Judges

The Lord is with those fighting against evil

After the death of Joshua, Israel asked the LORD, Who shall go up for us to fight against the Canaanites first?
The LORD said, Judah will go up: behold, I have delivered the land into his hand
Judah and Simeon went with each other to claim each ones land
They killed 10,000 men at Bezek and chased their king. When they caught him, they cut off his thumbs and big toes

The king of Bezek told them, 70 kings with their thumbs and great toes cut off gathered scraps under my table. What I did, God has done back to me.
Judges 1

I, the Lord, search the heart, I try the emotions, to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings
Jeremiah 17:10

(God only wars against evil. He remembers the victims and stops the pain and ruin caused by evil)
The LORD was with Judah; and he drove out those dwelling on the mountain, but could not drive out those in the valley, because they had iron chariots
Israel gave Hebron to Caleb, as Moses said: and he expelled the three sons of Anak (giants, Numbers 13:33)

Now thanks be to God, who always causes us to triumph in Christ
2 Corinthians 2:14
The children of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites that dwelt at Jerusalem; but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Benjamin in Jerusalem to this day
The family of Joseph went up against Bethel and the LORD was with them.
Manasseh didn't drive out the those dwelling in many towns

When Israel was strong they taxed those they conquered and did not utterly drive them out
Ephraim didn't drive them out, Zebulun didn't drive them out, Asher didn't, Naphtali didn't

The Amorites forced the family of Dan into the mountain: they wouldn't allow them to come down to the valley
Judges 1

He will never break His covenant with us

The angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim and said, I brought you out of Egypt to the land I promised and said, I will never break My covenant with you
Make no treaty with the inhabitants of this land; throw down their altars

But you have not obeyed my voice: why have you done this?
So I will not drive them out from before you

But they will be as thorns in your sides, and their gods will trap you
Judges 2

(We often get trapped in false things and the Lord has made a way for us to escape)

The Lord God, the Holy One says, In returning and rest you will be delivered; in quietness and in confidence will be your strength
Isaiah 30:15
When the angel of the LORD said these words to all the children of Israel, the people lifted up their voice, and wept
They called the name of that place Bochim (weeping): and they sacrificed there to the LORD (turned back to worship Him)
Joshua died, being 110 years old; and they buried him in the border of his inheritance

Another generation rose after them that didn't know the LORD, or the works He had done for Israel
And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served a statue
They forsook the LORD God who brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods and provoked the LORD to anger

Then He delivered them to plunderers and He sold them into the hands of their enemies so that they could not prevail over their enemies in battle
Wherever they went the LORD was against them and they were exceedingly distressed
However, the LORD raised up judges, who delivered them out of the hand of those that plundered them
But they would not listen to their judges. They went whoring after other gods, and bowed to them

They turned quickly out of the path their fathers walked, who obeyed the commandments of the LORD; they did not obey the Lord.
When the LORD raised up judges, then the LORD was with the judge, and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of that judge

The LORD turned back to the people because of their groanings over those that squeezed them and oppressed them
When the judge was dead they corrupted themselves more in following other gods

They didn't stop their own doings or turn from their stubborn way

The Lord said, Because this people have transgressed My covenant and have not listened My voice
I also will no longer drive out any of the nations that Joshua left when he died
But through them I will test Israel, to see if they will keep the way of the LORD

We do not have a High Priest who cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tested like we are, yet without sin

Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need
Hebrews 4:15

We are kept by the power of God
through faith unto salvation
1 Peter 1:5

He destroys evil so life and eternal life can continue

The Lord left nations to teach them war, because they knew nothing of it
And to know whether they would listen to the commandments of the LORD
Soon Israel intermarried with other nations (God's enemies) and served their gods
They did evil in the sight of the LORD, and forgot the LORD their God (who IS life)

So the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he sold into the hand of the king of Mesopotamia for 8 years

(He is angry at the suffering, sorrow, ruin, pain, and death caused by evil)
When the children of Israel cried to the LORD, He raised up a deliverer - Othniel, Caleb's younger brother
The Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he judged Israel, and went out to war

and the LORD delivered the king of Mesopotamia into his hand
And the land had rest 40 years

Then Othniel the son of Kenaz died
And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD

The LORD strengthened the king of Moab against Israel because they had done evil in the sight of the LORD
They served the king of Moab 18 years
But when the children of Israel cried to the LORD, He raised up Ehud (I will give thanks), a left-handed man

and by him the children of Israel sent a gift unto Eglon the king of Moab
Ehud made a dagger that had two edges, 18 inches; and he strapped it under his robe on his right thigh
He brought the gift to Eglon, a very fat man
After he offered the gift, he told the king, I have a secret word for you

The king sent everyone out. He was sitting in the summer chamber alone

Ehud said, I have a message from God. The king rose from his seat and Ehud stabbed him, the sword being swallowed by the fat

He bolted the door and left through the porch to escape
Then Ehud blew a trumpet on the mountain, calling the nation to arms, saying,

Follow me: for the LORD has delivered your enemies into your hand

And they went down after him, and took the fords of Jordan toward Moab, and allowed no man to cross over
They killed 10,000 mighty warriors, not a man escaped

And the land had rest 80 years

After him, Shamgar led Israel. He killed 600 Philistines with an oxgoad and delivered Israel
Judges 3

(Our daily enemies are often unseen)

We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places
Ephesians 6:12

The battle is the Lord's
1 Samuel 17:47
Stand still and see the deliverance of the Lord
Isaiah 30:15

He is exalted as Head above all

Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD when Ehud was dead
And the LORD sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan. The captain of his army was Sisera who had 900 iron chariots

For 20 years he violently ruled the children of Israel and they cried out to the LORD
Deborah, a prophetess (speaks the words of God), judged Israel at that time
And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in mount Ephraim

