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?

No Sense of God

This is the Bible study page for the Thursday Night Bible Study Group meeting December 28 to study Judges 17 and possibly 18.  There are two separate accounts in these final chapters of Judges. I always put them together, and while they do seem to work together, they are not the same characters.  This first account is the migration of the tribe of Dan.

Read through the two chapters together, 17 and 18.  There are plenty of distractions along the way, with funky things people say and do.  My recommendation is to make lots of notes, because you'll get bogged down in the surprises if you don't.

You should have lots of questions.  Make sure you write them down.  Then, with your notes and questions, go to commentaries.  You can revise your notes accordingly, but be sure to look at more than one commentary.  They do not all agree on these chapters.  This is confusing for everyone.

After you have gone through your own study and commentaries, go back through with the questions below:

• The events of chapter 17 happen in the "hill country of Ephraim".  They happen around a man who has a righteous name based on Yahweh.  Why do you think these details might be important, keeping in mind how often they are repeated?
• Micah (Mikayehu in the Hebrew of the first part of the chapter) has stolen silver from his mother, silver which she then cursed in his hearing.  Why do you think Micah stole the money but didn't spend any?
• He confesses to his mother, and she "blesses him to Yahweh". When he returns the money she "consecrates" it (makes it holy) to Yahweh, but, holy to make an idol and a "cast image".  How does something holy to Yahweh then be used to make something He has forbidden?  Why do you think these children of Israel didn't know that was wrong?
• So, of the 1,100 silver, she gives him 200 to make the idol and cast image.  Perhaps a "tithe" of it was for the image (110 silver), and the other 90 for the smithy?  So, do these sound like two images, or one image made of two processes?  Look at several translations, why do you think they have so much trouble understanding what Micah did?
• Micah then makes a "house of God", ephod, teraphim (household gods), and sets one of his sons as a priest.  Sin is "missing", iniquity is "twisting", and transgression is "rebelling".  In your opinion, which one has Micah and his family done here?
• In verse 6, we have the author's explanation of how things got this bad, "In those days, there was no king in Israel, and everyone did what was right in their own eyes."  But there was worship happening in Shiloh (see 18:31).  So, why do you think a king is such an important detail here for this author?
• Enter the young itinerant Levite from Bethlehem.  He wanders to the hill country of Ephraim and happens upon Micah and his house of God.  What you would you expect the young Levite to think of Micah's setup there in his house?
• Micah offers him room, board, a stipend, and clothes to be his priest in his idolatrous "house of God".  Why do you think the Levite would consent to such an arrangement?
• Micah consecrates the Levite in verse 12.  Then in verse 13, he says he now knows he has found favor with Yahweh.  So, what have Micah (and, most likely, everyone living around him) believed about Yahweh at this point in Israel's history?
• The first verse of chapter 18 probably belongs to chapter 17 as the final say, "In those days, there was no king in Israel..."  That verse also sets us up for the events of chapter 18.  Read both chapters together.  Why do you think they've been separated?

What should be most disturbing about this chapter is the way Micah and his people/family consider themselves devoted to Yahweh, yet worship Him in a Canaanite way.  They have set aside His rules for how to relate to Him for the culture of the displaced people of the land.  In what ways do we endanger ourselves in the same way in this culture?  What steps can we take to make sure we don't fall into the same trap?

Two Judges and Repentance

This is the Bible study page for the Thursday Night Bible Study Group meeting September 7 to study Judges 10.  This is a "linking" or transition to the account of Jephthah.  In setting the scene, the author of Judges passes through some very interesting history of Israel.

Read through the chapter slowly making notes.  Other versions will be helpful because the grammar is kind of odd in places.  This is a weird chapter, but a different weird than we've seen so far.  Ask yourself questions about what is going on, and why the author puts it the way he does.  You may find some expected elements missing.  Don't assume they're there, but not mentioned.  Think through why the author would leave them out, or why were they not necessary in this time of Israel's history?

