Judges: Hope For Troubled Times Chapters 1:1-2:5 “Israel’s Success and Failure” 14 Dec 11

Announcements

Judges and Ruth – Winter Quarter WeekDateTopic 107 Dec 11Overview – Judges and Ruth 214 Dec 11Israel’s Success and Failure: Judges 1:1-2:5 321 Dec 11Oppression and Deliverance: Judges 2:6-3: Dec 11Deborah, Gideon: Judges Jan 12Gideon’s Success and Failure: Judges 7:1-10:5 611 Jan 12Jephthah the Judge: Judges 10:6-12: Jan 12Samson and His Exploits: Judges Jan 12Samson and Delilah: Judges Feb 12A Levite and His Concubine: Judges Feb 12The War with Benjamin: Judges Feb 12Ruth and Naomi Return to Bethlehem: Ruth Feb 12Ruth and Boaz are Married: Ruth Feb 12Review – Judges and Ruth

Today’s Objectives Review last weeks class Provide an historical background and timeline Review historical maps of Israel and the region Read Judges 1:1-2:5 Observe how Israel waged war against the Canaanites to secure possession of the land Gain understanding of Israelites disobedience Relate to Israelites sorrow over disobeying God and learn from their failure Sense their need to trust and obey the Lord

Historical Background Jewish traditions states Samuel wrote Judges Written around 1050 B.C. and covered the period from 1375 B.C. to 1050 B.C. –Death of Joshua to the beginning of the monarchy –Israel’s form of government was a theocracy –God alone was their King –God raises up a series of judges between Joshua’s death and the coronation of Saul –Major and minor judges; most did not rule over all Depressing period in Israel’s history –Cycle of sin, oppression, repentance, and deliverance –Spiritual compromise was the norm of Israel –God sends powerful oppressors to counter spiritual compromise

Historical Background Political background –Much political upheaval in the region –Egyptians and Hittites are regional powers –Hittite people overthrown by influx of sea people –Egyptian power beings to subside –Rise of the Assyrians in the north –Israelite freedom of control in the south Israel waging war to gain the land –Against various tribal groups in Canaan –Israel repeatedly attacked by nomadic groups from Moab, Ammon, and the eastern desert

Application Spiritual compromise of God’s people –God’s allows His people to stray –God sends their enemies to afflict them –God does not abandon them Relevance to Christians –Rebellion against God always leads to disaster Spiritual defeat Moral bankruptcy –Only God’s loving discipline can bring us back –When we “own” our sin by taking personal responsibility for it, we experience God’s forgiveness and restoration

Other Nations Canaanites Hittites Philistines Phoenicians Moabites Ammonites Edomites Midianites Nations of Canaan Phoenicia Philistia Canaan Jerusalem Dead Sea Galilee Jordan River NASA PHOTO © EBibleTeacher.com Mediterranean Hittite Empire Edom Moab Ammon Midian

Key People in Today’s Lesson Joshua –The son of Nun, of the tribe of Ephraim, the successor of Moses as the leader of Israel –Began the wars of conquest –Conquered six nations and thirty-one kings Canaanites –Descendants of Canaan, the son of Ham –Cursed by Noah, generations cursed by God –One of Ham’s grandson’s found Babylonia Judah – Fourth son of Jacob by Leah –Gen 49:10

Simeon –Second son of Jacob by Leah –Cursed for his cruelty Perizzites – Dwellers in the open country of Israel Adoni-bezek - Canaanitish king defeated by Judah and Simeon Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai – Sons of Anak expelled by Israel Caleb – Tribe of Judah, son of Jephunneh, received the city of Hebron Key People in Today’s Lesson

Achsah - Daughter of Caleb whom he gave in marriage to his younger kinsman Othniel the son of Kenaz, as a reward for capturing Kiriath-sepher Othniel – Married Achsah, captured Kiriath-sepher Kenaz - Father of Othniel Kenite - Tribe of nomads; Jethro is associated with the Kenites Moses – Hebrew leader, led the Exodus back to the Promised Land Benjamin - Youngest of Jacob's sons Key People in Today’s Lesson

