1 Samuel 12:22 "For the sake of his great name the LORD will not reject his people, because the LORD was pleased to make you his own."
Samuel is hanging it up. He wanted the people to be witnesses that he did nothing unjust or evil in the sight of God. I'm not sure how I feel about this. He seems to be saying, "See, I did nothing wrong. I'm a good example for you."
Samuel then gives a history lesson, mentioning revered heroes including Moses, Aaron and Gideon, (and...Samuel) who trusted God and followed Him despite it not exactly being a popular thing to do. Quite a rare feat, actually.
The Israelites of the past had their "great sins," and this generation was no different. This generation wanted a king over them. They rejected God. A large sin. The sin, it would seem. It was, after all, God who delivered them from famine and enemies. God made a way, and God always provided. God was consistently rejected.
It took a thunderstorm to shake the people's attention and admit to their mistake. They "add" it to their offenses. They own up to their past failures. And again they are warned what will happen if they and their human king fail to follow God's commands.
But there is hope. There is a comforting thought, that God will not turn away from His people. Why? Because He can't? He won't. It was God who chose these people. God has bound the nation of Israel to Himself.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Saturday, June 28, 2008
1 Sa. 11: Saul's Ammonite Crisis
1 Samuel 11:13 "But Saul said, 'No one shall be put to death today, for this day the LORD has rescued Israel.'"
Well, we're one chapter into Saul's kingship, and he already has a crisis on his hands. The Ammonites come to beseige Jabesh Gilead (remember in Judges, they refused to go to assembly, and were almost wiped out by their own people). Jabesh Gilead, shrewd negotiators as they are tell the Ammonite leader, Nahash, that they will just be subject to them, minus an eye from each Gileadite, if they aren't rescued within the week.
This makes Israel sad and scared.
It makes Saul angry. Saul (or God) convinces the people to come together and fight, and Israel musters an army of 330,000. Which is huge-mongous. Of course they destroy the Ammonite invaders in like one day. And the Ammonite army is so destroyed, the Bible says that no two attackers are left together.
Then something happens that even I find unexpected. Some Israelites wanted to put to death whoever suggested that Saul become king. Despite this great military victory. Was it because they were undyingly devoted to the LORD and His kingship? Or because they were threatened into battle by having their oxen cut up into pieces? Something tells me its the latter.
Saul busts in and says, "No one shall be put to death, because the LORD has rescued Israel." And I like that. Saul gives credit and glory to God. The ruler he has replaced. That shows great leadership, in spite of an unpopular public opinion. Of a few people. At least.
Anyway, they have a huge celebration for Saul, and with the victory, its his "coming out party."
Well, we're one chapter into Saul's kingship, and he already has a crisis on his hands. The Ammonites come to beseige Jabesh Gilead (remember in Judges, they refused to go to assembly, and were almost wiped out by their own people). Jabesh Gilead, shrewd negotiators as they are tell the Ammonite leader, Nahash, that they will just be subject to them, minus an eye from each Gileadite, if they aren't rescued within the week.
This makes Israel sad and scared.
It makes Saul angry. Saul (or God) convinces the people to come together and fight, and Israel musters an army of 330,000. Which is huge-mongous. Of course they destroy the Ammonite invaders in like one day. And the Ammonite army is so destroyed, the Bible says that no two attackers are left together.
Then something happens that even I find unexpected. Some Israelites wanted to put to death whoever suggested that Saul become king. Despite this great military victory. Was it because they were undyingly devoted to the LORD and His kingship? Or because they were threatened into battle by having their oxen cut up into pieces? Something tells me its the latter.
Saul busts in and says, "No one shall be put to death, because the LORD has rescued Israel." And I like that. Saul gives credit and glory to God. The ruler he has replaced. That shows great leadership, in spite of an unpopular public opinion. Of a few people. At least.
Anyway, they have a huge celebration for Saul, and with the victory, its his "coming out party."
1 Sa. 10: Long Live the King
1 Samuel 10:9 "As Saul turned to leave Samuel, God changed Saul's heart, and all these signs were fulfilled that day."
As Samuel is anointed king by Samuel, Samuel tells him that his dad is now worried about where he is, just as Saul thought previously. Was this because Saul knew his dad was predisposed to this, or because God made it happen. If so, why? Then Saul is instructed to go to Tabor, Gibeah, and Gilgal, because his next steps had been planned out. He was to join a group and start prophesying with them. I don't really know what that means. They were just talking amongst themselves about God? They were telling the future to each other? To the people? I don't know. Doesn't say. With the presence of musical instruments, I'd imagine they were causing a scene, and wanted to entice people to pay attention to them...
Then God changed Saul's heart. As if Saul wasn't completely on board, or was kind of unsure about this whole being king deal. And it was a big deal. Not only was he going to be king, he was going to be a man of God, with abilities sent from God. We're talking major upheaval in the life of someone who was probably otherwise destined to become a donkey-finder for hire, and an unsuccessful one at that. This change in Saul was so great, that even his friends noticed when they saw him prophesying. Admittedly, that seems like a pretty noticeable change.
At the assembly to announce Saul's kingship, Samuel again relates the message from God about how God was rejected even though it was the LORD who brought them through all their trouble and calamity and distress. This didn't appear to phase Israel, who probably thought of God as the one who got them into those calamities to begin with. "Long live the king!" They shouted. They were going to force their way through whatever it took. We'll see what happens.
As Samuel is anointed king by Samuel, Samuel tells him that his dad is now worried about where he is, just as Saul thought previously. Was this because Saul knew his dad was predisposed to this, or because God made it happen. If so, why? Then Saul is instructed to go to Tabor, Gibeah, and Gilgal, because his next steps had been planned out. He was to join a group and start prophesying with them. I don't really know what that means. They were just talking amongst themselves about God? They were telling the future to each other? To the people? I don't know. Doesn't say. With the presence of musical instruments, I'd imagine they were causing a scene, and wanted to entice people to pay attention to them...
Then God changed Saul's heart. As if Saul wasn't completely on board, or was kind of unsure about this whole being king deal. And it was a big deal. Not only was he going to be king, he was going to be a man of God, with abilities sent from God. We're talking major upheaval in the life of someone who was probably otherwise destined to become a donkey-finder for hire, and an unsuccessful one at that. This change in Saul was so great, that even his friends noticed when they saw him prophesying. Admittedly, that seems like a pretty noticeable change.
At the assembly to announce Saul's kingship, Samuel again relates the message from God about how God was rejected even though it was the LORD who brought them through all their trouble and calamity and distress. This didn't appear to phase Israel, who probably thought of God as the one who got them into those calamities to begin with. "Long live the king!" They shouted. They were going to force their way through whatever it took. We'll see what happens.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
1 Sa. 9: Donkey-Finding Mission Goes Awry
1 Samuel 9:16: "About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin. Anoint him leader over my people Israel; he will deliver my people from the hand of the Philistines. I have looked upon my people, for their cry has reached me."
This is a story about a guy who's a head taller than the rest of the Israelites. And one day, donkeys belonging to Saul's father Kish wandered off. These donkeys were very important to Kish, so he sent his son to go find these donkeys and bring them back. Stupid donkeys. Don't know where they are in life. Don't know enough to stay in a place prepared for them.
Anyway, Kish sends Saul with a servant to find them, but they just couldn't. Finally, enough was enough, and Saul decided to turn back to avoid worrying his father. The servant realizes that a nearby town has a seer (Samuel), which is what they called the prophets, who can tell them the way to take. To take back home or to take to find the donkeys, I'm not sure.
Anyway, God had gone ahead and told Samuel who to expect. Which I find amazing. Can you imagine someone telling you something that was going to happen, and then tomorrow it happens? Ah, that still gives my chills. What an amazing thing that could happen.
It turns out to be Saul, and he dines with Samuel.
One note in particular is how God deals with this anointing of a king. God, rejected by his people, selects someone from those people, has compassion on their cries. More interesting is how God says this person will deliver God's people from the hand of the Philistines. Of course, I could only expect that it would be God pulling the strings, but its interesting here that he implies this king would deliver his people. God is giving in here.
This is a story about a guy who's a head taller than the rest of the Israelites. And one day, donkeys belonging to Saul's father Kish wandered off. These donkeys were very important to Kish, so he sent his son to go find these donkeys and bring them back. Stupid donkeys. Don't know where they are in life. Don't know enough to stay in a place prepared for them.
Anyway, Kish sends Saul with a servant to find them, but they just couldn't. Finally, enough was enough, and Saul decided to turn back to avoid worrying his father. The servant realizes that a nearby town has a seer (Samuel), which is what they called the prophets, who can tell them the way to take. To take back home or to take to find the donkeys, I'm not sure.
Anyway, God had gone ahead and told Samuel who to expect. Which I find amazing. Can you imagine someone telling you something that was going to happen, and then tomorrow it happens? Ah, that still gives my chills. What an amazing thing that could happen.
It turns out to be Saul, and he dines with Samuel.
One note in particular is how God deals with this anointing of a king. God, rejected by his people, selects someone from those people, has compassion on their cries. More interesting is how God says this person will deliver God's people from the hand of the Philistines. Of course, I could only expect that it would be God pulling the strings, but its interesting here that he implies this king would deliver his people. God is giving in here.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
1 Sa. 8: King Me
1 Samuel 8:20 "Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles."
Samuel...good leader, probably. Good dad? I'm leaning no, as his sons Joel and Abijah were listed as not walking his ways, and perverting justice after they were installed by Samuel as judges. The misbehavior by Samuel's sons led to Israel's elders getting together and coming up with a good idea. And we've seen that when Israel's elders get together, only good things happen. OK, just kidding. It's usually tragic and short-sighted.
Anyway, they saw other nations with their kings, and they decided they wanted their own. Joel and Abijah were not working out, and Samuel was an old man. Samuel, as you can imagine, was offended by this. Israel didn't like him or his sons. But God came on the scene and settled him down, saying "they're not rejecting you. They're rejecting me." Which I guess is true. Israel had God. If they had tuned their hearts to God's ways, they wouldn't need a king. Israel was set up not to have a king. God's covenant with Israel's patriarchs made no provisions for kings. Not even judges. It was supposed to be all happy and nice, and descendants like the stars in the sky. Israel has had a history since the beginning to reject God.
