Study InJudges

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Conquest And Failure

Chapter 1v1-21

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IntroductionWe begin with an introductory comment made by Graham Scroggie:

“This Book takes its name from a characteristic of the period between the death of Joshua and the accession of Saul, namely the rule of Judges, or saviours, whom God raised up to deliver His oppressed people. Of these

there were fifteen, Othniel, Ehud, Shamgar, Deborah- Barak, Gideon, Abimelech, Tola, Jair, Jephthah, Ibzan, Elon, Abdon, Samson, Eli and

Samuel. There were three leading types, the Warrior-Judge, as Gideon and Samson; the Priest-Judge, as Eli; and the Prophet-Judge, as Samuel.

The chief of these Judges were Deborah, Gideon Samson and Samuel. The period of the Judges cannot be determined with any precision, but we may reckon about 330 years for this period. Nothing is known as to the

authorship, though tradition ascribes it to Samuel”.

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OverviewWhere does this book fit into the on-going

history of God’s revelation?In Ex.20 God constituted Israel as the covenant

people. Exodus Chaps 21- 40 records their wilderness wanderings.

The Book of Numbers expands upon Israel’s unfaithfulness during her wilderness years.

In the Book of Joshua, we read of her conquest of the Promised Land - a partial conquest as it

turned out for we read in Joshua 13:1, ‘There are still large areas of land to be taken over’.

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Map showing the settlement after the tribes of Israel had possessed their inheritance.

Overview

OverviewFollowing the death of Joshua, recorded in Judges 2:8, we have a

turbulent period, a retreating peak and trough pattern of sin - oppression - bondage - crying to the Lord – and finally, deliverance

through the instrumentality of a Judge. This pattern takes the form of an increasingly downward spiritual spiral resulting in anarchy which

was to grip the nation for; ‘every man did that which was right in his own eyes’ Judges 21v25. This period continued into 1 Samuel 12. Samuel was

a transitional character and the last of the Judges.

DisobedienceChastisement

Repentance

Deliverance

OverviewOld Testament history is Christocentric. It can be viewed as the unfolding history of

the promised Seed in Gen. 3v15. The book of Judges therefore, can be shown to form

a significant step in the unfolding of the divine plan of redemption.

The role of the deliverer- judge prepares the way for the perfect Deliverer-Judge our

Lord Jesus Christ. We further see in this book the preparation of a people through whom, in the fullness of time, Christ the Redeemer of the world

would come.

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On-going CampaignIf the death of Joshua is the focus of 2v6-9, why do we read in 1v1, ‘after the death of Joshua’? This section is probably a general introduction to the whole book, rather than a reference to

what follows. The events of 1v1-2v5 took place during the lifetime of Joshua. It describes

Judah’s [and Simeon’s] campaign against the Canaanites under the rule of Adoni Bezek.

How did the children of Israel ‘ask’ the Lord v1 about the order of battle? Presumably by use of Urim and Thummim [Ex. 28v30], or by lot [Josh 7v16]. By whatever method, clearly supernatural guidance is sought.

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On-going CampaignThe significant fact to note is that they asked at all. They have clearly learned from past folly, Josh 9v14. It is hard not to run ahead of God particularly if we think we know where he

is leading us. The tribe of Judah was appointed [v2] to lead the campaign,

probably because he was the champion of his brethren, Gen 49:8. Judah asks for

Simeon’s help. It was in Simeon’s interest to help because their

inheritance was within the territory of Judah [Josh 19v1-9]. Judah

indicated, “we need one another”.

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SIMEON

On-going CampaignThis teaches an important spiritual lesson. Judah didn’t think , “We’re strong, we can

manage”, she took one of the weaker tribes along with her thus strengthening Simeon’s weak self-image. In effect saying, “You are

necessary to us”. It means a great deal to the sort of person who has a tendency to write himself off to be told, ‘You are necessary to the work’ Think how John Mark the former failed missionary must have felt when years

later Paul wrote, Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry” 2 Tim. 4v11.