After you've gone through your own study, look through some commentaries, various study Bibles, or other study materials you may have. Adjust your questions and notes accordingly, and then go back through with the questions below:

• Why do you think "a man of Isachar" might live, serve, die, and be buried in Ephraim?
• The number of years seems precise, where his family is from is given, and where he lives, dies, and is buried is precises.  Why do you think no other details the "sin cycle" of Israel is present?
• Jair also has some weirdly precise detail, but also a Hebrew pun lost in translation.  The word for "jackass" is spelled much like the word for "city".  Other than the specific number of years, the thirty sons, jackasses, and cities, we are told nothing of any achievements.  Why do you think the author just includes this "pun" and really nothing else about Jair?
• What is the author's point with this account of Tola and Jair?  Why these details?  What do you think he wanted his audience to know or learn about their own relationship with God and their king(s)?
• Starting with verse 6, we find the expected "formula" for Judges.  The "roll call" of nations is different, with some new additions.  Why do you think the people would leave Yahweh and go after these other national deities?
• Yahweh "sells" the people into the hands of Philistines and the "sons of Ammon".  Why do you think the author puts it that way, Yahweh "sells" them?
• There a lots of ways to read verse 8, and translations vary.  What do you think it means?  Was there 1 year of damage for the country and 18 for Gilead?  Or 18 years of damage for everyone? Or 18 years for everyone, but that one year was "smashing" or worse somehow?
• The sons of Ammon oppress Ephraim, Benjamin, and Judah.  But the story happens in Gilead.  What do you think it means that Gilead is where deliverance comes from, but the people cry out in Ephraim, Benjamin, and Judah?  Why isn't everyone involved in the deliverance?
• The people cry out to Yahweh, which happens, but then a dialogue ensues.  Why do you think there is no "prophet" or angel mentioned in this dialogue?
• What do you notice that is included in the people's cry to Yahweh that has been missing so far?
• Yahweh responds with an "it's too late" sort of response.  What does this tell you about God's character and how He deals with His people?
• The people persist in crying out, but there is a difference in what they say to Yahweh.  What do you think of their response to Yahweh's refusal to rescue?
• In addition to saying something, the people also do something different.  We haven't seen the people put away the foreign gods on their own before.  There's always been someone to make them do it, or force them to not worship them.  What do you think it means for this people at this time that they do this on their own?  What's happening?  What does it mean?
• Read verse 16 in several translations.  To what do you think God is responding?  What part of His character moves Him to respond?
• The battle is formed against Gilead, and the people look for a leader.  Why do you think there isn't a wrestling match to see who gets to be in charge?  What do you think it means for the people that people don't really want to be in charge?

That should take care of our time together, an hour of it at least.  Remember to be asking yourself what you learn of God from this, and what you learn about how He relates to you.  How does that change how you relate to Him?

The End of Gideon

This is the Bible study page for the Thursday Night Bible Study Group meeting July 27 to wrap up the study of Judges 8.  This has been a wild study of a crazy time of Israel's history.  The character of Gideon has been baffling, but also a little too familiar.

Read through the whole chapter to maintain the context, but we'll pick up from verse 10.  Read through the chapter, use various translations, and make notes, and jot down questions.  Once you have that, then look over whatever commentaries you have (remember that the Blue Letter Bible website has several you can use).  Revise your notes and questions, then go back through with the questions below (they pick up at verse 10):

