Category Archives: A Case for the Bible

Answers for a study in the book of Judges” is a weekly post in addition to the regular “apologetics” posts on the weekend where the original questions can be found at the bottom of the study, and then answers appear here during the week. This gives you time to do your own research, and then check your answers. Keep in mind these will be basic answers with a little depth, but you can go much deeper for discussion if you’d like.

Note: Class presentation, videos, reflections and Bible study questions are posted on the weekend – Bible study answers (like these) are posted during the week.

Bible Study: The Book of Judges: Chapters 1-2

THE MILITARY FAILURE OF ISRAEL

Chapter 1:  Incomplete Conquest of the Land; Capture of Other Cities; Places Not Conquered

In these first few chapters of Judges, we get some new information along with a review of some things we read about in the book of Joshua. We learn that just after Joshua’s death, the tribes of Judah and Simeon continued to fight against the Canaanites in the Land (because they had not yet conquered all the Land as the LORD had commanded), and the LORD was with them in this. We also notice that they captured and burned the city of Jerusalem (Note: they will not occupy it until the days of David – see 2 Samuel 5:6-10). We again read about Caleb and Othniel, Caleb’s nephew (found in Joshua 14 and 15 – specifically 15:16-19) and how Othniel conquered Debir thus acquiring Caleb’s daughter Achsah as a wife. Achsah then asks her father Caleb for the land of the Negev and springs of water and he does (Note: Othniel will be the first Judge in this period of time). The house of Joseph also drove out the inhabitants of Bethel and allowed a man who helped them to go into the land of the Hittites and build a city ultimately known as Luz. We also read about places that were not conquered, as the LORD had commanded, and thus would lead to the downfall of the people over the next few centuries as they would begin to worship false idols and practice things the LORD had strictly forbidden.

Note: We read that the son of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites who lived in Jerusalem; so, the Jebusites lived with the sons of Benjamin and this will be a huge problem leading to the first civil war in Israel – see chapters 19-20). LAB – “Canaan’s greatest threat to Israel was not its army, but its religion. Canaanite religion idealized evil traits: Cruelty in war, sexual immorality, selfish greed, and materialism.”

C = The Land Promise in the Abrahamic Covenant had been partially fulfilled. The people became disobedient to the LORD’s command (Mosaic Covenant) by not clearing out and conquering the Land as directed by God through Moses and Joshua, and this would result in God removing His protection. The first sign of disobedience was in v. 6-7 where they should have killed the evil king and not brought him back to the city where alive (the implication is that he lived there for a while until he died – what influence did he have on the leaders/people?)

J = Note that the leaders of Judah went to the LORD for direction (v. 1-2) and the LORD spoke to them and was with them at this point (v. 19); we also note that Caleb and his nephew Othniel (who would be the first Judge) were of the tribe of Judah and were leaders therein.

Guiding Questions:

1. This chapter (and chapter 2) reviews some of the events that were already recorded in the book of Joshua. Give a few examples. (See summary above)
2. What did the tribe of Judah do correctly (where were they obedient), and where did they and the other tribes go wrong (where were they disobedient)? Give a few examples. Note: This is related to the Mosaic Covenant and God’s promise of protection, or loss thereof. (See summary above)
3. Going Deeper: Who were Caleb and Othniel, why are they important and what did they do? Use Bible Gateway (or another search tool) to cross-reference where else in the Bible Caleb and Othniel are mentioned, and why. (See summary above)
4. Going Even Deeper: Who was Anak, the sons of Anak and the Anakim (how are they related to the Biblical group known as the Nephilim, and who were the Nephilim)?

There are several lines of thought in scholarship as to the history and nature of the Nephilim. The term could simply mean “very large/tall people” or it can have a deeper theological meaning as we cross-reference the text of the Bible. Here are the most prominent thoughts in scholarship on this topic from gotquestions.org – check out their short video on this topic as well:

Who/What Were the Nephilim?

“The Nephilim (“fallen ones, giants”) may have been the offspring of sexual relationships between the sons of God and the daughters of men in Genesis 6:1–4. There is much debate as to the identity of the Nephilim (verse 4) and the “sons of God” (verse 2), who seem to be distinct from the “human beings” in verse 1.