And the children of Israel came up to her for judgment
She called Barak and said, The LORD God has commanded, Go and draw toward mount Tabor, and take with you 10,000 men of the children of Naphtali and of the children of Zebulun
And I will draw Sisera to you with his chariots and his vast army to the river Kishon

And I will deliver him into your hand
Barak said, If you go with me, then I will go: but if you will not go with me, then I will not go
And she said, I will surely go with you: but the journey that you take will not be for your honor

for the LORD will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman

Sisera gathered together all his chariots to the river of Kishon
And Deborah said to Barak, Up; for this is the day the LORD has delivered Sisera into your hand

Has not the LORD gone out before you?
Judges 4

The Lord your God goes before you, He will fight for you
Deuteronomy 1:30

Be strong and courageous, fear not. Don't be afraid of them
for the Lord your God goes with you

He will not fail you, or forsake you
Deuteronomy 31:6

So Barak went down and 10,000 men after him
And the LORD defeated Sisera, and all his chariots, and all his army, with the edge of the sword before Barak

Sisera jumped off his chariot, and ran away on foot
Barak pursued them and all the army of Sisera fell by the sword; there was not a man left

(Much evil was stopped)
Sisera ran to the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite: for there was peace between them

Peace I leave with you, My peace I give you: not as the world gives, I give to you

Don't let your heart be troubled, or afraid
John 14:27
Jael went out to meet Sisera and said, in here, my lord.
She covered him with a rug
He said, Please give me a little water. I'm thirsty. And she opened a bottle of milk, and gave him a drink, and covered him
He said, Stand in the tent door and tell anyone who asks, No one is here.

Then Jael took a tent stake and hammer and went softly to him, and struck the nail through his temples into the ground, for he was weary and deeply asleep. So he died.
As Barak pursued Sisera, Jael came out to meet him and said, Come, I will show you the man you seek

And when he came into her tent, behold, Sisera lay dead with the nail in his temples
God subdued the king of Canaan that day before the children of Israel

No man will able to stand before you
Joshua 23:9

Yours, O Lord is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty

For all that is in the heaven and in the earth is Yours

Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and You are exalted as head above all
I Chronicles 29:11

With Him on His throne

After the Lord gave them the victory, Deborah and Barak sang, Praise the LORD for leading Israel
Hear, O kings; listen, O princes; I, will sing to the LORD:
LORD, when You went out of Seir, when You marched out of the field of Edom, the earth trembled, and the heavens dropped, the clouds also dropped water
The mountains melted before the LORD

The land was deserted, the people hiding, until I, Deborah, a mother in Israel, stood up

They chose new gods; then was war in the gates

There wasn't a shield or spear among 40,000 in Israel

In places of drawing water they tell again the righteous acts of the LORD toward the His people

The LORD made me rule over the mighty

Why do you stay among the sheepfolds, to hear the bleatings of the flocks? In the families of Reuben there were great searchings of heart
Gilead stayed beyond Jordan
Dan remained in ships
Asher stayed on the seashore, and in his landing places
Zebulun and Naphtali were a people that risked their lives to the death in the high places of the field
Kings came and fought
And from heaven the stars in their courses fought against Sisera

The angel of the LORD cursed those that didn't come to help the LORD, to help the LORD against the mighty

Blessed above women is Jael, the wife of Heber, the Kenite, blessed above women
Sisera asked water, and she gave him milk; she brought curds in a lordly dish
She put her hand to the nail, and her right hand to the workmen's hammer

She struck Sisera, she struck off his head, when she had pierced and struck through his temples

So let all Your enemies perish, O LORD

But let them that love Him be as the sun when He goes forth in His strength

And the land had rest 40 years
Judges 5

Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him

For evildoers will soon be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they will inherit the earth
Psalm 37:7, 9

He that overcomes will sit with Me on My throne
Revelation 3:21

His tender mercies are over all His works

The children of Israel did evil in the eyes of the LORD: and the LORD gave them into the hand of Midian (strife) for 7 years
The hand of Midian was strong against Israel. They stole their crops and animals and destroyed their land

They camped on their land as numerous as locusts, too many to count

So Israel made dens in the mountains, and caves, and strong holds
And Israel was brought very low and they cried to the LORD
The LORD sent a prophet to tell them, I brought you up from Egypt, out of the house of slaves
And I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all that oppressed you. I drove them out from before you, and gave you their land
And I said to you, I am the LORD your God

do not fear the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell

but you have not listened to Me
The Angel of the LORD came and sat under an oak that was in Ophrah, that belonged to Joash

and Gideon, his son, was beating out wheat in the winepress to hide it from the Midianites
The angel of the LORD appeared to him and said, The LORD is with you mighty warrior
Gideon said, if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us?

Where are all His miracles that our fathers told us about?
And the LORD turned to him, and said, Go in this your strength, and you will save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent you?
And he said to him, Oh my Lord, how could I save Israel? My family is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the smallest in my father's house
And the LORD said to him, I will be with you, and you will strike the Midianites as one man

[All power in heaven and earth is given to me, go therefore]
....Matthew 28
And he said to him, If now I have found grace in Your eyes, then show me a sign that You talk with me
Please do not leave, until I come to you, and bring my gift
And he said, I will wait until you return
And Gideon went in, and prepare a kid, and unleavened cakes of an ephah of flour

He put the flesh in a basket and the broth in a pot, and brought it to Him under the oak
The angel of the Lord said, Take the flesh and the unleavened cakes, and lay them on this rock, and pour out the broth

And he did
Then the angel of the LORD reached out the end of the staff that was in His hand and touched the flesh and the unleavened cakes

and fire came up out of the rock and consumed the flesh and the unleavened cakes

Then the angel of the LORD departed out of his sight
When Gideon perceived that He was The angel of the LORD, Gideon said, O Lord GOD!

