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Introduction to the Book of Judges

8 July 2007

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Names of the Book

Hebrew name: Shophetim, meaning “judges, rulers, deliverers, or saviors”

Greek name: Kritai, meaning “judges”

Latin name: Liber Judicum, meaning “Book of Judges”

A possible English name: The Book of Failure

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Author of the Book

Anonymous

Probably Samuel or one of his followers

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History of Israel after first settled in the Promised Land ~ 1400-1050 B.C.

From the time after Joshua & elders died(~1372 B.C.)

Up to the time before the first king, Saul(~1065 B.C.)

Date & Setting

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Probably recorded during a time when Israel had a king (after 1065 B.C.), because Jd. 17:6 says, “In those daysthere was no king in Israel.”

Probably recorded before David captured Jerusalem (around 1022 B.C.), because Jd.1:21 says, “The Jebusites dwell with the children of Benjamin to this day.”

Date of writing

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Shiloh: Center of Worship

                                                                        

                                                                        

                                                                        

During the period of the judges, the Tabernacle was in Shiloh

“And the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled together at Shiloh, and set up the tabernacle of the congregation there.” – Joshua 18:1

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Jewish tradition says the Tabernacle was in Shiloh for 369 years

Shiloh: Center of Worship

                                                                        

                                                                        

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Shiloh: Center of WorshipThe Philistines captured the Ark of the Lord (around 1094 B.C.)

– 1 Samuel 4:11

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Outline

1. Deterioration (1:1 – 3:4)

Living with the Canaanites

2. Deliverance (3:5 – 16:31)

War with the Canaanites

3. Depravity (17:1 – 21:25)

Living like the Canaanites

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The danger of Canaan

You must not live according the the customsof the nations I am going to drive out

before you. Because they did all these things,I abhorred them.

- Leviticus 20:23 NIV

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Joshua & Judges ContrastedJoshua Judges

Freedom Bondage

Progress Decline

Conquest through belief Defeat through disbelief

“Far be it from us that we should forsake the Lord to serve other gods” (24:16)

“So the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord. They forgot the Lord their God, and served the Baals and Asherahs.” (3:7)

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Joshua & Judges ContrastedJoshua Judges

Israel served God (24:31) Israel served self (21:25)

Israel knew God & His power (24;16-18,31)

Israel knew God & His power (2:10)

Objective morality Subjective morality

Israel pressing onward Israel spiraling downward

Sin judged Sin tolerated

Faith and obedience Lack of faith, lack of obedience

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Success of Judah

Failure of Benjamin

Failure of Manesseh

Failure of Zebulun

Failure of Naphtali

Failure of Asher

Failure of Dan

Military Failures(Judges 1)

o

Failure of Ephraim

From Niv Atlas of the Bible, by Zondervan

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Deterioration (1:1 – 3:4)

Most tribes of Israel failed to complete the conquest of their land

God judged them for giving up

From Niv Atlas of the Bible, by Zondervan

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1. Because the Israelites made covenants with the evil inhabitants of the land and did not tear down their altars (Jud. 2:2,3)

2. Because God wanted to test the Israelites to see if they would obey Him (Jud. 2:22)

3. Because God wanted to teach the generation of the Israelites who had not known war (Jud. 3:1,2)

Reasons God Left Enemies in the Land

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“They forsook the Lord and served Baal and the Ashtoreths”

- Jud. 2:13 NKJV

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Means “master” or “lord”

He was the storm god worshipped by the Canaanites & Phoenicians

Also called Dagon

In Aram (Syria) he was called Hadad

In Babylonia he was called Adad

Baal

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The storm cloud was his chariot

Thunder his voice

Lightening his spear and arrows.

Baal

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He was believed to give life-giving rain to the soil.

Baal

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Baal

The Worship of Baal involved sacred prostitution and sometime even child sacrifice(see Jer.19:5).

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Ashtoreth, the female partner of Baal

Also called Asherah

To the Greeks she was Aphrodite.

To the Romans, she was Venus.

Ashtoreth

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Associated with romance and the evening star

Was the beautiful goddess of love, beauty, sexual delight and fertility

Worship of the Asherah involved extremely immoral practices

Ashtoreth

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Today, worship of Asherah continues

In cinemas & on TV

In university dormitories

On the Internet

She usually wears less clothing than in this picture

Immorality & idolatry usually go together

Ashtoreth 2007

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Keep yourselves from idols.

