JUDGES Part 1.

COMMENTARY and OVERVIEW

The BOOK of JUDGES
(Time covered alleged to be 1350 - 1014 BCE)

Nowhere in the text of the book of Judges do we find any direct indication who
wrote the book. It is understood to cover a period in Jewish history when the Jews
were still under GOD’s sovereignty, after having been established in their
promised land prior to the time when they chose to replace GOD’s direct control
with human leadership in the form of a succession of human kings.

The period of the Judges therefore spanned around 400 years (40 + 360 years). It
started with the leadership of Moses and finished with Samuel presiding over the
crowning of Saul, as a human king over God’s people, Israel.

Jewish tradition names the prophet Samuel as the author of the book of Judges.
Samuel was himself, the last of the judges, one of a group of special leaders
whom YHWH raised up during this critical time period for His people. These
judges did not merely oversee legal matters, in ways we see judges today. Their
tasks included administrative authority, moral guidance, and military leadership,
all contained in a single individual who was selected by YHWH god himself.

The BOOK of JUDGES

JUDGES Chapter 1

The Conquest of Canaan Launched

(Joshua 13:1–7)

Judges 1:1 After the death of Joshua, the Israelites inquired of YHWH, "Which tribe shall be the
first to go up against the Canaanites and attack them?"

2 YHWH said to the Israelites, "The tribe of Judah will go. I will deliver this land into their
hands." 3 The men of Judah went to their relatives from the tribal family of Simeon and asked for
help. They said, "Brothers, if you will come and help us fight for the land GOD gave us, we will go
and help you fight for your land." The men of Simeon agreed and went with them.

4 Together they attacked an army of ten thousand Canaanites and Perizzites at Bezek, and YHWH
helped Judah defeat them. 5 During the battle, Judah's army found out where the king of Bezek
was, and they pursued him.

6 The ruler of Bezek tried to escape, but the men of Judah chased him and caught him. When they
caught him, they cut off his thumbs and big toes.
7 Adoni-Bezek, the ruler said, 'Seventy kings with their thumbs and big toes cut off used to pick
up the crumbs under my table. As I did to them, GOD does to me.' He was taken to Jerusalem,
and there he died.

Jerusalem and Hebron Captured

(Joshua 15:13–19)

8 Also, the men of Judah attacked Jerusalem and took it, putting the city to the sword and setting
it on fire.

9 Later, they went down to fight against some more Canaanites who lived in the hill country, in
the Negev, and in the western foothills. 10 Then the men of Judah went to fight against the
Canaanites who lived in the city of Hebron. (Hebron used to be called Kiriath Arba.) They
defeated the men named Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai.

Judah Continues on its Path of Conquest

11 The men of Judah left that place. They went to the city of Debir to fight against the people
there. (In the past, Debir was called Kiriath Sepher.) 12 Then Caleb said, "I will give my daughter
Achsah in marriage to the one who attacks and captures Kiriath-sepher."

13 Othniel, the son of Caleb's younger brother Kenaz, was the one who conquered it, so Achsah
became Othniel's wife. 14 When she arrived for the wedding Othniel urged her to ask her father
for arable land, but when she alighted from the donkey and Caleb asked her, 'What is the matter?'
15 She said to him; 'Grant me a blessing! As the land you have given me is arid in the Negeb, give
me springs of water, too!' So, Caleb gave her what she wanted: the upper springs and the lower
springs.

16 When the tribal family of Judah left Jericho, 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. 17 Then the men of Judah went with the Simeonites
their brothers, and attacked the Canaanites living in Zephath, and they totally a destroyed the city.
Therefore, it was given the name Hormah, which means destruction. 18 Judah also captured Gaza
with its territory, and Ashkelon with its territory, and Ekron with its territory.19 And YHWH was
with Judah, and he possessed the mountainous lands: for he could not drive out the inhabitants of
the valleys, because they had iron clad chariots.

20 The city 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.

21 The tribe of Benjamin, however, failed to drive out the Jebusites, who were living in Jerusalem.
So, to this day the Jebusites are still found living in Jerusalem among the people of Benjamin.

22 Similarly, the forces of Joseph marched on Bethel, and YHWH was with them. 23 For when
they were besieging the city, which before was called Luz, they sent spies ahead. 24 The spies saw
a man coming out of the city and they said to him, "Show us how to get into the city and we will
see that you are treated well."

25 So he showed them a way into the city and they put the city to the sword but spared the man
and his whole family. 26 And that man went to the land of the Hittites, where he started a town
and called its name Luz, which is its name to this day.

Conquest of Canaanites Falls Short of Completion

27 There were Canaanites living in the cities of Beth Shean, Taanach, Dor, Ibleam, Megiddo, and
the small towns around those cities. The people from the tribe of Manasseh would not force those
people to leave their towns, so the Canaanites stayed. They continuously refused to leave their
homes. 28 Then, when the Israelites gained power there, they impressed the Canaanites as
laborers, but did not drive them out.

29 The tribal family of Ephraim also failed to drive out the Canaanites living in Gezer, and so
there were Canaanites living there among them.

30 The tribe of Zebulun also failed to drive out the Canaanites living in Kitron and Nahalol, who
continued to live among them. But they forced them to work as slaves.

31 Neither did Asher cast out the inhabitants of Accho, or the inhabitants of Zidon, or of Ahlab, or
of Achzib, or of Helbah, or of Aphik, or of Rehob, 32 and because of this the people of Asher lived
among a Canaanite mainstream of inhabitants in the land.

33 The tribe of Naphtali also failed to drive out the residents of Beth-shemesh and Beth-anath.
Instead, the Canaanites maintained influence in the land where they lived. Nevertheless, people of
Beth-shemesh and Beth-anath were sometimes forced to work as slaves for the people of
Naphtali.

34 And the Amorites forced the descendants of Dan up into the hill-country; for they would not
allow them to occupy the valley; 35 but Amorites would continue to dwell in mount Heres, in
Aijalon, and in Shaalbim: yet the hand of the house of Joseph ruled, so that they became subject
to menial labor. 36 And the border of the Amorites ran from the ascent of Akrabbim, from Sela
and upward.