One theory is that the “sons of God” were fallen angels (demons) who took on physical form and mated with human females (or demons who possessed human males who then mated with human females). These unions resulted in extraordinary offspring, the Nephilim, who were “heroes of old, men of renown” of a giant size and, apparently, enhanced physical abilities (Genesis 6:4). If demons were involved in producing the Nephilim, it is likely those demons are the ones who were judged by God and are now “kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day” (Jude 1:6).

Assuming the Nephilim were the spawn of demons, why would demons want to cohabit with human women and produce offspring? One speculation is that the demons were attempting to pollute the human bloodline in order to prevent the coming of the Messiah. God had promised that the Messiah would one day crush the head of the serpent, Satan (Genesis 3:15). The demons in Genesis 6 were possibly attempting to prevent the crushing of the serpent and make it impossible for a sinless “seed of the woman” to be born.

There are at least two objections to the theory that the Nephilim were demon-human hybrids: first, there is nothing in the text to expressly identify the sons of God as angels. Second, the Bible never indicates that angels are physiologically compatible with women and can procreate with them (unless Genesis 6 is the only instance).

Others have suggested that the sons of God might be fallen angels who possessed men. As in the first theory, the phrase sons of God could still refer to fallen angels, the difference being that the demons were using mortal men to accomplish their goals. While this view would resolve the physiological problems of the first theory, there is, again, nothing in the text to suggest demonic possession.

Another view of the Nephilim is that the statement “There were giants on the earth in those days” (Genesis 6:4, NKJV) simply means that everyone was big and tall and mighty. Genetically, humanity was still in a nearly pristine condition. This theory takes the view that these sons of God were simply men. This would explain why there were giants before the flood “and also afterward” (Genesis 6:4; cf. 1 Samuel 17:4–7), as primeval genetic material survived in Noah’s family. The fact that Nephilim were still around sporadically after the flood is an indicator that giants like Goliath were exceptional, but not superhuman.

According to legend (the Book of Enoch and other non-biblical writings), the Nephilim were a unique race of giants and superheroes who committed acts of great evil. In the 2014 movie Noah, starring Russell Crowe, the Nephilim are fallen angels encased in rock. All that the Bible directly says about the Nephilim is that they were “heroes and famous warriors of ancient times” (NLT) or “powerful men of old, the famous men” (CSB). The Nephilim were not aliens, angels, “Watchers,” or rock monsters; they were literal, physical beings.

As mentioned, there were some Nephilim after the flood, according to Genesis 6:4. When the Israelites spied out the land of Canaan, they reported back to Moses, “We saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them” (Numbers 13:33). Later, as Moses addressed the people of Israel before they entered Canaan, he mentioned the sons of Anak: “You are now about to cross the Jordan to go in and dispossess nations greater and stronger than you, with large cities that have walls up to the sky. The people are strong and tall—Anakites! You know about them and have heard it said: ‘Who can stand up against the Anakites?’” (Deuteronomy 9:1–2). These “giants” were destroyed by the Israelites with God’s help (Deuteronomy 3:10–11; 9:3; Joshua 11:21–22; 1 Samuel 17).

It’s a mysterious passage, but Genesis 6:4 states that there were Nephilim in the land in the days before the flood. The passage does not explicitly say how these giants came to be. It is best to not be dogmatic on an issue that the Bible says so little about and that is not theologically significant in the grand scheme of things.”

Chapter 2:  Israel Rebuked; Disobedience and Defeat; Joshua Dies

Chapter 3:1-6 Idolatry Leads to Servitude

This chapter includes a visit from “The Angel of the LORD” that prompted loud weeping from the people because they knew they had been disobedient, and now the consequences of that lied ahead. Beginning in verse 6 we get a review of the time period between Joshua’s last address and his death, leading into the decline the people’s relationship with God in the next generation. We immediately see Israel begin to serve the Baal and Ashtaroth, intermarrying with these forbidden people; “thus they provoked the LORD to anger” (v. 12). At the end of the chapter the LORD will give them into the hands of their enemy, leading into servitude. The beginning of chapter 3 overviews the consequence of this idolatry. We also learn here that God allowed certain people groups to remain in order to test Israel’s commitment to the LORD, and to teach war to the generations who had not yet experienced it. These people groups included: Philistines, Canaanites, Sidonians, Hivites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites and Jebusites. Everything they had been warned about is now coming true!

