Migratory Tribe

This is the Bible study page for the Thursday Night Bible Study Group meeting December 28 to study Judges 17 and 18 (this is for 18).

This chapter continues what was setup for us in chapter 17.  It has the same tone, tempo, and characters as the previous chapter.  Read this chapter carefully, because there are some interesting claims made, and assumptions underlying those claims.  Think through why the people do what they do.

As always, read through the chapter a few times, making notes, and jotting down questions.  Once you have your own, go back through with a commentary or two.  There are, again, lots of  diverse perspectives on this chapter.  Revise your notes and questions, then go back through with the questions below:

• Why do you think Dan can claim that an inheritance never "fell to them" during the time Israel took possession of the land.  Why do you think they phrase it that way?  It sort of sounds like everyone received an inheritance from God but them.  If that's what they mean, why do you think they would believe that?
• The tribe of Dan sends out spies.  What does this begin to sound like to you?  What other sending out of spies does this remind you of? Maybe reading Numbers 13 will help.
• What a surprise, they come to the house of Micah.  It says they 'recognize' the voice of the Levite.  What do you think the author means by that?  What was it that was familiar, that particular Levite, or what he was saying?
• The spies investigate the Levite.  It's not really part of their job, but they do so anyway.  Why?  What do you think is the big deal with the Levite to them?
• In verse 5, since there is an idol (or idols) involved here, but, since also the name of Yahweh has been bandied about earlier, do you think the "Elohim" here (as in, "inquire of Elohim") is God, or gods? 
• The Levite tells them that they walk in the favor of God.  What do you think?  Do they?  Why or why not?
• The spies come to Laish.  Read the description carefully.  What do you think is the most important detail, among the many given, about Laish that makes it ideal for the tribe of Dan?
• There is a really strange word used in verse 7.  It makes the modern translators pretty crazy trying to figure it out.  Look at this verse in various versions on Blue Letter Bible.  Note the little bracketed "fn" notes.  Here's the Strong's entry on the difficult word. Here's a new trick you can use for word studies: using the arrows in the "Word/Phrase/Strong's Search" section (below the Hebrew Lexicon entry), flip to the word before and then the word after this one (H6113 and then H6115).  Similarities are rarely inconsequential, except when it's a completely different word.  So, what do you think about the similarities and differences between the words on either side of this one?
• Here's one of my favorite movie scenes.  It's from "Monty Python and the Holy Grail".  In this scene, listen for how Dennis describes their form of government.  How does that help you imagine the area of Laish when the spies from Dan found them?
• The spies return and get everyone moving.  What does their description remind you of? 
• The author notes that 600 traveled "armed with weapons of war", which makes longer travel more difficult.  Why do you think these 600 traveled this way?
• Their travel explains a place-name, Mahaneh-Dan.  Where have we already run across this place? (check your Bible's cross references.  I bet they will help.)
• What a surprise, they come to the house of Micah.  Read what the spies tell the tribe about the Levite and his setup.  What jumps out to you about this description? Why do you think the spies are pushing the men to "consider" their next move carefully?  Why isn't it obvious?
•  Look at verses 17 and 18 in several translations (including a KJV).  Who goes into the house to retrieve the idols? No Hebrew or Greek version has "...when they entered...", they all have "...they entered..."  Why do you think translators have all added "when"?
• The sons of Dan basically threaten the priest to get him to cooperate.  But why do you think they do this?  Why do they want these idols and priest?  What do you think is the underlying assumption in this account?  What do these people (Micah, and the tribe of Dan) believe about these idols?
• The priest happily goes with them.  So, what does he believe about this arrangement?
• As the tribe of Dan travels, they put the families and possessions in front.  Why do you think they do that?  What are they protecting, and from what?
• Micah and the village give chase, and catch the traveling tribe and the armed 600.  What do you think of the challenge of the sons of Dan? What do you think they mean by that?
• Micah doesn't seem to understand their lack of understanding.  Why do you think he is confused by their challenge?
• The tribe of Dan moves to an open threat.  The "fierce" or "angry" men are actually "bitter of soul".  What does that description remind you of?  (Maybe 1 Samuel 22:1-2?)
• Micah does some quick accounting, and determines this isn't a good idea.  If he really considered what he had to be the "favor of Yahweh", what do you think he thinks now?
• The tribe of Dan takes Micah's "religious establishment", and then destroys the people of Laish.  Just based on the amount of ink, the battle isn't as important to the author as their situation of Laish.  What point do you think the author is making about the tribe of Dan through this account, and specifically through this depiction of the fall of Laish?
• They rebuilt the city and called it Dan.  Then they established the worship there.  Look at the names in the priestly line.  Could we now have a name of the "young Levite", and now know why the spies "recognized" him?  What do you think?
• If this is Gershom of Moses, and he is a young Levite, then when did this actually happen, or how old is this "youth"?
• Most manuscripts have "Manasseh", not "Moses", which would make him a different "Gershom".  If you look at why Moses named his son Gershom (Exodus 2:22), why would it make sense that this young Levite was named Gershom as well?  (look at where he was introduced in chapter 10)

That should keep us well occupied, and probably for more than one week.  Remember to consider how the confusion of acceptable worship of Yahweh reflects on dangers in our own day.  What do we need to learn here?