• The term used for the troops in the enemy camp are "Sons of the East" as opposed to Midian.  Yet they are clearly led by the Midianite kings.  What do you think that means for the term "Sons of the East" in this context?  
• Gideon ascends along the path of "ones dwelling in tents", which is a literal translation of the text.  Since the enemies he pursues actually do live in tents, it's probably safe to assume it's the route they took.  Why do you think Gideon was able to approach them the say way they came, but they still felt "secure"?
• There was 15,000 men left from the 120,000 in the original camp in Jezreel.  Still, Gideon only has 300 very tired men.  What do you think of Gideon's faith at this point?  How has it progressed from laying out fleeces?
• Gideon captures the kings, and the rest of the camp flees or routs.  Since there are no numbers given as to the fallen, it may not have been much of a fight, more of a surprise and scare off sort of encounter.  Gideon still ends up with the kings in his possession.  Why do you think God would let these raiders escape though?
• Gideon returns from the battle with his troops, and punishes Succuth just as he said he would.  What do you think is significant about the briars and thorns of the desert?
• But when he gets to Penuel, he tears down the tower, like he said, but also kills the men of the city, which he didn't mention.  Why do you think killing off the men of the city was warranted?  He didn't do the same to Succoth, so why here?
• Gideon questions the two kings about a battle at Tabor.  Mount Tabor is on the north side of the Valley of Jezreel, and Gideon was on the south side.  What battle do you think he was referring to?  
• The kings refer to the "men they killed" as like Gideon, "as the form of sons of kings".  Why do you think they phrase their descriptions this way?
• Gideon claims they were his actual brothers.  Why do you think his brothers would be on Mount Tabor at some point in this battle?
• The terminology used for the killing of his brothers implies that they were not killed in battle, but executed.  Why do you think that would be?
• Gideon tells his first born to slay the kings, but he won't.  Think through the battles so far, and the fact that Gideon only has the 300.  What do you think it means that his young son won't execute these men, after having been in such battles?
• The kings tell Gideon to do it, making a strange saying, "for as a man, his strength".  Gideon then "fell upon them".  This doesn't sound like a simple "strike" or "kill", although it's not certain it wasn't just a literary device to avoid repetition.  How do you think Gideon slew the kings?
• Zebah and Zalmunna are always mentioned together, even when speaking.  Why do you think that might be?
• After the battle is complete, the people of Israel ask Gideon to be their king, and establish a dynasty.  Gideon refuses, saying Yahweh is their king.  Why do you think he said that?  Where do you think he learned that?
• Gideon asks for a share of the plunder from them, and they gladly give it.  It totaled out to 1,700 in gold weight (whatever that is).  But they also give purple cloaks and camel pendants.  Gideon makes an ephod from the gold.  Look up "ephod" on the Blue Letter Bible site.  The ISBE includes a reference to this passage, so look at that one too.  What do you think Gideon made with the gold?
• Look at verse 27 in several different translations.  What do you think Israel did with the ephod, and why do you think the writer used this term?
• There was peace all the days of Gideon, even though he and people had the problem with the ephod.  Why do you think God left them in peace if the ephod was a problem?
• Consider that Gideon's father had the altar of Baal for the whole community on his property (see 6:25), now Gideon's gold ephod is worshiped.  Why do you think the Gideon's family gets wrapped up in this sort of thing?  They seems faithful (see 6:31), yet have these idols/altars in their possession.  Why do you think that might be?
• Gideon has seventy (70) sons.  What the...seriously?  Anyway, he also has a son by a concubine in Schechem.  Numerous wives, and a concubine in Schechem.  What would we call some guy like this today?  So, what other sorts of problems might Gideon have besides idol-worship?  Why do you think he had so many wives?
• Gideon dies at a "ripe old age", and is laid in the tomb of his father.  Good things references to positive life lived.  And clearly God blesses him.  But why do you think God would bless him if he's so consumed by idols and wives?
• As soon as Gideon dies, the people go back to the Baals (plural).  It's possible, though not certain, that this may be like Elohim, in that it's a plural reference to to a singular deity.  Which would mean, that, in the minds of Israel at least, they are worshiping the same God.  How do you see this mistake being made today, where a reference is close, but the actual practice is wrong, making the object of worship completely off?
• Israel does not remember God but also neglects to show kindness to Gideon's family.  Why do you think that would happen?  How do you think such heroes are renounced?  Consider that the writer of Judges has the story, so it's passed down over time for him to include in Judges.  It wasn't forgotten, but the people of the day simply did not show them kindness.  Why do you think that would be?

That should keep us busy for a while this week.  See you all Thursday!