Old Testament 1 Lesson 8

Acknowledgments
Living Logos was the heart-work of Bro
Dale Starks and Sis Josephine Starks,
missionaries to Singapore in the early
1980s. As the original authors of this
devotionals, the Starks meant for
these self-study materials to help new converts
(and matured saints alike) get a hold of an
understanding of God’s written Word. Since Sis
Stark’s passing in 2013, the couple had graciously
entrusted Tabernacle of Joy with its copyright.
Therefore, with every print run, we would like to
honour their life work and sacrifice in bringing the
gospel to Singapore. This copy is an updated and
revised version. Be blessed as you immerse yourself
in the Word and allow God to transform you into
the likeness of Jesus Christ.
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Lesson
Old Testament 1
Eight
Old Testament 1
THE PERIOD OF THE JUDGES (CONTINUED)
Judges, Chapter 8, describes several other conquests by Gideon
and his men. His victories were so impressive that the men of
Israel wanted to make Gideon their king. His answer was:
...I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: the
LORD shall rule over you
— JuDGes 8:23
The children of Israel had peace for forty years - during the rest
of Gideon’s lifetime. But when Gideon died, they went right
back to their worship of Baal, forgetting the LORD who had
delivered them out of the hands of all their enemies (Judges
8:33-34).
Gideon had 71 sons. One of them was Abimelech, by his concubine
at Shechem. Abimelech wanted what Gideon had refused
- to become king of Israel. He murdered all his brothers,
except one. Jothan, his youngest brother, escaped. Shechem
was one of the cities of refuge. It had become the civil center
for a time, just as Shiloh was the religious center. After three
years of rule under Abimelech, the men of Shechem turned
against their king and sought to destroy him, just as they had
earlier aided him in destroying his brothers (Judges 9:1-23).
Abimelech killed many of the Shechemites by burning down
the stronghold where they were gathered. Then, he went up
to Thebez and took that city. However, many of the people
there gathered into a strong tower. Again, Abimelech was
determined to destroy the people by burning down the
building where they were gathered. He came near the building
with a torch, but a certain woman with a millstone (a large
rock used for grinding) cast it down upon his head, breaking
his skull. As he did not want it to be known that a woman
had killed him, he commanded his armour-bearer to slay him.
When the men of Israel saw that he was dead, they returned
home. (Judges 9:24-57)
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Although Abimelech did reign over Israel for three years, because of the
nature of his reign he is not commonly regarded as one of the judges of
Israel.
THE SIXTH AND SEVENTH JUDGES
Tola, a man from the tribe of Issachar, judged Israel for twenty-three years
until he died. There was a time of peace under his leadership (Judges 10:1-
2).
Jair, a Gileadite, became the seventh judge and ruled for twenty-two years
until the time of his death. This man was especially known because he had
thirty sons, and each son had his own city and rode on a donkey (Judges
10:3-4).
THE FIFTH SERVITUDE
Again, the children of Israel forsook the LORD and worshipped the gods
of the land they possessed: Baalim, and Astaroth, the gods of the children
of Ammon, the gods of Syria, the gods of Zidon, the gods of Moab, and the
gods of the Philistines (Judges 10:6).
The anger of the LORD again waxed hot against them, and God delivered
them over into the hands of the Ammonites. All the tribes that were
east of the Jordan River were ruled by them for eighteen years. Then,
the Ammonites passed over Jordan to fight against Judah, Benjamin and
Ephraim.
Finally, the children of Israel began to call upon the LORD. The LORD
reminded them of all that He had done for them, and how ungrateful they
had been (Judges 10:7-12).
...I will deliver you no more. Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let
them deliver you in the time of your tribulation
— JuDGes 10:13-14
But Israel acknowledged and repented of their sins, and put away the false
gods that were among them. Only then did God give them the assurance
that He would be with them and fight for them (Judges 10:15-16).
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THE EIGHTH JUDGE
Jephthah was the son of Gilead by a harlot. Because of this, he was cast
out by his brethren. They told him that they did not want him to have any
inheritance in their father’s house. Nevertheless, the Bible says of this man
that he was a mighty man of valour (Judges 11:1).
After he was cast out by his brethren, he gathered to himself other men
who were outcasts, and were considered vain or worthless people. He soon
engaged in raids throughout the surrounding countryside, and gained a
reputation as a leader.
After Ammon began to make war with Israel, the elders sent for Jephthah.
They apologized for the part they had in expelling him out of his father’s
house, and promised to make him their captain. If Israel was victorious over
the Ammonites, he would continue to be their leader (Judges 11:2-11).
Then, Jephthah made a foolish vow. He promised God that if God would
give them victory over the Ammonites, he would offer the first thing that
came forth of the doors of his house to meet him as a burnt offering. God
did give Israel the victory. When he returned home, his daughter and only
child came out to meet him with timbrels (tambourines) and dancing,
celebrating his victorious return from battle. However, Jephthah was very
sad. Perhaps he had expected an animal to be the first thing to come forth
to meet him, but it was his only child! Nevertheless, he kept his vow and
offered her unto the LORD as a sacrifice (Judges 11:30-40).
