and to rejoice; for they said, "Our god has delivered Samson our enemy into our hand." 24 When the people saw him, they praised their god; for they said, "Our god has delivered our enemy and the destroyer of our country, who has slain many of us, into our hand." 25 It happened, when their hearts were merry, that they sai¶ d, "Call for Samson, that he may entertain us." They called for Samson out of the prison; and he performed before them. They set him between the pillars; 26 and Samson said to the boy who held him by the hand, "Allow me to feel the pillars whereupon the house rests, that I may lean on them." 27 Now the house was full of men and women; and all the lords of the Philistines were there; and there were on the roof about three thousand men and women, who saw while Samson performed. 28 Samson called to Yahweh, and said, "Lord Yahweh, remember me, please, and strengthen me, please, only this once, God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes." 29 Samson took hold of the two middle pillars on which the house rested, and leaned on them, the one with his right hand, and the other with his left. 30 Samson said, "Let me die with the Philistines!" He bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell on the lords, and on all the people who were therein. So the dead that he killed at his death were more than those who he killed in his life. 31 Then his brothers and all the house of his father came down, and took him, and brought him up, and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the burial site of Manoah his father. He judged Israel twenty years.

Judges 9-12 Faithful Regardless of the Cost

Psalm 37:1-11 Fretting vs Faithfulness

Ps 37:1 “Don't fret because of evildoers, neither be envious against those who work unrighteousness.2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither like the green herb. 3 Trust in Yahweh, and do good. Dwell in the land, and cultivate faithfulness/enjoy safe pasture. 4 Also delight yourself in Yahweh, and he will give you the petitions/desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to Yahweh. Trust also in him, and he will do this: 6 he will make your righteousness go forth as the light, and your justice as the noon day sun. 7 Rest in Yahweh, and wait patiently for him. Don't fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who makes wicked plots happen. 8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath. Don't fret, it leads only to evildoing. 9 For evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for Yahweh shall inherit the land. 10 For yet a little while, and the wicked will be no more. Yes, though you look for his place, he isn't there. 11 But the humble shall inherit the land, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

Observations: We're told not to fret (3x). The word for “fret” is usually translated kindled, which does a good job of conveying the image of starting a little fire which flares up in anger, wrath, and getting ourselves burned in the process.

Instead of getting all hot and bothered, coolly trust (2x) and delight yourself in God, then He will grant your petitions (“desires” is a poor translation of the noun which comes from the verb that clearly means to ask, as in pray for something). When God is our highest good, He gives us the other goodies as well, including vindicating us from the bad guys. All we have to do (besides delight) is trust and do good, focus on being faithful, and wait for Him to act and answer our prayers (rather than starting our little bonfire).

Application: The irritations of the bad guys are a good reminder to ask ourselves “In what or whom do we delight?” and “What am I trusting and asking God to do in this situation?”

Prayer: My Delight and Deliverer, I will trust You, do good, and cultivate faithfulness, because You are far better at battling my tormentors and blessing me than I am. Amen.

Proverbs 10:18-21; 31-32 Sweet Speech

Pr 10:18 “He who hides hatred has lying lips. He who utters a slander is a fool. 19 In the multitude of words there is no lack of transgression, but he who restrains his lips does wisely. 20 The tongue of the righteous is like choice silver. The heart of the wicked is of little worth. 21 The lips of the righteous feed many, but the foolish die for lack of understanding.

31 The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but the perverse tongue will be cut off. 32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked is perverse.“

Observations: 10:18-21 We'll consider both sections on wise speech together. The ability to control one's speech is a matter of disciplining and sanctifying the heart (Mt 12:34). Both secret hatred and open slander are condemned in verse 18. This is almost the reverse of 10:12 “Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all sins.” Harboring hatred in one's heart is wrong and will result in additional sin, at least that of hypocritical lying, and will usually manifest itself in foolish slander (wrong objective chosen). Slander falsely puts down another to build one's own worth, because the sinner isn't getting worth and value from being pleasing in God's sight. A torrent of words usually spills out of a hating heart, abounding with transgression. Restraining one's lips is wise; removing animosity from the heart is even wiser (right objective). Wise words are valuable like choice silver, but what comes out of the heart of the wicked is not only worthless, but toxic. Righteous words feed many, speaking life enriching truth. Fools, who neither learn nor speak words of wisdom will shrivel up and die from a lack of Biblical nourishment (and perhaps the consequences of their sin).

