Bad Leaders Gone Worse

This is the Bible study page for the Thursday Night Bible Study Group meeting August 10 to study further into Judges 9.  Let the weirdness begin!  The people of this chapter are amazingly bizarre and stupid.  There's really very little sense to what they do or why, at least on a strategic level.

Read through the rest of the chapter.  We left off at verse 21, so 22 through 57 is what remains.  We may not get through it all, but you should be familiar with it anyway.  At this point, the writer/editor of Judges slows back down, and goes into agonizing detail, and possible repetition.  Read the verses in several different versions.  There will be some plot elements repeated but with some possibly glaring inconsistencies.

Once you have gone through the passage on your own, read through some commentaries.  They will most likely ignore the inconsistent repetition, but not always.  Be sure to revise your notes and questions before going back through with the questions below.

• Verse 22 sounds a little like the "King Formula" found in Samuel and Kings, but is missing some things.  For an example look at 2 Kings 8:26, and see what's missing in Judges 9:22.  Why do you think the writer/editor would leave out those elements?
• God sends an "evil spirit".  We sort of dealt with this in Samuel with Saul, but there are other places where this seems to happen as well.  Why do you think God would operate using "evil spirits"?
• The "baals" of Shechem deal treacherously with Abimelech, by setting bandits in the hills to rob people passing by.  And it was told to Abimelech.  Why do you think it makes good sense to leaders of a city to encourage bandits around your city?
• Now another character, Gaal, shows up.  He has a lot in common with Abimelech in character.  They have a grape-harvest festival in the temple, and Gaal tells them to "Serve the men of Hamor, father of Shechem!"  But where is Gaal from?  How did he get to Shechem?
• Verse 28 is the first time we hear of Zebul.  It turns out he runs Shechem for Abimelech, or is at least supportive of Abimelech.  So, why do you think he's active on behalf of Abimelech now, but lets the "baals" of Shechem set ambushes in the hills before?  Doesn't he run the show there?
• Zebul sends messengers to Abimelech "deceitfully" or "secretly" or whatever.  If you have access to one, read verse 31 in the NLT or New Revised Standard Version.  If not, look at footnotes in any version except NIV.  You will need a commentary for this one.  If Zebul is being secretive, why do you think he would feel the need?
• Zebul gives Abimelech instruction about how to ambush the people of the city.  Why do you think Abimelech would need that?
• In verse 34, the people with Abimelech are in four companies.  In verse 41, they're in Arumah, and in verse 43, they come back and divide into 3 companies.  This is a confusing description of battle.  What do you think is happening, how do you work it out in your mind?
• One of the problems with the battle description in verses 31 through 49 is the leaving and returning. Why would Abimelech care if the people went out of the city about their business?
• How do you think the people going out into the fields in verse 42 is different from what was supposed to happen back up at verse 34 and following?
• How is it that Shechem can be razed and sowed with salt, but the "Tower of Shechem" and the stronghold of the temple of Baal Berith are missed?  The baals of Shechem aren't even in the city?  What do you think is going on here?
• The tactic used by Abimelech is to set the stronghold on fire, and it works.  All the people in the stronghold of the Temple of Baal Berith die in it.  Shechem is thoroughly destroyed, and by fire.  Considering the curse of Jotham, why do you think this is an important detail?
• Abimelech turns his attention to Thebez.  Why do you think he considered Thebez at all?
• This fight goes well, except for the stronghold.  Notice this stronghold is inside the city.  Abimelech tries the same tactic with this stronghold that he used on the temple in Shechem.  How do you think a woman was able to get a "millstone" to the roof (and why would she), and then throw it over the side, and actually hit Abimelech? 
• Abimelech is actually struck in the head, his skull crushed, and he still calls for his "bearer of stuff" to kill him.  What does that tell you about his head wound?
• If Abimelech's death reminds you of anyone else's, whose death does it remind you of?
• Notice the "ending formula" for kings is missing here as well.  Abimelech is not buried in the tomb of his father, as Gideon was.  And no son of Abimelech reigned in his place.  What do you think this missing piece (no succession linkage) might have meant to the initial audience of Judges in the time of the kings of Judah?
• The writer/editor of Judges concludes with the dissolution of the army after Abimelech's death, and with the tying together of Jotham's curse and the results of Shechem and Abimelech.  What do you think is the writer/editor's point for his 600 BC audience?

