You Win Some, You Lose Some

Author: Though not named in the book as author, Jewish tradition has the prophet Samuel as the author.

Date: There is some debate as to the specific timing of authorship, but it was likely between 1045 – 1000 B.C.

Context:Describes the time of Israel after the death of Joshua and before the anointing of King Saul.

Key Themes: 1) God’s grace to preserve people through their rejection of His instruction, 2) Israel’s desperation for God’s rescue, 3) Israel’s descent into self-destruction.

- The judges functioned more as delivers than legal functionaries. Their authority and power is from God for the purpose of salvation and deliverance from enemies… not used to solve internal disputes.

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1 After the death of Joshua, the Israelites inquired of the Lord, “Who will be the first to fight for us against the Canaanites?” 2 The Lord answered, “Judah is to go. I have handed the land over to him.”

- The book of Judges begins almost word for word like the book of Joshua, “after the death…”

- The scripture doesn’t specifically state how many years Joshua led the Israelites. In Jewish tradition the time is approximately 28 years total but a case could be made for less time (7 years of conquest and 7 years of dividing the lands), of course it’s not like he died right after giving out the land.

- After the passing of a leader there is one natural question, “who is next?”

- Joshua did not leave an heir as Moses did, but he wasn’t told to either. In fact, after dividing up the lands each tribe would then be on their own to govern as the LORD leads.

- Verse 1 gives us evidence that at least the early stages after Joshua’s death the people were still seeking God for direction.

- The nation is working as a theocracy (the best form of government BTW).

- God answered, Judah was to go lead the nation in battle.

3 Judah said to his brother Simeon, “Come with me to my allotted territory, and let’s fight against the Canaanites. I will also go with you to your allotted territory.” So Simeon went with him. 4 When Judah attacked, the Lord handed the Canaanites and Perizzites over to them. They struck down ten thousand men in Bezek. 5 They found Adoni-bezek in Bezek, fought against him, and struck down the Canaanites and Perizzites. 6 When Adoni-bezek fled, they pursued him, caught him, and cut off his thumbs and big toes. 7 Adoni-bezek said, “Seventy kings with their thumbs and big toes cut off used to pick up scraps under my table. God has repaid me for what I have done.” They brought him to Jerusalem, and he died there.

- Teamwork makes the dream work. Judah went to his brother Simeon and made a deal, “you help me fight and I’ll help you” and being a good brother, he went.

- God gave them the victory.

- They chased the king and when they caught him, he was punished in a manor mirroring a punishment he had done to previous kings.

- The question is this “eye for an eye” or is Israel adopting the brutal tactics of the people of the land?

- Though not clear in the text we do know the king was taken to Jerusalem and he died. It is possible he died as part of the ensuing battle.

8 The men of Judah fought against Jerusalem, captured it, put it to the sword, and set the city on fire. 9 Afterward, the men of Judah marched down to fight against the Canaanites who were living in the hill country, the Negev, and the Judean foothills. 10 Judah also marched against the Canaanites who were living in Hebron (Hebron was formerly named Kiriath-arba). They struck down Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai. 11 From there they marched against the residents of Debir (Debir was formerly named Kiriath-sepher).

- They kept going and conquering the people of Canaan.

12 Caleb said, “Whoever attacks and captures Kiriath-sepher, I will give my daughter Achsah to him as a wife.” 13 So Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb’s youngest brother, captured it, and Caleb gave his daughter Achsah to him as his wife. 14 When she arrived, she persuaded Othniel to ask her father for a field. As she got off her donkey, Caleb asked her, “What do you want?” 15 She answered him, “Give me a blessing. Since you have given me land in the Negev, give me springs also.” So Caleb gave her both the upper and lower springs. 16 The descendants of the Kenite, Moses’s father-in-law, had gone up with the men of Judah from the City of Palms, to the Wilderness of Judah, which was in the Negev of Arad. They went to live among the people. 17 Judah went with his brother Simeon, struck the Canaanites who were living in Zephath, and completely destroyed the town. So they named the town Hormah. 18 Judah captured Gaza and its territory, Ashkelon and its territory, and Ekron and its territory. 19 The Lord was with Judah and enabled them to take possession of the hill country, but they could not drive out the people who were living in the plain because those people had iron chariots. 20 Judah gave Hebron to Caleb, just as Moses had promised. Then Caleb drove out the three sons of Anak who lived there.

