In The Days When The Judges Ruled Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth …

In The Days When The Judges Ruled Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth When The Judges Ruled Israel

In The Days When The Judges Ruled Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth  Jephthah certainly “gave his daughter” to the Lord [NO DOUBT]  Was this “giving” = a burnt offering?  The text states in Judg. 12:39… Some Additional Closing Thoughts On Jephthah’s Vow “…he did to her according to the vow which he had made”

In The Days When The Judges Ruled Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth  The text does not state she was slain and offered up in a fire  Many believe Jephthah “gave her” over to a celibate lifestyle in service to the Lord  The phrase in v. 39 “…and she had no relations with a man” is compelling  Some women did so “serve” 1 Sam 2:22 Some Additional Closing Thoughts On Jephthah’s Vow

In The Days When The Judges Ruled Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth  More “comparisons” others make…  Hannah’s vow 1 Sam 1:11  Hannah pledged her son’s entire life to God as alive  Jephthah pledged a burnt offering… nothing could live through that Some Additional Closing Thoughts On Jephthah’s Vow

In The Days When The Judges Ruled Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth  More “comparisons” others make…  Abraham’s sacrifice Gen 22:2, 9-12  There is no comparison…Abraham was commanded by God to offer Isaac up in a burnt offering  God knew Abraham was willing to obey a difficult command…He stopped him Some Additional Closing Thoughts On Jephthah’s Vow

In The Days When The Judges Ruled Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth  The atrocity of a human sacrifice was not really seen until late in the Judean kings 2 Kings 16:3 21:6  It was so atrocious the record states it was one of their worst offenses  If Jephthah offered up his daughter, the record would mention, condemn it Some Additional Closing Thoughts On Jephthah’s Vow

In The Days When The Judges Ruled Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth  Would Israel’s daughters annually commemorate a human sacrifice?  It must have been something “proper”  They would not have paid homage to the act of a slain & sacrificed human… something described as an “abomination to the Lord” Some Additional Closing Thoughts On Jephthah’s Vow

In The Days When The Judges Ruled Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth  A total dedication of a person to the service of Jehovah would be worthy of annual commemoration  She willingly sacrificed herself because of her father’s vow…she gave up her opportunity to be a mother Some Additional Closing Thoughts On Jephthah’s Vow

In The Days When The Judges Ruled Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth  This appeared to be what grieved Jephthah so much  She was his only child…he would not be able to be a grandfather  As a comparison, Hannah had other children 1 Sam 2:21 Some Additional Closing Thoughts On Jephthah’s Vow

In The Days When The Judges Ruled Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth Jephthah’s Judgeship Judg 12:1-7  The aftermath of defeating Ammon  The men of Ephraim complain v. 1  Just like before re: Gideon 8:1  The complaint was against Jephthah for under-utilizing them against Ammon  They threaten to burn down Jephthah’s house upon him

In The Days When The Judges Ruled Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth Jephthah’s Judgeship Judg 12:1-7  The aftermath of defeating Ammon  His answer to the men of Ephraim vv. 2-3  He states something not recorded in Judg 11  When the battle against Ammon began, he summoned Ephraim to come help vv. 2-3a  When he saw they weren’t going to respond, he was forced to go ahead on his own v. 3b

In The Days When The Judges Ruled Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth Jephthah’s Judgeship Judg 12:1-7  The aftermath of defeating Ammon  “Civil war” in Israel vv. 4-6  All of Gilead came to war against Ephraim… Gilead prevailed v. 4a  Apparently Gilead was willing to engage Ephraim in battle because Ephraim had “slandered” Gilead v. 4b

In The Days When The Judges Ruled Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth Jephthah’s Judgeship Judg 12:1-7  The aftermath of defeating Ammon  “Civil war” in Israel vv. 4-6  Gilead captured the fords of the Jordan to prevent Ephraimites from escaping v. 5a  Ephraimites trying to cross were subjected to a “verbal test”…those exposed were slain  Over 42,000 were slain vv. 5b-6

In The Days When The Judges Ruled Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth Jephthah’s Judgeship Judg 12:1-7  Comparing Jephthah & Gideon  Both dealt with Ephraimite complaints  Gideon praised Ephraim for their actions… he told them they were important 8:1-3  Jephthah demanded to know what right they had to complain…he proceeded to deal with them harshly & militarily 12:2-6

In The Days When The Judges Ruled Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth Jephthah’s Judgeship Judg 12:1-7  Comparing Jephthah & Gideon  Both dealt with Ephraimite complaints  The difference between these 2 judges may lie in Ephraim’s response to a call for help  Ephraim answered Gideon’s call 7:24-25  Ephraim did not answer Jephthah’s call 12:2

In The Days When The Judges Ruled Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth Jephthah’s Judgeship Judg 12:1-7  He judged Israel only 6 years…he was buried in Gilead after his death v. 7

In The Days When The Judges Ruled Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth Ibzan’s Judgeship Judg 12:8-10  The 9th judge was from Bethlehem  Most likely, the “Bethlehem” in Zebulun… Judah’s “Bethlehem” was noted Mic 5:2  He had 30 sons & 30 daughters who married “outside” (either outside his family or outside the nation of Israel)

In The Days When The Judges Ruled Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth Ibzan’s Judgeship Judg 12:8-10  If the spouses for his children came from outside Israel, this would have been yet another indication of weak spiritual conditions in Israel Deut 7  He judged for 7 years before his death

In The Days When The Judges Ruled Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth Elon’s Judgeship Judg 12:11-12  The 10th judge was from Zebulun  He judged Israel 10 years before his death

In The Days When The Judges Ruled Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth Abdon’s Judgeship Judg 12:13-15  The 11th judge was from Ephraim  He had 40 sons & 30 grandsons who rode on 70 donkeys (wealth, social status)  He judged Israel 8 years before his death

In The Days When The Judges Ruled Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth …