Day 97-11

VI From the crossing into Canaan to the reign of Saul - 1422-1065 B.C. ~ cont.

C. Establishment of Judges ~ cont.

12. 12th Judge-Ibzan (served 7 years) - Judges 12:8-10

a. Samson and the Philistines - Judges 15:3-19; Judges 16:1-3
b. Saul's marriage and family - 1 Samuel 14:50, 49
c. Birth of Jonathan
13. 13th Judge - Elon (served 10 years) - Judges 12:11
a. Samson and Delilah - Judges 16:4-22
b. Death of Samson (52 years) - Judges 16:23-31
c. Revival at Mizpeh - 1 Samuel 7:3-8
d. Philistines defeated - 1 Samuel 7:9-14
e. Samuel's leadership - 1 Samuel 7:15-17

{pages 427- 431}

And when he came unto Lehi, the Philistines shouted against him: and the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and the cords that were upon his arms became as flax that was burnt with fire, and his bands loosed from off his hands.  (Judges 15:14)

I know I already camped on the phrase 'Spirit of the Lord' in another post...but it touches my heart and mind so greatly, and I take such comfort from rereading all those verses.  How God's wonderful Spirit moves upon someone and gives them the ability to do what they, in and of themselves, can or would not do.

So too with us, as we are filled with HIS Spirit upon our new birth...given a new heart, a passion and desire for knowing HIM and walking in the fullness of all that HE has ordained for us.  Being changed daily (hopefully) more and more into HIS image.  What a delight as He prepares us for our heavenly home.

*****deep sigh of anticipation*****

And the name of Saul's wife was Ahinoam, the daughter of Ahimaaz: and the name of the captain of his host was Abner, the son of Ner, Saul's uncle.  (1 Samuel 14:50)

Kissing cousins...okay, maybe not kissing cousins...Fighting Family?  I had forgotten that Abner was Saul's cousin.

Samson and Samuel seem to have overlapped with some other judges - that will make for an interesting study, later.

I liked Samuel's admonishment to Israel to put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth.  (1 Samuel 7:3)  Hmmm, where and how else is that phrase used, strange gods?

Jacob said it to his household (Genesis 35:2); Israel provoked God to jealousy (Deuteronomy 32:16); Joshua admonishes the people to not worship strange gods (Joshua 24:20); Israel put away strange gods (Judges 10:16); Samuel tells Israel to put away strange gods (1 Samuel 7:3); Asa took away the altars of the strange gods (2 Chronicles 14:3) as did Manasseh (2 Chronicles 33:15); Jeremiah reminds the people that they served strange gods (Jeremiah 5:19); Paul was thought to be putting forth a strange god (Acts 17:18).

Ashtaroth?

H6252 - Plural of H6251; Ashtaroth, the name of a Sidonian deity, and of a place East of the Jordan.

• H6251 - Probably from H6238; increase.
• H6238 - A primitive root; properly to accumulate; chiefly (specifically) to grow (causatively make) rich.

I found this article, Assyrian Mythology had some interesting tidbits to offer.  I particularly liked the information about the writer and who was a major influence in her life.

Ashtaroth was a pagan goddess, but also a place.

Ashtaroth is also Ishtar (Easter)...I am including some links (not previewed) for those who may want some additional information:

The True Origin of Easter ~ Did You Know? - Origins of Easter Found in the Bible ~ Easter

Do you believe/practice something because you know, have verified it from Scripture, or because of a denominational/family teaching?

Lord, help us, Your people to worship You in spirit and in truth.  Help us to dig into Your Word, desiring to know you more intimately.  Lord, help us when we are challenged with a tradition or a long held belief, to lay it alongside Your Word and be conformed to IT, rather than our own thoughts/ways.

Day 94-11

VI From the crossing into Canaan to the reign of Saul - 1422-1065 B.C. ~ cont.

C. Establishment of Judges ~ cont.

9. 9th Judge - Eli (served 40 years) (1 Samuel 4:18) ~ cont.

b. Samson's introduction ~ cont.