So having this king came with its pros ("fighting our wars for us" according to the Israelites, apparently not realizing who it was all those times they utterly destroyed bigger, more well trained armies) and cons...such as having to give up control of all kinds of civil liberties, property and person. So...you give, and you take. And Samuel warned them about all the stuff they'd have to give up, but Israel was like, "It don't matta," and they demanded a king anyway. Would God give them what they wanted?
Samuel...good leader, probably. Good dad? I'm leaning no, as his sons Joel and Abijah were listed as not walking his ways, and perverting justice after they were installed by Samuel as judges. The misbehavior by Samuel's sons led to Israel's elders getting together and coming up with a good idea. And we've seen that when Israel's elders get together, only good things happen. OK, just kidding. It's usually tragic and short-sighted.
Anyway, they saw other nations with their kings, and they decided they wanted their own. Joel and Abijah were not working out, and Samuel was an old man. Samuel, as you can imagine, was offended by this. Israel didn't like him or his sons. But God came on the scene and settled him down, saying "they're not rejecting you. They're rejecting me." Which I guess is true. Israel had God. If they had tuned their hearts to God's ways, they wouldn't need a king. Israel was set up not to have a king. God's covenant with Israel's patriarchs made no provisions for kings. Not even judges. It was supposed to be all happy and nice, and descendants like the stars in the sky. Israel has had a history since the beginning to reject God.
So having this king came with its pros ("fighting our wars for us" according to the Israelites, apparently not realizing who it was all those times they utterly destroyed bigger, more well trained armies) and cons...such as having to give up control of all kinds of civil liberties, property and person. So...you give, and you take. And Samuel warned them about all the stuff they'd have to give up, but Israel was like, "It don't matta," and they demanded a king anyway. Would God give them what they wanted?
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
1 Sa. 7: Philistines Ebenezered
1 Samuel 7:12 "Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, 'Thus far has the LORD helped us.'"
So even with the ark in the possession of the Israelites, twenty years went by before Samuel went all Joshua 24 on them and told them to throw away their ancillary gods. Why did it take that long? And thanks to some recent conversations, it's becoming easier to believe that these Israelites were polytheistic. Sure, they may have had their main God, whom they call "LORD," but more consistently, Israel was found with Baal or Ashtoreth. And I always wondered if everyone got rid of their phony gods, or if enough did, and there were a few deceived people still, and God was like, "Eh, 97% have thrown away their gods...that works for me." Probably not.
Verse six talks about how Israel drew water and then poured it out before the LORD. Not commanded of them, as far as I know, but I can only figure that drawing water was a giant pain in the hiney back then compared to today. So perhaps its kind of like that kid in Africa who hikes to the ocean and brings a shell back to his teacher and says that the journey is the gift, or whatever. The effort is the gift.
With Israel assembled at Mizpah, the Philistines assumed it was for war, so they came to take on Israel...apparently forgetting the whole tumor and rat episode. They march on Israel while Samuel is sacrificing, and God scares the bejeebers out of the Philistines with some thunder. And I wonder. About this thunder. Something tells me its not the wussy thunder we hear in our "thunderstorms." I bet this was that angry God thunder. Thunder that sounds like the earth is crumbling beneath your feet and flinging a million tiny hand grenades through your timpanic membranes.
This thunder cause massive panic, and this allowed the Israelites to slaughter their hapless foes. They routed them all the way to Beth Car.
Because of this, Samuel set up a stone called "Ebenezer," because the LORD had helped them "thus far." Which is kind of sad. Thus far. Is that questioning the mettle of the Israelites? Or his own ability to lead? Or is it a testament to what is done when Israel rids themselves of their false gods and allows one God to take control?
The good thing is, the Israelites lived in peace and were not bothered by the Philistines while Samuel was at the helm. He apparently knew what he was doing as judge.
So even with the ark in the possession of the Israelites, twenty years went by before Samuel went all Joshua 24 on them and told them to throw away their ancillary gods. Why did it take that long? And thanks to some recent conversations, it's becoming easier to believe that these Israelites were polytheistic. Sure, they may have had their main God, whom they call "LORD," but more consistently, Israel was found with Baal or Ashtoreth. And I always wondered if everyone got rid of their phony gods, or if enough did, and there were a few deceived people still, and God was like, "Eh, 97% have thrown away their gods...that works for me." Probably not.
Verse six talks about how Israel drew water and then poured it out before the LORD. Not commanded of them, as far as I know, but I can only figure that drawing water was a giant pain in the hiney back then compared to today. So perhaps its kind of like that kid in Africa who hikes to the ocean and brings a shell back to his teacher and says that the journey is the gift, or whatever. The effort is the gift.
With Israel assembled at Mizpah, the Philistines assumed it was for war, so they came to take on Israel...apparently forgetting the whole tumor and rat episode. They march on Israel while Samuel is sacrificing, and God scares the bejeebers out of the Philistines with some thunder. And I wonder. About this thunder. Something tells me its not the wussy thunder we hear in our "thunderstorms." I bet this was that angry God thunder. Thunder that sounds like the earth is crumbling beneath your feet and flinging a million tiny hand grenades through your timpanic membranes.
This thunder cause massive panic, and this allowed the Israelites to slaughter their hapless foes. They routed them all the way to Beth Car.
Because of this, Samuel set up a stone called "Ebenezer," because the LORD had helped them "thus far." Which is kind of sad. Thus far. Is that questioning the mettle of the Israelites? Or his own ability to lead? Or is it a testament to what is done when Israel rids themselves of their false gods and allows one God to take control?
The good thing is, the Israelites lived in peace and were not bothered by the Philistines while Samuel was at the helm. He apparently knew what he was doing as judge.
Monday, June 23, 2008
1 Sa. 6: Two Words: Golden Tumor
1 Samuel 6:4 "The Philistines asked, 'What guilt offering should we send to him?' They replied, 'Five gold tumors and five gold rats, according to the number of the Philistine rulers, because the same plague has struck both you and your rulers.'"
By this time, the Philistines are sick of the tumors and rats plaguing them because of their possession of the ark. So what's the best way to get rid of this? I know...cast tumors made of gold and rats, too. Then put them next to the ark on a cart and set it loose. The Philistines weren't all morons. They knew what happened with Pharaoh and the Egyptians when they refused to let the Israelites leave.
The test here to see if it was really the LORD that afflicted them with the tumors...hemorrhoids maybe, was that if these cows took the ark home to Israel. If the cows just wandered aimlessly, then it wasn't God behind the whole deal. Somehow, I don't think there was a doubt in their mind what was going on there.
When the Israelites saw the cart come over the hill, they were super happy. The ark had returned. The ark, was still holy. Apparently some dudes looked into it. They were struck down. "Who can stand in his presence?" The power was recognized. Heeded? We'll see.
By this time, the Philistines are sick of the tumors and rats plaguing them because of their possession of the ark. So what's the best way to get rid of this? I know...cast tumors made of gold and rats, too. Then put them next to the ark on a cart and set it loose. The Philistines weren't all morons. They knew what happened with Pharaoh and the Egyptians when they refused to let the Israelites leave.
The test here to see if it was really the LORD that afflicted them with the tumors...hemorrhoids maybe, was that if these cows took the ark home to Israel. If the cows just wandered aimlessly, then it wasn't God behind the whole deal. Somehow, I don't think there was a doubt in their mind what was going on there.
When the Israelites saw the cart come over the hill, they were super happy. The ark had returned. The ark, was still holy. Apparently some dudes looked into it. They were struck down. "Who can stand in his presence?" The power was recognized. Heeded? We'll see.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
1 Sa. 5: Oh, Wait: It Is a TOO-mah...
1 Samuel 5:10 "So they sent the ark of God to Ekron. As the ark of God was entering Ekron, the people of Ekron cried out, 'They have brought the ark of the god of Israel around to us to kill us and our people.'"
The Philistines added the ark to their collection of gods...making it two now. Even though they placed the ark in Dagon's temple in Ashdod, I doubt they had any intention of worshiping the God of the Israelites.
They come back into the temple the next morning, and there is Dagon, lying face down on the floor next to the ark. A submissive pose. The Philistines probably looked at each other, shrugged, and put Dagon back up on the mantle. But O! What should happen that night? The Philistines return in the morning (They're in the temple everyday it would seem...that's devotion), and find Dagon back on the floor, his head and hands broken off his body and lying on the threshold. What's the message God is sending here? What is the importance of the head and the hands removed from the body? The head and hands are action. Mind. Doing something...something headless and handless is most certainly powerless.
Verse 5 is interesting to me. The above situation with the head and the hands caused the people not to step on the threshold in subsequent days. Theirs was a religion of superstition, not faith.
The Philistines passed the ark around to their major cities, and wherever the ark went, it brought the party with it. Just kidding. It brought tumors and rats and despair and much panic. The Philistines almost immediately recognized that it was the ark that had this power over them. A change of scenery did not effect the outcome. It was pain and tumors.
The Philistines figured they were safer with the ark of God in the hands of the hapless Israelites than holding it in their own camp. And they were probably right. The Israelites were for the most part unaware or unwilling to come to terms with the power God would give them. And this speaks to how God continued to judge the nations (here, the Philistines (Judges 14:4)) with or without the Israelites. What God had to do was not dependent on the Israelites really doing whatever they were supposed to be doing.
The Philistines added the ark to their collection of gods...making it two now. Even though they placed the ark in Dagon's temple in Ashdod, I doubt they had any intention of worshiping the God of the Israelites.
They come back into the temple the next morning, and there is Dagon, lying face down on the floor next to the ark. A submissive pose. The Philistines probably looked at each other, shrugged, and put Dagon back up on the mantle. But O! What should happen that night? The Philistines return in the morning (They're in the temple everyday it would seem...that's devotion), and find Dagon back on the floor, his head and hands broken off his body and lying on the threshold. What's the message God is sending here? What is the importance of the head and the hands removed from the body? The head and hands are action. Mind. Doing something...something headless and handless is most certainly powerless.
Verse 5 is interesting to me. The above situation with the head and the hands caused the people not to step on the threshold in subsequent days. Theirs was a religion of superstition, not faith.
The Philistines passed the ark around to their major cities, and wherever the ark went, it brought the party with it. Just kidding. It brought tumors and rats and despair and much panic. The Philistines almost immediately recognized that it was the ark that had this power over them. A change of scenery did not effect the outcome. It was pain and tumors.
