Judges

Judges was a period of great transition for Israel:

Moses & Joshua now dead. David was not yet born.
International pressures were intense against Israel (look at maps).
Talked last time how Israel’s life in relationship to God was dramatically different than what others in Canaan experienced under oppressive rulers. Judges records the products of this struggle for both Israel and surrounding people groups.

Thirteen Judges:

Othniel (3.7-11)
Ehud (3.12-30)
Shamgar (3.31)
Deborah and Barak (4.1-5.31)
Gideon (6.11-8.35)
Abimelech (9.1-57)
Tola (10.1-2)
Jair (10.3-5)
Jepthah (11.1-40)
Ibzan (12.8-10)
Elon (12.11-12)
Abdon (12.13-15)
Samson (13.1-16.31)

The Sin or Apostasy	Who did Israel become a servant to?	Who was the deliverer?
Judges 3:7-11 (see especially verse 6). What was the sin? Daughters and sons of Israel and Mesopotamia married. This lead to worshipping other gods. What might be a parallel for this sin in our day? The sin is an enculturation and compromise of fidelity to God. We see this in use of time, spending of money, and attitudes toward what is important.	The king of Mesopotamia (3.8)	Othniel (3.7-11). What did Othniel do? Othniel led a military campaign. How long did Othniel’s deliverance have an affect? For 40 years.
The Sin or Apostasy	Who did Israel become a servant to?	Who was the deliverer?
Judges 3:12-31 (We don’t know specifically what the sin was Israel committed but knowing something about Moab, we can guess that it had something to do with pagan worship.)	King Eglon of Moab (3.12) for 18 years. How long did Israel have rest after Ehud’s deliverance? (80 years)	Ehud (3.12-30) Shamgar (3.31) What was the significance of Ehud being lefthanded? Guards who checked people before they went into the see the king most likely would have checked his left side – since most people are right-handed. What did Shamgar do? (Killed 600 philistines with an ox goad).
Judges 4:1-5:31 The people did ‘evil.’ Again, we can assume this probably was apostasy against God. What does this account teach us about who God uses to accomplish His purposes? (God used Deborah and Jael, two women, in a world that was mostly dominated by men.)	King Jabin of Canaan and the commander of his army Sisera (4.2).	Deborah & Barak What was Deborah’s job? (she was a judge, a prophetess). What kind of confidence did Barak have in Deborah? (He basically said he’d only go if she was with him – 4.8). Who was another strong woman in this story and what did she do? (Jael, wife of Heber, took a tent peg and drove it through Sisera’s head when he sought refuge with her.)
Judges 6:1-8:35 Israel paid heed to which gods? (the gods of the Amorites – 6.10).	The Midianites subdued Israel for seven years (6.1). What did the Midianites do to oppress Israel? (Whenever Israel sowed seed, Midian would destroy the crop.)	Gideon What did Gideon do before he responded to God’s call? (a series of tests). What was Gideon’s final mistake? He made an ephod of gold that people bowed down to – 8.22-28.
The Sin or Apostasy	Who did Israel become a servant to?	Who was the deliverer?
See Judges 10:6-18 Israel paid heed to which gods? (pagan gods – 6.10).	The Ammonites for 18 years.	Jepthah (11:1-12:7) What did Jepthah do to prepare for being God’s warrior? (He fled from his brothers since he didn’t share the same mother as them – he was the son of a prostitute. He was a lot like a Robin Hood character.)
See Judges 13:1-16:31	Philistines for 40 years.	Samson How was Samson tricked? What was his weakness?

Is there a pattern that is repeated in each of these episodes?

Sin through enculturation
Oppression and regret
Crying out to God and repentance
God sends a deliverer
Period of rest before cycle begins again

Ruth

Give cliff notes version of whole story.

Elimelech and his wife Naomi move to Moab.

· Moab & Israel saw each other as distant cousins.

· Gen. 19-30-38 > Lot’s daughters tricked him into sleeping with them so they could have heirs. Lot impregnated both of his daughters. Lot’s firstborn bore a son > named him Moab.

· Israel and Moabite relationship conflicted (Deut. 23.3-6). Didn’t assist those leaving Egypt with food or water. They were banned from the Assembly.

· Elimelech and Naomi = 2 sons (Mahlon & Chilion) (1.2)

· Sons get married to Moabite women (Orpah & Ruth)

· Elimelech, Mahlon, and Chilion all die in Moab.

Naomi decides to go back to Bethlehem

· Since her daughers-in-law were considered part of Naomi’s family, by rights they should leave their own country (Moab) and go back to Bethlehem.

· Naomi tells them to stay behind because she knows these Moabite women will have a tough time in Bethlehem. Orpah stays. Ruth goes with Naomi.

It’s harvest. Naomi and Ruth need food.

· The Israelite law which provided for gleaners so the poor could eat (Lev. 19.9-10; 23.22; Deut. 24.19-22).

· Ruth gleans in Boaz’s fields. The gleaning women were often afforded protection by the harvesting men from thieves, etc.

· Boaz looks favorably upon Ruth (she eats with harvesters, gets to gather among the sheaves not just the leftovers)

Naomi’s encouragement to move on

· It was a surviving brother’s role to marry his brother’s widow. If a brother was not available, the next closest relative had the responsibility.

· Naomi learns that Boaz has looked favorably upon Ruth. (Deut. 25.5-6).

· Ruth goes to threshing floor (after cleaning up and putting on her Sunday best) and when Boaz is full and goes to sleep, Ruth is to lay at his feet under his cloak.

· (3.9) To spread one’s cloak over another meant to take someone for one’s wife. Like an engagement ring.

· For Boaz to marry Ruth, the next in line has first chance. He goes to the city gates to have matter decided.

· When a woman and her kinsman had children, the children would be considered heirs of the deceased man’s property. This would have complicated matters and probably why the first in line kinsman passed off to Boaz.

· Children also considered to be of the deceased man.

· 1^st in line wants nothing to do with this. Passes off to Boaz. Boaz marries. They eventually have a son (Obed) the father of Jesse, father of David. Obed was David’s grandfather.

· Song: I wish I could half the man he didn’t have to be.

How does God work in this story?