Annunciating Samson

This is the Bible study page for the Thursday Night Bible Study Group meeting October 12 to study Judges 13.  This chapter almost sounds like Luke 1, with Zechariah, Elizabeth, and Mary.

You will want a few translations for this chapter.  I recommend at least a King James in addition to the NIV favorite.  The NASB and ESV are also very good for this chapter.  If you can, try to review all four.

All those should get you reading the chapter through a few times.  Make sure you jot down questions and insights.  Once you have your own notes, review a commentary or two.  Revise your questions and notes, and then go through the questions below:

• The new "bad guy" is the Philistines.  Look at a map of Canaan and see where this particular enemy is located.  Where is the "Tribe of Dan"?  What do you see that's odd about that?
• Manoah is named, but his wife is not.  Yet the Angel only goes to meet the mother.  Why do you think that might be?  Which of the parents is the "primary" character?
• Look up the "Nazarite" vow here.  From the article, we find that the vow was unusual to be a 'lifetime' vow, and never by the individual.  So, what do you think this lifetime vow meant for Samson growing up and during his adulthood?
• Notice that his mother also has to follow the "Nazarite" life during her pregnancy.  Why do you think that is, and what difference do you think this is supposed to make?
• The woman goes to tell her husband immediately.  From her description, who do you think she thinks came to visit her?
• Why do you think she would include the detail about where the "man of God" was from or his name?
• Manoah entreats (literally, prays) Yahweh to send back the "man of God".  And God does so.  Why do you think Yahweh listens to such a request?  Why is this in God's best interest?
• The Angel of Yahweh (v.3) and the Angel of God (v.9) are the same person.  Why do you think the writer uses different references here?
• The Angel of God appears to the woman sitting in a field.  What do you think she was doing there?  Why "sitting"?
• The woman runs to get Manoah, and he "gets up" to follow her?  Why do these two spend so much time "sitting"?  What do you think he's doing?
• Manoah begins to question the Angel of God.  He asks two questions, and the Angel seems perturbed and refers to the woman obeying what he has said.  What is the writer doing here, naming Manoah, but clearing putting the woman in front as the focus of Yahweh's attention?
• Then Manoah wants to be hospitable (prepare a goat).  But the Angel will not eat, why do you think that might be?
• The Angel suggests an offering to Yahweh, and the writer adds, "for Manoah did not know that he was the Angel of the Lord."  What difference do you think that would have made for what Manoah suggests?
• Verse 17 is weird.  It harkens back to the woman's comment about where the "man of God" was from and his name.  Why do you think that would be so important to Manoah? What do you think he means by, "honor" (and this is the normal Hebrew word for "honor")?
• What does the response of the Angel of God to Manoah tell you about how Yahweh feels about Manoah's request?
• Notice the Angel doesn't address the point about "honoring" him once the child happens.  Why do you think the name is a problem, but honoring him isn't?
• Verse 19 is difficult to translate, because the writer wasn't specific about who performed wonders.  So, the NIV has one view, the King James another, and the ESV yet another.  Other modern translations opt for the literal, "He performed wonders", avoiding the issue almost entirely.  So, who do you think performed the wonders before Manoah and his wife?
•  The Angel of Yahweh ascends in the flame to heaven.  From Manoah's and his wife's reaction, who do you think they think the Angel was?
• The Angel disappears, and Manoah knows he is the Angel of Yahweh (v. 21). From what he says to his woman, what seems to be the prevailing view about this Angelic Character?
• The nameless woman has a very different view from her husband, Manoah.  What does this tell you about this woman?  Why do you think she remains nameless?  What could be the writer's point?
• This term, "the Spirit of the Lord began to stir in him..." isn't found often (if at all) elsewhere in Scripture.  What do you think it means here?  Read ahead, do you still think that?

That should be enough oddities for our discussion.  It's a short chapter, but a fascinating beginning to one of the best Judges stories so far.  Remember to ask yourself what our Master is revealing to you about Himself, and your relationship with Him?