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.
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.
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.
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."
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:
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
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."
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.
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."