Jebusites – Inhabitants of Jebus, the old name of Jerusalem, 3rd son of Canaa Joseph - Elder of the two sons of Jacob by Rachel Hittites – –Inhabited the whole region between the Euphrates and Damascus –Descended from Heth, second son of Canaan Manasseh - Joseph's firstborn by Asenath Ephraim - Joseph's second son by Asenath

Zebulun - Tenth of Jacob's sons, sixth and last of Leah's sons Asher - Eighth son of Jacob by Zilpah, Leah's handmaid Naphtali - Jacob's fifth son, second by Bilhah, Rachel's maid Amorites - Highlanders, or hillmen, the name given to the descendants of one of the sons of Canaan Dan - fifth son of Jacob. His mother was Bilhah, Rachel's maid Key People in Today’s Lesson

Judah Conquers Its Territory (1:1-10) Israelites continue the work of Joshua –Conquer lands of Canaan –After Joshua passed, tribes had to complete the conquest of the land –Description of how each tribe did (Ch 1) –Only partial success –No single person to take Joshua’s place Israel ask God who should lead them –God reveals that Judah should lead them –God promises to give Judah the land allotted to them

Judah’s role in leading the Israelites –God promises descendants would lead (Gen 49:8-12) –Judah was to spearhead the campaign in Canaan Judah and Simeon join forces –Judah ask Simeon to join his fight –Simeonites agree –Canaanites routed; 10,000 defeated –Attack Jerusalem, but did not occupy (until David) Judah continues the attack –Against the Canaanites living in the hill country –Marched against Hebron (Kiriath Arba) Judah Conquers Its Territory (1:1-10)

Judah attacks Debir –Caleb offers his daughter in marriage to the man who could attack and conquer Debir –Othniel (Caleb’s nephew and later a judge in Israel) accepts the challenge –Othniel takes Debir and Caleb’s daughter Judah and Simeon continue their attacks –Descendants of Jethro (Reuel) join Judah –Zephath annilated –Attack and capture the Philistine city of Gaza, then Ashkelon, and finally Ekron Southern Tribes Fight (1:11-21)

Israelites begin to lack trust in God –Fail to dislodge Canaanites along the coast because of superior weapons Hebron given to Caleb –Fulfills scripture (Josh 14:9) Contrast with Benjamites –Failure to remove the Jebusites from Jerusalem –Jebusites continued to live in Jerusalem –Tribe of Benjamin not totally committed to God Southern Tribes Fight (1:11-21)

Tribes Fail to Purge the Land (1:22-36) Ephraim and Manasseh compromise the house of Joseph –God was on their side against Bethel –Expelled Canaanites out of Bethel –Failed to expel Canaanites in other areas Zebulun fails to obey God –Pressed Canaanites to perform forced labor –Canaanites not expelled Tribes of Asher, Naphtali, Dan fail to obey God –Failed to remove Canaanites from several cities

Angel of the Lord Admonishes Israel (2:1-5) Angel of the Lord –Some think preincarnate Christ –Or heavenly being who represented the Lord Angel describes two key things God has done –Rescued the Israelites from slavery in Egypt –Brought them to the promised land Covenant –God would not break His alliance with the people –Israelites were not to arrange peace treaties with the Canaanites –Israelites were to tear down Canaanites alters, sites –Israelites fail to failed to do what God commanded

Review Reviewed last weeks lesson Provided an historical background and timeline Reviewed historical maps of Israel and the region Read Judges 1:1-2:5 Observed how Israel waged war against the Canaanites to secure possession of the land Gained understanding of Israelites disobedience Related to Israelites sorrow over disobeying God and learn from their failure Sensed their need to trust and obey the Lord Next week: Judges 2:6-3:31