I have seen, The angel of the LORD face to face
And the LORD said to him, Peace be to you; fear not: you will not die
Then Gideon built an altar there to the LORD and called it Jehovah shalom (the Lord is peace): to this day it is still in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.
That same night the LORD said, Take your father's young bull, the 2nd bull that is 7 years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that your father has, and cut down the grove by it
Build an altar to the LORD on the top of this rock

and take the 2nd bull, and offer a burnt sacrifice with the wood of the grove you cut down
Then Gideon took 10 men of his servants and did as the LORD said

Because he feared his father's household, and the men of the city, he could not do it by day, so he did it at night
And when the men of the city rose early in the morning, behold, the altar of Baal was smashed, and the grove beside it was cut down, and the 2nd bull was offered on the altar that was built
They said to one another, Who has done this? They were told Gideon, the son of Joash
Then the men of the city said to Joash, Bring out your son to die because he smashed the altar of Baal, and cut down the grove
And Joash said to all that stood against him, Will you plead for Baal? will you save him?

He that will plead for him, let him be put to death while it is still morning

If he is a god, let him plead for himself because someone has cast down his altar
Then all the Midianites and the Amalekites and the children of the east gathered together, crossed over, and camped in the valley of Jezreel
But the Spirit of the LORD came on Gideon, and he blew a trumpet and the warriors gathered to him
Gideon said to God, If You will save Israel by my hand,
Behold, I will put a fleece of wool in the floor; and if the dew is on the fleece only, and it is dry on all the ground, then I know that You will save Israel by my hand
When he rose early the next day, and squeezed the fleece together, he wrung out a bowl full of water
Gideon said to God, Let not Your anger be hot against me, and I will speak but this once

Let me test, please, once more with the fleece; let it now be dry on the fleece, and dew on the ground all around
And God did so that night: for it was dry on the fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground
Judges 6

[The Lord is good to all

His tender mercies are over all His works]
Psalm 145:9

The Sword of the Lord

Then Gideon and all the people with him got up early and camped beside the well of Harod

The LORD said, Too many are with you. They will think they won this victory
Send home everyone who is scared. 22,000 left and 10,000 stayed. That was still too many so Gideon kept sending men home until the Lord had showed him only 300 to keep
The Lord said, By these 300 men I will deliver the Midianites into your hand

[By grace you are saved through faith and not of yourselves, it is the gift of God - not of works so no one can boast]
Ephesians 2:8, 9
So the people took food and their trumpets: and Gideon sent all the rest of the army of home
Then the LORD said, If you are afraid, sneak down with Phurah your servant and listen to what they say
The Midianites lay along in the valley like grasshoppers for multitude; and their camels were as many the sand by the sea
They heard a man say, Behold, I dreamed a dream where a cake of barley bread tumbled into the camp of Midian, and struck a tent, overturning it

His friend said, This is the sword of Gideon. God has delivered Midian and all its army into his hand
When Gideon heard this, he worshipped, and returned to the army, dividing the 300 men into 3 companies

He put a trumpet in every man's hand, with empty pitchers, and lamps inside the pitchers
He told them, Watch me and do what I do

When I blow the trumpet, everyone blow their trumpets on each side of the camp and shout, The sword of the Lord and of Gideon
When they did, all the Midianite army ran away yelling, and killed each other in panic
More men of Israel gathered themselves together out of Naphtali, and out of Asher, and out of all Manasseh, and chased after the Midianites
Judges 7

Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty

for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and You are exalted as head above all
1 Chronicles 29:11

Dominion from sea to sea

Gideon led Israel to conquer more enemies. Some of the other families in Israel helped him and some didn't

He punished some who didn't help the Lord's people defeat His enemies

Then men of Israel said to Gideon, You rule over us, you, your son, and your son's sons also

for you have delivered us from the hand of Midian

Gideon said, We will not rule over you, The Lord will rule over you
Judges 8

For the kingdom is the Lord's

and He is the governor among the nations.
Psalm 22:28

He will have dominion from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth
Psalm 72:8

Then the country was in quietness 40 years in the days of Gideon

[In returning and rest you will be delivered

In quietness and confidence will be your strength]
Isaiah 30:15

Gideon had 70 sons for he had many wives

His concubine that was in Shechem, she also bare him a son, whose name he called Abimelech (my father is king)

Gideon died in a good old age

As soon as Gideon was dead, the children of Israel turned away from the Lord

and didn't remember the LORD their God

Who had delivered them out of the hands of all their enemies on every side
Judges 8

He gives each one according to his ways

Gideon's half brother, Abimelech, went to Shechem and plotted to take over the kingdom, where Gideon had refused saying, 'No, God will rule over you'

Abimelech killed Gideon's 70 sons on one stone. Only Jotham, the youngest, survived, for he was hiding

Jotham went to the top of Mount Gerizim and shouted to the people, Listen to me and God will listen to you

Once the trees went out to set a king over them. They asked the olive tree and the olive tree said, Should I cease from my oil which honors God and man to hold sway over the trees?

Then the trees said to the fig tree, Come and reign over us. The fig tree answered, Should I cease from my sweetness and good fruit to hold sway over the trees?

They asked the vine tree to rule, and the vine tree answered, Should I cease from my wine which rejoices God and men, to hold sway over the trees?

Then they said to the bramble (thorn bush), come and reign over us. The bramble said, If you would have me reign, come and seek refuge in my shade, If not, fire will come out from the bramble and consume the cedars of Lebanon

(He will rule by violence - where God rules by love)

Jotham continued, Have you acted in truth and integrity?

Did you do right to Gideon and his family - who fought for you and risked his life to save you from Midian's army...

