JudgesJudgesEvery man did that which was Every man did that which was

right in his own eyes, and right in his own eyes, and there is no king in Israelthere is no king in Israel

Meet the JudgeMeet the Judge• Deut 16:18-20 establish justice / Deut 16:18-20 establish justice /

no bribesno bribes• Military general leading Israel to Military general leading Israel to

warwar– Judges 2:16Judges 2:16

• Tribal Chieftan: ruled for 40 yearsTribal Chieftan: ruled for 40 years

Participation of each Participation of each GenerationGeneration

• Joshua took the all the land (Jos 21:43f)Joshua took the all the land (Jos 21:43f)• Tension with Judges:--not really (Jud Tension with Judges:--not really (Jud

1:19) 1:19) • Conditionality of the covenant (Jud 2:20-Conditionality of the covenant (Jud 2:20-

22)22)• Cross generational communication (Jud Cross generational communication (Jud

2:10f)—teach each generation warfare 2:10f)—teach each generation warfare (3:2) (3:2)

Main ThemesMain Themes• Need for a king (Judg 17:6)Need for a king (Judg 17:6)• Main theme: every man did what Main theme: every man did what

was right in his own eyes (Judg was right in his own eyes (Judg 21:25)21:25)

Judges cycleJudges cycle• Rebellion:Rebellion: people served Baals & people served Baals & • Retribution:Retribution: sold into the hands sold into the hands

of ...of ...• Repentance:Repentance: people cry to the people cry to the

LORDLORD• Relenting:Relenting: God raises up a judge God raises up a judge• Rest:Rest: judge ruled for x years judge ruled for x years

Ehud: mini cycleEhud: mini cycle• Rebellion 3:12 “once again Israel did evil Rebellion 3:12 “once again Israel did evil

in eyes of Lord”in eyes of Lord”• Retribution 3:12b-14 sold into hands of Retribution 3:12b-14 sold into hands of

Eglon fat king of Moab (geography)Eglon fat king of Moab (geography)• Relents: Ehud’s left-handed weirdness is Relents: Ehud’s left-handed weirdness is

God’s opportunity—withered right handGod’s opportunity—withered right hand– Escape 3:23f—NLT—latrine Escape 3:23f—NLT—latrine

• Rest: 3:30Rest: 3:30

Deborah: women in Deborah: women in leadership?leadership?

• Jud 4:4: she’s married, she’s a Jud 4:4: she’s married, she’s a leader, she tells men what to do, leader, she tells men what to do, she’s approved by God. she’s approved by God.

• How do you explain that?How do you explain that?• How do you fit that with 1 Cor How do you fit that with 1 Cor

14:33f and 1 Tim 2:11-1514:33f and 1 Tim 2:11-15

Answers?Answers?• God uses women when there are no good men. God uses women when there are no good men. • Deborah is an exception. Exceptions prove the Deborah is an exception. Exceptions prove the

rulerule• Progressive revelation: Paul’s statements tell Progressive revelation: Paul’s statements tell

the way it should bethe way it should be• Gal. 3:28 principle; Eph. 5:21—Scriptural Gal. 3:28 principle; Eph. 5:21—Scriptural

dissonance-cultural issuedissonance-cultural issue• Competence and gifts not gender (Huldah, Competence and gifts not gender (Huldah,

Phillips prophesying daughters)Phillips prophesying daughters)

Galilee-Jezreel Galilee-Jezreel

Gideon and Midian: Judg 6Gideon and Midian: Judg 6• Threshing in the wine press? (6:11)Threshing in the wine press? (6:11)• Call of Gideon: (6:12f)Call of Gideon: (6:12f)• Gideon’s fleece and determining Gideon’s fleece and determining

God’s will (6:36ff)God’s will (6:36ff)• Guidelines: with moral/divine will?—Guidelines: with moral/divine will?—

good?, pursue passions/calling, good?, pursue passions/calling, wisdom (self, culture, opportunities, wisdom (self, culture, opportunities, risks, potential); open/closed doors, risks, potential); open/closed doors, open/closed handsopen/closed hands

• God’s getting the victoryGod’s getting the victory– Too many warriors Too many warriors – Eliminating fearful (7:3)Eliminating fearful (7:3)– Drinking separation (7:5f Drinking separation (7:5f 300): 300): – few good warriors? few good warriors? – 7:19ff Sword of the Lord and Gideon7:19ff Sword of the Lord and Gideon

Gideon and Midian: Judg 6Gideon and Midian: Judg 6

Are there fables in the Are there fables in the Bible? (Jud 9)Bible? (Jud 9)

• Jotham’s fable: love it (9:6ff) trees Jotham’s fable: love it (9:6ff) trees elect a kingelect a king

• Thornbush rule: On power’s ability Thornbush rule: On power’s ability to corruptto corrupt

• First Kingship attempt—Abi-First Kingship attempt—Abi-melech?melech?