The Philistines figured they were safer with the ark of God in the hands of the hapless Israelites than holding it in their own camp. And they were probably right. The Israelites were for the most part unaware or unwilling to come to terms with the power God would give them. And this speaks to how God continued to judge the nations (here, the Philistines (Judges 14:4)) with or without the Israelites. What God had to do was not dependent on the Israelites really doing whatever they were supposed to be doing.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
1 Sa. 4: Ark of War
1 Samuel 4:17 "The man who brought the news replied, 'Israel fled before the Philistines, and the army has suffered heavy losses. Also your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God has been captured.'"
Well...just about everything you would think could go wrong for Israel does, right here in chapter 4.
First off, they go to war with the Philistines. Not sure why. The point is, the Philistines kick their hineys. Confused, the Israelites remember something way back about needing God with them or some such thing, so they drag the ark out of the place it belongs and bring it to the battlefield. The ark made people erupt in cheers and screaming and shouting. The Philistines are like, "What's the deal, what's going on?" So they have quite the pep talk amongst themselves. But now that the ark is there, and with God on their side, the Israelites stomp the Philistines. Just kidding, the Philistines actually kill 30,000 Israelite foot soldiers. So it was even worse with the ark.
The Philistines captured the ark, and I am assuming that they did their research and new it was of some value. And Hophni and Phinehas died, fulfilling 1 Samuel 2:34.
Eli is told about this defeat, the death of his sons, and the capture of the ark. And it was too much for him to handle. He fell backward off his chair and broke his neck. Which is amazing. Can you imagine dying with your last thought being the capture of the ark, and possibly questioning everything you believed?
Phinehas' wife gave birth to a boy named Ichabod. Meaning "no glory." Ain't that right.
Well...just about everything you would think could go wrong for Israel does, right here in chapter 4.
First off, they go to war with the Philistines. Not sure why. The point is, the Philistines kick their hineys. Confused, the Israelites remember something way back about needing God with them or some such thing, so they drag the ark out of the place it belongs and bring it to the battlefield. The ark made people erupt in cheers and screaming and shouting. The Philistines are like, "What's the deal, what's going on?" So they have quite the pep talk amongst themselves. But now that the ark is there, and with God on their side, the Israelites stomp the Philistines. Just kidding, the Philistines actually kill 30,000 Israelite foot soldiers. So it was even worse with the ark.
The Philistines captured the ark, and I am assuming that they did their research and new it was of some value. And Hophni and Phinehas died, fulfilling 1 Samuel 2:34.
Eli is told about this defeat, the death of his sons, and the capture of the ark. And it was too much for him to handle. He fell backward off his chair and broke his neck. Which is amazing. Can you imagine dying with your last thought being the capture of the ark, and possibly questioning everything you believed?
Phinehas' wife gave birth to a boy named Ichabod. Meaning "no glory." Ain't that right.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
1 Sa. 3: "Samuel! Samuel!"
1 Samuel 3:7 "Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD : The word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him."
Apparently in the time of Samuel, the LORD was silent for the most part. Not many visions occured, and following that, the LORD was probably not using a mouthpiece to the nation of Israel as he had with Moses and Joshua and stuff. Maybe as a result, Eli wasn't the most ideal priest when it came to sticking with convictions. Eli may not have listened enough. The Bible doesn't say, so I can only infer.
The greatest evidence of the LORD's silence, and Eli's lax attitude toward the priesthood is verse 7, where it says "Samuel did not yet know the LORD." This seems pretty important. Here was Samuel, who had been serving in the temple, for a few years at the very least, serving someone he did not yet know. What was Eli doing this whole time? What was he teaching, if anything? Maybe he tried, and anyone who has tried to be a leader in a youth group knows they don't exactly have rapt attention. Anyway, I find that somewhat troubling. The priesthood itself was not in good hands, and was ready to be handed off to incapable hands.
The second part of verse 7 speaks about revelation. How was Samuel supposed to have any sort of propriety or passion about what he was doing, if he didn't really know why he was doing it? The LORD had not yet revealed himself to Samuel. Even when Samuel was in the temple...the most holy place...essentially the doorstep of God, he had no knowledge of God. I'm sure he was taught the answers, and the sacrifices, and the rules and regs, and he probably memorized some scripture here and there. But God had not taken hold of him. God had not reached out to Samuel. This implies that a person cannot truly know the LORD until God reveals himself to that person. How God reveals himself is the variable.
Anyway, one night, God calls out to Samuel. Samuel at first thinks its Eli calling him, so he goes to Eli and says, "Here I am."
"I didn't call you, boy. Back to bed."
"Oh."
...
"Samuel."
"Here I am, Eli."
"Now, Samuel, I didn't call you. Go lay down before I throw you into the Holy of Holies."
...
"Samuel!"
"Eli, you called?"
"Hmm...it must be God. If he calls you again, tell him you are listening."
"Uhh...kay. Good night."
...
"Samuel?"
"Speak, for your servant is listening."
God tells Samuel what He is going to do. As promised, God tells Samuel about what He is going to do to Eli's house. And this is not exactly the happiest introduction from God to the uninitiated. Imagine if your first interaction with God is a curse on the person who took you in and taught you everything you knew about God? Also interesting that God would tell Samuel (inexperienced, youthful Samuel) about the curse on Eli instead of Eli himself.
Because of Eli's unwillingness or inability to restrain his loutish sons, God would bring severe judgment on his house. Sacrifice and offering wouldn't even atone for it. Theoretically, would repentence? God seemed pretty set on what he was going to do.
Because of Samuel and Eli's relationship, of course you could expect Samuel to be hesitant to tell Eli the bad news. Bad news Eli probably expected was coming. But Eli threatened Samuel into telling him what God said, whether that was the right course of action is irrelevant, because Samuel reacted with concession, saying that God is God, and will do what is good in his eyes.
Samuel soon became widely recognized as Israel's prophet from the LORD. Did they have any previously? Like, real prophets? I don't know yet.
Apparently in the time of Samuel, the LORD was silent for the most part. Not many visions occured, and following that, the LORD was probably not using a mouthpiece to the nation of Israel as he had with Moses and Joshua and stuff. Maybe as a result, Eli wasn't the most ideal priest when it came to sticking with convictions. Eli may not have listened enough. The Bible doesn't say, so I can only infer.
The greatest evidence of the LORD's silence, and Eli's lax attitude toward the priesthood is verse 7, where it says "Samuel did not yet know the LORD." This seems pretty important. Here was Samuel, who had been serving in the temple, for a few years at the very least, serving someone he did not yet know. What was Eli doing this whole time? What was he teaching, if anything? Maybe he tried, and anyone who has tried to be a leader in a youth group knows they don't exactly have rapt attention. Anyway, I find that somewhat troubling. The priesthood itself was not in good hands, and was ready to be handed off to incapable hands.
The second part of verse 7 speaks about revelation. How was Samuel supposed to have any sort of propriety or passion about what he was doing, if he didn't really know why he was doing it? The LORD had not yet revealed himself to Samuel. Even when Samuel was in the temple...the most holy place...essentially the doorstep of God, he had no knowledge of God. I'm sure he was taught the answers, and the sacrifices, and the rules and regs, and he probably memorized some scripture here and there. But God had not taken hold of him. God had not reached out to Samuel. This implies that a person cannot truly know the LORD until God reveals himself to that person. How God reveals himself is the variable.
Anyway, one night, God calls out to Samuel. Samuel at first thinks its Eli calling him, so he goes to Eli and says, "Here I am."
"I didn't call you, boy. Back to bed."
"Oh."
...
"Samuel."
"Here I am, Eli."
"Now, Samuel, I didn't call you. Go lay down before I throw you into the Holy of Holies."
...
"Samuel!"
"Eli, you called?"
"Hmm...it must be God. If he calls you again, tell him you are listening."
"Uhh...kay. Good night."
...
"Samuel?"
"Speak, for your servant is listening."
God tells Samuel what He is going to do. As promised, God tells Samuel about what He is going to do to Eli's house. And this is not exactly the happiest introduction from God to the uninitiated. Imagine if your first interaction with God is a curse on the person who took you in and taught you everything you knew about God? Also interesting that God would tell Samuel (inexperienced, youthful Samuel) about the curse on Eli instead of Eli himself.
Because of Eli's unwillingness or inability to restrain his loutish sons, God would bring severe judgment on his house. Sacrifice and offering wouldn't even atone for it. Theoretically, would repentence? God seemed pretty set on what he was going to do.
Because of Samuel and Eli's relationship, of course you could expect Samuel to be hesitant to tell Eli the bad news. Bad news Eli probably expected was coming. But Eli threatened Samuel into telling him what God said, whether that was the right course of action is irrelevant, because Samuel reacted with concession, saying that God is God, and will do what is good in his eyes.
Samuel soon became widely recognized as Israel's prophet from the LORD. Did they have any previously? Like, real prophets? I don't know yet.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
1 Sa. 2: Hannah Prays, Eli Prophecied Agin
1 Samuel 2:35 "I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who will do according to what is in my heart and mind. I will firmly establish his house, and he will minister before my anointed one always."
Well, Hannah, like most good people in the Bible to this point, takes time to remember to give God glory when He grants requests. In her thanks, she acknowledges God as creator, as all powerful, all knowing, boastworthy...author of life and death. Giver of status. The great equalizer. And she takes a shot at her wife, Peninnah. It's her wife, too, right? Eh, maybe not. She may have thought that having children would be her only shot at value as a person. Amazing what we come to ascribe as attributes of value for ourselves, and what God has is completely different.
Her son begins to help out around the tabernacle...maybe becoming the world's first altar boy? Sweeping floors, vacuuming, whatnot.
Eli's sons (also priests) Hophni and Phinehas (not that Phinehas) were not exactly exemplary in line for the priesthood. They abused their position, and took advantage of the sacrifices Israel brought. However, this was apparently not worthy of a death sentence. Among the offenses counted against them, boning the chicks that helped out at the temple, and demanding the fatted portion of the sacrifice to the point where they threatened the sacrificer with taking it by force. The best was supposed to belong to God. Specifically. Additionally, anyone eating the fat offered to God was to be cut off from his people. An important punishment.
But were they incinerated like Nadab and Abihu? No. But God did want them dead (v. 25), and His justice just wasn't as swift in this case. And Eli didn't just let this sin go ignored. He made a token effort here and there to talk to them, but this wasn't enough, as it went unheeded...as though Eli was not really a man of much discipline.
