Search The Scriptures —Study 17 — Judges 20

Study 17 From the Book of Judges is: Judges 20

1. Gibeah was a Benjamite city, and the men of Benjamin refused to deliver up their fellow-tribesmen to justice. What is the relationship between loyalty?

to those with whom we are connected (family, friends business associates, etc.) and our loyalty to God and His commandments?

2. Note the profound effect upon the tribes of the sin of the men of Gibeah. See 19:30; 20:1, 8, 11. It stabbed the people awake to the degree to which moral declension had progressed among them.

Can you discover other factors which show that some good came out of this sordid chapter of events?

3. How would you account for the fact that the eleven tribes were twice defeated by the Benjamites, even though they had asked counsel of the Lord? What do you gather from 20:23 about their attitude? What is a sign of weakness, or strength?

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Search The Scriptures —Study 16 — Judges 19

Study 16 From the Book of Judges is: Judges 19

Judges 19-21 belongs to the period shortly after Joshua’s death. Phinehas, the grandson of Aaron, was still alive (20:28); there is no hint of foreign oppression; the league of tribes was still functioning.

1. What does this chapter teach us of the obligations of hospitality? Are there any indications of pitfall to be avoided? Cf. Heb. 13:1, 2.
2. There are many illustrations of evil in this chapter. Make a list of the chief sins shown here and observe how the wickedness of the man of Gibeah brought destruction upon almost their whole tribe.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 15 — Judges 17 and 18

Study 15 From the Book of Judges is: Judges 17 and 18

The story of these chapters belongs to the later period of the judges, when Philistine pressure caused the complete displacement of the tribe of Dan and forced it to migrate northwards. There is therefore a general connection with the time of Samson. The tribal league was not functioning, and Micah had no court of appeal for the wrong done to him by the Danites. The narrative shows the decline of true religion and the lawless condition of the time.

1 How would you describe the religion of Micah and the Danites? Wherein did they fall short of true religion?

2 A Levite was supposed to be a man who stood in a special relationship to God. What impression have you formed of this particular Levite? In what respects did he fail to walk worthily of his profession? Cf. Is. 61:8a; Je.23:11; 1Jn. 2:4-6.

Notes

17:7. ‘Of the family of Judah’: the words refer to the place Bethlehem, not to the Levite, who was only a ‘sojourner’ in Judah. There was another Bethlehem in the land of Zebulun. Cf. Jos. 19:15.

18:30. ‘The son of Gershom’: the expression need only imply a descendant, not an actual father-son relationship.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 14 — Judges 16

Study 14 From the Book of Judges is: Judges 16

1. What may we learn from this chapter concerning (a) the folly and fruit of sin; (b) the exultation of the ungodly at the downfall of God’s servants; (c) God’s enduring mercy to the penitent?
2. Contrast the sad end to Samson’s life with its bright dawn in the sincere desire of his parents to rear him aright (13:8, 12). Can you suggest reasons why Samson fulfilled so little of his potential? Under what conditions is it possible for the Christian to exhibit similar powerlessness?

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Search The Scriptures —Study 13 — Judges 14 and 15

Study 13 From the Book of Judges is: Judges 14 and 15

1. Note the contradictory elements in Samson’s character. He was a judge in Israel, yet his life-story centres around his dubious relationships with Philistine women. His unshorn locks denoted a Nazirite consecrated to God, yet his chief aim was to please himself. How many more such contrasts can you discover? How important is it that we should be consistent in our Christian profession? Cf. 2 Cor. 6:14; 1 Thes. 5:22.
2. What does the incident of 15:18, 19 teach regarding God’s ability to supply every need of His servants? Cf. 1 Ki. 17:4, 9; Phil. 4:19.

