Hebrew-English Text
I. Summary
Two chiefs, Tola and Jair, rule over Israel one after the other. After their deaths the Israelites worship other gods. God is incensed and gives them over to the Amorites and the Ammonites.
II. Photo
The Israelites continue to stray: “The Israelites again did what was offensive to the LORD. They served the Baalim and the Ashtaroth, and the gods of Aram, the gods of Sidon, the gods of Moab, the gods of the Ammonites, and the gods of the Philistines; they forsook the LORD and did not serve Him.” (v 6)
III. Important Verses
v 6: The Israelites again did what was offensive to the LORD. They served the Baalim and the Ashtaroth, and the gods of Aram, the gods of Sidon, the gods of Moab, the gods of the Ammonites, and the gods of the Philistines; they forsook the LORD and did not serve Him.
vv 7-8: And the LORD, incensed with Israel, surrendered them to the Philistines and to the Ammonites. That year they battered and shattered the Israelites — for eighteen years — all the Israelites beyond the Jordan, in [what had been] the land of the Amorites in Gilead.
vv 10-14: Then the Israelites cried out to the LORD, “We stand guilty before You, for we have forsaken our God and served the Baalim.” But the LORD said to the Israelites, “[I have rescued you] from the Egyptians, from the Amorites, from the Ammonites, and from the Philistines. The Sidonians, Amalek, and Maon also oppressed you; and when you cried out to Me, I saved you from them. Yet you have forsaken Me and have served other gods. No, I will not deliver you again. Go cry to the gods you have chosen; let them deliver you in your time of distress!”
vv 15-16: But the Israelites implored the LORD: “We stand guilty. Do to us as You see fit; only save us this day!” They removed the alien gods from among them and served the LORD; and He could not bear the miseries of Israel.
IV. Outline
1-2. Tola leads Israel for twenty-three years
3-5. Jair leads Israel for twenty-two years
6. The Israelites stray
7-9. God delivers them to the Amorites and Ammonites
10. The Israelites cry out to God
11-14. God rebuffs their plea
15-16. A second plea; The Israelites remove their idols
17-18. Preparations for war
V. Comment
No comment today. Stay tuned.
VI. Works Used
(see “Commentaries” page)
Trent C. Butler, “Judges” (Word Biblical Commentary vol. 8; Nashville: Nelson, 2009).
Collins, John J. “Introduction to the Hebrew Bible,” Word Biblical Commentary vol. 15 (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2004).
Photo taken from http://www.syriatoday.ca/images/Ugarit/130px-Baal_Ugarit_Louvre_AO17330.jpg