Meanwhile, Samuel was given linens to wear...which, if you'll remember, linens were reserved for those who were priests or were in training to be priests. Samuel had an important place in the tabernacle, despite being an Ephraimite.
Eli was visited by a prophet who told him that this behavior by his sons was not acceptable, and would lead to a terrible curse...that no one in his family would ever live a long life. However, there was a promise that there would be a priest who would rise up who would be faithful, and would be so tight with God, that this priest would do everything according to God's heart and mind. Can you imagine that connection? His house will be firmly established, and he will minister always. As if this would be the final priest. And all would come to him asking for favor and sustenance.
Well, Hannah, like most good people in the Bible to this point, takes time to remember to give God glory when He grants requests. In her thanks, she acknowledges God as creator, as all powerful, all knowing, boastworthy...author of life and death. Giver of status. The great equalizer. And she takes a shot at her wife, Peninnah. It's her wife, too, right? Eh, maybe not. She may have thought that having children would be her only shot at value as a person. Amazing what we come to ascribe as attributes of value for ourselves, and what God has is completely different.
Her son begins to help out around the tabernacle...maybe becoming the world's first altar boy? Sweeping floors, vacuuming, whatnot.
Eli's sons (also priests) Hophni and Phinehas (not that Phinehas) were not exactly exemplary in line for the priesthood. They abused their position, and took advantage of the sacrifices Israel brought. However, this was apparently not worthy of a death sentence. Among the offenses counted against them, boning the chicks that helped out at the temple, and demanding the fatted portion of the sacrifice to the point where they threatened the sacrificer with taking it by force. The best was supposed to belong to God. Specifically. Additionally, anyone eating the fat offered to God was to be cut off from his people. An important punishment.
But were they incinerated like Nadab and Abihu? No. But God did want them dead (v. 25), and His justice just wasn't as swift in this case. And Eli didn't just let this sin go ignored. He made a token effort here and there to talk to them, but this wasn't enough, as it went unheeded...as though Eli was not really a man of much discipline.
Meanwhile, Samuel was given linens to wear...which, if you'll remember, linens were reserved for those who were priests or were in training to be priests. Samuel had an important place in the tabernacle, despite being an Ephraimite.
Eli was visited by a prophet who told him that this behavior by his sons was not acceptable, and would lead to a terrible curse...that no one in his family would ever live a long life. However, there was a promise that there would be a priest who would rise up who would be faithful, and would be so tight with God, that this priest would do everything according to God's heart and mind. Can you imagine that connection? His house will be firmly established, and he will minister always. As if this would be the final priest. And all would come to him asking for favor and sustenance.
Monday, June 16, 2008
1 Sa. 1: Hannah's Vow
1 Samuel 1:19 "Early the next morning they arose and worshiped before the LORD and then went back to their home at Ramah. Elkanah lay with Hannah his wife, and the LORD remembered her."
It's a new story. There's a guy named Elkanah, an Ephraimite. But the story isn't so much about him. It's about one of his wives. Like Jacob, Elkanah had two wives, but one he (apparently) truly loved. Like Jacob, he had one wife with children (Peninnah), and one wife who could not conceive (Hannah), at least at first. And Peninnah obviously did not take kindly to this favoritism from Elkanah. Polygamy seems to end up like this. Peninnah did not hesitate to rub it in that she was having children, and this constantly broke Hannah's heart.
It says that every time they went to the tabernacle, Penny would poke and prod until Hannah wept and refused to eat. And then you have Elkanah. I love Elkanah, because he reminds me of me. He has absolutely no idea why his beloved wife is so depressed. "Why do you weep," he asks. And then the mother lode of density, which even I know is the wrong thing to ask, "Don't I mean more to you than ten sons?" Yeah. He asked that. No marriage counselor in the world...
One day, "in bitterness of soul," Hannah prays, desperately begging God to send her a son, and she vows to give up her son in service to the LORD. How very descriptive, "bitterness of soul." Have you prayed like that? At the point where you can't breathe, and you cry out out of your despair?
Eli, the priest there, suspects her of being drunk, since her mouth is moving and no sound is coming out. And Hannah, even though she is sort of backed into a corner as far as having to explain herself, she doesn't hide how she feels from Eli. She isn't afraid to be real with him. She admits to being deeply troubled. She puts up no facade, doesn't try to explain it away. How many of us can have this type of interaction with a church leader?
Eli softens and tells Hannah to go in peace, with the blessing that the LORD would grant whatever she was asking. She left with joy in her heart.
In time, Hannah has a son, Samuel. The Bible says that the LORD remembered her. He remembered her request, or He remembered her vow, that's the question. No vow is taken lightly by God, and he has proven this in the case of Jephthah.
She didn't go with Elkanah for the annual sacrifice, because Samuel wasn't weaned. Couldn't handle the travel to Shiloh. Eventually, Hannah does bring Samuel in with a sacrifice. And who is there, but Eli, and Hannah reminds him that it was her who wept so bitterly, and the LORD gave her what she asked for, and she was fulfilling her promise to God by bringing in her son. Wonder what the child care system was like at the temple...
It's a new story. There's a guy named Elkanah, an Ephraimite. But the story isn't so much about him. It's about one of his wives. Like Jacob, Elkanah had two wives, but one he (apparently) truly loved. Like Jacob, he had one wife with children (Peninnah), and one wife who could not conceive (Hannah), at least at first. And Peninnah obviously did not take kindly to this favoritism from Elkanah. Polygamy seems to end up like this. Peninnah did not hesitate to rub it in that she was having children, and this constantly broke Hannah's heart.
It says that every time they went to the tabernacle, Penny would poke and prod until Hannah wept and refused to eat. And then you have Elkanah. I love Elkanah, because he reminds me of me. He has absolutely no idea why his beloved wife is so depressed. "Why do you weep," he asks. And then the mother lode of density, which even I know is the wrong thing to ask, "Don't I mean more to you than ten sons?" Yeah. He asked that. No marriage counselor in the world...
One day, "in bitterness of soul," Hannah prays, desperately begging God to send her a son, and she vows to give up her son in service to the LORD. How very descriptive, "bitterness of soul." Have you prayed like that? At the point where you can't breathe, and you cry out out of your despair?
Eli, the priest there, suspects her of being drunk, since her mouth is moving and no sound is coming out. And Hannah, even though she is sort of backed into a corner as far as having to explain herself, she doesn't hide how she feels from Eli. She isn't afraid to be real with him. She admits to being deeply troubled. She puts up no facade, doesn't try to explain it away. How many of us can have this type of interaction with a church leader?
Eli softens and tells Hannah to go in peace, with the blessing that the LORD would grant whatever she was asking. She left with joy in her heart.
In time, Hannah has a son, Samuel. The Bible says that the LORD remembered her. He remembered her request, or He remembered her vow, that's the question. No vow is taken lightly by God, and he has proven this in the case of Jephthah.
She didn't go with Elkanah for the annual sacrifice, because Samuel wasn't weaned. Couldn't handle the travel to Shiloh. Eventually, Hannah does bring Samuel in with a sacrifice. And who is there, but Eli, and Hannah reminds him that it was her who wept so bitterly, and the LORD gave her what she asked for, and she was fulfilling her promise to God by bringing in her son. Wonder what the child care system was like at the temple...
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Ru. 4: Ruth and Boaz Sittin' in a Tree...
Ruth 4:8 "So the kinsman-redeemer said to Boaz, 'Buy it yourself.' And he removed his sandal."
Well, to make this whole deal nice and legal, Boaz has to go through the legal process of acquiring Ruth as his wife, and bypassing the eligible kinsman-redeemer. So in the presence of the elders of the town, he lets them know that Naomi is selling some plot of land, and he suggests that the other guy buy it, as recorded in Leviticus 25. Of course Other Guy wants to. Now this is new. I didn't know, and couldn't find anywhere previously in Ruth where Naomi was selling land. Apparently she was, or else Boaz wouldn't have brought it up. Would have been too entangling if Other Guy called his bluff.
Anyway, then Boaz drops the marriage bomb on Other Guy. Other Guy balks at the unexpected baggage, fearing a complicated transaction. He probably also figured that the land wouldn't completely stay in his family.
Then they do that sandal thing that seals the deal, and Ruth belongs to Boaz, and they live happily ever after, promised great renown in Ephrathah.
To continue the epilogue, Ruth has a son, named Obed, and this is, according to Ruth, greater for Naomi than having seven sons. Naomi, once bitter, holds her grandson in her arms with joy. This Obed was the grandfather of some guy named David. Which is apparently the point of this book. It could be a nice story about loyalty and respect and integrity. But we'll have to wait and see.
Well, to make this whole deal nice and legal, Boaz has to go through the legal process of acquiring Ruth as his wife, and bypassing the eligible kinsman-redeemer. So in the presence of the elders of the town, he lets them know that Naomi is selling some plot of land, and he suggests that the other guy buy it, as recorded in Leviticus 25. Of course Other Guy wants to. Now this is new. I didn't know, and couldn't find anywhere previously in Ruth where Naomi was selling land. Apparently she was, or else Boaz wouldn't have brought it up. Would have been too entangling if Other Guy called his bluff.
Anyway, then Boaz drops the marriage bomb on Other Guy. Other Guy balks at the unexpected baggage, fearing a complicated transaction. He probably also figured that the land wouldn't completely stay in his family.
Then they do that sandal thing that seals the deal, and Ruth belongs to Boaz, and they live happily ever after, promised great renown in Ephrathah.
To continue the epilogue, Ruth has a son, named Obed, and this is, according to Ruth, greater for Naomi than having seven sons. Naomi, once bitter, holds her grandson in her arms with joy. This Obed was the grandfather of some guy named David. Which is apparently the point of this book. It could be a nice story about loyalty and respect and integrity. But we'll have to wait and see.
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Ru. 3: Naomi Makes it Happen
Ruth 3:9 "I am your servant Ruth," she said. "Spread the corner of your garment over me, since you are a kinsman-redeemer."
Naomi is ready to move this whole Ruth-Boaz thing into motion. She convinces Ruth to go lay at Boaz's feet after he is done partying. And I love Ruth's response here. She doesn't question why she needs to go uncover Boaz's feet. On the surface, this may have seemed kind of lewd. But instead, she answers: "I will do whatever you say." She trusts that this must be some sort of Israelite custom unfamiliar to the Moabites.