No! You killed all his sons and set the son of a slave girl over you

May fire come out from this bramble and consume you who did this

Them Jotham ran away from his half brother, who ruled for 3 years

Then God sent an evil spirit between the king and the leaders of Shechem so the violence done against Gideon's 70 sons might come back on them
Judges 9

Ah Lord GOD! Behold, You have made the heaven and the earth by Your great power and stretched out arm, and nothing is too hard for You

You show lovingkindness to thousands, and repay iniquity

The Great, the Mighty God, the LORD of hosts, is His name

Great in counsel, and mighty in work

Your eyes are open on all the ways of the sons of men

to give every one according to his ways

according to the fruit of his doings
Jeremiah 32:17-19

He carries us all the days

After Abimelech, Tola judged Israel 23 years
After him Jair judged Israel 22 years

He had 30 sons who rode on 30 ass colts and had 30 cities
After him the sons of Israel did evil again and bowed down to false gods of six of the nations around them

They left the Lord God
And His anger burned against them

And He sold them into captivity to the Philistines and Ammonites
who shattered and crushed Israel for 18 years

When enemies crossed the Jordan to fight against them, they cried out to the Lord, saying, We have sinned and forsaken You
The Lord said, Didn’t I save you out of slavery in Egypt and from all that oppressed you since then?

Go, cry out to your other gods, let them save you
The people of Israel repeated, We have sinned. Do to us whatever is good to You but deliver us today

They removed the false gods from among them and served the Lord
And the Lord was grieved in His soul at their misery
Judges 10

In all their affliction He was afflicted

and the angel of His Presence saved them

In His love and His compassion He redeemed them

And He bare them, and carried them all the days of old
Isaiah 63:9
Israel assembled to fight at Mizpeh

They said, Whoever goes first to fight, he will be head over us
Judges 10

And Jesus is the Head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything He might have the supremacy
Colossians 1:18

God raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places
Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come
And has put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be the Head over all things to the church
Which is His body, the fulness of Him that fills all in all
Ephesians 1:20-23

Overcome by trusting God and inherit all

Judges 11
Jephthah was a valiant warrior, the son of a harlot

When his brothers from this father’s wife grew up, they threw him out of the family, saying, You will not inherit with us

[The Lord says to us all, The one that overcomes will inherit all things and I will be a Father to him/her and he/she my son/daughter]
Revelation 21:7

Jephthah left and lived in Tob and vain (empty) men gathered around him
But when the Ammonites attacked Israel, the commanders called Jephthah from Tob to be their leader

He said, You hated me and threw me out, now you’re in trouble and come to me?

If you are taking me back, and the Lord gives us victory, then I will be your head?

The commanders said, The Lord is witness between us. We will do according to your word
Jephthah sent a message to Ammon saying, You come to fight against us in our land?

The Ammonites said, It’s our land

Jephthah told them accurately the history of how the Lord brought them out of Egypt and gave them victory over all the kings on both sides of the Jordan

(The Lord expelled all that lived there because of their evil and idolatry and gave the land to Israel)

'It’s been 300 years, and now you think to take it for yourselves?'
Jephthah vowed to the Lord, If you give us the victory, Whatever comes out of my house first will belong to the Lord

The Lord gave Israel the victory and they conquered 20 cities with a very great destruction

When Jephthah returned home, his only child, his daughter came out to meet him

Jephthah told her about the vow and said, You have brought me very low. (She didn’t make the vow, he did)
She told Jephthah, I will do as you have vowed because the Lord has avenged Israel of her enemies

Let me first go on the hills and mourn my virginity with my friends for 2 months

Then she did as her father vowed and never married or knew a man

[Your Maker is your husband

The Lord of hosts is His name

And your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel

The God of the whole earth]
Isaiah 54:5

He has made us kings and priests to God forever and ever

The warriors of Ephraim assembled and went north, and said to Jephthah, Why didn’t you call us to fight with you against Ammonites

We’re going to burn your house over you
Jephthah said to them, I and my people were having great strife with the sons of Ammon

I called you, you didn’t save me, so we went

And the Lord defeated them for us

Why have you come to fight against me?

Jephthah assembled all the men of Gilead and fought with Ephraim because they said, You Gileadites are fugitives

Jephthah captured the fords of Jordan and when the Ephraimites who escaped came to cross the river said, Let me pass by, the men of Gilead said to him, Are you an Ephraimite? If he said, No, they said, Say Shibboleth: and if he said Sibboleth, for he couldn’t pronounce it right,

Then they took him and killed him at the fords of Jordan

and 42,000 fell of the Ephraimites at that time

(This was insurrection, they were fighting against the leader they had vowed before God would rule over them if he delivered them from the Ammonites)
Jephthah judged Israel 6 years. Then Jephthah died and was buried in of the cities (excitement, anguish) of Gilead
And after him Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel

And he had 30 sons, and 30 daughters, whom he sent abroad, and took in 30 daughters from abroad for his sons

(Though they were forbidden to mingle with the nations because their false gods would lead them into evil)

And he judged Israel 7 years. Then Ibzan died and was buried at Bethlehem
And after him Elon, a Zebulonite, judged Israel; and he judged Israel 10 years
And Elon the Zebulonite died, and was buried in Aijalon in the country of Zebulun
And after him Abdon the son of Hillel (praising), a Pirathonite (princely), judged Israel

And he had 40 sons and 30 nephews that rode on 70 ass colts: and he judged Israel 8 years
And Abdon died and was buried in the land of Ephraim, in the mount of the Amalekites (God's bitter enemies)
Judges 12

[Behold, a king will reign in righteousness, and princes will rule in judgment]
Isaiah 32:1

[Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the firstborn of the dead (first one resurrected)

and the prince of the kings of the earth

To Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood
And has made us kings and priests to God, His Father