Footnote for Chapter One

a
destroyed -The Hebrew term for destruction refers to the irrevocable giving over of
things or persons to YHWH, and often, but not always by totally extinguishing them.

JUDGES Chapter 2.

Judges 2:1 Now an angel of YHWH came up from Gilgal to Bochim and he said, I took you out of
Egypt, guiding you into the land which I gave by an oath to your fathers; and I said; My covenant
with you will never be broken by me, 2 on condition that you should not become associated with
the inhabitants of this land. But you should throw down their altars, yet you have not heard my
voice; why have you done this?

3 Also I have said, I would not cast them out from your presence, and they have been adversaries
to you, and their gods are a snare to you.'

Israel Remains True to YHWH Till Joshua

and Leaders from his Generation Die off
(Joshua 24:29–33)

4 As soon as the angel of YHWH spoke these words to all the people of Israel, the people lifted up
their voices and wept. 5 So they called that place Bochim (Weeping) and they offered sacrifices to
YHWH.

6 Now when Joshua had sent the people away, the children of Israel every man embraced his
inheritance to possess the land.7 And the people were true to YHWH all the days of Joshua, and
all the days of the responsible men who were still living after the death of Joshua, those who had
seen all the great work of YHWH which he had done for Israel.

8 And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of YHWH, died, at a hundred and ten years of age. 9
And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnath-heres, in the hill-country of
Ephraim, on the north of the mountain of Gaash.

Israel Abandons YHWH and Suffers for it

(Isaiah 43:22–28; Jeremiah 2:23–37)

10 When all that generation had died off, another generation arose after them who did not grasp
YHWH, nor the work which He had done for Israel. 11 And, the Israelites offended YHWH by
serving the a Baals.

12 They abandoned YHWH, the god of their ancestors, who had brought them out of Egypt. They
chased after other gods, worshiping the gods of the people around them. Thus, they angered
YHWH, their god. 13 They abandoned YHWH and served the Baals and bAshtaroth.

14 So the anger of YHWH was kindled against Israel, and he let other nations raid Israel and steal
their crops and other possessions. Enemies were everywhere, and YHWH always allowed them to
defeat Israel in battle.

YHWH had warned Israel he would do this, and now the Israelites were miserable.
15 Whatever they undertook, YHWH turned into disaster for them, as in his warning he had
sworn he would do, till they were in great distress.

YHWH Appoints Godly Judges to Rescue His People

16 Then, YHWH appointed judges for them, who rescued them from the hands of their
plunderers.

17 But still they would not listen to their judges, but went after other gods and gave them worship,
quickly turning from the way in which their fathers who kept the orders of YHWH had gone.

18 Yet, whenever YHWH placed a judge over Israel, he was with that judge and rescued the people
from their enemies throughout the judge's lifetime. For YHWH took pity on his people, who were
burdened by oppression and suffering.

19 But whenever the judge died, they went back and did greater evil than their fathers, going after
other gods to serve and worship; and giving up none of their sins and their hard-hearted ways.

20 YHWH’s anger then blazed out against Israel, and he said, 'Since this people has broken the
covenant which I laid down for their ancestors, since they have not listened to my voice, 21 in
future times I shall not drive out before them any one of those nations which Joshua left when he
died. 22 In order, by means of them, to put Israel to the test, to see whether or not they would
tread the paths of YHWH as their ancestors had once trodden.'

23 That is why, YHWH allowed these nations to remain; he did not hurry to drive them out and
did not deliver them into the hands of Joshua. And he let other nations raid Israel and steal their
crops and other possessions. Enemies were everywhere, and YHWH always let them defeat Israel
in battle. YHWH had warned Israel he would do this, and now the Israelites were miserable.

Footnotes for Chapter Two;

a
Baals. – Baal literally means ‘master’ A Baal can either be human or divine. In the case
of the Amorites, among whom the Israelites were living, their Baals were gods whom
they worshipped.

b
Ashtaroth.-The name Astaroth was ultimately derived from that of 2nd millennium
BCE Phoenician goddess Astarte, an equivalent of the Babylonian Ishtar.

JUDGES Chapter 3.

Nations left Remaining as a Test for Israel

Judges 3:1 These are the nations which YHWH allowed to remain, by their means to put all those
Israelites to the test who had not experienced any of the Canaanite wars 2 (this was to instruct the
Israelites' descendants, in the art of war, those at least who had not experienced it previously).

3 The five chiefs of the Philistines, all the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hittites who lived in
the range of Lebanon, from the uplands of Baal-Hermon to the Pass of Hamath. 4 were all used to
put Israel to the test and see if they would keep the orders which YHWH had given their ancestors
through Moses.
5 Israelites who lived among the Canaanites, Hittites, and Amorites, the Perizzites, Hivites and
Jebusites; 6 married the daughters of these nations and they gave their own sons to their
daughters and served their gods.

7 Thus, the Israelites did what is evil in YHWH's eyes. They forgot YHWH their God and served
Baals and aAsherahs.

8 Then YHWH's anger blazed out against Israel: he handed them over to Cushan-Rishathaim king
of Edom, and the Israelites were enslaved to Cushan-Rishathaim for eight years.

YHWH Raises Othniel as Judge, to Rescue Israel

9 When the Israelites cried to YHWH for help, YHWH raised for them a deliverer who would
rescue them. It was Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother.

10 The spirit of YHWH was on him; he became judge in Israel and set out for war. YHWH
delivered Cushan-Rishathaim king of Edom into Othniel’s hands, and he overcame Cushan-
Rishathaim.

11 The country then had peace for forty years, until Othniel son of Kenaz died.

Israel Reverts to Evil Ways and YHWH Raises Ehud to Judge Them
12 Then, once again the Israelites began doing what was evil in YHWH’s eyes, and YHWH
strengthened Eglon king of Moab against Israel, since they were doing what was evil in YHWH’s
eyes.