When Boaz is awakened, he sees Ruth laying there, and is kind of startled. "I am your servant, Ruth," She says, divesting herself of any presumption or self-importance. This kind of consistent attitude must have delighted Boaz when Ruth told him he was her kinsman-redeemer. She didn't chase after status or youth, she followed integrity and character.
Another interesting point is how Boaz mentions the existence of a closer relative than he to Naomi. He must have been thinking about it, or at least had done some research to find out. And he does the honorable thing, by bringing it up, instead of just marrying Ruth. That would have been displeasing to God. Apparently not Boaz's style.
Naomi is ready to move this whole Ruth-Boaz thing into motion. She convinces Ruth to go lay at Boaz's feet after he is done partying. And I love Ruth's response here. She doesn't question why she needs to go uncover Boaz's feet. On the surface, this may have seemed kind of lewd. But instead, she answers: "I will do whatever you say." She trusts that this must be some sort of Israelite custom unfamiliar to the Moabites.
When Boaz is awakened, he sees Ruth laying there, and is kind of startled. "I am your servant, Ruth," She says, divesting herself of any presumption or self-importance. This kind of consistent attitude must have delighted Boaz when Ruth told him he was her kinsman-redeemer. She didn't chase after status or youth, she followed integrity and character.
Another interesting point is how Boaz mentions the existence of a closer relative than he to Naomi. He must have been thinking about it, or at least had done some research to find out. And he does the honorable thing, by bringing it up, instead of just marrying Ruth. That would have been displeasing to God. Apparently not Boaz's style.
Ru. 2: Ruth Meets Boaz
Ruth 2:16 "Rather, pull out some stalks for her from the bundles and leave them for her to pick up, and don't rebuke her."
Chapter two tells us that Naomi has a relative of some standing named Boaz. He owned a field. Ruth wanted to go glean in a field. The LORD provided that people shouldn't reap the edges of their fields, or gather the sheaves in Leviticus. Ruth went to a field to gather what was left behind. She just so happened to glean in a field owned by Boaz? Coincidence? I think so. I mean...I don't think so. Of all the landowners in the area, of all the fields, Ruth manages to get to the field owned by Naomi's own relative.
Boaz treats her extremely well for her being a Moabitess. This had a lot to do with her loyalty to Naomi. It took a lot for Ruth to come back and adopt Naomi's people and her God. Boaz even set it up so that the harvesters would leave behind good grain for Ruth to pick up. Which was nice of him.
I think probably most landowners would be annoyed by the scavengers...the moochers, as it were, in spite of (or maybe because of) God's command in Leviticus. But Boaz was the complete opposite of what one would expect. He actually asked Ruth to remain with his workers until they were done.
Naomi was very glad to hear this, and fully expected Boaz would be their kinsman-redeemer. Which one could presume would continue the family line of Naomi, as her husband was dead, as were both of her sons...her line of descent would be cut.
Chapter two tells us that Naomi has a relative of some standing named Boaz. He owned a field. Ruth wanted to go glean in a field. The LORD provided that people shouldn't reap the edges of their fields, or gather the sheaves in Leviticus. Ruth went to a field to gather what was left behind. She just so happened to glean in a field owned by Boaz? Coincidence? I think so. I mean...I don't think so. Of all the landowners in the area, of all the fields, Ruth manages to get to the field owned by Naomi's own relative.
Boaz treats her extremely well for her being a Moabitess. This had a lot to do with her loyalty to Naomi. It took a lot for Ruth to come back and adopt Naomi's people and her God. Boaz even set it up so that the harvesters would leave behind good grain for Ruth to pick up. Which was nice of him.
I think probably most landowners would be annoyed by the scavengers...the moochers, as it were, in spite of (or maybe because of) God's command in Leviticus. But Boaz was the complete opposite of what one would expect. He actually asked Ruth to remain with his workers until they were done.
Naomi was very glad to hear this, and fully expected Boaz would be their kinsman-redeemer. Which one could presume would continue the family line of Naomi, as her husband was dead, as were both of her sons...her line of descent would be cut.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Ru. 1: The Ruth, The Ruth, The Ruth is on Fire...
Ruth 1:21 "I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? The LORD has afflicted me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me."
Naomi is an Israelite whose family moves to Moab because of a famine in their hometown of Bethlehem. Her sons hook up with some Moabite women (Moabites...descendents of Lot and his daughters). Within ten years of living there, Naomi's husband dies, and her sons die. Leaving her and her daughters-in-law. She finds out the famine lifts, and returns back home. Orpah goes back to Moab after briefly considering going back to Bethlehem, while Ruth refuses to leave her side. Even to the point of begging God to deal with her severely if she ever left Naomi's side. This Moabitess knew who God was, and apparently was well aware of His power. And respected it, despite her mother-in-law's disdain for God even though she was a part of God's chosen people.
There are a few points of interest here. Were Naomi's sons (whose names meant "weak" and "sickly") and her husband dead because of the curse God promised if they intermarried with other races? I don't know. They were probably aptly named, however.
Another thing is that Ruth is recognized upon her return to Bethlehem after a decade abroad. In Moab. Who was the enemy. And she brought back a Moabite woman with her. She no longer wanted to be called "Naomi," rather "Mara," presumably meaning "bitter," because God made her life bitter. God made her life empty. She lost her husband, two sons, and a daughter-in-law. No heir. Sad. But she seems to rail pretty good against God here.
Naomi is an Israelite whose family moves to Moab because of a famine in their hometown of Bethlehem. Her sons hook up with some Moabite women (Moabites...descendents of Lot and his daughters). Within ten years of living there, Naomi's husband dies, and her sons die. Leaving her and her daughters-in-law. She finds out the famine lifts, and returns back home. Orpah goes back to Moab after briefly considering going back to Bethlehem, while Ruth refuses to leave her side. Even to the point of begging God to deal with her severely if she ever left Naomi's side. This Moabitess knew who God was, and apparently was well aware of His power. And respected it, despite her mother-in-law's disdain for God even though she was a part of God's chosen people.
There are a few points of interest here. Were Naomi's sons (whose names meant "weak" and "sickly") and her husband dead because of the curse God promised if they intermarried with other races? I don't know. They were probably aptly named, however.
Another thing is that Ruth is recognized upon her return to Bethlehem after a decade abroad. In Moab. Who was the enemy. And she brought back a Moabite woman with her. She no longer wanted to be called "Naomi," rather "Mara," presumably meaning "bitter," because God made her life bitter. God made her life empty. She lost her husband, two sons, and a daughter-in-law. No heir. Sad. But she seems to rail pretty good against God here.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Jg. 21: Benjaminites De-pwned, Marry
Judges 21:23 "So that is what the Benjamites did. While the girls were dancing, each man caught one and carried her off to be his wife. Then they returned to their inheritance and rebuilt the towns and settled in them."
The book of Judges, which to this point is the Bible's action movie, ends with another tragic mess compounded on other tragic messes. And it started so well, darn it.
Because of the rash actions by both sides (Israel in not being reasonable with Benjamin, and Benjamin not coughing up a few rabble-rousers), they were stuck with even more rash vows, like "Don't give daughters to be married to Benjaminites," and "Whoever doesn't show up at assembly must die." I don't recall God commanding either of those two, but here we are. Benjamin didn't show up because they were probably still burying all their dead that the other tribes slaughtered, and re-mudding their huts or whatever. Benjamin (Jabesh Gilead) was busy or dead. And the other tribes mourned for them, but then had to go kill the rest of them for not showing up.
I'm sure God was pulling his hair out at this point, and thats how comets were formed. Don't quote me on that, thats just an assumption.
So Israel sends fighting men to the city and they slaughter the males and all non-virgin women. The process in discovering which of the women were virgins and which weren't...I don't want to speculate on, because it just kind of seems ... Anyway, the Benjamites returning from battle didn't have enough women to go around.
This led to more mourning, because the tribe had a gap. Because of the vow they made. So they allowed their daughters to be kidnapped by the Benjamites during Shiloh, a festival to God.
This is what happens when people go and do stuff outside of what God has commanded...without a clear leader. They create their own laws and vows, and have to play everything by ear. God has plans laid out, and while they appear to be messy, they tie up neatly. Israel, at the end of Judges, is still trying to figure out just what is going on. Everyone did as he saw fit...which is the problem.
The book of Judges, which to this point is the Bible's action movie, ends with another tragic mess compounded on other tragic messes. And it started so well, darn it.
Because of the rash actions by both sides (Israel in not being reasonable with Benjamin, and Benjamin not coughing up a few rabble-rousers), they were stuck with even more rash vows, like "Don't give daughters to be married to Benjaminites," and "Whoever doesn't show up at assembly must die." I don't recall God commanding either of those two, but here we are. Benjamin didn't show up because they were probably still burying all their dead that the other tribes slaughtered, and re-mudding their huts or whatever. Benjamin (Jabesh Gilead) was busy or dead. And the other tribes mourned for them, but then had to go kill the rest of them for not showing up.
I'm sure God was pulling his hair out at this point, and thats how comets were formed. Don't quote me on that, thats just an assumption.
So Israel sends fighting men to the city and they slaughter the males and all non-virgin women. The process in discovering which of the women were virgins and which weren't...I don't want to speculate on, because it just kind of seems ... Anyway, the Benjamites returning from battle didn't have enough women to go around.
This led to more mourning, because the tribe had a gap. Because of the vow they made. So they allowed their daughters to be kidnapped by the Benjamites during Shiloh, a festival to God.
This is what happens when people go and do stuff outside of what God has commanded...without a clear leader. They create their own laws and vows, and have to play everything by ear. God has plans laid out, and while they appear to be messy, they tie up neatly. Israel, at the end of Judges, is still trying to figure out just what is going on. Everyone did as he saw fit...which is the problem.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Jg. 20: Benjaminites Pwned
Judges 20:13 "Now therefore give up the men, the worthless fellows in Gibeah, that we may put them to death and purge evil from Israel." But the Benjaminites would not listen to the voice of their brothers, the people of Israel."
Well, apparently this whole unpleasantness with the Levite's wife led to a big blow-up between Israel and Benjamin. The Levite sent these pieces of his concubine out the other tribes, demanding justice. The other tribes convened, and tried to convince Benjamin to produce the rapists, but they refused. I don't know why, it could only lead to war.