To Him be glory and dominion for
ever and ever
Amen
Revelation 1:5, 6

He will teach you all things

Israel did evil again, and the Lord delivered them into the hands of the Philistines for 40 years

Manoah was of the family of Dan

His wife was barren

The Angel of the Lord appeared to the woman and said, You are barren, but you will conceive and bare a son

You are to drink no wine or strong drink or eat anything unclean for the boy will be a Nazarite (dedicated) to God from the womb

And he will begin to deliver Israel from the Philistines
Judges 13
[Will the Lord not bring about your complete deliverance and every desire ordered and secure in every detail?]
2 Samuel 23:5

[Eye has not seen or ear heard or has entered into the heart of man the things that God has prepared for those who wait for Him]
Isaiah 64:4
The woman told her husband, A man of God came to me, He appeared like an angel, very awesome

She told all He said, Then Manoah prayed, Let the man come again to us to tell us what to do

So, the Lord came again while she was sitting alone in the field, and she ran and got her husband

The Angel of the Lord repeated all He had said to Manoah, and Manoah said, What is your name? Stay and let us prepare food
The angel said, Why do you ask My name? It is secret (wonderful, incomprehensible, extraordinary)

They prepared and set out the food for Him. He didn't eat the food but He did wonders as they gazed at Him and then He ascended in the flame to heaven
They fell on their faces and Manoah said, We will surely die, for we have seen God

His wife said to him, If the LORD were pleased to kill us, He would not have received our offering or showed us and told these things
The woman bare a son, and called his name Samson: and the boy grew, and the LORD blessed him

And the Spirit of the LORD began to move him at times in the camp of Dan

[And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Comforter, that He will stay with you forever.

But the Comforter

Who is the Holy
Spirit

Whom the Father will send in My name

He will teach you all things

And bring all things to your remembrance, whatever I have said to you
John 14:16, 26

It was from the Lord

Samson went to Timnath and saw a daughter of the Philistines and went home and said to his father and mother, Get her as my wife

They said, Isn’t there a woman among our people that you have to go the uncircumcised Philistines?

Samson said to his father, Get her for me for she is pleasing in my eyes

His father and mother didn’t know that it was from the Lord

He sought an occasion against the Philistines for they ruled over Israel at that time
Judges 14

(The Lord is beginning to deliver the nation from the tyranny of the Philistines)

[We wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities and power and rulers of the darkness of this world and spiritual wickedness in the heavens]
Ephesians 6:12
Samson and his father and mother went down to Timnath then

In the vineyards of Timnath a young lion roared at Samson and the Spirit of the Lord came on Samson mightily and he ripped the lion apart easily with his bare hands

He didn’t tell his father and mother what he had done
He talked with the woman and she was pleasing in his eyes

After a time he returned to take her and saw a swarm of bees and honey in the carcass of the lion

He scraped some out with his hands and walked on eating and took it home to his father and mother and they ate
At the 7-day wedding feast 30 companions were brought to Samson

He said to them, Please let me tell you a riddle. If you can solve it in the 7 days, I will give each of you a linen garment and a change of clothing

If you can’t solve it, you will give me 30 linen garments and 30 changes of clothing

They said, Tell us your riddle, we will hear it
He said, Out of the eater came forth meat, out of the strong something sweet

After 3 days they couldn’t solve it, and said to Samson’s wife. Entice your husband for the answer or we will burn you and your father’s house over you

So, she wept before Samson day after day saying, You hate me, you don’t love me
On the 7th day, because she pressed so hard, he told her
Before the sun went down that day the men said, What is sweeter than honey? What is stronger than a lion? Samson said, If you hadn’t plowed with my heifer you wouldn't have found out my riddle
The Spirit of the Lord came on Samson and he went down to Askelon and struck down 30 men and took their plunder and gave the garments to them that told the riddle

Samson’s anger burned and he went home to his father’s house

His wife was given to his best man

[Your Maker is your husband
The LORD of hosts is His name
Your Redeemer

The Holy One of Israel

The God of the whole earth
Isaiah 54:5

I love you with an everlasting love says the Lord]
Jeremiah 31:3

He gives great deliverances

A while after, during the wheat harvest, Samson visited his wife with a kid (young goat); and he said, I will go into my wife in the inner room. But her father would not allow him in
Her father said, Truly I thought you utterly hated her; so I gave her to your companion: isn’t her younger sister better than she? Please take her instead
Then Samson said about them, Now I will be more blameless than the Philistines, though I will do them evil
And Samson caught 300 foxes, and took torches, and tied a torch between two tails
When he had set the torches on fire, he let them go into the standing grain of the Philistines, and burnt up their fields, vineyards and olives
The Philistines said, Who did this? And they said, Samson, the son in law of the Timnite, because he gave his wife to his companion. So the Philistines came and burnt her and her father with fire

Samson said to them, You have done this and I will be avenged, and after that I will stop
And he struck them hip and thigh with a great slaughter: and he went down and dwelt in the top of the rock Etam
Then the Philistines went up, and camped in Judah
And the men of Judah said, Why have you come up against us?

And they said, We have come to bind Samson, to do to him as he did to us
Then 3,000 men of Judah went to the top of the rock Etam and said to Samson, Don’t you know that the Philistines rule over us? What have you done to us? And he said, I did to them what they did to me
Judges 15

[I will punish you according to the fruit of your doings,
Jeremiah 21:14

I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the inner man, to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings
Jeremiah 17:10

Lord, you are great in counsel, and mighty in work: for Your eyes are open on all the ways of the sons of men: to give every one according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings]
Jeremiah 32:19
(All that was happening to the Philistines, they had been doing to Israel for 40 years)

And they said to him, We have come to bind you, to deliver you into the hand of the Philistines

And Samson said to them, Swear to me, that you won’t fall on me yourselves
And they said to him, No, we will tie you tight, and give you to them but we will not kill you

And they bound him with 2 new ropes and brought him up from the rock
When he came to Lehi the Philistines shouted against him

and the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and the ropes on his arms melted like flax burnt with fire, and his hands were released
He found a new jawbone of an ass and took it, and killed 1,000 men with it
And Samson said, With the jawbone of an ass, heaps on heaps, with the jaw of an ass have I killed 1,000 men
And when he had finished speaking, he threw the jawbone out of his hand, and called that place Ramathlehi (height of a jawbone).
He was parched with thirst, and called on the LORD and said, You have given this great deliverance to Your servant: and now will I die of thirst, and fall into the hand of the uncircumcised?

