Day 89-11

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

C. Establishment of Judges ~ cont.

2. 2nd Judge - Ehud (served 80 years) ~ cont.

c. A Levite and his concubine - Judges 19:1-30

d. Civil war - Judges 20:1-48

e. Mourning for the tribe of Benjamin - Judges 21:1-25

{pages 388-394}

Ehud - Raised up by the LORD to deliver Israel from her bondage.  Tribe of Benjamin.  Son of Gera.  Left handed.  Made a two-edged sword and killed the King of Eglon.

H261 - From H258; united; Echud, the name of three Israelites.

• H258 - Perhaps a primitive root; to unify, that is, (figuratively) collect (one’s thoughts).

And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD, when Ehud was dead.  (Judges 4:1)

The LORD judges the tribe of Benjamin for their unwillingness to purge wickedness (homosexuals) from their midst.

Now as they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, certain sons of Belial, beset the house round about, and beat at the door, and spake to the master of the house, the old man, saying, Bring forth the man that came into thine house, that we may know him.  (Judges 19:22)

Gill's commentary:

bring forth the man that came into thy house, that we may know him; not what manner of person he was, of what country and profession, whither he was going, and what business he had here; but that they might have carnal knowledge of him in an unnatural way, or commit that sin with him which is commonly called sodomy; and the men of Sodom expressed their lust by the same word, Gen_19:5.

I still find it hard to grasp the old man's willingness to offer up his virgin daughter.  I can, somewhat, reconcile about the Levite offering his concubine (she had played the harlot).  God obviously did not allow such treachery to be perpetrated against the virgin, for she is not given.  The concubine is offered, received, used and abused to death.

The Levite totes her corpse home, cuts her in pieces and sends portions to all the tribes of Israel.  All the tribes gather, would appear even Benjamin (Judges 20:3, perhaps the other portion?).  Israel goes to war against Gibeah, request the perpetrators:

Now therefore deliver us the men, the children of Belial, which are in Gibeah, that we may put them to death, and put away evil from Israel. But the children of Benjamin would not hearken to the voice of their brethren the children of Israel:  But the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together out of the cities unto Gibeah, to go out to battle against the children of Israel.  (Judges 20:13-14)

Which perplexes me.  The residents of Gibeah knew there were evil men in their midst.  They should have known the Word of the Lord and His orders concerning the wickedness.  Yet, they tolerated it, to the point of  being willing to fight and defend the wicked.

I could make a larger application to the nations of the world, but think rather, that I should take a very close examination of my own life.  Where am I tolerating sin in the camp?

Israel asked God about going against Benjamin (Judges 20:18), they go out and lose 22,000 men.  Israel asks again (Judges 20:23) and go out again.  They lose 18,000 men.  Israel asks counsel again (Judges 20:26-28). Goes out to battle and lose 30 more men, but draws the people out and smites of Benjamin 25,100 (Judges 20:35) or 25,000 (Judges 20:46).  Six hundred men turn to the wilderness.  If I have computed correctly:

My question, what happened to the other 1000 men?  Even if I take away the 700 men of Gibeah, that would leave 900...still 300 more than the 600 which fled.  Hmmm....okay, Gill's commentary on verse 46:

So that all which fell that day of Benjamin were twenty and thousand men,.... It is before said 25,100 Jdg_20:35 here the one hundred are omitted, and the round number of thousands given, which is no unusual way of speaking and writing; the whole army of Benjamin consisted of 26,700 of which 18,000 were slain in the field of battle, 5000 in the highways, and 2000 at Gidom, in all 25,000; and we may suppose one hundred as they were straggling in the road, or found in by places, or are not mentioned with either of the thousands for the sake of a round number, and six hundred fled to the rock Rimmon; as for the other 1000, it is highly probable, they fell in the two first battles, as Ben Gersom and Abarbinel rightly suppose; for it is not credible, that though they got such amazing victories, it was without the loss of men, and these are as few as well can be imagined. Jarchi thinks these thousand fled to the cities of Benjamin, and were slain when the Israelites entered them, as after related, Jdg_20:48 which is much more probable than a tradition they have, that they went into the land of Romania, and dwelt there. Now all those that were slain were men.

I soooo want to camp on that thought...all were men...while I realize that Israel smote the women and children of that city...the women did NOT go out to war.  War is, in my opinion, one method that God uses to judge nations and women and children did and do suffer.  However, women were never actively sent out to battle.  That was the man's job...and still is, not a woman's.  Stepping off my soap box now.  :-p

Now the men of Israel had sworn in Mizpeh, saying, There shall not any of us give his daughter unto Benjamin to wife.  (Judges 21:1)

And the children of Israel said, Who is there among all the tribes of Israel that came not up with the congregation unto the LORD? For they had made a great oath concerning him that came not up to the LORD to Mizpeh, saying, He shall surely be put to death.   (Judges 21:5)

Curious as to whether sworn and oath are the same and there is an overlap with the word, covenant.  Perusing...

sworn - H7650 - A primitive root; properly to be complete, but used only as a denominative from H7651; to seven oneself, that is, swear (as if by repeating a declaration seven times).

H7650 used 186 times in 175 verses.  Used first in Genesis 21:23 of Abraham's request to Abimilech.  Last usage in Malachi, which I found interesting as it is against false swearers as part of a large indictment against those who oppress.

And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts.  (Malachi 3:5)

Usually translated as swear or swore, also used as oath, charge, or adjure.

oath - H7621 - Feminine passive participle of H7650; properly something sworn, that is, an oath.

Used 30 times in 29 verses.  First used in Genesis:

And if the woman will not be willing to follow thee, then thou shalt be clear from this my oath: only bring not my son thither again.  (Genesis 24:8)

I was trying to find the servant's name and came across this article, Eliezer: A Faithful Servant, a challenge to us all, as servants of the Lord, to be diligent in our responsibilities.

Primarily translated as oath, with an occasional swore or curse (Isaiah 65:15), last usage:

And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour; and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, saith the LORD.  (Zechariah 8:17)

Both of the last usages for oath and swear have false in them...I just have to know if they are the same.  :-D

Both verses, Malachi 3:5 and Zechariah 8:17 are the same.  Not chasing it any further (today) than this:

H8267 - From H8266; an untruth; by implication a sham (often adverbially).

• H8266 - A primitive root; to cheat, that is, be untrue (usually in words).

Lord, let not Your people be found unprofitable, but continually striving to please You.

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:  That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.   (2 Timothy 3:16-17)