13 Eglon in combination with the sons of Ammon and Amalek marched on Israel, beat them and
captured the City of Palm Trees (Jericho). 14 The Israelites were enslaved to Eglon king of Moab
for eighteen years.

15 The Israelites then cried to YHWH, and YHWH raised a deliverer for them. It was Ehud son of
Gera, a Benjaminite; he was sent to King Eglon of Moab to deliver tribute money th him.

16 Ehud obtained for himself, a dagger it was double-edged and a foot long -- and strapped it
under his clothes on his right thigh 17 when he presented the tribute to Eglon king of Moab. This
Eglon was a very fat man.

18 Having presented the tribute, Ehud sent away the men who had been carrying it; 19 but he
himself, on reaching the Idols which are near Gilgal, said, 'I have a secret message for you, O king.

'The king commanded silence, and all his attendants withdrew.

20 Ehud went up to him; he was sitting in his private area upstairs, where it was cool. Ehud said
to him, 'I have a message from GOD for you, O king.' The latter immediately rose from his seat. 21
Then Ehud, reaching with his left hand, drew the dagger he was carrying on his right thigh and
thrust it into the king's belly. 22 The hilt too went in after the blade, and the fat closed over the
blade, since Ehud did not pull the dagger out of his belly again.

23 Ehud went out through the latrines, having shut and bolted the doors of the upstairs room
behind him.

24 When he had gone, the servants came back and looked; the doors of the upstairs room were
bolted. They thought, The king is probably covering his feet in the inner part of the cool room.'

25 They waited until it became embarrassing, but still, he did not open the doors of the upstairs
room.

Eventually, they took the key and opened the door; and there lay their master, dead, on the
ground.

26 Meanwhile, Ehud had gotten away, passed the Idols and made good his escape to safety in
Seirah.

27 Once there, he sounded the horn in the highlands of Ephraim, and the Israelite fighters came
down from the hills with him at their head. 28 And he said to them, 'Follow me, because YHWH
has delivered your enemy Moab into your hands.' So, they followed him, and seized control of the
fords of the Jordan against Moab and allowed no one to cross.

29 On that occasion they beat the Moabites, some ten thousand men, all tough and seasoned
fighters, and not one escaped. 30 That day Moab was humbled under the hand of Israel, and the
country had peace for eighty years.

Shamgar proceeds Ehud as Judge

31 After that came Shamgar son of Anath. He routed six hundred of the Philistines with an ox-
goad; he too was a deliverer of Israel.

Footnotes for Chapter Three:

a
Asherahs.- Were wooden poles which symbolized religious connection to Ashtaroth the
pagan goddess Astarte, comparable to the Babylonian goddess Ishtar.

JUDGES Chapter 4.

Judge Deborah Joined by Barak for a Rescue Mission

Judges 4:1 However, once Ehud was dead, the Israelites again began doing what is evil in
YHWH's eyes, 2 and YHWH gave them over to Jabin king of Canaan, who reigned at Hazor. The
commander of his army was Sisera, who lived in Haroshet-ha-Goiim.
3 The Israelites then cried to YHWH, for Jabin had nine hundred iron chariots and had cruelly
oppressed the Israelites for twenty years.

4 Deborah, a prophetess, wife of Lappidoth, was judge in Israel at the time. 5 She used to sit under
Deborah's Palm between Ramah and Bethel in the highlands of Ephraim, and the Israelites would
come to her for justice.

6 She sent for Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali, and said to him, YHWH, the god of
Israel, has commanded; "Go! March to Mount Tabor and with you take ten thousand of the sons
of Naphtali and the sons of Zebulun.

7 I shall entice Sisera, the commander of Jabin's army, to encounter you at the Torrent of Kishon
with his chariots and troops and there I shall put him into your power"?

8 Barak replied, 'If you come with me, I shall go; if you will not come, I shall not go, for I do not
know how to choose the day when the angel of YHWH will grant me success.'

9 'I shall go with you then,' she said, 'but, the way you are going about it, the glory will not be
yours; for YHWH will deliver Sisera into the hands of a woman.' Deborah then stood up and went
with Barak to Kedesh.

10 Barak recruited Zebulun and Naphtali. Ten thousand men marched behind him, and Deborah
went with him.

11 Heber the Kenite had parted company with the tribe of Kain and with the sons of Hobab,
father-in-law of Moses; he had pitched his tent near the Oak of Zaanannim, not far from Kedesh.

12 Sisera was informed that Barak son of Abinoam had encamped on Mount Tabor. 13 Sisera
called up all his chariots, nine hundred iron chariots and all the troops he had, from Harosheth-
ha-Goiim to the Torrent of Kishon.

14 Then Deborah said to Barak, "Get ready! Today YHWH will give you victory over Sisera,
YHWH is marching ahead of you." So, Barak led his ten thousand warriors down the slopes of
Mount Tabor into battle.

15 At Barak's advance, YHWH struck terror into Sisera, all his chariots and his entire army. Sisera
leaped down from his chariot and fled on foot.16 Barak pursued the chariots and the army as far
as Harosheth-ha-Goiim. Sisera's whole army fell by the edge of the sword; not a man was spared.

Jael Kills Sisera

17 Sisera meanwhile had fled on foot towards the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite. For
there was peace between Jabin king of Hazor and the family of Heber the Kenite.

18 Jael came out to meet Sisera and said to him, 'Stay here with me my lord; do not be afraid!'
He stayed with her in her tent, and she covered him with a rug. 19 He said to her, 'Please give me
a little water to drink, for I am thirsty.' She opened the skin of milk, gave him some to drink and
covered him up again.

20 Then he said to her, 'Stand at the tent door, and if anyone comes and questions you, if he asks,
"Is there a man here?" tell them "No."

21 But Jael the wife of Heber took a tent-peg and picked up a mallet; she crept up softly to him
and drove the peg into his temple right through to the ground. While he was lying fast asleep,
worn out. and so, he died.