[God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance
Genesis 45:7

...and killed the Philistines; and the Lord saved them by a great deliverance
1 Chronicles 11:14

Great deliverance He gives to His king; and shows faithful love to His beloveds forevermore]
Psalm 18:50
But God split a hollow place that was in Lehi and water came out; and when he had drunk, his spirit came again, and he revived

So he called the name there Enhakkore (spring of One calling), which is in Lehi to this day
And he judged Israel in the days of the Philistines 20 years

Just and right is He

Then Samson went to Gaza, and saw a harlot, and went in unto her
The Gazites were told, Samson is here. They surrounded him and waited for him all night in the gate of the city saying, In the morning we will kill him
Samson lay and got up at midnight, and took the doors of the gate of the city, and the two posts, bar and all, and put them on his shoulders, and carried them to the top of a hill that is before Hebron
And after that, he loved a woman in the valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah (feeble)
And the lords of the Philistines came to her saying, Entice him, and see where his great strength lies, and how we can prevail against him, to tie bind him and afflict him: and we will give you, every one of us, 1,100 pieces of silver
(she wouldn't have to work as a harlot anymore)
And Delilah said to Samson, Please tell me why you have such great strength, how can you be tied?
And Samson said, If they tie me with 7 green bowstrings that were never dried, then I will be weak, and as any other man
Then the lords of the Philistines brought her 7 green bowstrings that had not been dried, and she tied him with them
Now men were waiting with her in the chamber

And she said to him, The Philistines are upon you, Samson. And he snapped the bowstrings, as a strand of flax is snapped when it touches the fire

So, his strength was not known
And Delilah said to Samson, You have trifled with me, and told me lies: now tell me, please, how you can be tied
And he said, If they tie me tight with new ropes that were never used
then I will be weak, and as any other man
So Delilah took new ropes, and tied him with them, and said to him, The Philistines are upon you, Samson

And ambushers were waiting in the chamber. And he tore the ropes from his arms like a thread
And Delilah said to Samson, Until now you have trifled with me, and told me lies: tell me how you can be tied

And he said to her, If you weave the 7 locks of my head with the web
And she fastened it with the pin, and said, The Philistines are upon you, Samson

And he woke out of his sleep, and pulled the pin out with the beam, and the web
And she said to him, How can you say, I love you, when your heart is not with me? You have mocked me these 3 times, and not told me where your great strength lies
When she pressed him daily with her words, and urged him, so that his soul was grieved to death
he told her all his heart, and said to her, No razor has been on my head; for I have been a Nazarite (dedicated to God) from my mother's womb

if I am shaved, then my strength will go from me, and I will become weak, and be like any other man
When Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called for the lords of the Philistines saying, Come up this once, for he has showed me all his heart

Then the lords of the Philistines came up to her and brought money in their hand
She made him sleep on her knees; and she called for a man to shave off the 7 locks of his head; and she began to afflict him, and his strength left him
And she said, The Philistines are upon you, Samson. And he woke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times and shake myself

He didn’t know that the LORD had departed from him

[The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped

therefore my heart greatly rejoices; and with my song will I praise him]
Psalm 28:7
The Philistines seized him, and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with chains of brass; and he was grinding in the prison house
Now the hair of his head began to grow again after he was shaved
Then the lords of the Philistines gathered to offer a great sacrifice to their god, and to rejoice: for they said, Our god has delivered Samson our enemy into our hand
And when the people saw him, they praised their god: for they said, Our god has delivered our enemy into our hands, and the destroyer of our country, who killed many of us

[God is sovereign over all life. He created it, maintains it, and says who lives and who dies, and when

He gave that power to Jesus after the resurrection

I am He that lives, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, and have the keys of hell and of death]
Revelation 1:18
And when their hearts were merry they said, Call for Samson, that we may laugh at him. And they called Samson out of the prison house; and made fun of him: and they set him between the pillars
And Samson said to the boy that led him by the hand, Allow me to feel the pillars the house stands on, that I may lean on them
Now the house was full of men and women; and all the lords of the Philistines were there; and there about 3,000 men and women on the roof that watched while Samson was laughed at
And Samson called to the LORD, and said, O Lord GOD, Remember me, I pray, and strengthen me only this once, O God, that I may be avenged on the Philistines for my two eyes
And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars that held up the house, the one with his right hand, and the other with his left
And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell on the lords, and on all the people that were there

So he killed more at his death than those he killed in his life

(These were killers, their whole culture saturated with demons and their vile activities, and leading their children and others to eternal death in the lake of fire)
Then his brothers and all the house of his father came down and took him, and brought him up and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the burying place of Manoah his father. And he judged Israel 20 years
Judges 16

I, the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings
Jeremiah 17:10

Great in counsel, and mighty in work: your eyes are open on all the ways of the sons of men: to give every one according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings:
Jeremiah 32:19

But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, long suffering, and abundant in mercy and truth
Psalm 86:15

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering toward us, not willing that any perish, but that all turn back to Him
2 Peter 3:9

He is the Rock, His work is perfect: for all His ways are justice: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is He
Deuteronomy 32:4