It is doubtful that God was pleased with such a sacrifice. God does not want
us to make vows and then break them. But it does seem that it would have
been better for Jephthah to have broken such a foolish vow, and repent
of this rash act, rather than kill his daughter. Nevertheless, like Abraham,
Jephthah was willing to offer his only child as a burnt offering, and this does
show his desire to please God!
CIVIL WARS
A civil war is one fought by different sections or factions of the same nation.
During the time of the judges, there were four periods of civil confusion
that caused internal wars. We will study concerning three of them in this
lesson:
1. When Gideon fought against the Midianites, he had gathered men out of
Asher, Naphtali, and Manasseh, but had not called upon the Ephraimites
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to join in the battle until he had pursued after the Midianites to the Jordan
River. Then, he asked the Ephraimites to take certain passages, where
people crossed the river. The Ephraimites killed the two prince generals of
the Midianites, Oreb and Zeeb, who were attempting to flee from Gideon.
The Ephraimites were angry that they had not been called into the battle
earlier, but Gideon told them, “God hath delivered into your hands the
princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb; and what was I able to do in comparison
of you?” (Judges 8:1-3). By these words of wisdom, war was avoided.
2. The second civil war took place under Abimelech’s rule. He was the one
who killed his brothers so that he could be the lone leader of Israel (Judges,
Chapter 9).
3. The third civil war took place because Ephraim became angry again for
not being called to fight. Jephthah had earlier asked for their help against
the Ammonites when the battle was the hottest, but Ephraim had refused to
come. It seems that they wanted to share in the victory, but not the battle!
Ephraim came to fight against Jephthah and his army. However, God was
with Jephthah, and the Ephraimites sought to flee by crossing the Jordan
River. Jephthah and his men took control of the passages, and every time
someone would come and say, “Let me cross over”, they would be asked,
“Are you an Ephraimite?” If they would say “No,” they would be asked to
repeat the word “Shibboleth”. The Ephraimites could not frame the mouth
right to say this word correctly. They would answer “Sibboleth”. Thus, their
deceit was made known, and they were slain (Judges 12:1-6).
A SPIRITUAL LESSON FOR US
Some day we must cross over “the river of death”. We may call ourselves
“Christians”, but what we really are is what counts! When Jesus Christ
comes back for His church, those who died as true Christians will rise from
the dead. Together with the true Christians who are still living, they shall
be brought into the presence of Jesus Christ for eternity (I Thessalonians
4:13-17).
Many who are Christians in name only will be disappointed on that day, for
Jesus said:
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of
heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven
— matthew 7:21

What is the will of the Father? We have previously studied that the Bible
declares to us the will of God. In fact, the Bible is the will of God. It
declares what we must do to please Him. We must turn from our sins, be
baptized in the precious name of Jesus Christ, and be filled with the Holy
Spirit. This gives us the strength to live a different life - a Spirit-filled life, a
victorious life! We will not have to fear when we approach the passages of
the “river of death”.
MORE JUDGES
Jephthah judged Israel for six years before he died and was buried in one
of the cities of Gilead, on the east side of the Jordan River. Ibzan, the next
judge, ruled Israel for seven years, and he died. Elon, a Zebulonite, judged
Israel for ten years until his death. After him, Abdon judged Israel for eight
years. He had forty sons and thirty nephews that rode on young donkeys.
When Abdon died, he was buried in the land of Ephraim, in the mount of
the Amalekites (Judges 12:7-15).
VOCABULARY
conquest —
something conquered, a battle won
civil —
valour —
of a community of citizens, pertaining to the government
great courage or bravery
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Old
Lesson
Testament
Eight
1
Test
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
What was Gideon’s answer when the people wanted him to be king?
__________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________.
What did Abimelech, the son of Gideon, desire?
_________________________________________________________.
What evil act did he do to try to bring this about?
_________________________________________________________.
How was he killed?
__________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________.
What was Jair especially known for?
__________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________.
What did the LORD answer Israel when they began to call upon the
Lord after the Ammonites came to fight against Judah, Benjamin and
Ephraim?
__________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________.
Why was Jephthah cast out by his brethren?
__________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________.
What foolish vow did Jephthah make?
__________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________.
Who came forth first to meet him? _____________________________.
Did he keep his vow? ______________________________.
What is a civil war?
__________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________.
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12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
How did the wisdom of Gideon help avoid one civil war?
__________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________.
Why did the third civil war take place?
__________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________.
Evidently Ephraim wanted to share in the ________________________,
but not the _________________________________ .
How could Jephthah and his men tell who were Ephraimites and who
were not?
__________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________.
Not everyone that calls upon the name of the Lord shall _____________
_________________________________________________________.
Only those that do the will of _____________________________ shall
enter_____________________________________________________.
What declares unto us “the will of the Father?”____________________.
What was Abdon noted for?
__________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________.
What was of special interest to you in this lesson?
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