March 8 A READ JUDGES 1–5
First Four Judges
OVERVIEW
Efforts by Judah, Simeon, and the other tribes to purge the land of its pagan inhabitants come up short. Pockets of godless influence remain, and these will long be a source of spiritual stumbling to Israel. Over and over the cycle repeats itself. Israel falls into national immorality and idolatry, causing God to allow powerful neighboring countries to oppress and enslave them. When the people cry out in repentance, God responds to their renewed commitment by raising up yet another judge to deliver them. But the cycle soon begins again as the nation’s spiritual temperature grows steadily colder.
MY DAILY WALK
Look up Romans 12:1-2, and read it. Now write down some ways you could easily be tempted to “copy the behavior and customs of this world.”
You will spend nearly every day of your earthly life surrounded by unbelievers. To eliminate all contact with non-Christians, as Paul writes, would require leaving the world (1 Corinthians 5:9-10). Besides, how can you witness to unbelievers and lead them to the Savior if you spend no time with them?
But while you must have contact with the world, you are commanded to avoid copying “the behavior and customs of this world.” That was Israel’s problem. The people not only had contact with the world around them, but they also embraced their sin. They became indistinguishable from their pagan neighbors.
Here is a sentence to ponder and complete: “One way in which my lifestyle differs from the world around me because of my commitment to Christ is ______________________________.” If you have trouble supplying an answer, consult 1 Peter 2:9-17 for suggestions.
WHEN SIN IS FASHIONABLE, CHRISTIANS SHOULD BE OUT OF FASHION.
INSIGHT
How Not to Obey | Deut. 7:1-6
Under Moses, the people were given three commands when they entered the land (Deuteronomy 7:1-6): (1) destroy all the inhabitants of Canaan; (2) avoid intermarriage with neighboring pagan people; and (3) shun false gods. Compare Judges 1:27-36; 2:11-13; and 3:5-7 to see how obedient they were.
INSIGHT
How Convinced Are You? | Judg. 4:8
Barak asked Deborah to go with him on this seemingly suicidal mission so he could measure her response (4:8). If she said yes, she would be staking her life on the truth of her prophecy. If she said no, she would be exposed as unconvinced by her own prophecy. Barak showed that he did not trust Deborah—or God.
Judah and Simeon Conquer the Land
1After the death of Joshua, the Israelites asked the LORD, “Which tribe should go first to attack the Canaanites?”
2The LORD answered, “Judah, for I have given them victory over the land.”
3The men of Judah said to their relatives from the tribe of Simeon, “Join with us to fight against the Canaanites living in the territory allotted to us. Then we will help you conquer your territory.” So the men of Simeon went with Judah.
4When the men of Judah attacked, the LORD gave them victory over the Canaanites and Perizzites, and they killed 10,000 enemy warriors at the town of Bezek. 5While at Bezek they encountered King Adoni-bezek and fought against him, and the Canaanites and Perizzites were defeated. 6Adoni-bezek escaped, but the Israelites soon captured him and cut off his thumbs and big toes.
7Adoni-bezek said, “I once had seventy kings with their thumbs and big toes cut off, eating scraps from under my table. Now God has paid me back for what I did to them.” They took him to Jerusalem, and he died there.
8The men of Judah attacked Jerusalem and captured it, killing all its people and setting the city on fire. 9Then they went down to fight the Canaanites living in the hill country, the Negev, and the western foothills.* 10Judah marched against the Canaanites in Hebron (formerly called Kiriath-arba), defeating the forces of Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai.
11From there they went to fight against the people living in the town of Debir (formerly called Kiriath-sepher). 12Caleb said, “I will give my daughter Acsah in marriage to the one who attacks and captures Kiriath-sepher.” 13Othniel, the son of Caleb’s younger brother, Kenaz, was the one who conquered it, so Acsah became Othniel’s wife.
14When Acsah married Othniel, she urged him* to ask her father for a field. As she got down off her donkey, Caleb asked her, “What’s the matter?”
15She said, “Let me have another gift. You have already given me land in the Negev; now please give me springs of water, too.” So Caleb gave her the upper and lower springs.
16When the tribe of Judah left Jericho—the city of palms—the Kenites, who were descendants of Moses’ father-in-law, traveled with them into the wilderness of Judah. They settled among the people there, near the town of Arad in the Negev.
17Then Judah joined with Simeon to fight against the Canaanites living in Zephath, and they completely destroyed* the town. So the town was named Hormah.* 18In addition, Judah captured the towns of Gaza, Ashkelon, and Ekron, along with their surrounding territories.
Israel Fails to Conquer the Land
19The LORD was with the people of Judah, and they took possession of the hill country. But they failed to drive out the people living in the plains, who had iron chariots. 20The town of Hebron was given to Caleb as Moses had promised. And Caleb drove out the people living there, who were descendants of the three sons of Anak.
21The tribe of Benjamin, however, failed to drive out the Jebusites, who were living in Jerusalem. So to this day the Jebusites live in Jerusalem among the people of Benjamin.
22The descendants of Joseph attacked the town of Bethel, and the LORD was with them. 23They sent men to scout out Bethel (formerly known as Luz). 24They confronted a man coming out of the town and said to him, “Show us a way into the town, and we will have mercy on you.” 25So he showed them a way in, and they killed everyone in the town except that man and his family. 26Later the man moved to the land of the Hittites, where he built a town. He named it Luz, which is its name to this day.
27The tribe of Manasseh failed to drive out the people living in Beth-shan,* Taanach, Dor, Ibleam, Megiddo, and all their surrounding settlements, because the Canaanites were determined to stay in that region. 28When the Israelites grew stronger, they forced the Canaanites to work as slaves, but they never did drive them completely out of the land.
29The tribe of Ephraim failed to drive out the Canaanites living in Gezer, so the Canaanites continued to live there among them.
30The tribe of Zebulun failed to drive out the residents of Kitron and Nahalol, so the Canaanites continued to live among them. But the Canaanites were forced to work as slaves for the people of Zebulun.
31The tribe of Asher failed to drive out the residents of Acco, Sidon, Ahlab, Aczib, Helbah, Aphik, and Rehob. 32Instead, the people of Asher moved in among the Canaanites, who controlled the land, for they failed to drive them out.
33Likewise, the tribe of Naphtali failed to drive out the residents of Beth-shemesh and Beth-anath. Instead, they moved in among the Canaanites, who controlled the land. Nevertheless, the people of Beth-shemesh and Beth-anath were forced to work as slaves for the people of Naphtali.
34As for the tribe of Dan, the Amorites forced them back into the hill country and would not let them come down into the plains. 35The Amorites were determined to stay in Mount Heres, Aijalon, and Shaalbim, but when the descendants of Joseph became stronger, they forced the Amorites to work as slaves. 36The boundary of the Amorites ran from Scorpion Pass* to Sela and continued upward from there.