- 1 John 5:21 NKJV

Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those

who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

- 2 Timothy 2:22 NKJV

Idolatry & Immorality

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Deliverance (3:5 – 16:31)

“When the children of Israel cried out to the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer … ”

– Judges 3:9 NKJV

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SilenceSilence

SinSin

ServitudeServitudeSupplicationSupplication

SalvationSalvation“Then the children of

Israel did evil in the sightOf the Lord and served

The Baals” (2:11)

“So (the Lord) deliveredThem into the hands ofOf plunderers” (2:14b)

“For the Lord was moved to pityBy their groaning because of thoseWho oppressed them and harassed

Them” (2:18b)

“And when the Lord raised up judges for them,The Lord was with the judge and delivered themOut of the hand of their enemies all the days of

The judge” (2:18)

“And it came to pass, when theJudge was dead, that they revertedAnd behaved more corruptly thanTheir fathers..” (2:19)

Cycles of the Period of Judges

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16 Judges

1: Othniel2: Ehud3: Shamgar4: Deborah5: Barak6: Gideon7: Abimelech8: Tola9: Jair

10: Jephthah11: Ibzan12: Elon13: Abdon14. Samson15. Eli (1 Sam. 1-4)16. Samuel

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Ehud (3:11–30)

Left-handed Benjaminite Assassinated

Eglon of Moab

Judged 80 years

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Deborah & Barak (4:1–5:31)

Army leader Fought the

Canaanites Found Sisera

killed by Jael

40 years of peace

Prophetess

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Gideon (6:1–8:32)

Of Manasseh Least in his family Led 300 men

against a multitude from Midian, Amalek and the children of the East

Judged 40 years

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Abimelech (9:1–57)

Evil son of Gideon and a concubine

Murdered 70 brothers Fought Israelites who

opposed him

Judged 3 years

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Jephthah (10:6–12:7) A Gileadite Son of a harlot Rejected by

brothers Leader of band of

worthless men Sought by brothers Made rash vow Defeated the

Ammonites Judged 6 years

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Samson (13:1–16:31)

Danite Nazirite Amazingly strong Disobedient

(sought marriage with unbeliever)

Judged 20 years Carnal (slept with a

Philistine harlot) Single-handedly

killed thousands of Philistines

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Depravity (17:1 – 21:25)

Micah and a Levite’s idolatry (17)

Dan’s tribal idolatry (18)

Group rape of Jewish concubine in Jebus (19)

Civil war between Benjamin & other tribes (20)

Kidnapping of dancing virgins of Shiloh (21)

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Depravity (17:1 – 21:25)

“Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.”

Jud. 21:25

(They forgot God’s standards of right and wrong.)

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Introduction to the Book of Ruth

8 July 2007

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The Book of Ruth

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Book of RuthBook of RuthSpiritual Purpose

Book of RuthBook of RuthSpiritual Purpose

In this time of apostasy, warfare, decline,violence, moral decay and anarchy, thebook of Ruth provides— A picture of the other side of the story—

the godly remnant who remain true to the laws of God;

The continuation of God’s protection of the Seed line of Jesus Christ.

In this time of apostasy, warfare, decline,violence, moral decay and anarchy, thebook of Ruth provides— A picture of the other side of the story—

the godly remnant who remain true to the laws of God;

The continuation of God’s protection of the Seed line of Jesus Christ.

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Line of ChristLine of ChristMatthew 1:1,2,5,6Line of ChristLine of ChristMatthew 1:1,2,5,6

A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David, the son of Abraham:

Abraham was the father of Isaac, ...

Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab,

Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth,

Obed the father of Jesse,

and Jesse the father of King David …

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Line of ChristLine of ChristMatthew 1:1,2,5,6Line of ChristLine of ChristMatthew 1:1,2,5,6

Abraham & Sarah …

Salmon & Rahab

Boaz & Ruth

Obed

Jesse

David …

Joseph & Mary

Jesus

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Author of the Book

Anonymous

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Bethlehemto Moab

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Around 1268 B.C.

Famine in Israel

Elimelech moved his family to Moab

Date & Setting

?

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History of Moab

The people of Moab were descendants of Lot, Abraham’s nephew, who had to flee Sodom when God rained down fire upon it.(Around 1868 B.C.)

The mother of the Moabites was Lot’s elder daughter. (Gen. 19:30-38)

Moabites worshiped Chemosh and other pagan gods.

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History of Israel and Moab Around 1423 B.C., the Moabite king, Balak,

tried to hire a magician named Balaam to curse Israel before they entered the promised land. (Num. 22-24)

Instead, God caused Balaam to bless Israel

But Balaam also and urged Balak to send beautiful Moabite women into the Jewish camp to seduce the men.