22 Now Barak who was in pursuit of Sisera arrived. Jael went out to meet him and said, 'Come in,
and I will show you the man you are looking for.' He went into her tent; and there was Sisera
dead, with the tent-peg through his temple.

23 Thus GOD that day humbled Jabin the king of Canaan before the Israelites. 24 And the
Israelites bore down more and more heavily on Jabin, until the day he was utterly defeated.

JUDGES Chapter 5.

A Psalm of Deborah and Barak

(Exodus 15:1–21)

Judges 5:1 Then Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam on that day reminisced in a psalm
saying, 2 Praise YHWH for avenging Israel, when the people willingly offered themselves. 3
"Listen, you kings! Pay attention, you mighty rulers! For I will sing to YHWH. I will lift up my
song to YHWH, the god of Israel.

4 "O YHWH, when you went out from Seir, when you marched from the land of Edom, the earth
shook, the heavens poured, the clouds poured down water. 5 The mountains quaked at the
coming of YHWH. Even Mount Sinai shook in the presence of YHWH, the god of Israel.

6 In the days of Shamgar son of Anath, and in the days of Jael, there were no more caravans;
those who went forth on their travels made their way along by-paths. and the villagers could not
work in their fields.

7 Then Deborah took command, protecting Israel as a mother protects her children.

8 The Israelites worshiped other gods, and the gates of their towns were then attacked. But they
had no shields or spears to fight with. 9 I praise you; YHWH and I am grateful for those leaders
and soldiers who volunteered.

10 Listen, everyone! Whether you ride a donkey with a padded saddle or have to walk. 11 Even
those who carry water to the animals will tell you, "YHWH has won victories, and so has Israel."
Then YHWH's people marched down to the town gates 12 and said, "Deborah, let's go! Let's sing
as we march. Barak, capture our enemies."
13 YHWH's people who were left joined with their leaders and fought at my side. 14 Troops came
from Ephraim, where Amalekites once lived. Others came from Benjamin; officers and leaders
came from Machir and Zebulun. 15 The rulers of Issachar came along with Deborah, and Issachar
followed Barak into the valley. But the tribe of Reuben was no help at all!

16 Reuben, why did you stay among your sheep pens? Was it to listen to shepherds whistling for
their sheep? No one could figure out why Reuben would not come.

17 The people of Gilead stayed across the Jordan. Why did the tribe of Dan remain on their ships
and the tribe of Asher stay along the coast near the harbors? 18 But soldiers of Zebulun and
Naphtali risked their lives to attack the enemy.19 Canaanite kings fought us at Taanach by the
stream near Megiddo -- but they could not rob us of our silver.

20 From their pathways in the sky the stars fought Sisera, 21 and his soldiers were swept away by
the ancient Kishon River. I will march on and be brave. 22 Sisera's horses galloped off, their hoofs
thundering in retreat.

23 Then YHWH’s angel said, "Put a curse on Meroz Town! Its people refused to help YHWH fight
his powerful enemies." 24 But honor Jael, the wife of Heber from the Kenite clan. Give more
honor to her than to any other woman who lives in tents. Yes, give more honor to her than to any
other woman.

25 Sisera asked for water, but Jael gave him milk-- cream in a fancy cup. 26 She reached for a
tent-peg and held a hammer in her right hand. And with a blow to the head, she crushed his skull.
27 Sisera sank to his knees and fell dead at her feet.

28 Sisera's mother looked out through her window. "Why is he taking so long?" she asked. "Why
haven't we heard his chariots coming?" 29 She and her wisest women gave the same answer: 30
"Sisera and his troops are finding treasures to bring back, a woman, or maybe two, for each man,
and beautiful dresses for those women to wear."

31 Our LORD YHWH, we pray that all your enemies will die like Sisera. But let everyone who
loves you shine brightly like the sun at dawn. There was peace in Israel for about forty years.

JUDGES Chapter 6.

Midianites Oppress Israel for Seven Years

Judges 6:1 Then once again the Israelites as a nation started disobeying YHWH, so he let the
nation of Midian control Israel for seven years.

2 The Midianites were powerful and were cruel to the Israelites. So, the Israelites resorted to
hiding places in the mountains. They hid their food in caves and places that were hard to find. 3
They did that because the Midianites and Amalekites from the east would come and destroy their
food supplies. 4 They camped on the land and destroyed the crops that the Israelites had planted.
They did this to the crops of the Israelites as far as the land near the city of Gaza, leaving the
Israelites to famine conditions. They did not even leave them any sheep, cattle, or donkeys.

5 The Midianites came with their families, animals, and tents. They were like a swarm of locusts!
They and their camels were too many to count. They came into the land and ruined it.

6 When Israel became so greatly impoverished because of Midian the children of Israel cried to
YHWH. 7 When the people of Israel cried out to GOD for help because

of what the Midianites had done to them, 8 YHWH sent a prophet to the Israelites.

He said to them, 'This is what YHWH, God of Israel, says to you; "It was I who brought you out of
Egypt, and led you out of the place where you were slaves. 9 And I took you out of the hands of the
Egyptians and out of the hands of all those who were cruel to you, and I dispersed them by force
before you and gave you their land;10 and I told you, 'I am YHWH your god. You must not
worship the gods of the Amorites; in whose land you now live.' But you have not listened to me."

Gideon Called to be Judge

11Then, one day an angel of YHWH came to a place called Ophrah and sat under an oak tree. This
oak tree belonged to a man named Joash from the Abiezer family. His son Gideon was threshing
some wheat in a winepress so that the Midianites could not see the wheat.

The angel of YHWH appeared to Gideon and said, "GOD be with you as a courageous fighter."

13 And Gideon said to him, Oh, my lord, if YHWH is with us, why then has all this befallen us?
and where are all his wondrous works which our fathers told us about when they bragged; “Did
not YHWH bring us up from Egypt?

But now YHWH has left us and delivered us into the hands of Midianites. 14 And the angel of
YHWH turned to him, and said, Go, in this, your strength, and you shall save Israel from the hand
of Midian; behold, YHWH has sent you.

