Day 93-11

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

C. Establishment of Judges ~ cont.

6. Reign of Abimelech (served 3 years) ends violenty (apx 28 years) - Judges 9:1-57
7. 7th Judge - Tola (served 23 years)
a. Defends dIsrael, lived in Mount Ephraim - Judges 10:1-2
b. Birth of Jesse (33rd gen)
8. 8th Judge - Jair (served 22 years) - Judges 10:3-5
9. 9th Judge - Eli (served 40 years) (1 Samuel 4:18)
a. Jephthah's youth - Judges 11:-3
b. Samson's introduction
(1) Parents - Judges 13:2-23

{pages 408-413}

Abimelech was not raised up by the Lord, he took the leadership position by killing all his brothers, except one, Jotham.  The men of Shechem made Abimelech king (Judges 9:6)

Now therefore, if ye have done truly and sincerely, in that ye have made Abimelech king, and if ye have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done unto him according to the deserving of his hands; (For my father fought for you, and adventured his life far, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian: And ye are risen up against my father's house this day, and have slain his sons, threescore and ten persons, upon one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his maidservant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother;) If ye then have dealt truly and sincerely with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice ye in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you:  But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the men of Shechem, and the house of Millo; and let fire come out from the men of Shechem, and from the house of Millo, and devour Abimelech.  (Judges 9:16-20)

Abimelech's surviving brother utters a curse about the men of Shechem, which comes to pass:

Thus God rendered the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did unto his father, in slaying his seventy brethren: And all the evil of the men of Shechem did God render upon their heads: and upon them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal.  (Judges 9:56-57)

curse - H7045 - From H7043; vilification.

• H7043 - A primitive root; to be (causatively make) light, literally (swift, small, sharp, etc.) or figuratively (easy, trifling, vile, etc.).

Used 33 times in 33 verses, most always translated as curse.  Used first:

My father peradventure will feel me, and I shall seem to him as a deceiver; and I shall bring a curse upon me, and not a blessing.  (Genesis 27:12)

Middle (or thereabouts)

As he loved cursing, so let it come unto him: as he delighted not in blessing, so let it be far from him.  (Psalm 109:17)

Last:

And it shall come to pass, that as ye were a curse among the heathen, O house of Judah, and house of Israel; so will I save you, and ye shall be a blessing: fear not, but let your hands be strong.  (Zechariah 8:13)

Judges:  Tola ~ Jair ~ Eli

Tola - H8439 - The same as H8438; worm; Tola, the name of two Israelites.

• H8438 - From H3216; a maggot (as voracious); specifically (often with ellipsis of H8144) the crimson grub, but used only (in this connection) of the color from it, and cloths dyed therewith.
• H3216 - A primitive root; to blurt or utter inconsiderately.

Used in Genesis 46:13, Numbers 26:23, Judges 10:1, 1 Chronicles 7:1-2.  Judges 10:1 definitely speaks of the judge Tola.  The Genesis and Numbers appear to be a forefather.  In the Chronicles I can not determine if it is the 1st or 2nd Tola's generation they are tracking.  Definitely from the tribe of Issachar, served Israel 23 years.

Jair - H2971 - From H215; enlightener; Jair, the name of four Israelites.

• H215 - A primitive root; to be (causatively make) luminous (literally and metaphorically).

Slim pickings as far as information goes for this judge and the one previous.  :-)  Ruled for 22 years, a Gileadite (I tried to track down the tribe, according to Gill part of the tribe of Manassah).  Had 30 sons who rode on  30 ass colts (?) and they had thirty cities?  Possibly each one had a city?

Eli - H5941 - From H5927; lofty; Eli, an Israelitish high priest.

• H5927 - A primitive root; to ascend, intransitively (be high) or active (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literally and figuratively.

Had 2 sons, Hophni and Phinehas - both wicked.  Noticed Hannah praying to the Lord for a child.  Received the child that Hannah bore (Samuel).  Blessed Elkanah and Hannah for the loan of their child.  Received prophecy from Samuel.  Died at 98, had served Israel for 40 years.

What type of legacy and/or reputation will we leave behind?

Samson's birth foretold...I thought it interesting that Manoah wanted to know the name of the angel of the Lord, whose response is:  "Why askest thou thus after my name, seeing it is secret?"  (Judge 13:18)

I am reminded of something I recently read about a servant always pointing to the Master, versus trying to take honor and/or glory for themselves.

Lord, let all that I say and do be a reflection of You, not an attempt to elevate myself or desire to have others venerate me.  Lord, let me be found a faithful servant, bringing You honor and glory, continually pointing to You.

But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:  And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.  (John 15:26-27)