10:31-32 The righteous, who got that way from learning and assimilating truth, speak what is wise, and, as Daniel prophesied, will shine with glory (Dan 12:3). The perverse tongue of the wicked fool will be cut off, as will they from blessing and life. The righteous speak what is appropriate and pleasing but the wicked (who don't obey the truth -Ps 50) speak what is crooked and perverse.

Application: Sanctifying one's heart results in sweet speech that nourishes many.

Prayer: Lord, may the meditations of my heart and the words of my mouth be pleasing in Your ears, and those of my hearers. Amen.

Judges 9-12 This section introduces us to another unlikely inclusion in Faith's Hall of Fame, Jephthah the Warmonger, who is thought by some to have offered his daughter as a human sacrifice in return for a battle victory. We start with a truly unsavory character, Abimelech, the consequence of Gideon having a concubine in Shechem, a Canaanite territory.

Judges 9 Injustice and Payback

9:1 "Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal (Gideon) went to Shechem to his mother’s brothers, and spoke with them, and with all the family of the house of his mother’s father, saying, 2 "Please speak in the ears of all the men of Shechem, ‘Is it better for you that all the sons of Jerubbaal, who are seventy persons, rule over you, or that one rule over you?’ Remember also that I am your bone and your flesh." 3 His mother’s brothers spoke of him in the ears of all the men of Shechem all these words: and their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech; for they said, "He is our brother." 4 They gave him seventy pieces of silver out of the house of Baal Berith, with which Abimelech hired vain and worthless fellows, who followed him. 5 He went to his father’s house at Ophrah, and killed his brothers the sons of Jerubbaal, being seventy persons, on one stone: but Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left; for he hid himself. 6 All the men of Shechem assembled themselves together, and all the house of Millo, and went and made Abimelech king, by the oak of the pillar that was in Shechem.

7 When they told it to Jotham, he went and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim, and lifted up his voice, and cried, and said to them, "Listen to me, you men of Shechem, that God may listen to you...14 "Then all the trees said to the bramble, ‘Come and reign over us.’ 15 "The bramble said to the trees, ‘If in truth you anoint me king over you, then come and take refuge in my shade; and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon.’ 16 "Now therefore, if you have dealt truly and righteously, in that you have made Abimelech king, and if you have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done to him according to the deserving of his hands 17 (for my father fought for you, and risked his life, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian: 18 and you have risen up against my father’s house this day, and have slain his sons, seventy persons, on one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his female servant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother); 19 if you then have dealt truly and righteously with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you: 20 but if not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the men of Shechem, and the house of Millo; and let fire come out from the men of Shechem, and from the house of Millo, and devour Abimelech." 21 Jotham ran away, and fled, and went to Beer, and lived there, for fear of Abimelech his brother.

45 Abimelech fought against the city all that day; and he took the city, and killed the people who were therein: and he beat down the city, and sowed it with salt. 50 Then went Abimelech to Thebez, and encamped against Thebez, and took it. 51 But there was a strong tower within the city, and there fled all the men and women, and all they of the city, and shut themselves in, and went up to the roof of the tower. 52 Abimelech came to the tower, and fought against it, and drew near to the door of the tower to burn it with fire. 53 A certain woman cast an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head, and broke his skull. 54 Then he called hastily to the young man his armour bearer, and said to him, "Draw your sword, and kill me, that men not say of me, ‘A woman killed him.’ His young man thrust him through, and he died." 55 When the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they departed every man to his place. 56 Thus God requited the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did to his father, in killing his seventy brothers; 57 and all the wickedness of the men of Shechem did God requite on their heads: and on them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal."

Observations: 9:1-6 Abimelech, the less than legitimate heir, persuades his kinsmen that having him as ruler was better than having Gideon's 69 sons as rulers. They give him blood money to kill the other sons. Apparently Gideon did not pass on a relationship with God to his 70 sons that would enable God to bless them. I wonder what he did with his time?

9:7-21 Jotham the youngest son hid himself and escapes death. He then delivers a prophetic parable, mentioning God for the first time in the chapter, comparing Abimelech to an ignoble bramble that usurps the rule. He calls on the men of Shechem to deal justly.

9:23 Three years later God (second mention) sends an evil spirit to drive a wedge between Abimelech and his kinsmen. The ensuing battles show the people of the land destroying themselves, with no mention of God raising up a deliverer. Eventually a woman halts Abimelech's destruction by smashing his skull with a millstone.

9:56-57 The chapter indicates that God (third and fourth mention) used Jotham's speech to pay back the evil doers. God delivered Israel behind the scenes orchestrating the evil desires of people to bring about justice, and the preservation of His people (even in their disobedience). In future passages throughout the OT we'll see God use the wicked to judge His less than righteous people, but still preserving them according to His promises.