15 Gideon replied, 'Please forgive me, my lord, but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest
in the tribal family of Manasseh, and I am the least important one of my father's household.'

16 "Gideon," the angel answered, "you can rescue Israel because I, YHWH am going to help you!
Thus, defeating the Midianites will be as easy as beating up one man."

17 Gideon replied, "If you are truly going to help me, show me a sign to prove that it is really
YHWH speaking to me.18 Please, do not leave this place until I come back to You and bring out
my offering and place it before You." And He answered, "I will stay until you return."

19 Gideon hurried home. He cooked a young goat, and with a measure of flour he baked some
bread cakes without yeast. Then, carrying the meat in a basket and the broth in a pot, he brought
them out and presented them to the angel, who was still there, under the oak tree.
20 the Angel of YHWH said to him, 'Take the meat and unleavened cakes, put them on this rock
and pour the broth over them.' Gideon did so.

21 Then the angel of YHWH touched the meat and bread with the staff he had in his hand, and
fire flamed up from the rock and consumed all Gideon had brought. And then, the angel of
YHWH just disappeared.

22 And when Gideon perceived that it was an angel of YHWH; Gideon, stricken with fear said,
Alas, Lord YHWH! Save me because I have seen an angel of YHWH face to face.

23 But YHWH said to him, Peace be with you; have no fear: you are in no danger of death. 24 And
Gideon built there an altar to GOD and called it YHWH is ashalom. To this day it is yet in Ophrah
the town of the Abiezrites.

Gideon Destroys Baal’s Altar

25 And it came to pass the same night, that YHWH said to Gideon; Take of your father's bulls,
even the second bull, seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that your father has and
cut down the Asherah that is alongside it.

26 Then build an altar to YHWH your God here on this hill, laying the stones carefully. Sacrifice
the bull as a burnt offering on the altar. Use the wood of the Asherah pole you cut down for
fuel."27 So Gideon took ten of his servants and did as YHWH had commanded him. But through
fear of his family and of the townspeople, he would not do it by day, so he did it at night.

28 Early the next morning, when the people of the town began to stir, someone discovered that
the altar of Baal had been knocked down and that the Asherah pole beside it was gone. In their
place a new altar had been built, and it had the remains of a sacrifice on it.

29 They asked one another, "Who did this?" Their inquiries led them to the conclusion that
Gideon, son of Joash, had done it. 30 Then the men of the town said to Joash, make your son
come out to be put to death, for pulling down the altar of Baal and cutting down the holy tree
which was by it.

31 The crowd pushed closer and closer, but Joash replied, "Are you here trying to take revenge for
Baal? Or are you trying to rescue Baal?

If you are, you will be the ones who will die, and it will happen before another day dawns. If Baal
really is a god, let him take his own revenge on someone who tears down his altar."32 From that
day on Gideon was called Jerubbaal, which means "Let Baal defend himself," because he knocked
down Baal's altar.

Gideon Asks for a Sign from GOD

33 Soon after that, all the Midianites and the Amalekites and the people of the East joined
together and crossing the Jordan they encamped in the Valley of Jezreel.

34 Then the Spirit of YHWH took possession of Gideon. He blew a ram's horn as a call to arms,
and the men of the clan of Abiezer came to him.

35 He also sent messengers throughout Manasseh, Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali, summoning
their warriors, and all of them responded.

36 So Gideon said to GOD, "If You will save Israel by my hand as You have said 37 prove it to me
in this way. I will put some wool on the threshing floor tonight. If the fleece is wet with dew in the
morning but the ground is dry, then I will know that you are going to help me rescue Israel as you
promised."

38 And so it happened. Early next morning, Gideon got up, squeezed the fleece and wrung enough
dew out of the fleece to fill a cup, while the ground beneath it was dry.

39 Then Gideon said to GOD, "Please don't be angry with me, but may I make one more request?
This time let the fleece remain dry while the ground around it is wet with dew."

40 That night GOD granted his request. While the fleece was dry; all the ground under it was
covered with dew.

Footnote for Chapter Six

.ashalom - is a Hebrew word with a fundamental meaning of peace. However, it is a

state which goes way beyond a lack of strife. It includes harmony, wholeness,
completeness, prosperity, and tranquility only GOD can bring in the fullest sense.

JUDGES Chapter 7.

Gideon’s Three Hundred Man Army

Judges 7:1 And Jerubbaal, (Gideon), arose early, and all the people that were with him, and they
made camp beside the spring of Harod; and the camp of the Midianites was on the north by the
hill of Moreh in the valley.

2 There YHWH said to Gideon, "You have too many men for me to deliver Midian into their
hands. In order that Israel may not boast against me that her own strength has saved her, 3 so
proclaim in the hearing of the people, saying: 'Whoever is fearful and anxious, let him turn and
depart at once from Mount Gilead.' " And twenty-two thousand people returned, and ten
thousand remained.

4 Then, YHWH said to Gideon; Your troops are still too many; bring them down to the water, and
I will test them for you there: and it shall be, that those I say to you, these shall go with you, they
will go with you; and of whomsoever I say to you, these shall not go with you, the same will not go.
5 When Gideon took his warriors down to the water to drink. YHWH told him: Now, "separate the
men into two groups. In one group put everyone who cups the water in their hands and drinks by
lapping it up with their tongues like dogs. In the other group put all those who kneel down to
drink with their mouths in the stream."

6 And the number of those who lapped, putting their hands to their mouths, was 300 men, but all
the rest of the troops knelt down to drink water.

7 Then, YHWH said to Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped their water I will save you
and deliver the Midianites into your hands. Let the rest of the people go, every man to his place. 8
So Gideon let all the other soldiers remain behind”.

9 Their horns, and such supplies as the soldiers had with them, were taken up, and Gideon
ordered the rest of the Israelites to their tents, but he kept the three hundred men. Now the camp
of Midian was beneath him in the valley.

9 And it came to pass the same night, that YHWH said to him, get up and go down and invade the
Midianite camp; for I have delivered it into your hand.