Consider the life and choices of Abimelech, but also of the leaders of Shechem.  Where have you made some wrong choices or followed some flawed leaders?  And, how can we keep this sort of stuff from happening to us?

Brotherly Hatred

This is the Bible study page for the Thursday Night Bible Study meeting August 3 to study Judges 9:1-21.  This is the account of how Israel treated the house of Gideon.  It's another sad tale, I'm sorry to say.

Read the whole chapter to get a sense of the entirety.  We're only looking at the first part, which accounts for only a third of the chapter.  It's a long, convoluted story.  But one of the things which we'll be looking at is the only "fable" in Scripture.  A fable is like a parable which Jesus used, except plants and/or animals are used in the story for people as the characters. 

For this one, I encourage you to find a good commentary, if only because it will be humorous to see how they struggle with this (if they even mention that).  Matthew Henry is available on the Blue Letter Bible site, and has a long article on this.  But he doesn't distinguish between a parable and a fable.

After you have gone through this passage with various translations, made your own notes and questions, read through a commentary or two; then go back through with the questions below:

• Abimelech goes to his mother's relatives in Shechem.  Read about its history within Israel, but keep this in mind, it was never conquered by the people when they entered the land, but simply made the seat of Joshua's government.  It seems it was already Israelite before the exodus.  With such a good history, why do you think it was after the people gain Canaan that it falls to idolatry?
• Abimelech goes to the whole clan of the father of his mother, and he asks them some odd questions.  Why would they believe that Gideon's seventy sons would rule over them?  Gideon has said they wouldn't, and there's no indication that any of them, but Abimelech, has any interest in doing so.  What do you think is going on here?
• The family of Abimelech passes on this question to those of Shechem.  There seems to be some difference of opinion in how to translate the second audience.  In the NASB and ESV, they are the "leaders" of Shechem.  In the HCSB and NRS they are the "lords of Shechem".  In the NIV and NLT they are called "citizens", and the NKJV and KJV calls them "men of Shechem".  The word can be found here on the Blue Letter Bible site.  This isn't all that uncommon a word for who these people are.  But what do you think that leaders of any sort would be called "baal"?
• These "leaders" were inclined to follow Abimelech because he was their relative.  Why do you think they would set aside what they should know for what Abimelech says?  
• They pay Abimelech with seventy silver, and with it he hires a wonderful band of quality men...not exactly.  Why do you think Abimelech hires such men?
• They execute all seventy men on one stone, a detail repeated again in verse 18.  Why do you think this detail is important?
• One escapes, the youngest, named Jotham.  He hears that Shechem is anointing Abimelech king, and goes there to pronounce a judgement over them.  Why not gather an army, blow the trumpet, go to war?  Jotham probably has a good enough story to make a good case against Shechem and Abimelech.  Why do you think he didn't?
• Jotham tells them a fable.  Look up the definition of a fable here (especially b.). Like a parable, these have a point that is supposed to help people understand a foundational truth.  But unlike a parable, fables were used to point out the folly people using plants or animals as characters.  What does it tell you about Jotham that he knew what a fable was, knew how to form one, and was so skilled at using it with Shechem and Abimelech?
• The basic element of the parable is four attempts by the trees to make one a king over them.  They ask a olive, the fig, and the vine.  Look at each response of these trees.  What do you think of the elements repeated in each response?  What is it they prefer over ruling?
• He gets to the fourth "tree", which is a thorn bush.  What is so different about this response?  There are a lot of elements different, jot down each in turn.  Why shelter in its shade?  How much shade would there be?
• If they do not "deal in truth" in making the thorn bush king, then may fire come out and consume the "cedars of Lebanon".  Why do you think this element was added at the end?  Why those trees?
• Jotham then interprets the fable to his audience.  And they let him.  Why do you think they let Jotham speak so much?
• Jotham escapes to "Beer", a place of which there is no record.  It is a desert-people's reference to a well or oasis.  Why do you think Jotham chose such a place?