NOTE: In 2:13-19 we get a preview of the cycle of Judges God would send, and why. The cycle will be: Disobedience – Oppression – Crying out to the LORD – God answers and raises up a judge who delivers them – Peace (the cycle then repeats).

C = The Mosaic Covenant is in view here. This Covenant is conditional: Obedience = protection; disobedience = loss of that protection. However, the unconditional Abrahamic Covenant will also play out in that God will never complete forsake this promised people and He will always provide a way for them (Judges) when they would repent and cry out to the LORD.

Note: From the LAB – “God’s promise [to Abraham] to make Israel a Nation through whom the whole world would be blessed (fulfilled in the Messiah’s coming) remained valid. However, God often used oppression to bring them back to Him, just as He warned He would do (Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28).” We will see this played out through the rest of the Old Testament narrative.

J = The term “Angel of the LORD” (v. 1, 4) refers to a Theophany/Christophany which is a direct appearance or communication from the LORD, often in the physical form that would be the pre-incarnate Jesus.

Guiding Questions:

1. What did the Angel of the LORD tell the people, and why? Who do you think the Angel of the LORD might be? (See notes above)
2. This chapter gives a preview of the book. What happened in the next generation after Joshua, and why? Review 2:13-19 – what kind of cycle do we see previewed here concerning the nation and judges? (see above)
3. Going Deeper: Are the Abrahamic or Mosaic Covenants in view here? If yes, give an example. (see above)
4. Going Even Deeper: Who, or what, were Baal and Ashtaroth, and why were the Canaanites so bad in God’s eyes? (Note: The term Canaanite is often used as an overarching term for all of the pagan people groups in this area during this time period).

Here are the most prominent thoughts in scholarship on this topic from gotquestions.org – check out their short video on this site as well:

“Who Was Baal”

“Baal was the name of the supreme god worshiped in ancient Canaan and Phoenicia. The practice of Baal worship infiltrated Jewish religious life during the time of the Judges (Judges 3:7), became widespread in Israel during the reign of Ahab (1 Kings 16:31-33) and also affected Judah (2 Chronicles 28:1-2). The word baal means “lord”; the plural is baalim. In general, Baal was a fertility god who was believed to enable the earth to produce crops and people to produce children. Different regions worshiped Baal in different ways, and Baal proved to be a highly adaptable god. Various locales emphasized one or another of his attributes and developed special “denominations” of Baalism. Baal of Peor (Numbers 25:3) and Baal-Berith (Judges 8:33) are two examples of such localized deities.

According to some versions of Canaanite mythology, Baal was the son of Dagon; other accounts make him out to be a son of El, the chief god, and Asherah, the goddess of the sea. Baal was considered the most powerful of all gods, eclipsing El, who was seen as rather weak and ineffective. In various battles Baal defeated Yamm, the god of the sea, and Mot, the god of death and the underworld. Baal’s sisters/consorts were Ashtoreth, a fertility goddess associated with the stars, and Anath, a goddess of love and war. The Canaanites worshiped Baal as the sun god and as the storm god—he is usually depicted holding a lightning bolt—who defeated enemies and produced crops. They also worshiped him as a fertility god who provided children. Baal worship was rooted in sensuality and involved ritualistic prostitution in the temples. At times, appeasing Baal required human sacrifice, usually the firstborn of the one making the sacrifice (Jeremiah 19:5). The priests of Baal appealed to their god in rites of wild abandon which included loud, ecstatic cries and self-inflicted injury (1 Kings 18:28).”

Before the Hebrews entered the Promised Land, the Lord God warned against worshiping Canaan’s gods (Deuteronomy 6:14-15), but Israel turned to idolatry anyway. During the reign of Ahab and Jezebel, at the height of Baal worship in Israel, God directly confronted the paganism through His prophet Elijah. First, God showed that He, not Baal, controlled the rain by sending a drought lasting three-and-one-half years (1 Kings 17:1). Then Elijah called for a showdown on Mt. Carmel to prove once and for all who the true God was. All day long, 450 prophets of Baal called on their god to send fire from heaven—surely an easy task for a god associated with lightning bolts—but “there was no response, no one answered, no one paid attention” (1 Kings 18:29). After Baal’s prophets gave up, Elijah prayed a simple prayer, and God answered immediately with fire from heaven. The evidence was overwhelming, and the people “fell prostrate and cried, ‘The LORD–he is God! The LORD–he is God!’” (verse 39).