10 But, if you are afraid to attack, go down to the camp with your aide Purah. 11 Listen to what
they are saying, and that will encourage you to attack the camp.' So, with Purah his servant, he
went down to the outposts of the camp.

12 Now the Midianites and the Amalekites and all the people of the east were covering the valley
like locusts; and their camels were like the sand by the seaside, without number.

13 When Gideon arrived, one man was telling another about a dream. "I had a dream," he said,
"in it a round loaf of barley bread was rolling down into the camp of Midian. When it got to our
tent and struck it, it turned the tent upside down."

14 His companion answered him saying; This is nothing else than the sword of Gideon the son of
Joash, of Israel. God has given Midian and all the army into his hands.

15 Then Gideon, having heard the story of the dream and the sense in which they took it, praised
YHWH. Then he went back to the tents of Israel, and said, Everyone up! For YHWH has given the
army of Midian into your hands.

Gideon Defeats Midian

16 Upon dividing the three hundred men into three companies, he placed trumpets and empty
jars in the hands of all of them, with torches inside. 17 And he said to them; Keep your eyes on me
and do what I do; when I come to the outer line of tents, whatever I do, you are to do the same.

18 At the sound of my horn, and the horns of those who are with me, let your own horns be
sounded all around the tents, and shout out, “For YHWH and for Gideon”.
19 It was just after midnight and the changing of the guard, when Gideon and the one hundred of
his men reached the outer edge of the Midianite camp. Suddenly, they blew the horns and broke
their clay jars.

20 Then the three companies blew the trumpets and broke the jars. They held in their left hands
the torches, and in their right hands the trumpets to blow. And they cried out, "A sword for
YHWH and for Gideon!"

21 Each man held at his position around the camp and watched as all the Midianites rushed all
about in a panic, shouting loudly as they ran.

22 But the three hundred men kept blowing the horns, and throughout the camp YHWH set the
Midianite sword one against another. In panic their army fled as far as Beth-shittah in the
direction of Zarethan, near the border of Abel-meholah at Tabbath.

23 Then Gideon sent the warriors of Naphtali, Asher, and Manasseh, who had joined in the chase
after the fleeing army of Midian.

24 Gideon also sent messengers throughout the hill country of Ephraim, saying, "Come down to
attack the Midianites. Cut them off at the shallows of the Jordan River at Beth-barah." And the
men of Ephraim did as they were told.

25 They also captured Oreb and Zeeb, the two princes of Midian; and they killed Oreb at the rock
of Oreb and Zeeb at the winepress of Zeeb. So they pursued the Midianites and brought the heads
of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon on the other side of
the Jordan.

JUDGES Chapter 8

The Men of Ephraim Accuse Gideon

Judges 8:1 Then the men of Ephraim said to Gideon, "What is this that you have done to us, not
calling us when you first went to fight with Midian?" And they accused him severely.

2 But Gideon replied, “What have I accomplished compared to you? Aren’t even the leftover
grapes of Ephraim’s harvest better than the entire crop of my little clan of Abiezer?

3 Gideon added; Don't be upset! Even though you came later, you were able to do much more
than I did. It's much like your grape harvest: The grapes your tribe doesn't even bother to pick are
better than the best grapes my family can grow. 3 GOD gave you victory over Oreb and Zeeb, the
generals of the Midianite army. What have I done compared to that?"
4 When the men of Ephraim heard Gideon's answer, they were no longer angry. Gideon came to
the Jordan and crossed over, he and his 300 men who were exhausted with him yet continued
they pursuit.

Gideon’s Episode with Zebah and Zalmunna

5 When they reached Succoth, Gideon asked the leaders of the town, "Will you please give my
soldiers some food? They are very tired. I am chasing Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian."

6 The headmen of Succoth replied, 'Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna already in your grasp,
that we should feed your army?' First capture them, then we will help you.

7 Then Gideon said, Because of this, when YHWH has given Zebah and Zalmunna

into my hands, I will have you stretched on a bed of thorns of the waste land and
on sharp stems, and have you crushed as grain is crushed on a threshing-floor.

8 From there Gideon went up to Peniel and asked for food, but he got the same answer. 9 "I'll
come back to you safe and sound," Gideon said, "but when I do, I'm going to tear down your
tower!"

10 By this time Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor with but a remnant of 15,000 warriors, all
that remained of the allied armies from the east, for 120,000 had already been killed.

11 Gideon went up by the route nomads used east of Nobah and Jogbehah, and then attacked the
camp when it felt secure.

12 Zebah and Zalmunna fled. But Gideon pursued them, caught them and took them both,
captive, throwing their entire army into panic.

13 After the battle, Gideon set out for home. As he was going through Heres Pass, 14 And he
captured a young man from Succoth who he questioned. And he got him to write down for him
the names of the officials and elders of Succoth, seventy-seven men.

15 Gideon then returned to Succoth and said to the leaders, "Here are Zebah and Zalmunna.
When we were here before, you taunted me, saying, 'You haven't caught Zebah and Zalmunna yet.
Capture them first, and then we will feed your exhausted soldiers.' "

16 So Gideon took the leaders of the city and taught them a lesson using thorns and thistles from
the desert to have them beaten with. 17 Afterwards he went to Penuel, where he tore down the
tower and killed the town leaders there.

18 Then he asked Zebah and Zalmunna, "What kind of men did you kill at Tabor?" "Men like you,"
they answered, each one with the position of a prince."
19 And he said, "They were my brothers, the sons of my mother. As YHWH lives, if you had saved
them alive, I would not kill you."20 Then, turning to Jether, his oldest son, he said, "Kill them!"
But Jether did not draw his sword, because he was only a boy and was afraid. 21 Then Zebah and
Zalmunna said to Gideon, "Don't ask a boy to do a man's job! Can’t you do it yourself?" So,
Gideon killed them both and took the royal ornaments from the necks of their camels.

Gideon’s Ephod

22 The Israelites then said to Gideon, "Rule over us -- you, your son, and your son's son -- for you
rescued us from the power of Midian." 23 But Gideon replied, "I will not rule over you, nor will
my son. YHWH is ruler over you!