And what a war.
The Israelites slaughter the crap out of each other for what they would think is justice. No one really consulted God. They just kinda figured they had to destroy Benjamin. So they go for it, but the first two battles belong decisively to Benjamin. Finally, God tells the Israelites that He will give them victory, and Benjamin is almost completely destroyed. Because of this one incident, Israel almost lost an entire tribe.
It's a sordid affair really. The leaders wanted blood. Benjamin wouldn't give up these clowns because of their own pride and unwillingness to step up. And Israel slaughtered each other. When you want to fight, you want to fight, I suppose, and this war bypassed a few failsafes to keep peace, but pride killed, and so did an overinflated sense of justice.
Well, apparently this whole unpleasantness with the Levite's wife led to a big blow-up between Israel and Benjamin. The Levite sent these pieces of his concubine out the other tribes, demanding justice. The other tribes convened, and tried to convince Benjamin to produce the rapists, but they refused. I don't know why, it could only lead to war.
And what a war.
The Israelites slaughter the crap out of each other for what they would think is justice. No one really consulted God. They just kinda figured they had to destroy Benjamin. So they go for it, but the first two battles belong decisively to Benjamin. Finally, God tells the Israelites that He will give them victory, and Benjamin is almost completely destroyed. Because of this one incident, Israel almost lost an entire tribe.
It's a sordid affair really. The leaders wanted blood. Benjamin wouldn't give up these clowns because of their own pride and unwillingness to step up. And Israel slaughtered each other. When you want to fight, you want to fight, I suppose, and this war bypassed a few failsafes to keep peace, but pride killed, and so did an overinflated sense of justice.
Monday, June 09, 2008
Jg. 19: Note to Self: Don't Leave a Levite
Judges 19:31 "When he reached home, he took a knife and cut up his concubine, limb by limb, into twelve parts and sent them into all the areas of Israel."
A man can do a lot of thinking in the four months after his unfaithful concubine goes back home to daddy. Well, this unnamed Levite hangs out with his father-in-law for a few days, and they bond, apparently, because father-in-law won't let him go back home. Every night, he tells the Levite to stay another night. Not sure how this is playing out with the concubine. I can't imagine she is too thrilled with the situation.
Anyway, Levite was able to persuade the concubine to go home with him, so they get to heading back home when the sun is sinking low and everybody's with the one they love. They were about to stay the night in the city square near Gibeah. And I know what you are thinking. Why didn't they stay in Jerusalem? Because it was the home of the Jebusites. Not the Israelites. That's why.
Anyway, an old man from Ephraim welcomes them to stay at his home. And this guy, unnamed, like everyone in this vignette, washes their feet and feeds them.
Well, strikingly similar to that seedy story of Lot, the "wicked" men of the town come by and bang on the door, because they want to bang the Levite. The old man would not let them have their way with his guest, so he offers his virgin daughter (can you imagine!) and dude's concubine. So they have their way all night with her, and the next morning, the Levite finds her on the old man's doorstep, exhausted from the gangbang and says, "Get up, let's go." Nice guy. She wouldn't respond...probably because of getting raped all night. (Should get some interesting visitors via google search on this study). Anyway, he tosses her on the donkey and they head for home. When he gets home, he slices up his concubine into 12 pieces, sending them out the far corners of Israel. Which is just awful. What are the logistics of such an undertaking?
So, Levite...in the line of the priesthood...cuts up his wife (well, concubine). What's the statement he's sending? Who messed with him? What was he showing Israel? He's not getting back at the rapists, for sure...and was probably unconcerned with that anyway. He was replaced in the rape line by his concubine. What would you say if you received a 1/12th of some Levite's wife? Not sure exactly what that's all about, I guess I'll have to read some more...
A man can do a lot of thinking in the four months after his unfaithful concubine goes back home to daddy. Well, this unnamed Levite hangs out with his father-in-law for a few days, and they bond, apparently, because father-in-law won't let him go back home. Every night, he tells the Levite to stay another night. Not sure how this is playing out with the concubine. I can't imagine she is too thrilled with the situation.
Anyway, Levite was able to persuade the concubine to go home with him, so they get to heading back home when the sun is sinking low and everybody's with the one they love. They were about to stay the night in the city square near Gibeah. And I know what you are thinking. Why didn't they stay in Jerusalem? Because it was the home of the Jebusites. Not the Israelites. That's why.
Anyway, an old man from Ephraim welcomes them to stay at his home. And this guy, unnamed, like everyone in this vignette, washes their feet and feeds them.
Well, strikingly similar to that seedy story of Lot, the "wicked" men of the town come by and bang on the door, because they want to bang the Levite. The old man would not let them have their way with his guest, so he offers his virgin daughter (can you imagine!) and dude's concubine. So they have their way all night with her, and the next morning, the Levite finds her on the old man's doorstep, exhausted from the gangbang and says, "Get up, let's go." Nice guy. She wouldn't respond...probably because of getting raped all night. (Should get some interesting visitors via google search on this study). Anyway, he tosses her on the donkey and they head for home. When he gets home, he slices up his concubine into 12 pieces, sending them out the far corners of Israel. Which is just awful. What are the logistics of such an undertaking?
So, Levite...in the line of the priesthood...cuts up his wife (well, concubine). What's the statement he's sending? Who messed with him? What was he showing Israel? He's not getting back at the rapists, for sure...and was probably unconcerned with that anyway. He was replaced in the rape line by his concubine. What would you say if you received a 1/12th of some Levite's wife? Not sure exactly what that's all about, I guess I'll have to read some more...
Sunday, June 08, 2008
Jg. 18: Lunacy Compounds
Judges 18:31 "They continued to use the idols Micah had made, all the time the house of God was in Shiloh."
The Danites, who had not yet taken their inheritance took the idols Micah had made as their own. Micah's priest became their priest. Because of this misguided devotion to "God," Dan took possession of the land of and slaughtered a people ("unsuspecting") who otherwise may have been allowed to exist, peaceably.
It just compounds. This started from one guy whose theology was off a bit, and from there, it ended up ruining a people, and compounding the misdirection of an entire tribe. How easy was it going to be to get this mess turned around?
The Danites, who had not yet taken their inheritance took the idols Micah had made as their own. Micah's priest became their priest. Because of this misguided devotion to "God," Dan took possession of the land of and slaughtered a people ("unsuspecting") who otherwise may have been allowed to exist, peaceably.
It just compounds. This started from one guy whose theology was off a bit, and from there, it ended up ruining a people, and compounding the misdirection of an entire tribe. How easy was it going to be to get this mess turned around?
Jg. 17: Micah: Priestly Fail
Judges 17:11 "So the Levite agreed to live with him, and the young man was to him like one of his sons."
Wow, did these people ever miss the point. We have another mention of 1100 shekels of silver (offered by the Philistines to Delilah to betray Samson), this time it was stolen by this dude Micah from his mom. Then he admits to the thievery, and she is so happy, she has it turned into idols.
Micah remembers something about an Ephod somewhere, and maybe a priest needing to be installed for some reason, so who better than a traveling youngster. (Bonus points for him being a Levite!) Micah installs him as priest and pays him. An ephod was meant to be a priestly garment (Ex. 28:6), not an object of worship (Jg. 8:27). So, some of the elements are right, in that they exist, but they are way out of their intended bounds.
Probably most pathetic about this whole deal is the joy Micah must have, evidenced in verse 13 "...And Micah said, 'Now I know that the LORD will be good to me, since this Levite has become my priest.'" Was his heart in the right place? I...don't think so. He wanted to please the LORD, and to have the LORD pleased with him, but he made assumptions as to how that would work. The rules were clear, but he didn't know them, or was poorly taught. Coming to God in his own way was probably not likely to work.
As Israel was doing their own thing without a king or judge in place, they deviated far and wide from the set covenant, the priestly rules and ordinances, and generally how to obey God.
Wow, did these people ever miss the point. We have another mention of 1100 shekels of silver (offered by the Philistines to Delilah to betray Samson), this time it was stolen by this dude Micah from his mom. Then he admits to the thievery, and she is so happy, she has it turned into idols.
Micah remembers something about an Ephod somewhere, and maybe a priest needing to be installed for some reason, so who better than a traveling youngster. (Bonus points for him being a Levite!) Micah installs him as priest and pays him. An ephod was meant to be a priestly garment (Ex. 28:6), not an object of worship (Jg. 8:27). So, some of the elements are right, in that they exist, but they are way out of their intended bounds.
Probably most pathetic about this whole deal is the joy Micah must have, evidenced in verse 13 "...And Micah said, 'Now I know that the LORD will be good to me, since this Levite has become my priest.'" Was his heart in the right place? I...don't think so. He wanted to please the LORD, and to have the LORD pleased with him, but he made assumptions as to how that would work. The rules were clear, but he didn't know them, or was poorly taught. Coming to God in his own way was probably not likely to work.
As Israel was doing their own thing without a king or judge in place, they deviated far and wide from the set covenant, the priestly rules and ordinances, and generally how to obey God.
Friday, June 06, 2008
Jg. 16: Delilah, the Plain White Tease
Judges 16:22 "But the hair on his head began to grow again after it had been shaved."
After a while, Samson got the itch, if you know what I mean. The itch we all know and love. The itch that can only be scratched while temporarily in the arms of a sweaty Middle-Eastern hooker. So he went into Gaza to find one, but just kind of hung out instead til about midnight. Then, he did what comes natural, he tore up the city gates and carried them up the hill to Hebron. Vulgar display of power? This sounds like something a teenager does to express his angst, some kind of big showy display for no reason, but you can tell he is...emotional. What does this mean? Is this a window into Samson's state of mind? Is he depressed? How much more can he take?
Anyway, later on, he falls in love with this woman named Delilah. And right away, she was urged by her country men to lure him into telling the secret of his awesome strength already, because Man! The Philistines have tried everything! What do you gotta do? So Delilah, under the influence of receive 1100 silver shekels from each of the Philistine rulers asks Samson why he is so strong, and what it takes to subdue him. Each time, he lies to her, and each time, she does what he says, and each time, the Philistine men are there trying whatever it was she told them he told her. Each time it fails miserably.
Does Samson catch on? I guess not. Did he not see the connection between what he told Delilah, and what the Philistines tried on him? Is Samson the first dumb jock?