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On-going CampaignThe capture of king Adoni Bezek was Judah’s goal. His capture would result in the enemy’s resistance crumbling. The gruesomeness of the retribution in v6-7 suggests that, Israel went beyond what has been described as a

‘holy war’. That said look at how Adoni Bezek responds to his fate in v7. This heathen ruler

recognised the operation of a retributive justice, acknowledging that he is ‘reaping

what he has sown’. He had treated 70 other rulers in precisely the same way.

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On-going CampaignJerusalem was the city of the Jebusites v8. It is the city of Salem mentioned in Gen 14v18, over which Melchizedek

ruled as priest-king. Seemingly, it was only partially destroyed. The tribe of

Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites v21. Perhaps the city was not

completely captured – the township may have been taken but not the

citadel or fortress. The city was then taken back later by the Jebusites, and not recaptured again until the time of

David 2 Sam. 5v6 ff.

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On-going CampaignCaleb’s promise of his daughter’s hand to the

warrior who captured Debir, seems to be a test for Othniel, his nephew. Because Caleb was a man of considerable fame, wealth and

influence, how could he be sure that his daughter’s suitors were interested in her and not the status and wealth of her father. And

so a test is devised! Caleb was concerned to see what stuff his future son-in-law was made of. He must surely have been happy with the result.

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On-going CampaignOthniel became the first Judge in Israel. He was the first national leader after Joshua’s death. Can you see how God’s providences

were at work, even at this point, in his preparation for the future. Remember that

both Joshua and Caleb’s response to the challenges of their first spying mission had proved decisive for their future Num.13v1-

33. And now, in this love story a similar thing happens again. Othniel proved his worth in battle. This stood him in good stead, when

God’s Spirit came upon him and chose him to be the first Judge of his people.

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On-going CampaignClearly Achsah’s dowry had included a parcel of

land in the south, a parched area with little water, producing her request in v15. She follows in her father’s footsteps. Years earlier Caleb petitioned Joshua. “Give me this mountain” Joshua 14v10-

12, and it had been given him. Now Achsah does the same, “give me also springs of water”. What a great thing it is when a daughter displays the

same spiritual calibre as her father! Caleb gave her more than she asked. He gave the

upper and the lower springs. Interestingly, this mirrors God’s dealings with his children: when they ask, he gives us far more than we might

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On-going CampaignThis incident is a microcosm of how Israel as a whole should have lived and conducted their campaign, daringly, positively, and in faith. If

all the tribes had shown this spirit, they would have fared far better, and got much further

than they did. Why did they fail? Was it a matter of low-

spiritedness? A lack of will and determination? A low threshold of endurance? Were they too easily

discouraged? Their behaviour is more reminiscent of the earlier generation’s

faithlessness in their wilderness wanderings than of the spirited forward movement under

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On-going CampaignMoses’ reacted angrily when Reuben and Gad

wanted to settle in Gilead rather than cross the Jordan and enter the Land of Promise with the other tribes, Num. 32v1ff. Did Moses, even

then, see the beginnings of a spirit of half-heartedness, for which God’s people would pay dearly in later years? Reuben and Gad

would regularly bear the first brunt of enemy attack, because they did not have the

protection of the River Jordan which they had refused to cross [cf Judges 10v8, 17, 18; 1 Kings 22v3; 2 Kings 10v32,33] See the next

slide.

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Reuben and Gad experienced the brunt of the enemy attacks and did not have the barrier of the River Jordan to protect them

On-going CampaignMoses’ eventual agreement to their

request can only be regarded as permissive. It is possible to go down the

route of compromise with God who says, “If you are determined on this course, then follow it and take the

consequences”, This is precisely what the Psalmist had in mind when he

wrote;, “He gave them their request; but sent leanness to their soul”. Psalm

106:15 See also Judges 5v15-17

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