That should keep us busy for a while.  Remember to look for what God is telling you through these characters.  Try and identify with each set or person.  What sorts of changes is God asking you to make?

See you Thursday!

Sad and Shrewd: The Emotional Swings of Genesis 21

Hey Folks!

Here is the study page for Chapter 21.  I am debating about whether to tackle the entire chapter or just the first 21 verses.  The last part isn't long, but it is odd.  The questions will cover both pieces.

This is for the meeting on July 12.  Pay attention to the character of God shown here.  Also note that something is missing all through the first section.  The absence may not be obvious until you read it through a few times and ask yourself some questions about what's going on (that should annoy a lot of you ;)

As you read, ask a lot of questions, and jot them down.  Here are some to spur on some discussion on Thursday:

• Who is responsible for the birth of Isaac?
• What does Abraham do when his son is born?
• What does Sarah do? (and which do you think Isaac preferred?)
• This is the word used for "laughter" (H6712) in verse 6, it is related to the verb, "laugh" (H6711) used in the last part of the verse.  Look at the letters and the Strong's definitions.  Now look at "Isaac" (H3327) in the Strong's.  The similarity is really obvious when you look at the Hebrew letters, only the first letter is different.
• How does Abraham celebrate Isaac's "weaning"?
• Something turns the "laughter" to "mocking" (H6711) in verse 9.  Look at the various translations of this word.  How often is it translated as "mocking"?  Why is it "mocking" here, but "laughter" just a few verses prior?
• What is Sarah's real concern with keeping "Hagar's son" around?
• What is Abraham's response to Sarah's demand?
• What is the character of God demonstrated in His response to Abraham's dilemma?
• What is the emotions going on in Abraham as he acquiesces to his wife's demand to send Hagar and "her son" away?
• What does Hagar do when the water runs out?  How do you feel at verse 16?
• Who is crying? God responds but who does He hear?
• How does the son of Hagar make his way in the wilderness?  What similarities does he have with Nimrod (Genesis 10:8-9)?

Now, the next section:

• Who's the new guy?  Why do you think Abimelech now brings his "battle chief"?
• So, what does Abimelech propose?  What does Abraham say to the suggestion?
• After the oath (v. 24) what does Abraham want to discuss?  Look at verse 25 is several translations.  Look up this word for "complain" (H3198) in Strong's.  What is the tone of Abraham here with the "king"?
• What is Abimelech's response?  With his "battle chief" sitting there, how does this seem?
• Now there is another covenant, and what's with the seven lambs?
• What does it mean if Abimelech takes the lambs?
• In other places Abraham builds an altar, what does he do here?
• What name does Abraham use for God here?  Why that?  How, from all that transpires in this chapter, does Abraham arrive at that name for God?

That should do it for this week.  Be sure to write down your own questions and bring them Thursday!

Blessings!

Genesis 20: Same Song, Different Tune

Happy Fourth!  This is partly a reminder and partly a more accessible page.  This is the study page for Genesis 20 for the Thursday, July 5 group.  This chapter will sound and feel a lot like the last half of Chapter 12.  But there are differences.

I sent these bullets to you in an email, but here they are again.  As you read the chapter consider these questions, but also come up with some of your own.

• Where is the area Abraham goes located?
• What is different about how God deals with the king of Gerar as opposed to Pharaoh?
• What sort of person does God consider Abimelech?
• This Strong's word (H1166) is used in verse 3 for "married".  What do we normally think of when we hear this word? 
• This Strong's word (H0136) is used in verse 4 for how Abimelech addresses God.  What might be expected here if he is a pagan king?
• What does Abimelech do first thing after the "dream"?
• When Abimelech confronts Abraham, what is Abraham's explanation?
• Before, in Chapter 12, I posed the possibility that Abraham was shrewd, not afraid.  What does Abraham's explanation claim was his motivation?
• What does God tell Abimelech to do to fix the problem?
• From verses 16 & 17, what importance does Sarah play here?  What's the possibility that she is more than a "pawn" here?
• What is interesting in the "plague" and the timing of these events?

Hopefully you have already had a chance to go through the passage, look at a map, and get a sense of the events here.  I hope you have questions!  See you tomorrow night!