Carers of the Judges (Beginning)

Yet they did not listen even to their judges; for they lusted after other gods and bowed down to them. They soon turned aside from the way in which their ancestors had walked, who had obeyed the commandments of the Lord; they did not follow their example.

Turn “0” explained: God was moved to pity

Judges 2:18 NRSV

Whenever the Lord raised up judges for them, the Lord was with the judge, and he delivered them from the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge; for the Lord would be moved to pity by their groaning because of those who persecuted and oppressed them.

Turn 3: After death, got even worse, so God relents his deliverance

Judges 2:19—21 (NRSV)

Judges 2:19–21 NRSV

But whenever the judge died, they would relapse and behave worse than their ancestors, following other gods, worshiping them and bowing down to them. They would not drop any of their practices or their stubborn ways. So the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel; and he said, “Because this people have transgressed my covenant that I commanded their ancestors, and have not obeyed my voice, I will no longer drive out before them any of the nations that Joshua left when he died.”

Historical recap:

Judges 2:22–3:6 (NRSV)

In order to test Israel, whether or not they would take care to walk in the way of the Lord as their ancestors did, the Lord had left those nations, not driving them out at once, and had not handed them over to Joshua.

Now these are the nations that the Lord left to test all those in Israel who had no experience of any war in Canaan (it was only that successive generations of Israelites might know war, to teach those who had no experience of it before): the five lords of the Philistines, and all the Canaanites, and the Sidonians, and the Hivites who lived on Mount Lebanon, from Mount Baal-hermon as far as Lebo-hamath. They were for the testing of Israel, to know whether Israel would obey the commandments of the Lord, which he commanded their ancestors by Moses. So the Israelites lived among the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; and they took their daughters as wives for themselves, and their own daughters they gave to their sons; and they worshiped their gods.

First Judge: Othniel

Turn 1

Judges 3:7–8 NRSV

The Israelites did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, forgetting the Lord their God, and worshiping the Baals and the Asherahs. Therefore the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of King Cushan-rishathaim of Aram-naharaim; and the Israelites served Cushan-rishathaim eight years.

Begins with mention of idolatry—in peace we focus on ourselves!

Choosing Baal

Bad guy: Cushan-Rishathaim (Syria—far North)

Hittite/ Assyrian

Slavery for how long?

Turn 2

Judges 3:9–11a (NRSV)

But when the Israelites cried out to the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer for the Israelites, who delivered them, Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother. The spirit of the Lord came upon him, and he judged Israel; he went out to war, and the Lord gave King Cushan-rishathaim of Aram into his hand; and his hand prevailed over Cushan-rishathaim. So the land had rest forty years.

Othniel

introduced in Joshua 15:13–19 (also 1 Chronicles 4.13—15)

Gift: rizz — he was a leader!

40 years of peace (rest of dude’s life) (1 generationish)

In peace, we focus on ourselves

Turn 3

Judges 3:11b–12 (NRSV)

Then Othniel son of Kenaz died.

The Israelites again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord; and the Lord strengthened King Eglon of Moab against Israel, because they had done what was evil in the sight of the Lord.

God relents his deliverance

What was ratio?

8 years slavery—40 years peace

Bad guy: Eglon (Moab)

Small state to east of Dead sea

Coming from the South

Turn 3 continued

Judges 3:13–14 NRSV

In alliance with the Ammonites and the Amalekites, he went and defeated Israel; and they took possession of the city of palms. So the Israelites served King Eglon of Moab eighteen years.

Aided by Ammonites and Amalekites

First enemies after leading Egypt (Exodus 17.8—16)

Served for 18 years…

Second Judge: Ehud

Turn 1

Judges 3:15a (NRSV)

But when the Israelites cried out to the Lord, the Lord raised up for them a deliverer, Ehud son of Gera, the Benjaminite, a left-handed man.

Benjamin was only spoken of negatively in ch. 1

Judges 3:15b–17a (NRSV)

Ehud made for himself a sword with two edges, a cubit in length; and he fastened it on his right thigh under his clothes. Then he presented the tribute to King Eglon of Moab.

Where at: Jericho (Josh. 6.26)

Plan and execution

Submissive Kingdom

Judges 3:17b–22 (NRSV)

Now Eglon was a very fat man. When Ehud had finished presenting the tribute, he sent the people who carried the tribute on their way. But he himself turned back at the sculptured stones near Gilgal, and said, “I have a secret message for you, O king.” So the king said, “Silence!” and all his attendants went out from his presence. Ehud came to him, while he was sitting alone in his cool roof chamber, and said, “I have a message from God for you.” So he rose from his seat. Then Ehud reached with his left hand, took the sword from his right thigh, and thrust it into Eglon’s belly; the hilt also went in after the blade, and the fat closed over the blade, for he did not draw the sword out of his belly; and the dirt came out.

Message from God

Not for his men

Sword

Strapped to “wrong” side

designed for stabbing and “corking” and not slashing (Assassination

Judges 3:23–26 NRSV

Then Ehud went out into the vestibule, and closed the doors of the roof chamber on him, and locked them. After he had gone, the servants came. When they saw that the doors of the roof chamber were locked, they thought, “He must be relieving himself in the cool chamber.” So they waited until they were embarrassed. When he still did not open the doors of the roof chamber, they took the key and opened them. There was their lord lying dead on the floor. Ehud escaped while they delayed, and passed beyond the sculptured stones, and escaped to Seirah.

Exit plan

Could be translated through the latrine?

Judges 3:27–30 NRSV

When he arrived, he sounded the trumpet in the hill country of Ephraim; and the Israelites went down with him from the hill country, having him at their head. He said to them, “Follow after me; for the Lord has given your enemies the Moabites into your hand.” So they went down after him, and seized the fords of the Jordan against the Moabites, and allowed no one to cross over. At that time they killed about ten thousand of the Moabites, all strong, able-bodied men; no one escaped. So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. And the land had rest eighty years.

Battle strategy

Deception (fake secret message) to assassinate tyrant (must have been good enough friends to be alone; cool room was also toilet chamber)

Open battle

trumpet blast

sieze fords of jordan where moabites had to cross struck down 10,000

shallow water kept enemies from crossing there

Peace for 80 years! (2 generations!) longest period

“Third” Judge: Shamgar

Turn 1 continued

Judges 3:31 NRSV

After him came Shamgar son of Anath, who killed six hundred of the Philistines with an oxgoad. He too delivered Israel.

Bad guy: Philistines (struck down 600)

600 common unit to show organized military force under commander (cf. Judges 18.11)

Good guy? Shamgar: not even Hebrew name—Israelite?

Referenced in Judges 5.6

Anath was Canaanite goddess of war, sister and wife of Baal

foreign influence was normal enough

Son of Anath could be a military designation

Turn 2/ Turn 3

Judges 4:1 NRSV

The Israelites again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, after Ehud died.

In times of peace—we focus on ourselves

Who died?

Note says after Ehud’s death—not Shamgar’s death

Shamgar probably took place during Ehud’s life

Canaanites come back next

Old Testament 3:31: Shamgar

There is no reason to think of Shamgar as an Israelite or as a judge.

Takeaways

Spiral of sin (cost of disobedience)

Focus on ourselves (idols, blending in, doing what those around us are doing)

Sin/ rebellion

Judgement/ God relents his deliverance

Oppression (going to happen when God isn’t protecting us)

Repentance

Deliverance/ Reward for obedience

Same enemies through the next couple weeks (until Midianites introduced in Gideon’s narrative)

Focus has been on the South—what about the North (about to come with the Canaanites!)

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