(2) Birth - Judges 13:24-25

c. Samuel's introduction

(1) Parents - 1 Samuel 1:1-19
(2) Birth - 1 Samuel 1:20-23
d. 6th Apostasy and servitude
(1) Ammonites in the East - Judges 10:6-18
(2) Jephthah, the warrior and his vow - Judges 11:4-40; 12:1-6

{pages 413-418}

And Elkanah her husband said unto her, Do what seemeth thee good; tarry until thou have weaned him; only the LORD establish his word. So the woman abode, and gave her son suck until she weaned him. (1 Samuel 1:23)

I thought this verse interesting as it substantiates how a wife's vow can be mitigated or affirmed by her husband.

If a woman also vow a vow unto the LORD, and bind herself by a bond, being in her father's house in her youth; And her father hear her vow, and her bond wherewith she hath bound her soul, and her father shall hold his peace at her: then all her vows shall stand, and every bond wherewith she hath bound her soul shall stand. But if her father disallow her in the day that he heareth; not any of her vows, or of her bonds wherewith she hath bound her soul, shall stand: and the LORD shall forgive her, because her father disallowed her. And if she had at all an husband, when she vowed, or uttered ought out of her lips, wherewith she bound her soul; And her husband heard it, and held his peace at her in the day that he heard it: then her vows shall stand, and her bonds wherewith she bound her soul shall stand.  But if her husband disallowed her on the day that he heard it; then he shall make her vow which she vowed, and that which she uttered with her lips, wherewith she bound her soul, of none effect: and the LORD shall forgive her. But every vow of a widow, and of her that is divorced, wherewith they have bound their souls, shall stand against her.  (Numbers 30:3-9)

And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he sold them into the hands of the Philistines, and into the hands of the children of Ammon.   (Judges 10:7)

Sold them?

H4376 - A primitive root; to sell, literally (as merchandise, a daughter in marriage, into slavery), or figuratively (to surrender).

**sigh** - There it is again...the daughter in marriage.  Which implies ownership.  I know God owns Israel, He owns it all, really.  A dad owns his daughter(s)?  A man owns his wife?

Sold - used 80 times in the OT (as H4376) - Jacob requested Esau's birthright ~ Leah and Rachel counted themselves sold by Laban ~ Joseph's brothers sold him to the Ishmaeelites (Midianites) ~ Midianites sold Joseph in Egypt ~ Joseph acknowledges that they sold him ~ Joseph buys the land of Egypt for Pharaoh ~ a man could sell (betrothed) his daughter to be a maidservant ~ men stealers sold their captives ~ men were to sell the live ox (and divide the dead ox) ~ stolen items sold had to be restored ~ a thief could be sold for his theft ~ men could sell to one another ~ Israel could NOT sell the land for it belongs to the LORD ~ sold items or people could be redeemed by a kinsman redeemer ~ animals that died of themselves could be sold to an alien ~ the LORD sold Israel several times ~ Sisera was sold into the hands of a woman ~ Naomi sold her land ~ God sold Israel into the hand of Sisera ~ Ahab sold himself to do evil ~ widow woman sold oil to sustain her ~ Israel sold themselves to do evil ~ Nehemiah and others redeemed Israelites which had been sold ~ Nehemiah forbade selling on the Sabbath ~ Esther and her people were sold by Haman ~ Proverbs encourages us to buy the truth and NOT sell it ~ Proverbs 31 woman sold goods ~ LORD sell the land into the hand of the wicked.

All this being sold, brought these verses to mind:

For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.  (1 Corinthians 6:20)

Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.  (1 Corinthians 7:23)

This verse captured my attention, because of the phrase:  Spirit of the Lord came upon him.


Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah, and he passed over Gilead, and Manasseh, and passed over Mizpeh of Gilead, and from Mizpeh of Gilead he passed over unto the children of Ammon.  (Judges 11:29)

Those upon whom the Spirit of the Lord came/acted upon:  Othniel ~ Gideon ~ Jepthah  ~ Samson (4x) ~ Saul ~ David ~ Saul (departed) ~ Elijah ~ Jahaziel ~ Jesus (foretold Isaiah) ~ Ezekiel ~ Micah ~ Jesus (fulfillment of Isaiah) ~ Phillip (caught away by) ~ those chosen by God (1 Corinthians)

But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.  (1 Corinthians 3:18)