04/06/2022 – Day 038 – Judges 1 – 6 – “Every man did that which was right in his own eyes.”
We last studied Day 038 on 07/08/2020. I posted some questions on that post, essentially a compare and contrast between the nation of Israel in the Judges period, roughly 1400 b.c. – 1100 b.c. with modern day American. With all days, you can look for past posts by logging into your account, allowing you use the filter and/or search functions. I would recommend searches entered in this case with : “Day 038”.
I regularly use five commentators / theologian sources. It seems I am on a recent run with Henry H. Halley’s “Bible Handbook” , and so it is today. Has anyone purchased a copy yet?
Henry titles Judges up with “First 300 Years in the Promised Land / Alternate Oppressions and Deliverances / A Record of Great Exploits. I am going to quote some interesting excerpts including three archaelogical notes. Let’s get started:
“The Hebrew Nation, after the death of Joshua, had no strong central governement. They were a confederacy, of twelve indepependent tribes, with no unifying force, except their God. The form of government in the days of the Judges is spoken of as the “Theocracy”; that is, God himself was supposed to be the direct ruler of the nation. But the people did not take their God very seriously, and were continually falling away into Idolatry….”
Chapter 1. Canaanites that were Left in the Land
“Joshua had destroyed the Cannanites in some sections of the land, and had kept others in subjection. (Joshua 10:40, 43; 11:23; 13: 2-7; 21: 43-45; 23:4; 24:18), After his death, they remained in considerable numbers (Judges 1:28, 29, 30, 32, 33, 35). God had commanded Israel to utterly destroy or drive out the Cananites (Deuternomy 7: 2-4). If Israel had fully obeyed this command, it would have saved them a lot of trouble.
ARCHAELOGICAL NOTE: Iron in Palestine. The Bible states that iron in possesion of Canaanites and Philistines was the reason Israel could not drive them out (1:19; 4:3; Joshua 17: 16-18; I Samuel 13: 19-22). And that only after Saul and David broke the power of the Philistines did Iron come into use in Israel (II Samuel 12:31; I Chronicles 22:3; 29:7).
Excavations have revealed many Iron relics of 1100 B.C. in Philistia; but none in the hill country of Palestine till 1000 B.C.”
The Refrain Running Through the Book
“Every man did that which was right in his own eyes. They were ever and anon falling away from God into the worship of Idols. When they did this God Delivered Israel into the hands of their oppressors. Then when Israel, in their suffering and distress, turned back, and cried to God, God had pity on Israel, and raised up Judges, who saved Israel from their Enemies. As long as the Judges lived, the people served God. But when the Judge died, the people again played the harlot after Idols.
Invariably, when they served God, they prospered; and when they served Idols, they suffered. Israel’s troubles were due directly to their Disobediance. They did not keep themselves from Idols. They did not exterminate the inhabitants of the land, as they have been commanded, and from time to time the struggle for mastery was renewed.”
Chapter 4, 5 Deborah and Barak
“They saved Israel from the Canaanites, who had been subdued by Joshua, but had become powerful again, and with their chariots of iron were grinding out the life of Israel.
ARCHAELOGICAL NOTE: : Canaanite Oppression (4:3). Israel’s Victory at Megiddo (5:19)
The Oriental Institute, excavatin at Megiddo, found (1937), in the stratum of 12the century B.C., indications of a tremendous fire. And underneath floor of palace about 200 pieces of beautifully carved ivory and gold ornaments, one of which represnts Canaanite kings as receiving captives who were circumcised. This looks like evidence of a terrific defeat for Canaanites, and their antecedent oppression of Israel.”
Chapter 6,7,8. Gideon.
“Midianites, Amalekites, and Arabians (6:3; 8:24), had swarmed into the land, in such numbers for 7 years, that Israelites sought refuge in caves, and made hiddent pits for their grain (6: 2-4, 11). Gideon, with an army of 100 men, armed with torches hidden in pitchers, at Moreb, with the direct help of God, gave them a terrific beating that they came no more….
ARCHAELOGICAL NOTE: The Grain Pits. In excavation, at Kiriath-sepher, by the Xenia Seminary and American School, under the direction of Kyle and Albright (1926 -28), in the stratum belonging to the time of the Judges, many hidden grain pits were found; indicative of the insecurity of life and property.”
Soli Deo Gloria!