He makes us prosper in everything

Micah was a man of the hill country of Ephraim who said to his mother, The 1,100 shekels of silver taken from you, I have it

He gave it back to her and she blessed him and said, The Lord bless you son. I had dedicated it to the Lord to make a carved image

[Since we are the offspring of God, we shouldn't think that the Godhead is like gold, or silver, or stone, carved by man's imagination
And the times of this ignorance God overlooked; but now commands all people everywhere to turn back to Him
Because He has appointed a day when He will judge the world in righteousness by that man He ordained

He has given assurance of this to all, by raising Him from the dead
Acts 17:29-31

Beware! Don't forget the covenant of the Lord your God, that He made with you, and make yourself a carved image, or the likeness of anything, for the Lord your God (and Maker) has forbidden it for your good]
Deuteronomy 4:23

Micah had a house for their images and made priestly robes and consecrated his son to be their priest
In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did what was right in his own eyes

[The eyes of the Lord are in every place beholding the evil and the good]
Proverbs 15:3

A young man, a Levite from Bethlehem in Judah went traveling to find a place to stay. In the hill country of Ephraim he came to the house of Micah who said to him, Where are you from? He said, I am a Levite from Bethlehem of Judah, looking for a place to settle down
Micah said, Dwell with me, and be a father to me, and a priest, and I will give you 10 shekels of silver a year, a suit of clothing, and your food. So the Levite stayed

[He that overcomes (by faith) will inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he will be my son]
Revelation 21:7
Micah consecrated him and he became like one of his sons and was the priest in his house
Micah said, Now I know that the LORD will do me good, since I have a Levite as my priest

(Micah was thinking this levite would bring blessing on him, but God says:

[Blessed is the man that doesn't walk in the counsel of the ungodly, or stand in the way of sinners, or sit in the seat of the scornful
But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law he meditates day and night
He will be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth fruit in season

His leaf will not wither and whatever he does will prosper]
Psalm 1:1-3

Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast saying the same as Him
For we have a high priest who understands our weaknesses; for He was tested in all points like we are, yet without sin
So let us come boldly to the throne of grace, to get mercy, and find grace to help in time of need
Hebrews 4:14-17

Kiss the Eternal King

In the days when there was no king in Israel the Danites were seeking an inheritance (property) to dwell in; they sent 5 men to search for a place, and came to the hill country of Ephraim to the house of Micah and stayed there
They recognized the voice of the Levite and asked him, Why are you here? He told them, Micah hired me as his priest
They said, Please ask God if we're going the right way. He told them, Go in peace, the way you are going is before the Lord
The 5 men left and came to Laish and found it a secure, peaceful place with no tyranny and no contact with the outside world. They returned and told their brothers, we found a very good place, Hurry, lets’ take it.
When they returned with 600 armed men, they came to the house of Micah and stood at the entrance to the gate and said, Do you know that this man has a priestly robe and idols and a molten images?
They went into his house and took these things and said to the priest, Be quiet, put your hand over your mouth. Isn’t it better to be priest for a whole tribe in Israel than just one man?
They plundered Micah and departed putting the little ones and livestock and valuables in front of them

Micah gathered his neighbors, and pursued and overtook them
He told the Danites, You have taken everything and left me nothing

The Danites said, Don’t say a word or you will lose your life and the lives of all your household. So Micah turned and left because they were too strong for him
The Danites struck the city of Laish with the sword and burned it with fire. They named it after their ancestor Dan, who was born to Israel. They set up the idols and they were there all the time that the house of God was in Shiloh
[But the LORD is the true God, He is the living God, and the eternal king: at His wrath the earth will tremble, and the nations will not be able to abide His anger
Jeremiah 10:10
Kiss the Son, so He not be angry, and you perish from the way, when His wrath burns just a little

Blessed are all that put their trust in Him
Psalm 2:12

He supplies ALL our needs according to His riches in glory

In the days when there was no king in Israel, a certain Levite was staying on the side of the hill country of Ephraim, who took himself a wife (Ishah ‘bone of his bone, flesh of his flesh’), a concubine out of Bethlehem of Judah

She committed adultery against him and left him and went her father's house to Bethlehem of Judah and was there 4 months. Then her husband got up and went after her, with his young servant and 2 asses, to speak to her heart, to bring her back
When the father of the young woman saw him, he rejoiced to meet him. And his father-in-law detained him; and he stayed with him 3 days: so they ate and drank. Each day the father-in-law persuaded him to stay another day until the 5th day. He insisted on leaving, though it was late afternoon
As evening neared, his servant said, let’s turn in to this city of the Jebusites and stay
Judges 19

[Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever]
Psalm 23:6

The Levite said, We won’t turn into a foreign city, not of the children of Israel; we’ll cross over to Gibeah of Benjamin.
An old man came from his work in the field at evening, who was also from the hill country of Ephraim; though he stayed in Gibeah: he looked up and saw a traveler in city square: and the old man said, Where are you going? and where are you coming from? The Levite told him

The old man said, Peace to you; let all your needs be on me; only don’t stay in the street. So he brought him into his house and gave feed to the asses: and they washed their feet and ate and drank

[Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. Don't let your heart be troubled or afraid]
John 14:27

My God will supply ALL your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus
Galatians 4:19
Now as they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, certain sons of Belial (evil), circled the house pounding on the door, and spoke to the old man, saying, Bring out the man that came to your house, that we may know him
The old man went out to them and said, No, my brothers, please don’t do this evil; since this man has come into my house, don’t do this grave sin

[You shall not lie with man, as with woman: it is abomination] (What God created is what fits and satisfies. This practice comes from God's enemies - evil ones who only hate and destroy)
Leviticus 18:20

