Judges:Hope For Troubled Times

Chapters 20-21

“The War with Benjamin”

15 February 12

Announcements

Judges and RuthWeek Date Topic

1 07 Dec 11 Overview – Judges and Ruth

2 14 Dec 11 Israel’s Success and Failure: Judges 1:1-2:5

3 21 Dec 11 Oppression and Deliverance: Judges 2:6-3:31

4 28 Dec 11 Deborah, Gideon: Judges 4-6

5 04 Jan 12 Gideon’s Success and Failure: Judges 7:1-10:5

6 11 Jan 12 Jephthah the Judge: Judges 10:6-12:15

7 18 Jan 12 Samson and His Exploits: Judges 13-14

8 25 Jan 12 Samson and Delilah: Judges 15-16

9 01 Feb 12 Auditorium

10 08 Feb 12 A Levite and His Concubine: Judges 17-19

11 15 Feb 12 The War with Benjamin: Judges 20-21

12 22 Feb 12 Ruth and Naomi Return to Bethlehem: Ruth 1-2

13 29 Feb 12 Ruth and Boaz are Married: Ruth 3-4

Today’s Objectives• Review past lesson, Judges 17-19

• Provide an historical background and timeline for this weeks lesson

• Review historical maps of Israel and the region

• Read Judges 20-21

• Learn about the causes of the civil war between the Israelites and the tribe of Benjamin

• Learn to seek God’s counsel in major and minor decisions, just as the Israelites did in Judges 20-21

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• Judges 20-21 – 1400-1375 B.C.

– Epilogue describing the period before the Judges– Shortly after the death of Joshua

• Political background– Much political upheaval in the region– Egyptians and Hittites are regional powers– Rise of the Assyrians in the north– Israelite freedom of movement in the south

• Israel waging war to gain the land– Against various tribal groups in Canaan and themselves– Israel repeatedly attacked by nomadic groups from

Moab, Ammon, and the eastern desert

Tribe of Benjamin• Name

– Originally named “Benoni” or “son of my pain” – Younger son of Jacob by Rachel (Gen. 35:18)– Rachel died giving birth to Benjamin– Birth took place at Ephrath, on the road between

Bethel and Bethlehem

• Other notes– Saul was from the tribe of Benjamin– Close alliance with Judah– Famous for archers and slingers

Levite and His

Concubine

Tribes of Israel

Men of Gibeah

Israel Fights Benjamin (20:1-11)• Events of chapter 19

– Rape and murder of the Levite’s concubine in Gibeah– Gibeah is part of the tribe of Benjamin– Concubine dismembered and sent to the 12 tribes– Outrage across the land

• Israelites come together before God at Mizpah– From Dan to Beersheba and even Gilead (20:1)– 400,000 sword-bearing soldiers (20:2)– Representatives from Jabesh Gilead did not attend

• Levite explains how the murder had taken place– Tells that part of the story that would incite the Israelites– Israelites become outraged and take action (20:8-10)

Benjamin Wins the First Battles (20:12-25)• Israel sends envoys to Benjamin

– To find out why the men of Gibeah were so brutal– Demand their surrender (20:12-13)– Offenders were to be executed (see Deut 13:5, 17:7)

• Tribe of Benjamin does not comply– Assembles their army to engage in battle (20:13-14)– Mobilizes 26,000 sword-bearing soldiers– And 700 elite warriors from Gibeah– Along with 700 left-handed soldiers (20:15-16)

• Israel engages in battle– 40,000 Israelites fall in two battles– Israel calls upon the Lord (20:22-23)

• Israel returns for a third assault– Lament and fast before the ark of the Lord (20:26)– God says to return for a third assault (20:27-28)– Israelites battle Benjamin again, drawing them away

from Gibeah (20:29-31)– Israel attacks Benjamin west of Gibeah (20:33)– Fighting becomes fierce, although the Benjamites were

unaware their forces were being defeated (20:34)– Benjamites ultimately retreats

Israel Defeats Benjamin (20:26-36)

• Israel’s plan to attack the city– Ambush teams rushes into the city– Remaining Israelites fight the advancing Benjamites

(20:37-39)– Overconfident Benjamites became vulnerable to defeat– Benjamites shocked at the burning Gibeah– Benjamites try to escape, but most are slaughtered– 600 men flee to Rimmon (20:45-47)

• Israelites slaughter every living being and torched every city (20:48)

Israel Ambushes Benjamin (20:37-48)

• Israelites filled with remorse about the slaughter of one of their own tribes– Concern about the total loss of the tribe over time

• Vow had been made to not give their daughters to the men of Benjamin

• Israelites struggle to find ways to obtain wives for the Benjamites– City of Jabesh Gilead chosen to provide brides for the

men of Benjamin– 400 virgins found and taken to Shiloh– Gave permission to Benjamites to seize young maidens

who joined in a festival

Wives of Benjamin (Chapter 21)

Review• Reviewed past lesson, Judges 17-19

• Provided an historical background and timeline for this weeks lesson

• Reviewed historical maps of Israel and the region

• Read Judges 20-21

• Learned about the causes of the civil war between the Israelites and the tribe of Benjamin

• Learned to seek God’s counsel in major and minor decisions, just as the Israelites did in Judges 20-21

• Next week Ruth 1-2