Anyway, Delilah pesters him until he can take no more (women, am I right?), and he tells her about the Nazirite thing. That works. They shaved him, and he became weak, because a razor had touched his head. The power of God was compelled to leave him. Weak as a little girl, the blinded Samson was imprisoned to grind grain. That stinks. But my favorite verse here is verse 22, where it talks about his hair growing again. It doesn't say what that means...you know what it means. His strength will grow back with it.
And in a way this speaks to how God returns to those who repent and turn back to him, as God's strength returned to Samson to pull one final lethal prank on the Philistines, ironically as they were celebrating their own god's superiority in that they had captured Samson. Interesting that the "power" of other gods is only evident...well...perceived in the absence of the power of God. Samson prayed to God for the strength to take revenge on the Philistines...who God was already mad at, and he took down the pillars in the temple, crushing the pagan revelers and Philistine rulers. Awesome.
After a while, Samson got the itch, if you know what I mean. The itch we all know and love. The itch that can only be scratched while temporarily in the arms of a sweaty Middle-Eastern hooker. So he went into Gaza to find one, but just kind of hung out instead til about midnight. Then, he did what comes natural, he tore up the city gates and carried them up the hill to Hebron. Vulgar display of power? This sounds like something a teenager does to express his angst, some kind of big showy display for no reason, but you can tell he is...emotional. What does this mean? Is this a window into Samson's state of mind? Is he depressed? How much more can he take?
Anyway, later on, he falls in love with this woman named Delilah. And right away, she was urged by her country men to lure him into telling the secret of his awesome strength already, because Man! The Philistines have tried everything! What do you gotta do? So Delilah, under the influence of receive 1100 silver shekels from each of the Philistine rulers asks Samson why he is so strong, and what it takes to subdue him. Each time, he lies to her, and each time, she does what he says, and each time, the Philistine men are there trying whatever it was she told them he told her. Each time it fails miserably.
Does Samson catch on? I guess not. Did he not see the connection between what he told Delilah, and what the Philistines tried on him? Is Samson the first dumb jock?
Anyway, Delilah pesters him until he can take no more (women, am I right?), and he tells her about the Nazirite thing. That works. They shaved him, and he became weak, because a razor had touched his head. The power of God was compelled to leave him. Weak as a little girl, the blinded Samson was imprisoned to grind grain. That stinks. But my favorite verse here is verse 22, where it talks about his hair growing again. It doesn't say what that means...you know what it means. His strength will grow back with it.
And in a way this speaks to how God returns to those who repent and turn back to him, as God's strength returned to Samson to pull one final lethal prank on the Philistines, ironically as they were celebrating their own god's superiority in that they had captured Samson. Interesting that the "power" of other gods is only evident...well...perceived in the absence of the power of God. Samson prayed to God for the strength to take revenge on the Philistines...who God was already mad at, and he took down the pillars in the temple, crushing the pagan revelers and Philistine rulers. Awesome.
Thursday, June 05, 2008
Jg. 15: Samson fights the Philistines
Judges 15:15 "Finding a fresh jawbone of a donkey, he grabbed it and struck down a thousand men."
Well, Samson threw a tantrum and went and stayed with mom and dad for awhile after the cloak-gypping episode. He stayed so long that his father-in-law gave his wife to one of Samson's "friends." Groomsman, probably...("In the event that the groom can no longer fulfill his duties...etc...") When he came back for his wife, bringing her some posies or whatever, his father-in-law tried to palm off his younger daughter on Samson, but Samson still loved his wife. He wasn't into the young chicks. So he did what you would expect any rational jilted lover to do. He tied torches to foxes' tails and set them loose in the Philistine wheat fields...which makes sense.
So the Philistines retaliated by burning Samson's father-in-law and wife. Then they made the world's largest pizza, so Samson burned down their City Hall. Not that last part, but it was tit-for-tat for a while there. Samson did manage to slaughter a bunch of Philistines...as God's hand of judgment on them for their treatment of Israel, remember. Samson flees to Israel, and the Philistines follow him as far as Judah. The Israelites freak out about Samson, since they live in fear of the Philistines, and turn him in. He find's a donkey's jawbone somehow, and even more incredibly, kills a whole bunch of Philistines. This was so important to him that he made up a song about it. Then he got thirsty.
That's about it for Judges 15, I suppose.
Well, Samson threw a tantrum and went and stayed with mom and dad for awhile after the cloak-gypping episode. He stayed so long that his father-in-law gave his wife to one of Samson's "friends." Groomsman, probably...("In the event that the groom can no longer fulfill his duties...etc...") When he came back for his wife, bringing her some posies or whatever, his father-in-law tried to palm off his younger daughter on Samson, but Samson still loved his wife. He wasn't into the young chicks. So he did what you would expect any rational jilted lover to do. He tied torches to foxes' tails and set them loose in the Philistine wheat fields...which makes sense.
So the Philistines retaliated by burning Samson's father-in-law and wife. Then they made the world's largest pizza, so Samson burned down their City Hall. Not that last part, but it was tit-for-tat for a while there. Samson did manage to slaughter a bunch of Philistines...as God's hand of judgment on them for their treatment of Israel, remember. Samson flees to Israel, and the Philistines follow him as far as Judah. The Israelites freak out about Samson, since they live in fear of the Philistines, and turn him in. He find's a donkey's jawbone somehow, and even more incredibly, kills a whole bunch of Philistines. This was so important to him that he made up a song about it. Then he got thirsty.
That's about it for Judges 15, I suppose.
Jg. 14: Samson Married; Mad
Judges 14:6 "The Spirit of the LORD came upon him in power so that he tore the lion apart with his bare hands as he might have torn a young goat. But he told neither his father nor his mother what he had done."
So Samson. I find his choice of a Philistine girl interesting, and my initial reaction was, "Oh, great. Samson is marrying outside of his clan. God won't be happy." Samson's parents (righteous people, probably, as I read last chapter) felt the same way. As I read along, I saw that God put Samson up to this, whether Samson was conscious of this or not. God directed Samson to this deviation. While marrying outside the tribe is discouraged, it doesn't appear to be explicitly prohibited as a sin. So the question, "Can God make someone sin?" does not apply here. And even if God came upon someone, and influenced them to do something that he had previously condemned as sin...would that be sin, or following God's will, as following God's will is not sin? And does God have the leeway to change His mind in that way?
Anyway, ponderous.
So on his way back to town to meet this Philistine chick, a young lion came running at him. (Do they have lions in Israel?) He tore the lion apart as easily as he'd tear apart a young goat. Um. I've never tried to tear a goat apart, but that doesn't fall in my list of "easy things to do." Which is why this has to be symbolic. He accomplished something incredible relatively easily. That which was strong was made weak. The scapegoat comes to mind. And he had a real good time with the Philistine girl. On the way back, he saw that there was bees and honey in the lion's carcass. Which is just ludicrous. And he scoops out the honey and takes it back to mom and dad. This made him unclean for touching a carcass. And by extension, his parents. Is that why he wouldn't tell them where he got the honey? Was he afraid to tell them how he killed the lion, as though they'd think he was a freak or something? Hmmm...
So he gets married, and at the feast, with his 30 groomsmen, he can no longer hold his boasting inside, as he asks in the form of a riddle,
Additionally, we have the first innuendo, as in his anger, Samson talks about the men "plowing with his heifer." So that is neat.
So Samson. I find his choice of a Philistine girl interesting, and my initial reaction was, "Oh, great. Samson is marrying outside of his clan. God won't be happy." Samson's parents (righteous people, probably, as I read last chapter) felt the same way. As I read along, I saw that God put Samson up to this, whether Samson was conscious of this or not. God directed Samson to this deviation. While marrying outside the tribe is discouraged, it doesn't appear to be explicitly prohibited as a sin. So the question, "Can God make someone sin?" does not apply here. And even if God came upon someone, and influenced them to do something that he had previously condemned as sin...would that be sin, or following God's will, as following God's will is not sin? And does God have the leeway to change His mind in that way?
Anyway, ponderous.
So on his way back to town to meet this Philistine chick, a young lion came running at him. (Do they have lions in Israel?) He tore the lion apart as easily as he'd tear apart a young goat. Um. I've never tried to tear a goat apart, but that doesn't fall in my list of "easy things to do." Which is why this has to be symbolic. He accomplished something incredible relatively easily. That which was strong was made weak. The scapegoat comes to mind. And he had a real good time with the Philistine girl. On the way back, he saw that there was bees and honey in the lion's carcass. Which is just ludicrous. And he scoops out the honey and takes it back to mom and dad. This made him unclean for touching a carcass. And by extension, his parents. Is that why he wouldn't tell them where he got the honey? Was he afraid to tell them how he killed the lion, as though they'd think he was a freak or something? Hmmm...
So he gets married, and at the feast, with his 30 groomsmen, he can no longer hold his boasting inside, as he asks in the form of a riddle,
"Out of the eater, something to eat;If the dudes could guess he was referring to honey from a lion, he'd give them thirty cloaks. But if they couldn't guess it, they each had to give him a cloak. Cloaks ruled in those days, man, I'm telling you. It was all about the cloak. Well, dudes couldn't figure it out, so they had his wife pester the shift out of him until he told her. Then she told the dudes, and they told Samson, and he was so mad about not getting cloaks, he slew thirty men of Ashkelon, took their cloaks, and gave them to the groomsmen. This probably didn't go over well with the Philistines, so maybe the fight was picked at this point.
out of the strong, something sweet."
Additionally, we have the first innuendo, as in his anger, Samson talks about the men "plowing with his heifer." So that is neat.
Tuesday, June 03, 2008
Jg. 13: Nazirites
Judges 13:18 "He replied, "Why do you ask my name? It is beyond understanding."
Chapter 13 is pretty fascinating. It chronicles the birth of a Nazirite named Samson. It has a very interesting beginning. The Angel of the LORD appears to a Danite woman, who was sterile and childless and told her she would have a child. Sterile and childless women don't have children.
And I wonder why this is...why would God select someone to be set apart from birth? If I remember right in Leviticus, this setting apart from birth was optional. I'm not concerned about this particular couple in question, Manoah and his wife, but rather why God would select anyone for this. Of course God will uses who He wills, he's shown that time and again. But the angel comes down out of nowhere, and at random chooses a family. Or maybe it wasn't at random. Manoah seems eager to facilitate this plan, praying to God and asking th messenger to return, and preparing offerings. Was it the thrill of actually being able to bare a child? And this would be their only child (at least at this point), yet he belonged to the LORD. Specifically.