Look, my daughter is a virgin, and his concubine; I will bring them out. Do with them what seems good to you: but don’t do this vile thing to this man
The men would not listen to him so the Levite took his concubine, and brought her out to them; and they abused her all night: when the day began to rise, they let her go. The woman came at dawn and fell at the door of the man's house where her lord was, until it was light
Her lord rose up in the morning, and opened the doors of the house to leave, and behold, the woman (ishah), his concubine was fallen at the door of the house, and her hands were on the threshold. He said to her, Up, and let’s go. But no one answered. Then the man put her on an ass, and went to his place
When he came into his house, he took a knife, cut her in pieces at her bones, 12 pieces, and sent her to all the borders of Israel (12 tribes). And all that saw it said, Nothing like this has ever been seen from the day the children of Israel came out of Egypt: consider it, take counsel, and speak your minds

[Trust in the Lord with all your heart and don't lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths
Proverbs 3:5, 6

The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the thoughts of His heart to all generations]
Psalm 33:11

The Eternal King fights against evil so life can continue

Judges 20
All the sons of Israel assembled as one man, to the LORD in Mizpeh. And the leaders of the tribes presented themselves in the assembly of the people of God, 480,000 infantry, swordsmen
They discussed the matter and united as one man, making provision and plans to attack Benjamin. They asked the Lord, Who is to go up first against them? He said, Judah
[The Lord is a man of war: the Lord is His name
Exodus 15 :3
(He has been fighting against evil and all the pain, ruin, and suffering it causes since Creation)
They chose new gods (that bring only suffering and death); then war was in the gates
Judges 5:8
But the Lord is the true God, He is the living God, and the Eternal King: at His wrath the earth will tremble, and the nations will not be able to abide His indignation]
Jeremiah 10:10
So, the sons of Israel rose in the morning and camped against Benjamin at Gibeah. They said to the leaders at Gibeah, Now give us the men, the sons of Belial, that did this thing that we may put them to death, and put away this evil from Israel
The men of Gibeah wouldn't listen. They assembled their warriors, 26,000 swordsmen against Israel’s 400,000 swordsmen and Benjamin defeated Israel the first day killing 22,000 men
Israel encouraged themselves and assembled to attack again the next day. The sat before the Lord weeping and asked, Are we to go fight against Benjamin, our brothers again? The Lord said, Go up again
They fought the 2nd day and 18,000 Israelites died
They went to the house of God and sat before the Lord fasting until evening and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord

They asked, Are we to fight against them again. The Lord said, Go up; for tomorrow I will deliver them into your hand
[Now thanks be to God, who always causes us to triumph in Christ]
2 Corinthians 2:14
Israel set men in ambush all around the city with a sign. They attacked and pretended to be losing again. They turned and ran away. About 30 men were killed in around the city and in the fields
When Benjamin chased them, the ambushers attacked from all their places and Israel turned back to fight
The fighting was fierce
Israel took the city and set a huge fire with flames reaching up to heaven
When Benjamin saw it, they were terrified and ran away, but Israel chased them down in all their cities and only 600 escaped
25,000 of Benjamin were killed that day, all mighty warriors. Israel killed all they found including the animals (they can be demon possessed too) and burned their cities
[We don’t wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places]
Ephesians 6:12
The 600 fled to the wilderness, to the rock rimmon and stayed there
[He is the Rock, His work is perfect: for all His ways are justice: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is He]
Deuteronomy 32:4

Upon His throne

Judges 21
The men of Israel had sworn in Mizpeh, saying, None of us will give his daughter to a Benjaminite as a wife
And the people came to the house of God, and stayed there until evening before God, weeping greatly because one of Israel’s tribes was destroyed
They rose the next day and worshipped and said, Who didn’t come to this war?

We swore a great oath that whoever didn’t come help destroy this evil from Israel would be destroyed

They counted and not one warrior came from Jabeshgilead, so they sent 12,000 of the mightiest warriors who destroyed everyone in Jabeshgilead except the young virgins
400 young maidens were found who had not lain with a man
The whole congregation sent some to speak to the children of Benjamin that were in the rock Rimmon to call peaceably to them
And they gave them the young maidens they had kept alive of the women of Jabeshgilead: but it wasn't enough
And Benjamin returned to their land
Then the elders of the congregation said, What can we do for wives for those that remain, since the women are destroyed out of Benjamin?
And they said, There must be an inheritance for them that escaped of Benjamin, that a tribe be not destroyed out of Israel
But we can’t give them wives of our daughters: for the sons of Israel have sworn saying, Cursed is he that gives a wife to Benjamin
Then they said, Behold, there is a feast of the LORD in Shiloh yearly in a place on the north side of Bethel, toward the sunrising by the highway that goes up from Bethel
So they commanded the children of Benjamin, Go and lie in wait in the vineyards and watch,

and if the daughters of Shiloh come out to dance in dances, then come out of the vineyards, and each of you catch his wife of the daughters of Shiloh and go to the land of Benjamin
And when their fathers or their brothers come to us to complain, we will say to them, Be gracious to them for our sakes: because we didn’t reserve each man his wife in the war
[This now, at last, bone of my bone, flesh of my flesh. She will be called Ishah for she was taken from Ish]
Genesis 2:23
If you don’t give to them at this time, you will be guilty
And the sons of Benjamin did this, took wives, according to their number, out of the dancers, whom they caught
and they returned to their inheritance, and built the cities, and dwelt in them
And the sons of Israel left at that time, every man back to his inheritance
[He that overcomes will inherit all things and I will be His God and he will be My Son]
Revelation 21:7
In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did what was right in his own eyes
[The eyes of the Lord are in every place beholding the evil and the good
Proverbs 15:3
Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government will be on His shoulder:

and His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace
Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end,

upon the throne, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from now on forever
Isaiah 9:6

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