The Book of Judges Questions 1 2

The Book of Judges

Questions 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. What moral and military challenges did Israel face in the promised land? Do you think Israel needs a king? Explain? What do you think about the women in Judges? (such as Deborah, Jael, Delilah—also Samson’s mother, women who killed Abimelech, and the dismembered concubine of the Levite) What kind of people would you expect the Judges to be? What kinds of people are the Judges? How unified is this book?

Judges Folktales about heroes from the early years of Israel in Canaan They are assembled and put together within a framework Six major and six minor judges This is Israel’s premonarchic period No king Both freedom and insecurity Tribes are fiercely independent Frequent skirmishes to defend territory involved only one or a few tribes at once. No Central sanctuary or strong priesthood No uniform religion No enforcement or teaching of Torah Supplemented Yahweh with rival gods, especially Baal

The Book of Judges vs. the Book of Joshua idealized view of Israel’s entry into Canaan. No defeat. Territory all theirs. Know and serve Yahweh (Josh 24 at Shechem, people swear to follow all the law) Judges Struggling to maintain land. Make few gains Shows how little of the land the tribes really possessed Shows how little they seemed to know of Yahweh.

Redaction of Judges (one theory) Redactor compiled original collection (circa 800 BCE) theme was the consequences of faithfulness or unfaithfulness to Yahweh The stories have little in common, other than they follow a similar cycle. Deuteronomic redactor (circa 620 BCE, around the time of Jeremiah) added the moralizing intro of chapters 2: 6 -3: 6, and perhaps added chapters 9 & 16 Brought the number of judges to 12 Priestly redactors (circa 400 BCE, after Hezekiah’s reforms) added 17 -21 (no judges, but demonstrates problems of having no king) Added historical prologue 1 -2: 5

Deuteronomic Covenant When faithful to Yahweh, the people will prosper (Blessing) When not faithful to Yahweh, Yahweh will fight against them (Curse) Judges 2: 11 -23 clearly shows this cycle. We’ve seen this cycle before, however Judges offers a unique perspective It revolves around charismatic leaders It happens in relation to not having a king It happens within the promised land

The Cycle RESCUE. When a judge loyal to Yahweh presides and the people worship Israel’s God exclusively, the whole community prospers, winning battles against invading troops and reaping the benefits of their heritage. APOSTASY. After the Yahwist judge dies, however, the people soon “prostitute themselves to Baal. ” HARDSHIP. This arouses Yahweh’s anger and causing him to deliver them over to enemy oppression. CRYING OUT TO THE LORD. In their anguish, the people then cry out to Yahweh, who “feels pity” and raises up a new judge to overthrow their oppressors. After a generation of revival, the people again backslide, and the whole cycle begins anew.

The other nations still around? Three reasons are given for why remnants of the nations formerly occupying Canaan survived 1. as a punishment (2: 20 -21) 2. as a test of obedience (2: 22 -23, 3: 1, 4) 3. to train Israel in the art of war (3: 2)

An Outline of Judges Resuming conquest of Canaan with failures highlighted (Ch 1) Introduction to and need for the judges (2 -3: 6) 1. Othniel (3: 7 -11) 2. Ehud (3: 12 -30) 3. Shamgar (3: 31) 4. Deborah (4 -5) 5. Gideon, also called Jerubbaal (Chs 6 -8) Abimelech (Gideon’s son tries to become king) (9) 6. Tola (10: 1 -2) 7. Jair (10: 3 -5) 8. Jephthah (10: 6 -12: 7) 9. Ibzan (12: 8 -10) 10. Elon (12: 11 -12) 11. Abdon (12: 13 -15) 12. Samson (Chs 13 -16) The Levite’s story (Chs 17 -21)

What are the Judges? Military leaders Charismatic individuals Spirit filled (“the spirit of the lord came upon him”) Spontaneous Heroes Didn’t judge matters among the people (except Deborah) Not necessarily devout or upright

The Major Judges 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Othniel Caleb’s younger brother Ehud a left-handed Benjamite who murders the obese King Eglon of Moab Deborah (and Barak) political murder (like Ehud’s) is an execution of divine judgment. (Jael kills Sisera with a hammer and tent peg) Gideon He comes from a family of Baal worshippers but God is suddenly with him. (feels insignificant and inadequate) (keeps asking for signs from God) (reduces army from 22, 000 to 300) (refuses invitation to be king, but his bad son, Abimilech accepts) Jephtha and his daughter (Wins great victory but sacrifices his daughter)

Samson Unlike the other heroes/judges. Angels twice foretell his birth to a childless couple. Dedicated as a Nazarite (but doesn’t follow Nazarite ideal. He leads no army. A single hero (provoked through relations with Philistine women. ) Sexual affairs force him to confront the enemy Some say he was a mythological character transformed by Hebrew writers into an Israelite champion. His peers didn’t seem to regard him as a judge or hero or God-chosen) He’s a little like Jael, an unexpected single deliverer

The Death of Samson Gustave Doré And Samson called unto the Lord, and said, O Lord God, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes. And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars upon which the house stood, and on which it was borne up, of the one with his right hand, and of 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 upon the lords, and upon all the people that were therein. So the dead which he slew at his death were more than they which he slew in his life. Then his brethren 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 twenty years. —Judges 16: 21 -31

Samson & Achilles At Troy, Achilles fell in love with Polyxena She’s the youngest daughter of Priam and Hecuba, King and Queen of Troy and the brother of Hector who Achilles kills. She vows to avenge her brother's death There are some similarities between the fall of Achilles and the fall of Samson. Unstoppable warriors had a secret to their strength and one weakness Loved too many women and women from among their enemies Both told their secrets to lovers who needled them Betrayed by women they foolishly trusted Successfully trapped by the enemy

Regina Spektor “Samson” You are my sweetest downfall I loved you first, I loved you first Beneath the sheets of paper lies my truth I have to go, I have to go Your hair was long when we first met Samson went back to bed Not much hair left on his head He ate a slice of wonder bread and went right back to bed And history books forgot about us and the bible didn’t mention us The bible didn’t mention us, not even once You are my sweetest downfall I loved you first , I loved you first Beneath the stars came falling on our heads But they're just old light They're just old light Your hair was long when we first met Samson came to my bed Told me that my hair was red Told me I was beautiful and came into my bed I cut his hair myself one night A pair of dull scissors and the yellow light He told me that I'd done alright and kissed me till the morning light and he kissed me till the morning light Samson went back to bed Not much hair left on his head Ate a slice of wonder bread and went right back to bed We couldn't break the columns down No, we couldn't destroy a single one and the history books forgot about us and the bible didnt mention us not even once You are my sweetest downfall I loved you first