When The Judges Ruled Israel

When The Judges Ruled Israel Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth

Previous Warnings • Before his death, Moses warned about the failure of driving out the Canaanites Num 33:50-56 • Before his death, Joshua sounded a similar warning Josh 23:1-13 • This set the tone for this entire time period

Initial Inquiring Judg 1:1-2 • A “positive” occurrence • Following Joshua’s death, Israel inquired of the Lord re: who should go up first • A desire to know God’s will before acting • This would have involved the high priest Ex 28:30 Num 27:21 Judg 20:28

Initial Inquiring Judg 1:1-2 • When Israel stood poised to take Canaan some 40 years earlier, what was the level of her faith? Num 13:27-33 • The same God who was with them then will lead them now in the same work • Noted by Joshua Josh 23:3-5

Judah & Simeon Judg 1:1-21 • Israel’s inquiry re: who should go up first revealed Judah was to go vv. 1-2 • Judah requested Simeon to help, and in turn Judah would assist Simeon in taking their territory vv. 3, 17-18

Judah & Simeon Judg 1:1-21 • Attack on Adoni-bezek vv. 4-7 • Adoni-bezek fled the loss at Bezek • He was captured…his thumbs & big toes were cut off • He accepted this punishment as just because of his own cruelty shown toward others • A Biblical principle Psa 7:14-16 Mt 7:2, 12

Judah & Simeon Judg 1:1-21 • Attack on Jerusalem (Jebus)v. 8 • They captured the city and set it on fire • However, it was not totally secured, for the Benjamites did not drive out the city’s inhabitants v. 21 • Not fully subjugated until the days of David’s kingdom 1 Chron 11:4-9

Judah & Simeon Judg 1:1-21 • Caleb’s offer vv. 12-15 • He would give his daughter as a wife to the one who would capture Debir • Othniel accepted the “challenge” • He was Caleb’s nephew and would be the first “judge” God would raise up Num 13:6 1 Chron 4:13

Judah & Simeon Judg 1:1-21 • The Kenites v. 16 • They left the “city of palms” (Jericho) and moved SE to the lowlands E of the Dead Sea • They had earlier come to live with the Israelites Num 10:29

Judah & Simeon Judg 1:1-21 • Judah’s failure v. 19 • Judah failed the further West they went toward the Mediterranean Sea…they had to overcome the Canaanites’ iron chariots • Was God no longer with them? • The problem seemed to be a lack of faith to do as God had commanded Josh 17:17-18

Judah & Simeon Judg 1:1-21 • Keeping the promise to Caleb v. 20 • He was given Hebron…this fulfilled Moses’ earlier promise Josh 14:6-12 • He drove out the Anakim (giants) • Remember – he had a “different spirit” Num 14:24

Zephath South Judg. 1:1-21

North Judg. 1:22-36

Failures In The North Judg 1:22-36 • These efforts to conquer the more northern territories were not as successful than the attacks orchestrated in the south • Yes, Israel took possession of the land • Yes, Israel forced the inhabitants into forced labor vv. 28, 30, 33, 35

Failures In The North Judg 1:22-36 • But remember the earlier commands through Moses & Joshua Num 33:50-56 Josh 23:1-13 • Israel succeeded physically • Israel failed where it counted most… spiritually

When The Judges Ruled Israel