JephthahJephthah• Does God ever say the opposite of what Does God ever say the opposite of what

He means? Jud 10:14He means? Jud 10:14– On using context to interpretOn using context to interpret

• On making great vows to God (11:30f; On making great vows to God (11:30f; cf. Eccl 5:2-6)cf. Eccl 5:2-6)

• Does Jephthah smoke his daughter? Does Jephthah smoke his daughter? – ––virgin, mourn not marrying, ”or”, Num. 8:11 virgin, mourn not marrying, ”or”, Num. 8:11

dedicating (Rom. 12:1f), Heb 11/1 Sam. dedicating (Rom. 12:1f), Heb 11/1 Sam. 12:1112:11

• Shibboleth // sibboleth--Ephraimites Shibboleth // sibboleth--Ephraimites versus Gileadites (12:6)versus Gileadites (12:6)

SamsonSamson

Judah-HeartlandJudah-Heartland

SamsonSamson• Rebellion (13:1) -- retribution Rebellion (13:1) -- retribution

(13:1)(13:1)• Three women in Samson’s lifeThree women in Samson’s life

Wife from Timnah (Jud 14)Wife from Timnah (Jud 14)• Parents inability to say “no”Parents inability to say “no”• Samson’s riddleSamson’s riddle• Why are tears so powerful?Why are tears so powerful?• How not to treat a woman 14:16, How not to treat a woman 14:16,

1818• What is the relation of the Spirit to What is the relation of the Spirit to

people in the OT? (Jud 14:19)people in the OT? (Jud 14:19)

Samson: cont.Samson: cont.• Prostitute of Gaza: hauls walls (Jud 16:1)Prostitute of Gaza: hauls walls (Jud 16:1)• Delilah (Jud 16)Delilah (Jud 16)• Are love and lust always so easily Are love and lust always so easily

separated?separated?• On nagging: why does it work?On nagging: why does it work?• Samson’s stupidity?—time compressionSamson’s stupidity?—time compression• Archaeology and Philistine templesArchaeology and Philistine temples• How could Samson be a hero? (Heb How could Samson be a hero? (Heb

11:32)11:32)

War Against BenjaminWar Against Benjamin• Levite’s concubine (Judg. 19)Levite’s concubine (Judg. 19)

Jerusalem-SurroundingsJerusalem-Surroundings

Benjaminite tribal Benjaminite tribal destructiondestruction

• Story line: Levite to Bethlehem (Jud. 19)Story line: Levite to Bethlehem (Jud. 19)• Concubine raped and killed Concubine raped and killed • Levite’s divide and conquer call for helpLevite’s divide and conquer call for help• Benjaminite’s get wives—Jabesh GileadBenjaminite’s get wives—Jabesh Gilead• Why does the Bible include such stories?Why does the Bible include such stories?

Ruth: Green Fried Steele Ruth: Green Fried Steele MagnoliasMagnolias

• Series of TragediesSeries of Tragedies– FamineFamine Moab Moab– Death husband and sonsDeath husband and sons– Male roles in bookMale roles in book

• Use of Names in Ruth: Elimelech, Mahlon, Use of Names in Ruth: Elimelech, Mahlon, Kilion, Naomi/Marah, Ruth, BoazKilion, Naomi/Marah, Ruth, Boaz

• On friendship: Naomi & Ruth discourse On friendship: Naomi & Ruth discourse 1:16 (loyalty to Naomi/YHWH)1:16 (loyalty to Naomi/YHWH)

Dead SeaDead Sea

Ruth: cont. Ruth: cont. • Do circumstances effect one’s view of Do circumstances effect one’s view of

God (1:20)God (1:20)• Gleaning machine: ch. 2Gleaning machine: ch. 2• Boaz male role model: kinsman Boaz male role model: kinsman

redeemer, threshingfloor valuesredeemer, threshingfloor values• Levirate marriageLevirate marriage• Benjaminite destruction / Ruth why? Benjaminite destruction / Ruth why?

• Genealogy of DavidGenealogy of DavidJesusJesus