Application: God always pays back justly, sometimes using the wicked to judge both the wicked and the disobedient. To avoid judgment, be righteous.

Prayer: God Who works out His purposes through all kinds of people, protect me from evil people and guide me in the just paths that lead to prosperity. Thank You. Amen.

Judges 10 Learn At The Low Volume

10:1 "After Abimelech there arose to save Israel Tola the son of Puah, the son of Dodo, a man of Issachar; and he lived in Shamir in the hill country of Ephraim. 2 He judged Israel twenty-three years, and died, and was buried in Shamir. 3 After him arose Jair, the Gileadite; and he judged Israel twenty-two years. 4 He had thirty sons who rode on thirty donkey colts, and they had thirty cities, which are called Havvoth Jair to this day, which are in the land of Gilead. 5 Jair died, and was buried in Kamon.

6 The children of Israel again did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, and served the Baals, and the Ashtaroth, and the gods of Syria, and the gods of Sidon, and the gods of Moab, and the gods of the children of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines; and they forsook Yahweh, and didn't serve him. 7 The anger of Yahweh was kindled against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the children of Ammon. 8 They troubled and oppressed the children of Israel that year. For eighteen years, they oppressed all the children of Israel that were beyond the Jordan in the land of the Amorites, which is in Gilead. 9 The children of Ammon passed over the Jordan to fight also against Judah, and against Benjamin, and against the house of Ephraim; so that Israel was very distressed.

10 The children of Israel cried to Yahweh, saying, "We have sinned against you, even because we have forsaken our God, and have served the Baals." 11 Yahweh said to the children of Israel, "Didn't I save you from the Egyptians, and from the Amorites, from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines? 12 The Sidonians also, and the Amalekites, and the Maonites, oppressed you; and you cried to me, and I saved you out of their hand. 13 Yet you have forsaken me, and served other gods: therefore I will save you no more. 14 Go and cry to the gods which you have chosen. Let them save you in the time of your distress!" 15 The children of Israel said to Yahweh, "We have sinned: do you to us whatever seems good to you; only deliver us, please, this day." 16 They put away the foreign gods from among them, and served Yahweh; and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel. 17 Then the children of Ammon were gathered together, and encamped in Gilead. The children of Israel assembled themselves together, and encamped in Mizpah. 18 The people, the princes of Gilead, said one to another, "What man is he who will begin to fight against the children of Ammon? He shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead."

Observations: 10:1-5 Two minor judges. About a generation of freedom.

10:6-9 Israel served everybody except God, being so stupid that they had to be satanically energized.

10:10-15 After suffering the consequences of their actions for 18 years, Israel wises up and acknowledges their sin, calling out to God for deliverance. God's patience reached its limit, like at Kadesh-Barnea, and He says: let the gods you've chosen save you. Not very godlike from the perspective of those who don't have a Biblical view of God.

10:16-18 Note what the people had failed to do when they first acknowledged their sin: they hadn't stopped their evil practices, nor done what God required, but expected God to help them. No dice. God let them continue to suffer in the wrong path they chose, to teach them (and us) a lesson. Even though grieved by their suffering, He even increases the volume of their discipline, bringing the Ammonites against them.

Application: Don't call out to God for deliverance from your sin unless you have forsaken it.

Prayer: God don't let me stupidly forsake you, nor think that I can have Your benefits without obedience. Help me learn faithful obedience at the low volume. Amen.

Judges 11 Faithful Regardless of the Cost

11:1 "Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valor, and he was the son of a prostitute: and Gilead became the father of Jephthah. 2 Gilead’s wife bore him sons; and when his wife’s sons grew up, they drove out Jephthah, and said to him, "You shall not inherit in our father’s house; for you are the son of another woman." 3 Then Jephthah fled from his brothers, and lived in the land of Tob: and there were gathered vain fellows to Jephthah, and they went out with him. 4 It happened after a while, that the children of Ammon made war against Israel. 5 It was so, that when the children of Ammon made war against Israel, the elders of Gilead went to get Jephthah out of the land of Tob; 6 and they said to Jephthah, "Come and be our chief, that we may fight with the children of Ammon." 7 Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, "Didn’t you hate me, and drive me out of my father’s house? Why have you come to me now when you are in distress?" 8 The elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, "Therefore we have turned again to you now, that you may go with us, and fight with the children of Ammon; and you shall be our head over all the inhabitants of Gilead."