In Matthew 12:27, Jesus calls Satan “Beelzebub,” linking the devil to Baal-Zebub, a Philistine deity (2 Kings 1:2). The Baalim of the Old Testament were nothing more than demons masquerading as gods, and all idolatry is ultimately devil-worship (1 Corinthians 10:20).

“Who Was Ashtaroth”

Ashtoreth was the name of a goddess of Phoenicia, referred to in Scripture as “the goddess of the Sidonians” (1 Kings 11:33) and is one of the false gods that drew King Solomon away from the truth (1 Kings 11:5). Ashtoreth was known in other cultures as Ishtar and Astarte (“Star”). Centuries later, the worship of Ashtoreth morphed into the worship of Aphrodite in some Greek provinces.

Ashtoreth is often mentioned with Baal, and the two were seen as consorts, each complementary to the other (see Judges 2:13; 3:7; 10:6; 1 Samuel 12:10). In fact, the phrase the Baals and the Ashtoreths may have been used as a generic term for all the pagan gods and goddesses in their various forms.

In Canaanite theology, Asherah and Ashtoreth are closely related, and their names share a common origin. According to the International Bible Encyclopedia, Asherah and Ashtoreth were one and the same goddess in Babylon, but “in the West . . . Asherah and Ashtoreth came to be distinguished from one another, Asherah being exclusively the goddess of fertility, whereas Ashtoreth passed into a moon-goddess.”

Some scholars distinguish Ashtoreth and Asherah, saying that Ashtoreth is the personal name of the goddess, while Asherah is the name of her image. In that case, we could understand that, when King Josiah cut down “the Asherim” (2 Kings 23:14, ESV), he was destroying the high places Solomon had made “for Ashtoreth the abomination of the Sidonians” (verse 13, ESV). If this is correct, then an Asherah is a carved pole or limbless trunk of a tree erected in honor of Ashtoreth.

The Lord God, through Moses, forbade the worship of Ashtoreth and all other false gods. Despite God’s clear instructions, Ashtoreth-worship was a perennial problem in Israel. The era of the judges was plagued with repeated outbreaks of Ashtoreth-worship. As Solomon slipped into idolatry, one of the pagan deities he brought into the kingdom was Ashtoreth (1 Kings 11:5), “so Solomon did evil in the eyes of the Lord, . . . [and] the Lord became angry with Solomon” (verses 6, 9).

Ashtoreth and the images people made in her honor are dead, false gods:
“Their idols are silver and gold,
made by human hands.
They have mouths, but cannot speak,
eyes, but cannot see.
They have ears, but cannot hear,
noses, but cannot smell.
They have hands, but cannot feel,
feet, but cannot walk,
nor can they utter a sound with their throats” (Psalm 115:4–7).

In contrast, “our God is in heaven; / he does whatever pleases him” (Psalm 115:3).

The Canaanites:

The Canaanites are mentioned over 150 times in the Bible. They were a wicked, idolatrous people descended from Noah’s grandson Canaan, who was a son of Ham (Genesis 9:18). Canaan was cursed because of his and his father’s sin against Noah (Genesis 9:20–25). In some passages, Canaanites specifically refers to the people of the lowlands and plains of Canaan (Joshua 11:3); in other passages, Canaanites is used more broadly to refer to all the inhabitants of the land, including the Hivites, Girgashites, Jebusites, Amorites, Hittites, and Perizzites (see Judges 1:9–10).

These people were not just cursed because of Ham, because we all fall under the curse of Genesis 3 (the Fall), but they were extremely wicked and evil, even to their own people. They practiced child sacrifice and extreme cruelty. They were sexually promiscuous and ritualistic toward their various gods and idols. You can read more about them at this link via the research and books by Dr. Clay Jones: “Was the Destruction of the Canaanites Just?”  

Please join us each week as we continue our case for the Bible and a study in the book of Judges!

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Teri Dugan

TeriDugan@truthfaithandreason.com

1 Peter 3:15