Note. The apathetic acceptance of the Philistine yoke by the men of Judah was the most dangerous feature of this period. Samson’s one-man activity was used of God to bring the danger of complete Philistine domination out into the open.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 12 — Judges 13

Study 12 From the Book of Judges is: Judges 13

1. How did Samson’s Nazirite calling differ from
   
   that of the ordinary Nazirite vow? See Nu. 6:1-5, 13-18
   
2. Observe Manoah’s concern (verses 8, 12) for guidance on the subject of the upbringing of the promised child. What lessons may present -day parents learn from this? Cf. Pr. 22:6; 2 Tim. 1:5; Heb. 12:5-11.
3. What evidences of faith do you find in Manoah and his wife? And how did the wife’s faith show itself to be greater than that of her husband?

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Search The Scriptures —Study 11 — Judges 11:29 – 12:15

Study 11 From the Book of Judges is: Judges 11:29 – 12:15

1. Read the story of Jephtha’s vow in the light of Ec. 5:2-6; Dt. 23:21-23. What does this story teach about (a) the sacredness of a promise to God, and (b) the necessity of first considering what such a promise may involve?
2. Compare Jephthah’s treatment of the Ephraimites with that of Gideon in a similar situation (8:1-3). What light does this incident throw upon (a) the Ephraimites, (b) Jephthah?

Note. Whilst all earlier commentators and historians accepted that Jephtah offered up his daughter in sacrifice, well meaning scholars from the Middle Ages onwards have tried to reduce the maiden’s fate to one of perpetual virginity. But, the anguish of Jephthah (verse 35), the two-month reprieve (verse 37, 38) and the institution of an annual four-day feast would be inappropriate in such a situation. The plain statement of verse 39 must be allowed to stand.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 10 — Judges 10:6 – 11:28

Study 10 From the Book of Judges is: Judges 10:6 – 11:28

1. Why did God, at first refuse to deliver Israel from the Ammonites? What caused the change in His subsequent attitude? Cf. Je. 18:5-11
2. What indications are there in this section that Jephthah, in spite of his unfortunate background, possessed nobility, piety and faith?
3. Summarize Jephthah’s answer to the Ammonites. To what extend do you find his arguments valid?

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Search The Scriptures —Study 9 — Judges 9:1 – 10:5

Study 9 From the Book of Judges is: Judges 9:1 – 10:5

1. Consider in this story (a) the sin of Gideon in associating with a Shechemite woman and having a son by her (see 8:31; cf. Dt. 7:3) (b) the sin of the men of Shechem (9:4, 5, 16-18); (c) the sin of Abimelech (9:1-5). Compare verses 56 and 57 and consider how in each case the words of Nu. 32:23b were fulfilled.
2. Shechem was a Canaanite city which, most probably, had been assimilated into Israel. What does this chapter teach us about the dangers of such a compromise?

Note. Verses 7-15. The first part of the parable contains a reference to 8:22, 23. Verse 15 presents the incongruous picture of great trees seeking shelter under a lowly bramble, and being destroyed in a forest fire which originated in the very thorn bush whose shade they had sought. The point of the parables is not that the Shechemites had chosen a king, but that they had selected the wrong person to rule over them.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 8 — Judges 7:24 – 8:35

Study 8 From the Book of Judges is: Judges 7:24 – 8:35

1. Note (a) Gideon’s dealings with the complaints of Ephraim and with the lack of cooperation of the elders of Succoth and Penuel. (b) the vigour of his pursuit and capture of Zebah and Zalmunna, and the respect which these princes showed him. What various aspects of character are here revealed?
2. What temptation did Gideon overcome? Contrast, however, the frequent references to God’s guidance in the earlier part of the narrative with the entire absence of this in 8:24-27. Why did Gideon, who had given such able leadership in the national crisis, tend to rely upon God only when we are “up against it”?

Note. The Ephod of the high priest (Ex. 28) was a shoulder garment covering the breast and back, ornamented with gems and gold, and having in front the breastplate containing the Urim and Thummim, which were manipulated to discover God’s will. Gideon’s ephod (8:24-27) may have been an elaborate reproduction, or it may have been some kind of free-standing image. In any case it was used to ascertain God’s answer in a particular situation, but the people came to regard it as a kind of idol.

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