24 And Gideon said to them, However, let me make a request of you--every man of you give me
the earrings of his spoil. (For the Midianites] had gold earrings because they were Ishmaelites)

25 And they answered, "We will willingly give them." And they spread a cloak, and every man
threw in it the earrings of his spoil.26 The weight of the gold earrings alone was forty-three
pounds. It did not include any of the crescents and pendants, the royal clothing of the kings, or the
chains around the necks of their camels also taken as spoil.

26 Gideon made the gold into an a ephod, which he placed in Ophrah, his town. All Israel
prostituted themselves by worshiping it there, and it became a snare to Gideon and his family.

Peace for Forty Years

27 Meanwhile, Midian had been subdued before the people of Israel, and they stayed defeated
thus, the land had peace forty years in the days of Gideon.

29 And Gideon (Jerubbaal), the son of Joash, went back to his own house and was living there in
a state of retirement. 30 Gideon had seventy sons, the offspring of his body; for he had a number
of wives. 31 He also had a concubine in Shechem, who bore him a son named Abimelech.

Gideon Dies

32 Gideon, son of Joash died after a happy old age and was buried in the tomb of Joash his father,
at Ophrah of Abiezer.

33 But when Gideon was dead, the children of Israel turned away and went whoring after Baals,
and made Baal-berith their god, 34 and forgot YHWH, their god, who had delivered them from
the power of enemies all around them.

35 Nor did they show any loyalty to the remaining family of Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon), despite
all the good Gideon had done for Israel.

Footnote for Chapter Eight

 a
ephod "ephod" here signifies an image that was set up in the sanctuary. It became a
source of veneration in itself.

JUDGES Chapter 9.

Abimelech Conspires to Gain Powers

Judges 9:1 One day Abimelech, Gideon's son, went to Shechem to visit his mother's brothers. He
said to them and to the rest of his mother's family. 2 Speak to all the men of Shechem, whether it
is better for you that seventy men, (all the sons of Jerubbaal) should rule over you, or that one
man should rule over you? And with that, also consider that I am of your bone, and your flesh.

3 So Abimelech's uncles spoke to all the people of Shechem on his behalf. And after listening to
their proposal, they decided in favor of Abimelech because he was their relative. 4 They also gave
him seventy silver shekels from the temple of the Baal of Berith, with which Abimelech hired
shiftless men and ruffians as his followers.

5 And he went on to his father's house at Ophrah, and slew his seventy brothers the sons of
Jerubbaal, at a large rock, but Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left; for he had hidden
himself.

Townsmen of Shechem and all Beth-millo came together and went and made Abimelech their
king, by the oak of the pillar in Shechem.

7 When this was reported to Jotham, he went up to the top of Mount Gerizim, and standing there,
cried out to them in a loud voice: "Hear me, citizens of Shechem, that GOD may then hear you!

Jotham Speaks an Anti-Abimelech Parable to the People

8 Once upon a time there were some trees who decided to elect a king. First, they said to the olive
tree, 'Be our king!' 9. The olive tree replied, 'Must I give up my oil which gives honor to gods and
men, to stand and sway over the trees?'

10 Then the trees said to the fig tree, 'You come and be our king!' 11 The fig tree replied, 'Must I
give up my sweetness, and forgo my excellent fruit, to go and sway over the trees?'

12 Then the trees said to the vine, 'You come and be our king!' 13 The vine replied, 'Must I give up
my wine which cheers gods and men, to go and sway over the trees?'

14 Then the trees all said to the thorn bush, 'You come and be our king!' 15 And the thorn bush
replied to the trees, 'If you are anointing me in good faith to be your king, come and shelter in my
shade. But, if not, fire will come out of the thorn bush and devour the cedars of Lebanon.'

16 "Now make sure you have acted honorably and in good faith by making Abimelech your king,
and that you have done right by Jerubbaal (Gideon), my father and all of his descendants.
I ask, have you treated my father with the honor he deserves? 17 My father fought for you, and
endangered his life, and delivered you out of the hands of Midian; 18 but you have risen against
his family this day and have killed his seventy sons on one rock, and have made Abimelech, the
son of his handmaid, king over the citizens of Shechem, just because he is your kinsman.

19 Now, if you think you have acted in good faith and with honor toward Jerubbaal and his family
this day, rejoice in Abimelech and may he in turn rejoice in you. 20 but if not, let fire come out
from Abimelech, and devour the men of Shechem, and the house of Millo; and let fire come out
from the men of Shechem, and from the house of Millo, and devour Abimelech.

21 Then Jotham bolted, and ran away, and went as far as Baeer, and lived there, far out of the
reach of his brother Abimelech.

Gaal Conspires with Shechemites

22 After Abimelech had ruled over Israel for three years, 23 GOD created bad feelings between
Abimelech and the citizens of Shechem, who rebelled against Abimelech.

24 This was to repay the violence done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal and to avenge their blood
upon their brother Abimelech, who killed them, and upon the citizens of Shechem, who
encouraged him to kill his brothers.

25 So, out of hostility to him, leading men of Shechem set ambushes on the mountain tops by men
who robbed all who passed by them along that way; and it was reported to Abimelech.

26 At that time Gaal son of Ebed had moved to Shechem with his brothers and was gaining the
confidence of the people of Shechem.

27 One day the people of Shechem went out to the vineyards to pick grapes. They squeezed the
grapes to make wine. And then they had a party at the temple of their god. The people ate and
drank and cursed Abimelech.

28 "Who is Abimelech?" Gaal shouted. "He's not a true descendant of Shechem! Why should we
be Abimelech's servants? He is merely the son of Gideon, and Zebul is his governor. Serve the
men of Hamor, who are Shechem's true descendants. Why should we serve Abimelech?

29 If I were the ruler of Shechem, I'd get rid of that Abimelech. I would tell him,

"Get yourself an even bigger army, and we will still defeat you."