Manoah asked the angel his name, and gets a rather cryptic response in verse 18.
As the offering burned, the angel of the LORD ascended in the flame. He went up. Heaven is apparently up. Or at least the direction meant to indicate heaven (life), while the ground, the grave is death. And Manoah freaks out the same way Gideon did when he realized it was the angel of the LORD. Who apparently carries the same reverence among the people of Israel as the LORD himself. Manoah's wife reasons that they couldn't be killed, because the angel of the LORD gave specific instructions as to how they were to raise the child. Is this God choosing who gets to see faces? Can He be choosy like that?
They named him Samson.
Chapter 13 is pretty fascinating. It chronicles the birth of a Nazirite named Samson. It has a very interesting beginning. The Angel of the LORD appears to a Danite woman, who was sterile and childless and told her she would have a child. Sterile and childless women don't have children.
And I wonder why this is...why would God select someone to be set apart from birth? If I remember right in Leviticus, this setting apart from birth was optional. I'm not concerned about this particular couple in question, Manoah and his wife, but rather why God would select anyone for this. Of course God will uses who He wills, he's shown that time and again. But the angel comes down out of nowhere, and at random chooses a family. Or maybe it wasn't at random. Manoah seems eager to facilitate this plan, praying to God and asking th messenger to return, and preparing offerings. Was it the thrill of actually being able to bare a child? And this would be their only child (at least at this point), yet he belonged to the LORD. Specifically.
Manoah asked the angel his name, and gets a rather cryptic response in verse 18.
"It is beyond understanding."How could someone's very name be beyond understanding? What kind of person is this? Why was it so hard to tell someone your name, despite the lack of understanding.
As the offering burned, the angel of the LORD ascended in the flame. He went up. Heaven is apparently up. Or at least the direction meant to indicate heaven (life), while the ground, the grave is death. And Manoah freaks out the same way Gideon did when he realized it was the angel of the LORD. Who apparently carries the same reverence among the people of Israel as the LORD himself. Manoah's wife reasons that they couldn't be killed, because the angel of the LORD gave specific instructions as to how they were to raise the child. Is this God choosing who gets to see faces? Can He be choosy like that?
They named him Samson.
Monday, June 02, 2008
Jg. 12: The Life and Death Game of Password
Judges 12:6 "He said, "Sibboleth," because he could not pronounce the word correctly, they seized him and killed him at the fords of the Jordan."
Well, the Ephraimites are all mad because they didn't have a chance to bust some Ammonite head. They muster some troops and go to Jephthah's crib and threaten to burn it down over his head. Jephthah's like "Whatever, I sent messengers to ask you to fight with me, and you didn't answer, so take a flying funk at a rolling donut." He had to take the Gileadites and fight the Ephraimites, which is too bad, because it's civil war in Israel. The house is divided against itself. And not only, this infighting was completely pointless, as the Ammonites had been conquered. It was all over. Weirdos.
So anyway, the Gileadites (called renegades by the Ephraimites, in spite of the Ephraimites picking the fight) take over the passages across Jordan into the land of Ephraim. Somewhere along the way, someone discovered a genius way of identifying someone as a survivor of Ephraim. There was some sort of innate speech impediment or pronunciation deviation where the Ephraimites would pronounce the Gileadite password "Shibboleth" as "Sibboleth." Like how southerners pronounce "Wawl-Moart." 42,000 Ephraimites were exterminated with this method.
Jephthath, a polarizing figure, a political genius, a military hero, and a rash vower died after 6 years at the helm of Israel.
After Jephthah came Ibzan, who had 30 sons and 30 daughters. Prolific breeder. And an amazing genetic happenstance as in 60 offspring, exactly half are one gender. I'm no scientist... Anyway, dude gave away all his daughters outside his clans, while his sons brought in wives from outside his clan. This whole thing sounds suspiciously made up, like a child's fairy tale, but who am I? Ibzan led Israel for 7 years without incident.
For ten years, Elon the Zebulunite led Israel, again without any recorded incident or outside claim to fame.
Abdon from Pirathon was next in line, and his claim to fame was having forty sons and thirty grandsons ride on seventy donkeys. Woo hoo.
And it would be easy to discount these men as sort of do-nothing nobodies...but without incident means without war, I'd assume. They led in silence. In peace. They sought no renown other than to lead. And all of these men were put in place by God.
Well, the Ephraimites are all mad because they didn't have a chance to bust some Ammonite head. They muster some troops and go to Jephthah's crib and threaten to burn it down over his head. Jephthah's like "Whatever, I sent messengers to ask you to fight with me, and you didn't answer, so take a flying funk at a rolling donut." He had to take the Gileadites and fight the Ephraimites, which is too bad, because it's civil war in Israel. The house is divided against itself. And not only, this infighting was completely pointless, as the Ammonites had been conquered. It was all over. Weirdos.
So anyway, the Gileadites (called renegades by the Ephraimites, in spite of the Ephraimites picking the fight) take over the passages across Jordan into the land of Ephraim. Somewhere along the way, someone discovered a genius way of identifying someone as a survivor of Ephraim. There was some sort of innate speech impediment or pronunciation deviation where the Ephraimites would pronounce the Gileadite password "Shibboleth" as "Sibboleth." Like how southerners pronounce "Wawl-Moart." 42,000 Ephraimites were exterminated with this method.
Jephthath, a polarizing figure, a political genius, a military hero, and a rash vower died after 6 years at the helm of Israel.
After Jephthah came Ibzan, who had 30 sons and 30 daughters. Prolific breeder. And an amazing genetic happenstance as in 60 offspring, exactly half are one gender. I'm no scientist... Anyway, dude gave away all his daughters outside his clans, while his sons brought in wives from outside his clan. This whole thing sounds suspiciously made up, like a child's fairy tale, but who am I? Ibzan led Israel for 7 years without incident.
For ten years, Elon the Zebulunite led Israel, again without any recorded incident or outside claim to fame.
Abdon from Pirathon was next in line, and his claim to fame was having forty sons and thirty grandsons ride on seventy donkeys. Woo hoo.
And it would be easy to discount these men as sort of do-nothing nobodies...but without incident means without war, I'd assume. They led in silence. In peace. They sought no renown other than to lead. And all of these men were put in place by God.
Sunday, June 01, 2008
Jg. 11: God Commands Child Sacrifice! Augghh!
Judges 11:31 "Whatever comes out of the door of my house to meet me when I return in triumph from the Ammonites will be the LORD's, and I will sacrifice it as a burnt offering."
Jephthah was another illegitimate son, this time of a prostitute. Because of this, he was shunned by his people and would not receive an inheritance. So he leaves, and becomes an adventurer-type. Which comes in handy when the same people who wanted him gone needed him to help them fight against the Ammonites. Of course, Jeph will need a little compensation, so he is promised the position of the head of the Gileadites.
Not too shabby.
Jephthah tries the diplomatic route, asking the Ammonite king what the deal is with him coming in and trifling in Israel's business.
The king responds that Israel stole their land.
Jephthah is like, not really, all Israel wanted was safe passage through their land, and then had to fight. He brings their god, Chemosh into it, saying, "You be satisfied with whatever Chemosh gives you, and we'll be satisfied with whatever God gives us." BURN!
The king doesn't respond (how can he?) and Jepthah goes to war.
Then he makes the vow. In exchange for total victory over the Ammonites, Jephthah promises to offer whatever greets him upon his return from his victory as a burnt offering. It happens to be his daughter. And the way the bible reads, it would appear that he went ahead and sacrificed her as a burnt offering.
But the acceptable burnt offerings are made very clear in Leviticus chapter 1. It has to be from the herd or the flock, ie, young bull, sheep, goat, dove or pigeon. Instructions were given only for these animals. Not a person. Had Jephthah offered his daughter as a sacrifice, would God have reacted any differently to when he incinerated Nadab and Abihu in Leviticus 10? And let's not forget Deuteronomy 12.
So what happened? His daughter asks for two months to wander the hills and mourn her virginity...not her impending death. So she does, and comes back, and Jephthah is said to do what he promised.
Another way out is to buy his daughter back...to redeem her for 10-20 shekels...depending on her age, according to Leviticus 27, which, if it were an option, and judging by his reaction in verse 35, Jephthah most certainly would have done.
Bottom line is, there has to be some other fate for Jephthah's daughter, and the most likely scenario is that she became a nun...celibate for life.
Jephthah was another illegitimate son, this time of a prostitute. Because of this, he was shunned by his people and would not receive an inheritance. So he leaves, and becomes an adventurer-type. Which comes in handy when the same people who wanted him gone needed him to help them fight against the Ammonites. Of course, Jeph will need a little compensation, so he is promised the position of the head of the Gileadites.
Not too shabby.
Jephthah tries the diplomatic route, asking the Ammonite king what the deal is with him coming in and trifling in Israel's business.
The king responds that Israel stole their land.
Jephthah is like, not really, all Israel wanted was safe passage through their land, and then had to fight. He brings their god, Chemosh into it, saying, "You be satisfied with whatever Chemosh gives you, and we'll be satisfied with whatever God gives us." BURN!
The king doesn't respond (how can he?) and Jepthah goes to war.
Then he makes the vow. In exchange for total victory over the Ammonites, Jephthah promises to offer whatever greets him upon his return from his victory as a burnt offering. It happens to be his daughter. And the way the bible reads, it would appear that he went ahead and sacrificed her as a burnt offering.
But the acceptable burnt offerings are made very clear in Leviticus chapter 1. It has to be from the herd or the flock, ie, young bull, sheep, goat, dove or pigeon. Instructions were given only for these animals. Not a person. Had Jephthah offered his daughter as a sacrifice, would God have reacted any differently to when he incinerated Nadab and Abihu in Leviticus 10? And let's not forget Deuteronomy 12.
So what happened? His daughter asks for two months to wander the hills and mourn her virginity...not her impending death. So she does, and comes back, and Jephthah is said to do what he promised.
Another way out is to buy his daughter back...to redeem her for 10-20 shekels...depending on her age, according to Leviticus 27, which, if it were an option, and judging by his reaction in verse 35, Jephthah most certainly would have done.
Bottom line is, there has to be some other fate for Jephthah's daughter, and the most likely scenario is that she became a nun...celibate for life.
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