Author: gregsloop

Abimelech, one of the sons of Gideon, convinced his brothers that he should be the ruler of their household and the household of Shechem, his mother's father.  They agreed, and gave him money to rule.  Even though they endorsed him to rule, he still plotted with unsavory men to have all his brothers killed.  Only … Continue reading Abimelech’s Treachery (Judges 9:1 – 21)

As mentioned earlier, the Midianites were descended from Ishmael.  Gideon asked for their traditional gold earrings from the plunder, but declined the call for him to rule over Israel.  The weight of the earrings was one thousand seven hundred shekels of gold (nearly 43 pounds), and he also received crescent ornaments, pendants, and purple robes. … Continue reading Gideon’s Victory and Death (Judges 8:22 – 35)

Some of the Israelites who pursued Midian after Gideon's initial attack was the tribe of Ephraim.  They were the ones who captured Oreb and Zeeb.  They scolded Gideon for not including them in the initial attack.  Gideon offered his humility and praised Ephraim as being greater than Gideon's family.  They relented in their scolding, and … Continue reading Gideon Finishes the Job (Judges 8:1 – 21)

One of the most amazing stories tells of Gideon's continued journey toward being a champion in Israel as a judge.  Coming off his destruction of the Baals and Asherahs, Gideon puts a fleece before the Lord.  He laid the fleece of wool on the threshing floor and tested God by saying if the fleece was … Continue reading Gideon’s Army of 300 (Judges 6:36 – 7:25)

In the midst of the oppression by the Midianites, an angel appeared to Gideon while he threshed wheat in the winepress.  The angel called him a mighty man of valor.  Gideon questioned the faithfulness of God because of the problems with Midian.  The Lord told Gideon to go in the power God was giving him … Continue reading The Beginning of the Story of the Fifth Judge: Gideon (Judges 6:11 – 35)

Deborah and Barak sang a song and rehearsed the account of Israel's deliverance from Jabin.  They sang about the tribes of Israel and the work that was done, and then Jael was touted as the savior of the people.  After the song, there was the statement that the land had rest for forty years. After … Continue reading The Song of Deborah (Judges 5:1 – 6:10)

A very short story about the third judge simply says,"Judges 3:31 (NKJV)  31 After him was Shamgar the son of Anath, who killed six hundred men of the Philistines with an ox goad; and he also delivered Israel."  It is short and sweet, but points to the amazing power of God working through a willing individual. … Continue reading The Third & Fourth Judges: Shamgar & Deborah (Judges 3:31 – 4:24)

In this passage we begin to learn of the pattern of Israel's life that persisted for years.  They would serve false gods, be judged by the Lord, and then God would raise up a judge to save them.  The first idolatry was the worship of the Baals andAsherahs.  They were then judged by the Lord … Continue reading The First Judges of Israel: Othniel and Ehud (Judges 3:7 – 30)

God left certain nations in Israel in order to test the generations of the children of Israel.  Some did not know war, and God wanted them to be taught to know war.  The Philistines, Canaanites, Sidonians, and the Hivites were left.  These were also left to test Israel as to whether they would obey the … Continue reading The Nations That Remained (Judges 3:1-6)

The writer of Judges revisists the death of Joshua and his burial and the faithfulness of Israel during the lives of the elders appointed under Joshua's leadership.  However, once that generation died out, a generation arose "who did not know the Lord nor the work He had done for Israel." This new generation began to … Continue reading Death of Joshua and Israel’s Unfaithfulness (Judges 2:7 – 23)