This caused sin and idolatry, and it was punished. (Num. 25)

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History of Israel and Moab The book of Ruth took place about 200 years

after the war Ehud the lefty led against Moab (Jud. 3:12-30)

This time was also about 80 years before other wars with Moab when Israel was under Saul (1 Sam. 14:47)

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Outline of Ruth Ruth’s love demonstrated

Ruth’s decision to follow Naomi and her confession of faith (1:1-18 – 10 years)

Ruth’s devotion to care for Naomi(1:19-2:23 – months)

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Outline of Ruth Ruth’s love rewarded

Ruth’s request for redemption by Boaz(3:1-18 – one day)

Ruth’s reward of redemption by Boaz(4:1-22 – one year)

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Ruth’s Statement of Conversion

“And Ruth said, Entreat me not to leave thee, or to

return from following after thee:

for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest,

I will lodge: thy people shall be my

people, and thy God my God”

(1:16)

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Law of the kinsman redeemerIf brethren dwell together, and one of them die, and have no child, the wife of the dead shall not marry without unto a stranger: her husband's brother shall go in unto her, and take her to him to wife, and perform the duty of an husband's brother unto her. It shall be that the firstborn whom she bears shall assume the name of his dead brother, so that his name will not be blotted out from Israel.

(Deuteronomy 25:5,6)

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Law of the kinsman redeemerBut if the man does not desire to take his brother's wife, then his brother's wife shall go up to the gate to the elders and say, “My husband's brother refuses to establish a name for his brother in Israel; he is not willing to perform the duty of a husband's brother to me.” Then the elders of his city shall summon him and speak to him.

(Deuteronomy 25:7,8)

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Law of the kinsman redeemerAnd if he persists and says, “I do not desire to take her,” then shall his brother's wife come unto him in the presence of the elders, and loose his shoe from off his foot, and spit in his face, and shall answer and say, “So shall it be done unto that man that will not build up his brother's house.” In Israel his name shall be called, 'The house of him whose sandal is removed.’

(Deuteronomy 25:8-10)

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Kinsman-RedeemerA Shadow of Christ

Kinsman-RedeemerA Shadow of Christ

Must be related by blood to those he redeems(Dt. 25:5-10; Jn. 1:14; Rom. 1:3; Phil. 2:5-8; Heb. 2:14,15)

Must be able to pay the price of redemption (Ruth 2:1; I Pet.1:18,19)

Must be willing to redeem (Ruth 3:11; Mt.20:28; John 10:15, 18; Heb.10:7)

Must be free himself(I Pet.2:21-25)

Must be related by blood to those he redeems(Dt. 25:5-10; Jn. 1:14; Rom. 1:3; Phil. 2:5-8; Heb. 2:14,15)

Must be able to pay the price of redemption (Ruth 2:1; I Pet.1:18,19)

Must be willing to redeem (Ruth 3:11; Mt.20:28; John 10:15, 18; Heb.10:7)

Must be free himself(I Pet.2:21-25)

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Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes

that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and

the alien. I am the LORD your God.

(Lev.19:10)

Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes

that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and

the alien. I am the LORD your God.

(Lev.19:10)

God’s law to Care for the poor

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Why did God kill Naomi’s two sons?

Nobody knows for sure

But they did marry unbelievers(assuming that Ruth and Orpah did not believe in the God of Israel before their marriages to Mahlon and Kilion)

A believer marrying an unbeliever is a sin that gets God angry – even today

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The sin of marrying unbelievers(Deuteronomy 7:1-6)

When the LORD your God brings you into the land which you go to possess, and has cast out many nations before you … you shall conquer them and utterly destroy them. You shall make no covenant with them nor show mercy to them. Nor shall you make marriages with them. You shall not give your daughter to their son, nor take their daughter for your son.

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The sin of marrying unbelievers(Deuteronomy 7:1-6)

For they will turn your sons away from following Me, to serve other gods; so the anger of the LORD will be aroused against you and destroy you suddenly ... For you are a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth.

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Application

God is not mocked – a man reaps what he sows (Gal. 6:7) – probably in this life and for sure in the next life

Don’t think that your obedience and sin are private and don’t affect others; they do

Do not marry an unbeliever,or else you will get God angry at you

Be upset about sin in society, b/c God is upset

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Application

Serve the poor like Boaz did

Be a friend to all who fear God (Ps. 119:63)

Serve the the elderly like Ruth did

Follow proper procedures like Boaz did

Bibliography

Special thanks goes to the following:

Zondervan’s NIV Atlas of the Bible

www.creationism.org

Bruce Wilkinson & Kenneth Boa for their information in Talk Thru the Bible

Walt Henrichsen for his wisdom and insight shared during Bible studies he has led and in books, articles and e-mails he has written

Edward Reese for his chronology and dating in The Reese Chronological Bible