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 3:7 through 5

THE RESCUE OF ISRAEL BY THE JUDGES

Chapter 3:7-31  First period – Othniel; Second Period – Ehud and Shamgar; Ehud Delivers from Moab; Shamgar Delivers from Philistines

This part of the chapter begins a series of cycles of sinning, worshipping idols, being punished, crying out for help, being rescued by a judge sent from God, obeying God for a while, then falling back into idolatry. The first period begins with Othniel as Judge during a time when “Israel did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, and served the Baals and the Asheroth.” Othniel is from the tribe of Judah and is God’s first choice as judge (he had previously proved trustworthy in his interaction with Caleb and became his son-in-law). We can also note that Othniel is from the tribe of Judah, who is the tribe in the line of Jesus. God sent them into servitude to a pagan nation and king and then they cried out for a deliverer and God sent His spirit upon Othniel who rescued them from the King of Mesopotamia and they had rest for forty years under Othniel.

The second period of Judges began with Ehud who delivers Israel from the Moabites by killing their king, Eglon in a most graphic way (in surprise he stabbed him with his left hand and the knife went in so as the fat covered it up). He lead the people into victory by the Word of the LORD, and they had rest again for eight years. Lastly, we read about Shamgar who lead Israel as Judge striking down 600 Philistines with an oxgoad. Note: In chapter 5:5-7 Deborah and Barak also speak about Shamgar: “In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, In the days of Jael, the highways were deserted, And travelers went by roundabout ways. “The peasantry ceased, they ceased in Israel, Until I, Deborah, arose, Until I arose, a mother in Israel.”” It appears that as a leader, Shamgar did not continue his guidance and protection of the Nation until Deborah arose.

C = We see in action the conditional protection clause of the Mosaic Covenant when they called on God for help, they were saved by a Judge, and when they turned from the LORD, they were subject to servitude and slavery under pagan kings. God will always have a remnant because of His faithfulness to the unconditional clause Abraham and that Covenant of people, land and blessing.

J = We will see a foreshadow of Jesus as the final savior and judge of His people and pictured in these human judges throughout this book. We can also note that Othniel is from the tribe of Judah and thus foreshadows the coming Messiah in that he “rescues” his people from oppression.

Note: The repeating cycle of the people – sinning, worshipping idols, being punished, crying out the help, being rescued by a judge sent from God, obeying God for a while, then falling back into idolatry.

Guiding Questions:

1. Review from last week to help with this chapter:
   1. What is the cycle of sin and redemption we see in the book of Judges? (See summary and note above)
   2. Who is Othniel? Why do you think he would be God’s choice as the first judge, and how did he rescue Israel in this narrative? (See summary and where’s Jesus [J =] above)
2. The narratives in the book of Judges can be very graphic. What did Ehud do to make himself a successful judge for Israel? (See summary above)
3. Who was Shamgar, and what did he do for Israel (also see him mentioned in chapter 5:6-7)? (See summary above)
4. Going Deeper: How do we see the Mosaic Covenant play out here (the protection clause)? How is Jesus foreshadowed? (See C = and J = above)

Third Period: Deborah and Barak

Chapter 4: Deborah and Barak Deliver from Canaanites

This chapter begins the third period of the Judges with Deborah judging the nation after Ehud died (and in the days of Shamgar, who was apparently still alive – see 5:5-7). We are not told why Deborah became Judge, but we are told that she was a prophetess and that she was married. She worked with Barak, whom she asked to lead the people of Zebulun and Naphtali against their new oppressor, Jabin, king of Canaan and his commander Sisera. He would only go if she went with him, she did and the LORD was with them. In verse 9 Deborah prophesied that Sisera would meet his demise by the LORD at the hand of a woman (“into the hands of a woman”). This prophecy is fulfilled in verse 21 when Jael took a tent peg and drove it into the head of Sisera with a hammer. Thus, Barak and the army became victorious against Sisera, their army and Jabin, the king of Canaan, whom they also killed.

