Judges: Difference between revisions
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Again, Israel did evil, and for seven years, they were oppressed by the Midianites. The Midianites would swarm in whenever the Israelites planted crops, ruining the harvest. They did not spare a living thing for Israel, neither sheep nor cattle nor donkeys. The people made hiding places in the caves of the mountains, and life became so difficult that they were impoverished. | Again, Israel did evil, and for seven years, they were oppressed by the Midianites. The Midianites would swarm in whenever the Israelites planted crops, ruining the harvest. They did not spare a living thing for Israel, neither sheep nor cattle nor donkeys. The people made hiding places in the caves of the mountains, and life became so difficult that they were impoverished. | ||
In response to their cries, God raised up [[Gideon]] as a judge. The first thing Gideon did was tear down the altar of Baal and cut down the Asherah pole. Because of this act of defiance against Baal, Gideon was given the name “Jerub-Baal,” which means “contender with Baal.” | In response to their cries, God raised up [[Gideon]] as a judge. The first thing Gideon did was to tear down the altar of Baal and cut down the Asherah pole. Because of this act of defiance against Baal, Gideon was given the name “Jerub-Baal,” which means “contender with Baal.” | ||
Afterward, he gathered an army of 32,000 men and set out toward the enemy’s camp. Despite the Midianite army numbering 135,000, God told Gideon that Israel’s army was too large. He instructed Gideon to send home those who were afraid, and 22,000 men returned. From the remaining 10,000, God chose only 300 men who lapped the water instead of kneeling down to drink, and sent the rest away. | Afterward, he gathered an army of 32,000 men and set out toward the enemy’s camp. Despite the Midianite army numbering 135,000, God told Gideon that Israel’s army was too large. He instructed Gideon to send home those who were afraid, and 22,000 men returned. From the remaining 10,000, God chose only 300 men who lapped the water instead of kneeling down to drink, and sent the rest away. | ||
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Gideon’s son, Abimelech, killed his 70 brothers and conspired with his relatives in Shechem to become king. However, he was soon betrayed and was killed by a millstone thrown by a woman, receiving the punishment for his evil deeds. After Abimelech’s death, Tola became a judge and ruled for 23 years. Then, Jair became the judge of Israel for 22 years. | Gideon’s son, Abimelech, killed his 70 brothers and conspired with his relatives in Shechem to become king. However, he was soon betrayed and was killed by a millstone thrown by a woman, receiving the punishment for his evil deeds. After Abimelech’s death, Tola became a judge and ruled for 23 years. Then, Jair became the judge of Israel for 22 years. | ||
After Jair’s death, the Israelites once again abandoned God and served the Baals | After Jair’s death, the Israelites once again abandoned God and served the Baals, the Ashtoreths, and the gods of the surrounding foreign nations. God was infuriated with them, and brought Israel to be oppressed by the Philistines and the Ammonites. The Israelites living in Gilead, east of the [[Jordan|Jordan River]], endured severe oppression for 18 years. The Ammonites also attacked the tribes of Judah, Benjamin, and Ephraim on the other side of the Jordan. The Israelites forsook their [[Idol|idols]] and repented to God. At that time, God raised up a judge, Jephthah, a man from Gilead. | ||
Jephthah, who lived in the land of Tob, achieved a great victory over the Ammonites. However, in the battle against the Ammonites, he made a rash vow to God, promising to offer as a burnt offering the first person to greet him upon his return home if he was granted victory. Unfortunately, the first to meet him was his only daughter, whom he ultimately had to sacrifice. Jephthah served as a judge and ruled over Israel for six years. After Jephthah’s death, Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel for seven years, Elon of the tribe of Zebulun judged for ten years, and Abdon, a man from Pirathon in Ephraim judged for eight years.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Judges+12%3A8-15&version=NIV |title=Judges 12:8–15 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Judges+12%3A11&version=NIV |title=Judges 12:11 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Judges+12%3A13-14&version=NIV |title=Judges 12:13–14|publisher= |quote= }}</ref> | Jephthah, who lived in the land of Tob, achieved a great victory over the Ammonites. However, in the battle against the Ammonites, he made a rash vow to God, promising to offer as a burnt offering the first person to greet him upon his return home if he was granted victory. Unfortunately, the first to meet him was his only daughter, whom he ultimately had to sacrifice. Jephthah served as a judge and ruled over Israel for six years. After Jephthah’s death, Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel for seven years, Elon of the tribe of Zebulun judged for ten years, and Abdon, a man from Pirathon in Ephraim judged for eight years.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Judges+12%3A8-15&version=NIV |title=Judges 12:8–15 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Judges+12%3A11&version=NIV |title=Judges 12:11 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Judges+12%3A13-14&version=NIV |title=Judges 12:13–14|publisher= |quote= }}</ref> | ||