9 Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, "If you bring me home again to fight with the children of Ammon, and Yahweh deliver them before me, shall I be your head?" 10 The elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, "Yahweh shall be witness between us; surely according to your word so will we do." 11 Then Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and chief over them: and Jephthah spoke all his words before Yahweh in Mizpah. 12 Jephthah sent messengers to the king of the children of Ammon, saying, "What have you to do with me, that you have come to me to fight against my land?" 13 The king of the children of Ammon answered to the messengers of Jephthah, "Because Israel took away my land, when he came up out of Egypt, from the Arnon even to the Jabbok, and to the Jordan: now therefore restore that territory again peaceably." 14 Jephthah sent messengers again to the king of the children of Ammon; 15 and he said to him, "Thus says Jephthah: Israel didn’t take away the land of Moab, nor the land of the children of Ammon, 16 but when they came up from Egypt, and Israel went through the wilderness to the Red Sea, and came to Kadesh...19 Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, the king of Heshbon; and Israel said to him, ‘Please let us pass through your land to my place.’ 20 But Sihon didn’t trust Israel to pass through his border; but Sihon gathered all his people together, and encamped in Jahaz, and fought against Israel. 21 Yahweh, the God of Israel, delivered Sihon and all his people into the hand of Israel, and they struck them: so Israel possessed all the land of the Amorites, the inhabitants of that country. 22 They possessed all the border of the Amorites, from the Arnon even to the Jabbok, and from the wilderness even to the Jordan. 23 So now Yahweh, the God of Israel, has dispossessed the Amorites from before his people Israel, and should you possess them? 24 Won’t you possess that which Chemosh your god gives you to possess? So whoever Yahweh our God has dispossessed from before us, them will we possess. 26 While Israel lived...by the side of the Arnon, three hundred years; why didn’t you recover them within that time? 27 I therefore have not sinned against you, but you do me wrong to war against me. Yahweh, the Judge, be judge this day between the children of Israel and the children of Ammon." 28 However the king of the children of Ammon didn’t listen to the words of Jephthah which he sent him.

36 She said to him, "My father, you have opened your mouth to Yahweh; do to me according to that which has proceeded out of your mouth, because Yahweh has taken vengeance for you on your enemies, even on the children of Ammon." 37 She said to her father, "Let this thing be done for me: let me alone two months, that I may depart and go down on the mountains, and bewail my virginity, I and my companions." 38 He said, "Go." He sent her away for two months: and she departed, she and her companions, and mourned her virginity on the mountains. 39 It happened at the end of two months, that she returned to her father, who did with her according to his vow which he had vowed: and she was a virgin. It was a custom in Israel, 40 that the daughters of Israel went yearly to celebrate the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite four days in a year."

Observations: 11:1-7 Here's a example where “hate” means not necessarily dislike, but refusing to have covenantal relationships with another. In their time of need they turn to the person they spurned, for help. Instead of continuing to call on God, they offer Jephthah rulership for protection.

11:9 Jephthah looks to Yahweh for success.

11:10-28 He first tries a diplomatic solution, detailing the history. He recalls that Yahweh gave them the land after the Amorites attacked Israel, 300 years ago, and that one possess the land their God gives them.

11:29-31 The Spirit of God comes upon Jephthah, and he vows (as the Psalmist frequently does) to thank God for deliverance by dedicating to Him whatever he encounters when he returns home in peace. Some commentators and most translators focus on just the word “olah” which properly means “ascent” and by extension is used of an sacrifice that ascends to God in a whole burnt offering. However, God was very explicit of what could and could not be offered. A dog or a pig would be an abomination. Even offering a blemished or unspecified animal, or offering without obedience was an abomination in God's sight. Human sacrifice was specifically prohibited (Leviticus 18:21; 20:2-5; Deuteronomy 12:31; Deuteronomy 18:10). Understanding “olah” in its broader meaning of something that goes to God (there is no concept of burning anywhere in the basic meaning either) yields the understanding of the passage that is consistent with a Spirit filled and divinely prospered servant of God fulfilling a vow to thank God for deliverance.

11:34-40 After God rewards Jephthah's faith with victory, he returns home, and encounters his only child, a daughter, rather than a suitable sacrificial animal. He faithfully follows through on his vow to dedicate her completely to God, most reasonably through temple service, which would prohibit her from marrying and bearing heirs. This is a disappointment to both him and her. She mourns not the loss of her life, but her lack of being able to bear children. Jephthah faithfully follows through on his vow, regardless of the cost, earning Him a place in Faith's Hall of Fame.