- We can’t impose modern day ideas about marriage and gender dynamics into this story.

- Caleb offered his daughter in marriage to the person who captures the city of Debir.

- Othniel accomplished the task and got Caleb’s daughter.

- Her protest is the inadequacy of the land her father gave to her husband and not the fact that she was given to Othniel as a wife.

- They continue to conquer except for the people living in the plain because they had chariots. It doesn’t say it but they should have been able to defeated them because God was with them. It is most likely because they made the decision not to fight them because of fear.

BENJAMIN’S FAILURE

21 At the same time the Benjaminites did not drive out the Jebusites who were living in Jerusalem. The Jebusites have lived among the Benjaminites in Jerusalem to this day.

- The tribe of Benjamin tried to defeat the Jebusites and filed.

- Not details are mentioned but we can also see there is no mention of God going with them either.

SUCCESS OF THE HOUSE OF JOSEPH

22 The house of Joseph also attacked Bethel, and the Lordwas with them. 23 They sent spies to Bethel (the town was formerly named Luz). 24 The spies saw a man coming out of the town and said to him, “Please show us how to get into town, and we will show you kindness.” 25 When he showed them the way into the town, they put the town to the sword but released the man and his entire family. 26 Then the man went to the land of the Hittites, built a town, and named it Luz. That is its name still today.

- Joseph’s people go against Bethel and again we see the “LORD was with them”.

- This is reminiscent of the Jericho conquest – they spied on the land, engaged a local for information, made a deal with said local that they would survive, local agrees to sell out his people and the land is conquered.

- What was promised was fulfilled - the man and his family survived and prospered.

FAILURE OF THE OTHER TRIBES

27 At that time Manasseh failed to take possession of Beth-shean and Taanach and their surrounding villages, or the residents of Dor, Ibleam, and Megiddo and their surrounding villages; the Canaanites were determined to stay in this land. 28 When Israel became stronger, they made the Canaanites serve as forced labor but never drove them out completely. 29 At that time Ephraim failed to drive out the Canaanites who were living in Gezer, so the Canaanites have lived among them in Gezer. 30 Zebulun failed to drive out the residents of Kitron or the residents of Nahalol, so the Canaanites lived among them and served as forced labor. 31 Asher failed to drive out the residents of Acco or of Sidon, or Ahlab, Achzib, Helbah, Aphik, or Rehob. 32 The Asherites lived among the Canaanites who were living in the land, because they failed to drive them out. 33 Naphtali did not drive out the residents of Beth-shemesh or the residents of Beth-anath. They lived among the Canaanites who were living in the land, but the residents of Beth-shemesh and Beth-anath served as their forced labor. 34 The Amorites forced the Danites into the hill country and did not allow them to go down into the valley. 35 The Amorites were determined to stay in Har-heres, Aijalon, and Shaalbim. When the house of Joseph got the upper hand, the Amorites were made to serve as forced labor. 36 The territory of the Amorites extended from the Scorpions’ Ascent, that is from Sela upward.

- Manasseh, Ephraim, Zebulun, Asher, Naphtali, and Dan all fail to drive out the people

- The Canaanites all lived among the Jews because they couldn’t drive them out but eventually the Canaanites were taken as forced labor for the Israelites.

Israel’s fortunes after the death of Joshua begins positively enough, with the Israelites consulting Yahweh, the tribes (Judah and Simeon) cooperating, and families functioning normally. Even so this chapter is pervaded by unfulfilled commitment, incomplete obedience, and compromising tolerance. Even when the Israelites gain the upper hand over the Canaanites, they refuse to carry out Yahweh’s agenda. Instead of reshaping the world after the image of Yahweh’s will, they live in and with the world, and before long they have taken on the characteristics of the world. Instead of making this the land of the people of God, they become like the people of the land.