Book of Judges

Here we get into a section of Scripture that is far from ordinary. The sordid account of the Levite and his concubine leads to the tribe of Benjamin nearly being wiped out. Then the other tribes came up with a strange scheme to repopulate Benjamin. You don't want to miss this one! (Judg 21:25 NASB) In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes. Beit Yeshua Torah Assembly http://beityeshua.com/

The remainder of Judges is not necessarily chronological. Instead it tells us of the sad state of Israel during this time period. It can be summed up in the following passage: (Judg 17:6 NASB) In those days there was no king in Israel; every man did what was right in his own eyes. This was the problem in those days and in our day. Every man does what is right in his own eyes. We are specifically prohibited from doing so (Deut. 12:8, Num. 15:39-40, Prov. 14:12, 21:1-2, James 1:22-25). Beit Yeshua Torah Assembly http://beityeshua.com/

In this chapter, Samson goes in to a prostitute in Gaza. Samson had a tendency toward the "less than reputable" ladies. It does not appear that Samson ever had any intention of marrying. He was a very independent man and it does not appear that he wanted a wife. He judges Israel for twenty years and still does not have a wife. It seems he would rather go to loose women and use them rather than have one woman to cherish. His apparent love of using women will be his downfall when one eventually manipulates and uses him. Beit Yeshua Torah Assembly http://beityeshua.com/

These chapters continue to tell us the history of this fascinating man of Elohim named Samson. We will see that he used his incredible strength to glorify Elohim and deliver His people from their enemies. We will also see Samson's sarcastic wit as he brings his ex-fiancee a goat to her fathers house in Timnah. What does that mean? Watch and find out! Beit Yeshua Torah Assembly http://beityeshua.com/

This chapter takes us into the tenure of Samson. Samson judged southern Israel while Jephthah judged in northern Israel (Judges 10:6-8). Samson judged southern Israel twenty years. The reigns of Jephthah, Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon in northern Israel totaled thirty-one years. Personally, I found this account of Samson to be one of the most intriguing studies in all of Scripture simply because Samson is a totally different person than what others portray him. We all know of his strength. But what is overlooked is his vast intelligence and sarcastic wit. Watch and see if you don't agree! Beit Yeshua Torah Assembly http://beityeshua.com/

This section of Judges goes through a series of "minor" judges. That doesn't mean they were small in stature or accomplishments. It just means that we do not know much about them. One interesting account is that of Jephthah. Jephthah makes a promise that "that whatever comes out of the doors of my house to meet me when I return in peace from the sons of Ammon, it shall be the LORD'S, and I will offer it up as a burnt offering." Did he expect a cow or a sheep to be the first to step out of his house? Or is it likely that there is a slightly different meaning to that promise than to burn up a person? Join us and find out! Beit Yeshua Torah Assembly http://beityeshua.com/

Some of the judges over Israel were not good folks. That holds true with Abimelech. We see his rise and fall in this chapter. Beit Yeshua Torah Assembly http://beityeshua.com/

We are going to learn of a very interesting character named Gideon. Gideon was not chosen to be a judge because he was an especially brave man. Elohim made him into the man he needed to be in order to lead Israel. His story actually ties into prophecy and the last days that we are in today! Join us and see if you find this intriguing! Beit Yeshua Torah Assembly http://beityeshua.com/

In chapter 5, Deborah and Barak sing a song that re-tells much of what has happened thus far. In the time of this chapter, the land and the sons of Israel were undisturbed for forty years. Sometimes we just can't stand prosperity. The people of Israel did evil in the sight of Elohim and Elohim gave them into the hands of the Midianites in chapter 6. Beit Yeshua Torah Assembly http://beityeshua.com/

Don't let the opening screen fool you, this is a study of Judges 3 & 4, not 1 & 2! Elohim left several pagan nations in the Land with Israel for a number of reasons. First of all, He left them there because Israel was disobedient. This was part of their punishment. Secondly, He left the enemies of Israel in place so He could test them to see if they would obey His Torah. He also left them there so they could learn what war was really like. Previously, they had experienced war under His power with Him delivering them. Now they are going to have to learn what it is like to war for your own survival. Beit Yeshua Torah Assembly http://beityeshua.com/

The English title of this book is somewhat misleading with its judicial or legal connotations. The judges' role of administering justice was only secondary. They were primarily military leaders whom Elohim "raised up" at times of national distress to deliver Israel from her oppressors. The author of the book is possibly Samuel. There is no explicit claim of authorship, although the Jewish tradition ascribing it to Samuel is reasonable. The problem with the authorship of Samuel is that Samuel lived toward the end of the period of Judges which puts it some 300+ years after the beginning of the book. The book records events following Joshua's death and preceding the rise of the monarchy. Verses in the final chapters imply that there was no one around to write this book at the time anyway (17:6, 21:25). It is likely that it was put together by Samuel and possibly with the help of other prophets (1 Chron. 29:29). This book is about the disobedience of Israel and the faithfulness of Elohim. As the Book of Joshua describes the process of Israel's taking the land, Judges describes the process of possessing the land. Unfortunately, in the process of possessing the land, Israel became possessed by the Canaanite fertility religion, which they mixed with the worship of Elohim, much like we see in Christianity today. The story of Judges, then, is a story of deteriorating faithfulness of Israel and the resulting judgment during the long period between Joshua's death and the birth of Samuel. The book describes a descending spiral of sin followed by the judgment of Elohim followed by the repentence of Israel followed by the obedience of Israel followed by sin once again. There are seven such cycles in the book of Judges. If all the terms of the judges are calculated consecutively, along with the stated periods of oppression, the total number of years covered in this book is 407. This puts the Exodus in the sixteenth century BC which fits other chronology and Egyptian history. The time of the coronation of Saul as the first king of Israel was about 1050 BC. Beit Yeshua Torah Assembly http://beityeshua.com/