Application: God is worthy of being faithfully followed, regardless of the cost.

Prayer: God, may I never go back on my promises to You, faithfully following through regardless of the cost to my temporal desires and ambitions. Amen.

Judges 12 What's the Password?

12:1 "The men of Ephraim were gathered together, and passed northward; and they said to Jephthah, "Why did you pass over to fight against the children of Ammon, and didn't call us to go with you? We will burn your house around you with fire!" 2 Jephthah said to them, "I and my people were at great strife with the children of Ammon; and when I called you, you didn't save me out of their hand. 3 When I saw that you didn't save me, I put my life in my hand, and passed over against the children of Ammon, and Yahweh delivered them into my hand. Why then have you come up to me this day, to fight against me?" 4 Then Jephthah gathered together all the men of Gilead, and fought with Ephraim; and the men of Gilead struck Ephraim...5 The Gileadites took the fords of the Jordan against the Ephraimites. It was so, that when the fugitives of Ephraim said, "Let me go over," the men of Gilead said to him, "Are you an Ephraimite?" If he said, "No"; 6 then they said to him, "Now say ‘Shibboleth;’" and he said "Sibboleth"; for he couldn't manage to pronounce it right: then they seized him, and killed him at the fords of the Jordan. At that time, forty-two thousand of Ephraim fell. 7 Jephthah judged Israel six years. Then Jephthah the Gileadite died, and was buried in the cities of Gilead.

8 After him Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel. 9 He had thirty sons; and thirty daughters he sent abroad, and thirty daughters he brought in from abroad for his sons. He judged Israel seven years. 10 Ibzan died, and was buried at Bethlehem. 11 After him Elon the Zebulunite judged Israel; and he judged Israel ten years. 12 Elon the Zebulunite died, and was buried in Aijalon in the land of Zebulun. 13 After him Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite judged Israel. 14 He had forty sons and thirty sons’ sons, who rode on seventy donkey colts: and he judged Israel eight years. 15 Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite died, and was buried in Pirathon in the land of Ephraim, in the hill country of the Amalekites."

Observations: 12:1 Just like Gideon, Jephthah encounters lying (satanically inspired) opposition from the Ephriamites. Instead this time rather than appeasing them, Jephthah destroys them.

12:5-6 Shibboleth means “stream” an appropriate password for crossing a river. However, regional dialects being what they are, the Ephraimites pronounced it Sibboleth, without the “h” revealing their identity.

12:8-15 More minor judges with kids on donkeys.

Application: Learn how to pronounce things correctly. Or if you want something more spiritual, beware of hubris (learn how to use a dictionary if you don't know this one), which leads us to getting worth and value at the expense of others, because we don't get it from God (by obeying Him).

Prayer: God, may I do what is pleasing in Your sight, so I don't have to care about looking good relative to others. Amen.

Digging Deeper:

God in a nutshell: God lets His people reap the consequences of their sin, even though it pains Him. He lets us choose whom we will serve, and sovereignly and justly gives us the consequence of our choice. God can orchestrate the actions of even wicked people to bring about His plan to purify His people. He will not even consider answering prayers of repentance, unless the repentance is real, resulting in obedient service. He empowers righteous people to serve Him, and is pleased by unflinching faithfulness.

Us in a nutshell: We are allowed the freedom to make bad choices, even though the consequences pain both us and God. We will reap just consequences for our choices. We tend to forget what God and others have done for us, demonstrating a surprising disloyalty to both God and man. We can refuse to cooperate with God's plan to purify a holy people that He can bless, and instead reap pain rather than purity. Some individuals do demonstrate God-glorifying faith, and they enjoy God's blessing and reward (Hebrews 11:6).

Where to Go for More:

Truthbase.net

Judges (complete text)

Judges 9

9:1 "Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem to his mother’s brothers, and spoke with them, and with all the family of the house of his mother’s father, saying, 2 "Please speak in the ears of all the men of Shechem, ‘Is it better for you that all the sons of Jerubbaal, who are seventy persons, rule over you, or that one rule over you?’ Remember also that I am your bone and your flesh." 3 His mother’s brothers spoke of him in the ears of all the men of Shechem all these words: and their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech; for they said, "He is our brother." 4 They gave him seventy pieces of silver out of the house of Baal Berith, with which Abimelech hired vain and light fellows, who followed him. 5 He went to his father’s house at Ophrah, and killed his brothers the sons of Jerubbaal, being seventy persons, on one stone: but Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left; for he hid himself. 6 All the men of Shechem assembled themselves together, and all the house of Millo, and went and made Abimelech king, by the oak of the pillar that was in Shechem.