Abimelech Hears About Gaal’s Rants

30 Zebul was angry when he found out what Gaal had said. 31 So, he sent messengers to
Abimelech secretly, saying; "Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his relatives have come to
Shechem, and they are stirring up the city against you.
32 Now then, during the night you and your men should come and set up an ambush in the fields.
33 Then in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, rise early and have some troops rush the city.
And when Gaal and the people who are with him come out against you, you may easily defeat
them.

34 So Abimelech and his men went by night and split into four groups, stationing themselves
around Shechem.

35 Gaal was standing at the city gates when Abimelech and his forces came out of hiding 36 And
when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, "Look, people are coming down from the mountains!"
And Zebul said to him, "You are mistaken . You are seeing shadows of the mountains for men."37
But again Gaal said, "No, those are people coming down from the hills. And there is another
coming down the road past the Diviners' Oak. "

38 Then Zebul said to Gaal; Where is your big mouth now that we shouldn’t serve him? Isn’t this
the people that you have despised? Go out now, I pray, and fight with them.

39 So Gaal went out at the head of townsmen of Shechem and made war on Abimelech. 40 But
Gaal was defeated and ran away. Many of Shechem's warriors were killed, and the ground was
covered with dead bodies all the way to the city gate.

41 Then, Abimelech went to Arumah to stay and Zebul drove out Gaal and his crowd, so that they
could not remain in Shechem any longer.

42 And it came to pass on the second day that the people went out into the field, and someone
brought word to Abimelech. 43 So, he divided his men into three groups and set an ambush in the
fields. When Abimelech saw the people coming out of the city, he and his men jumped up from
their hiding places and attacked them.

44 Then, Abimelech and the company with him dashed in and stood by the entrance of the city
gate, while the other two groups rushed upon all who were in the field and attacked them.

45 And Abimelech fought against the city all that day; and he took the city, and slew the people
that were in it, and broke down the city, and sowed it with a salt.

46 And when all the important persons living in the citadel of Shechem heard about it, they took
security of the temple at El-berith.

47 Someone reported to Abimelech that the people had taken refuge in the temple. 48 So he went
up Mount Zalmon with all his soldiers, took his axe in his hand, and cut down some brushwood.
This he lifted to his shoulder, then said to the men with him, "Hurry! Do just as you have seen me
do."
49 So each of them cut down some branches, following Abimelech's example. They piled the
branches against the walls of the temple and set them on fire. So, all the people who had lived in
the tower of Shechem died, about a thousand men and women.

50 Next Abimelech went to Thebez and besieged it and captured it.

GOD is Behind Abimelech’s Punishment

51 But there was a strong tower inside the city, and the entire population fled to it. They
barricaded themselves in and climbed up to the roof of the tower.

52 And Abimelech fought his way to the tower, and he drew near to the entrance of the tower to
burn it with fire; 53 But a certain woman threw part of a millstone down on Abimelech's head,
and it fractured his skull.

54 Then Abimelech said to his young armor bearer, "Draw your sword and kill me! Don't let it be
said that a woman killed Abimelech!" So, the young man obeyed and stabbed him with his sword,
and Abimelech died.

55 When the Israelites saw that Abimelech was dead, they all went back home.

56 In that way GOD punished Abimelech for all the bad things he had done in sinning against his
own father by killing his 70 brothers. 57 GOD also punished the people in Shechem for the bad
things they had done. Thus, the things said by Jotham son of Jerubbaal (Gideon) all came true.

Footnote for Chapter Nine

a
salt. – In sowing the city with salt, it symbolized preserving the effects of his conquest
forever after.

JUDGES Chapter 10.

Judge Tola

Judges 10:1 After Abimelech’s death, GOD appointed another judge to serve Israel. His name was
Tola. He was the son of Puah, who was the son of Dodo. Tola was from the tribe of Issachar and
lived in the city of Shamir, in the hill country of Ephraim. 2 And he judged Israel twenty-three
years. Then he died and was buried at Shamir.

Judge Jair

3 After him came Jair, a man from Gilead who judged Israel twenty-two years. 4 And he had
thirty-two sons who rode around on thirty-two colts, and they ruled thirty-two cities; and they
called them Jair's towns until this day in the land of Gilead. 5 When Jair died, he was buried in
the place which is called Camon.
Oppression by Philistines and Ammonites

6 Once again, the Israelites again began doing what was evil in YHWH's eyes. They served Baal
and Astarte, and the gods of Aram and Sidon, the gods of Moab and those of the Ammonites and
Philistines. They abandoned YHWH and stopped serving him anymore. So, YHWH's anger was
kindled against Israel and he gave them over into the power of the Philistines and the power of
the Ammonites.

8 From then on, their enemies afflicted and oppressed the Israelites in Bashan, and all the
Israelites in the Amorite land beyond the Jordan in Gilead. 9 The Ammonites also crossed the
Jordan to fight against Judah, Benjamin, and the house of Ephraim, so that all Israel was in great
distress.

10 Finally, Israel cried out to YHWH, saying, "We have sinned against you because we have
abandoned you as our god and have served the idols of Baal."

11 And YHWH said to the children of Israel, did not I save you from the Egyptians, and from the
Amorites, from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines, 12 the Sidonians, the
Amalekites, and the Maonites? When they oppressed you, you cried out to me, and I rescued you.

13 Why should I rescue you anymore! You have left me and gone off to worship other gods. If you
are in such big trouble, go cry to them for help! 14 Go and cry out to those gods whom you have
chosen. Let them save you when you are in trouble!"

15 But the Israelites pleaded with YHWH and said, "We have sinned. Punish us as you see fit, only
please rescue us today from our enemies." 16 And they turned away from the alien gods among
them and served YHWH; and finally, there came a time when YHWH could no longer stand to see
them suffer.

17 So, when the Ammonites were called to arms and camped in Gilead, the Israelites assembled
and camped at Mizpah. 18 And among the people their leaders said to one another, "The one who
takes the initiative in the war against the Ammonites shall be leader of all the inhabitants of
Gilead."