Note: We see a prophecy fulfillment here by Deborah, which made her a “certified prophet” according to Deuteronomy 18:22 that states: “When a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the thing does not come about or come true, that is the thing which the Lord has not spoken. The prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him.” And from the New Testament, 2 Peter 1:20-21 that states: “But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.”

Guiding Questions:

1. Who were Deborah and Barak and what can we know about them from this story? (See above summary)
2. What lets us know Deborah was a true prophetess (what happened in the story that confirmed this title)? Cross-reference by reading Deuteronomy 18:22 and 2 Peter 1:20-21 and write out these Scriptures. (See above Note)

 Chapter 5: The Song of Deborah and Barak

In this chapter we get a praise song from Deborah and Barak to the LORD for His help in leading Israel to victory and freedom from oppression by Jabin the Canaanite King, Sisera, and his army. This song further confirms Deborah (and Barak) as leaders under the LORD and not of their own accord as had become the way of the Israelites again. In the song they review the history leading up to this victory, including a detailed description of the demise of Sisera. It appears that the tribes of Reuben, Dan, Asher and some from Ephraim (and those in Gilead) did not help the rest of Israel in this battle. Speculation: Those that did not participate were possibly indifferent; or self-absorbed with their own needs; or were not aware in time; or lingered too long to be of any significant help.

Note: from gotquestions.org

“Gilead was a fertile, mountainous area east of the Jordan River. The name Gilead means “rocky region” or “hill country.” Solomon refers to goats “descending from Gilead” in Song of Solomon 6:5. To the north of Gilead was Bashan, and to the south were Moab and Ammon.

When the Promised Land was divided among the twelve tribes of Israel, the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh received territory to the east of the Jordan. Their inheritance was largely comprised of the land of Gilead (Joshua 13:24–31). Gad received “all the towns of Gilead” (verse 25), and, in some passages of Scripture, the terms Gilead and Gad are used interchangeably (see Judges 5:17). The Bible mentions several mountains of Gilead: Abarim, Pisgah, Nebo, and Peor.

Gilead was also the name of a great-grandson of Joseph through Joseph’s son Manasseh. Generations later, the tribe of Manasseh inherited a portion of the land of Gilead. It could very well be that some of the ancestral Gileadites lived in the land of Gilead after the conquest of Canaan.”

C = We see both the Abrahamic and Mosaic Covenant in this story where God is true to His promise to Abraham of a Nation, Land and Blessing; this included protection as the people were obedient under Deborah and Barak. However, we will see them fall away again, doing evil in the sight of the LORD, in the very next chapter.

J = As with all the Judges, we see a picture of the Savior to come, Jesus, who will permanently rescue His people from evil and provide an eternal path to salvation. There is also a picture of a “blessed woman” in verse 24 that foreshadows the ultimate blessed woman = Mary, the mother of Jesus.

Guiding Questions:

1. What, in this chapter, shows us Deborah and Barak were worthy of their leadership in Israel? (See above summary)
2. It appears some of the tribes of Israel were not willing to help; who were they? Why do you think they might not have wanted to help (this would be speculation)? (See above summary and Note)
3. Discuss: What are some things we have learned so far about the state of the Nation of Israel at this time? Is there any application to us today? (Answers will vary for discussion here)
4. Going Deeper: How do we see the Mosaic Covenant play out here (the protection clause)? How is Jesus foreshadowed? (See above C = and J = )

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

———————————————————————

You will not find this material in the public school curriculum even though it is based on solid evidence and grounded in research. It is ironic that following the evidence to where it leads stops at the door of our public schools as they will not let a “Divine footprint” in!  Join us as we examine evidence for Christianity and learn how to become a thoughtful defender and ambassador of your faith.

Click into the resource page of this website to view many of the top Christian thinkers and apologists along with some of their work; connecting to these types of resources is essential in your Christian growth.

Please let me know what you think: Give feedback, ask questions or send concerns in the comment section of the blog.

Teri Dugan

TeriDugan@truthfaithandreason.com

1 Peter 3:15