7 When they told it to Jotham, he went and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim, and lifted up his voice, and cried, and said to them, "Listen to me, you men of Shechem, that God may listen to you. 8 The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’ 9 "But the olive tree said to them, ‘Should I leave my fatness, with which by me they honour God and man, and go to wave back and forth over the trees?’ 10 "The trees said to the fig tree, ‘Come and reign over us.’ 11 "But the fig tree said to them, ‘Should I leave my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to wave back and forth over the trees?’ 12 "The trees said to the vine, ‘Come and reign over us.’ 13 "The vine said to them, ‘Should I leave my new wine, which cheers God and man, and go to wave back and forth over the trees?’ 14 "Then all the trees said to the bramble, ‘Come and reign over us.’ 15 "The bramble said to the trees, ‘If in truth you anoint me king over you, then come and take refuge in my shade; and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon.’ 16 "Now therefore, if you have dealt truly and righteously, in that you have made Abimelech king, and if you have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done to him according to the deserving of his hands 17 (for my father fought for you, and risked his life, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian: 18 and you have risen up against my father’s house this day, and have slain his sons, seventy persons, on one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his female servant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother); 19 if you then have dealt truly and righteously with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you: 20 but if not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the men of Shechem, and the house of Millo; and let fire come out from the men of Shechem, and from the house of Millo, and devour Abimelech." 21 Jotham ran away, and fled, and went to Beer, and lived there, for fear of Abimelech his brother.

22 Abimelech was prince over Israel three years. 23 God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech: 24 that the violence done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might come, and that 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. 25 The men of Shechem set an ambush for him on the tops of the mountains, and they robbed all who came along that way by them: and it was told Abimelech. 26 Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brothers, and went over to Shechem; and the men of Shechem put their trust in him. 27 They went out into the field, and harvested their vineyards, and trod the grapes, and held festival, and went into the house of their god, and ate and drank, and cursed Abimelech. 28 Gaal the son of Ebed said, "Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? Isn’t he the son of Jerubbaal? and Zebul his officer? Serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem: but why should we serve him? 29 Would that this people were under my hand! Then I would remove Abimelech." He said to Abimelech, "Increase your army, and come out!" 30 When Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was kindled. 31 He sent messengers to Abimelech craftily, saying, "Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his brothers have come to Shechem; and behold, they incite the city against you. 32 Now therefore, go up by night, you and the people who are with you, and lie in wait in the field: 33 and it shall be, that in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, you shall rise early, and rush on the city; and behold, when he and the people who are with him come out against you, then may you do to them as you shall find occasion." 34 Abimelech rose up, and all the people who were with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies. 35 Gaal the son of Ebed went out, and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city: and Abimelech rose up, and the people who were with him, from the ambush. 36 When Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, "Behold, people are coming down from the tops of the mountains." Zebul said to him, "You see the shadow of the mountains as if they were men." 37 Gaal spoke again and said, "Behold, people are coming down by the middle of the land, and one company comes by the way of the oak of Meonenim." 38 Then Zebul said to him, "Now where is your mouth, that you said, ‘Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him?’ Isn’t this the people that you have despised? Please go out now and fight with them." 39 Gaal went out before the men of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech. 40 Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him, and many fell wounded, even to the entrance of the gate. 41 Abimelech lived at Arumah: and Zebul drove out Gaal and his brothers, that they should not dwell in Shechem. 42 It happened on the next day, that the people went out into the field; and they told Abimelech. 43 He took the people, and divided them into three companies, and laid wait in the field; and he looked, and behold, the people came forth out of the city; he rose up against them, and struck them. 44 Abimelech, and the companies that were with him, rushed forward, and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city: and the two companies rushed on all who were in the field, and struck them. 45 Abimelech fought against the city all that day; and he took the city, and killed the people who were therein: and he beat down the city, and sowed it with salt. 46 When all the men of the tower of Shechem heard of it, they entered into the stronghold of the house of Elberith. 47 It was told Abimelech that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together. 48 Abimelech went up to Mount Zalmon, he and all the people who were with him; and Abimelech took an axe in his hand, and cut down a bough from the trees, and took it up, and laid it on his shoulder: and he said to the people who were with him, "What you have seen me do, make haste, and do as I have done!" 49 All the people likewise each cut down his bough, and followed Abimelech, and put them at the base of the stronghold, and set the stronghold on fire on them; so that all the people of the tower of Shechem died also, about a thousand men and women.

