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- Preaching the Living WORD through
the Written WORD - 2 Tim 4;:2 - |
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ISRAEL’S
CONTINUED CONQUEST Judges 1:1-15,
6/05/13 Grace Bible Church,
Gillette, Wyoming Pastor Daryl Hilbert I. ABSENCE
OF LEADERSHIP (1-15) A. History of the Promised Land 1. God called Abraham and made a covenant
with him and his offspring. The Abrahamic covenant included a: 1) personal
covenant - (Ge 12:2), 2) universal covenant - (Ge 12:3), 3) and a national
covenant (land) - (Ge 15:18-21; 17:8). 2. However, the children of “Israel” (i.e Jacob, Abraham’s grandson) became slaves in the land
of Egypt. God raised up a Deliverer by the name of Moses to lead Israel to
the Promised Land (Ex 3:8-10). On the way to the Promised Land, the children
of Israel complained against the Lord. As a result, the Lord refused to allow
this generation enter the Promised Land (Joshua and Caleb being the only
exceptions) (Nu 14:28-30). The children of Israel wandered in the wilderness
for forty years (Ex 16:35). Moses himself, was forbidden to enter because of
his sin at the waters of Meribah (Nu 20:11-13). At
the end of the forty years and after Moses’ death, the Lord raised up Joshua
to lead them (Jos 1:1-5). Joshua had great success in the Promised Land with
three major campaigns (Jos 12:7-24). However, at the end of Joshua’s life,
there were still parts of Canaan that were unconquered (Jos 13:1-6). The
Promised Land was apportioned to the tribes of Israel, including those parts
which had not been conquered (Jos chs. 13-21). B. Joshua’ Death (1-2) 1. The time of Judges begins after the death
of Joshua (Jdg 1:1 cf. Jos 24:29). However, some of the setting in Judges
corresponds with the book of Joshua (cf. Jdg 2:6-8, 21, 23). 2. Without their leader Joshua, they were
prompted to inquire of the Lord. Their inquiry was in regard to who would
first go against the Canaanites. 3. The Lord first commands Judah to go and
take the land that the Lord had given them (Jdg 1:2). Judah was probably
picked first due to Jacob’s last words to his sons (Ge 49:8-12). C. Judah is Victorious (3-10) 1. Before Judah begins their conquest of the
southern portion, they join forces with Simeon. 2. Judah and Simeon defeat the Canaanites
(general term for inhabitants west of Jordan) and the Perizzites. The also defeat ten thousand men at
Bezek, though king Adoni-bezek escapes. When they catch him, they cut off his
thumbs and big toes. Such an act was the custom of these inhabitants and left
the victim impotent of battle or escape. Adoni-bezek had done the same to
seventy kings. Though he received it as divine retribution, nowhere in
Scripture do we read God commanded such an act. The kind died at Jerusalem
(Jdg 1:4-7). 3. The sons of Judah defeated and captured
Jerusalem, which would become the Holy City (Jdg 1:8). This must refer to the
outer city because the Benjamites had come against Jerusalem also. They
apparently had no better success that Judah (cf. Jdg 1:21). 4. Next they fought in the Negev, a region
extending from Judah’s to Simeon’s land (Jdg 1:9). They also fought against
Hebron, which means “confederacy” or “alliance.”) Its name was originally “Kiriath Arba”, which means
“city of four” as an alliance of four cities. This alliance may have included
Sheshai and Ahiman and Talmai (Jdg 1:10). D. Caleb’s Challenge (11-15) 1. After this, Judah went against Debir
(unknown), which was originally Kiriath-sepher,
which meant “city of writing.” Caleb announced that he would give his
daughter in marriage to anyone who attacks and captures Kiriath-sepher
(Debir) (Jdg 1:12). This is also recorded in Jos
15:17ff. Caleb, of course was one of the faithful spies who came back from
Canaan. Hebron was promised to him by Joshua (Jos 14:13-14). 2. Othniel (who will be the first Judge over
Israel cf. Jdg 3:7-11) would be the one to capture Kiriath-sepher
(Debir). Othniel was the son of Kenaz,
who was Caleb’s younger brother, making Othniel Caleb’s nephew. Some suggest
the Hebrew rendering makes Othniel Caleb’s younger brother (Keil and Deilitsch in Jos 15:17). In either case, such marriages
were not forbidden in the law (Keil and Deilitsch
in Jos 15:17). 3. Achsah, Caleb’s
daughter, urged Othniel to seek a field from Caleb. Achsah,
herself, requested springs of water and Caleb bountifully gave them the upper
and lower springs. II. OBSERVATIONS AND APPLICATIONS A. There are several interpretive challenges
in the book of Judges. The whole idea of wars and killing is the first. To
some it seems out of God’s nature to command his people to conquer other
nations, especially when such commands are necessarily violent and bloody.
This is explained in several ways. 1. The first is that the Lord is the
Sovereign God and Creator of the Universe. “The earth is the LORD'S, and all
it contains, The world, and those who dwell in it” (Ps 24:1). It is right and
just to state that He owns everything. It is His to give away and to whom He
wills. That being the case, the nations must submit to the sovereign God and
obey His commands. If they refuse, they justly incur the righteous
indignation of God upon unbelievers. 2. Not only is God is righteous and just in
bringing wrath upon unbelievers, He is free to do so in whatever means He
chooses. Throughout the OT God often brought His judgment through by means of
other nations. Such was be the case even upon His own people in the book of
Judges (Jdg 2:13-14; 20-21). 3. In addition, God has always allowed His
people to defend themselves. In such cases, killing was considered
self-defense, not murder. 4. At the same time, God was always willing
to accept those outside the nation of Israel. If they desired to worship and
serve Israel’s God provision and protection were afforded. 5. Not everything that was enacted by Israel
was by the command of God. Israel was still responsible for their own evil acts. B. Caleb and Othniel’s
enthusiasm to conquer cities did not come from a thirst for violence. Caleb, especially was one who was devout toward God. He
faithfully believed the promises God made to Israel. And Caleb faithfully and
wholeheartedly obeyed God’s command to take the land. He received the favor
and reward for His faithfulness. “But
My servant Caleb,
because he has had a different spirit and has followed Me fully, I will bring
into the land which he entered, and his descendants shall take possession of
it” (Nu 14:19). |
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