50 Then went Abimelech to Thebez, and encamped against Thebez, and took it. 51 But there was a strong tower within the city, and there fled all the men and women, and all they of the city, and shut themselves in, and went up to the roof of the tower. 52 Abimelech came to the tower, and fought against it, and drew near to the door of the tower to burn it with fire. 53 A certain woman cast an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head, and broke his skull. 54 Then he called hastily to the young man his armour bearer, and said to him, "Draw your sword, and kill me, that men not say of me, ‘A woman killed him.’ His young man thrust him through, and he died." 55 When the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they departed every man to his place. 56 Thus God requited the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did to his father, in killing his seventy brothers; 57 and all the wickedness of the men of Shechem did God requite on their heads: and on them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal."

Judges 10

6 The children of Israel again did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, and served the Baals, and the Ashtaroth, and the gods of Syria, and the gods of Sidon, and the gods of Moab, and the gods of the children of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines; and they forsook Yahweh, and didn’t serve him. 7 The anger of Yahweh was kindled against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the children of Ammon. 8 They troubled and oppressed the children of Israel that year. For eighteen years, they oppressed all the children of Israel that were beyond the Jordan in the land of the Amorites, which is in Gilead. 9 The children of Ammon passed over the Jordan to fight also against Judah, and against Benjamin, and against the house of Ephraim; so that Israel was very distressed.

10 The children of Israel cried to Yahweh, saying, "We have sinned against you, even because we have forsaken our God, and have served the Baals." 11 Yahweh said to the children of Israel, "Didn’t I save you from the Egyptians, and from the Amorites, from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines? 12 The Sidonians also, and the Amalekites, and the Maonites, oppressed you; and you cried to me, and I saved you out of their hand. 13 Yet you have forsaken me, and served other gods: therefore I will save you no more. 14 Go and cry to the gods which you have chosen. Let them save you in the time of your distress!" 15 The children of Israel said to Yahweh, "We have sinned: do you to us whatever seems good to you; only deliver us, please, this day." 16 They put away the foreign gods from among them, and served Yahweh; and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel. 17 Then the children of Ammon were gathered together, and encamped in Gilead. The children of Israel assembled themselves together, and encamped in Mizpah. 18 The people, the princes of Gilead, said one to another, "What man is he who will begin to fight against the children of Ammon? He shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead."

Judges 11

11:1 "Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valour, and he was the son of a prostitute: and Gilead became the father of Jephthah. 2 Gilead’s wife bore him sons; and when his wife’s sons grew up, they drove out Jephthah, and said to him, "You shall not inherit in our father’s house; for you are the son of another woman." 3 Then Jephthah fled from his brothers, and lived in the land of Tob: and there were gathered vain fellows to Jephthah, and they went out with him.

4 It happened after a while, that the children of Ammon made war against Israel. 5 It was so, that when the children of Ammon made war against Israel, the elders of Gilead went to get Jephthah out of the land of Tob; 6 and they said to Jephthah, "Come and be our chief, that we may fight with the children of Ammon." 7 Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, "Didn’t you hate me, and drive me out of my father’s house? Why have you come to me now when you are in distress?" 8 The elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, "Therefore we have turned again to you now, that you may go with us, and fight with the children of Ammon; and you shall be our head over all the inhabitants of Gilead." 9 Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, "If you bring me home again to fight with the children of Ammon, and Yahweh deliver them before me, shall I be your head?" 10 The elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, "Yahweh shall be witness between us; surely according to your word so will we do." 11 Then Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and chief over them: and Jephthah spoke all his words before Yahweh in Mizpah.

12 Jephthah sent messengers to the king of the children of Ammon, saying, "What have you to do with me, that you have come to me to fight against my land?" 13 The king of the children of Ammon answered to the messengers of Jephthah, "Because Israel took away my land, when he came up out of Egypt, from the Arnon even to the Jabbok, and to the Jordan: now therefore restore that territory again peaceably." 14 Jephthah sent messengers again to the king of the children of Ammon; 15 and he said to him, "Thus says Jephthah: Israel didn’t take away the land of Moab, nor the land of the children of Ammon, 16 but when they came up from Egypt, and Israel went through the wilderness to the Red Sea, and came to Kadesh; 17 then Israel sent messengers to the king of Edom, saying, ‘Please let me pass through your land’; but the king of Edom didn’t listen. In the same way, he sent to the king of Moab; but he would not: and Israel stayed in Kadesh. 18 Then they went through the wilderness, and went around the land of Edom, and the land of Moab, and came by the east side of the land of Moab, and they encamped on the other side of the Arnon; but they didn’t come within the border of Moab, for the Arnon was the border of Moab. 19 Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, the king of Heshbon; and Israel said to him, ‘Please let us pass through your land to my place.’ 20 But Sihon didn’t trust Israel to pass through his border; but Sihon gathered all his people together, and encamped in Jahaz, and fought against Israel. 21 Yahweh, the God of Israel, delivered Sihon and all his people into the hand of Israel, and they struck them: so Israel possessed all the land of the Amorites, the inhabitants of that country. 22 They possessed all the border of the Amorites, from the Arnon even to the Jabbok, and from the wilderness even to the Jordan. 23 So now Yahweh, the God of Israel, has dispossessed the Amorites from before his people Israel, and should you possess them? 24 Won’t you possess that which Chemosh your god gives you to possess? So whoever Yahweh our God has dispossessed from before us, them will we possess. 25 Now are you anything better than Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab? Did he ever strive against Israel, or did he ever fight against them? 26 While Israel lived in Heshbon and its towns, and in Aroer and its towns, and in all the cities that are along by the side of the Arnon, three hundred years; why didn’t you recover them within that time? 27 I therefore have not sinned against you, but you do me wrong to war against me. Yahweh, the Judge, be judge this day between the children of Israel and the children of Ammon." 28 However the king of the children of Ammon didn’t listen to the words of Jephthah which he sent him.

29 Then the Spirit of Yahweh came on Jephthah, and he passed over Gilead and Manasseh, and passed over Mizpeh of Gilead, and from Mizpeh of Gilead he passed over to the children of Ammon. 30 Jephthah vowed a vow to Yahweh, and said, "If you will indeed deliver the children of Ammon into my hand, 31 then it shall be, that whatever comes forth from the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, it shall be Yahweh’s, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering." 32 So Jephthah passed over to the children of Ammon to fight against them; and Yahweh delivered them into his hand. 33 He struck them from Aroer until you come to Minnith, even twenty cities, and to Abelcheramim, with a very great slaughter. So the children of Ammon were subdued before the children of Israel. 34 Jephthah came to Mizpah to his house; and behold, his daughter came out to meet him with tambourines and with dances: and she was his only child; besides her he had neither son nor daughter. 35 It happened, when he saw her, that he tore his clothes, and said, "Alas, my daughter! You have brought me very low, and you are one of those who trouble me; for I have opened my mouth to Yahweh, and I can’t go back." 36 She said to him, "My father, you have opened your mouth to Yahweh; do to me according to that which has proceeded out of your mouth, because Yahweh has taken vengeance for you on your enemies, even on the children of Ammon." 37 She said to her father, "Let this thing be done for me: let me alone two months, that I may depart and go down on the mountains, and bewail my virginity, I and my companions." 38 He said, "Go." He sent her away for two months: and she departed, she and her companions, and mourned her virginity on the mountains. 39 It happened at the end of two months, that she returned to her father, who did with her according to his vow which he had vowed: and she was a virgin. It was a custom in Israel, 40 that the daughters of Israel went yearly to celebrate the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite four days in a year."

Judges 12

12:1 "The men of Ephraim were gathered together, and passed northward; and they said to Jephthah, "Why did you pass over to fight against the children of Ammon, and didn’t call us to go with you? We will burn your house around you with fire!" 2 Jephthah said to them, "I and my people were at great strife with the children of Ammon; and when I called you, you didn’t save me out of their hand. 3 When I saw that you didn’t save me, I put my life in my hand, and passed over against the children of Ammon, and Yahweh delivered them into my hand. Why then have you come up to me this day, to fight against me?" 4 Then Jephthah gathered together all the men of Gilead, and fought with Ephraim; and the men of Gilead struck Ephraim, because they said, "You are fugitives of Ephraim, you Gileadites, in the midst of Ephraim, and in the midst of Manasseh." 5 The Gileadites took the fords of the Jordan against the Ephraimites. It was so, that when the fugitives of Ephraim said, "Let me go over," the men of Gilead said to him, "Are you an Ephraimite?" If he said, "No"; 6 then they said to him, "Now say ‘Shibboleth;’" and he said "Sibboleth"; for he couldn’t manage to pronounce it right: then they seized him, and killed him at the fords of the Jordan. At that time, forty-two thousand of Ephraim fell. 7 Jephthah judged Israel six years. Then Jephthah the Gileadite died, and was buried in the cities of Gilead.

Judges 13-16 Samson: Faith in the Belly of Failure

Judges 9-12 Faithful Regardless of the Cost

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