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Judges Chapter Nine

(Outline continues from yesterday)

6. Abimelech’s reign was not a happy one (Jdg. 9:22ff.).
   1. Gaal, a native Canaanite, and descendant of Hamor & Shechem, initiates a revolt against Abimelech (Jdg. 9:26-29).
   2. Zebul, Abimelech’s lieutenant & ruler of the city of Shechem, used Gaal’s revolt as a cover for his own revolt (Jdg. 9:30-33,41).
   3. Abimelech defeated Gaal and his forces (Jdg. 9:34-40), Zebul and the city of Shechem (Jdg. 9:42-45), and the leaders of the tower of Shechem (Beth-millo, the fortress/temple/house of Baal) (Jdg. 9:46-49).
7. When Abimelech turned his conquering efforts towards Thebez, he conquered the city, but was struck down at the tower (Jdg. 9:50-55 cf. 2nd Sam. 11:21).
8. Through all of this fighting, the Lord maintained His Sovereign purpose, and accomplished His judgment upon Abimelech and Shechem (Jdg. 9:56,57).

Judges Chapter Ten

1. The 7th Judge was Tola ben Puah ben Dodo (Jdg. 10:1,2).
   1. He was from the tribe of Issachar, but he ministered in Ephraim. 
   2. He judged Israel for 23 years. Perhaps 1119-1096BC.
2. The 8th Judge was Jair (Jdg. 10:3-5).
   1. He was a Gileadite (eastern Manasseh, Num. 26:29-32).
   2. He judged Israel for 22 years. After Tola? Simultaneously with Tola? Perhaps 1096-1074BC.
   3. He presided over a college of 30 sons, who judged 30 cities of Gilead. Havvoth-jair was already named (Num. 32:41; Dt. 3:14; Josh. 13:30).
3. The fifth and sixth oppressors of Israel were the Philistines and the Ammonites (Jdg. 10:7).
4. This time it took 18 years of oppression to cause Israel to cry out for deliverance (Jdg. 10:8-10).
5. The Lord rebuked Israel for their idolatry, and highlighted seven other oppressions, not previously recorded (Jdg. 10:11-14).
6. Israel responded to the Lord’s rebuke by putting away their idols, and looking for a deliverer (Jdg. 10:15-18).

Judges Chapter Eleven

1. The 9th Judge was Jephthah, another Gileadite.
   1. Like Gideon, Jephthah was a mighty man of valor.
   2. He was the bastard son of a harlot, and driven out of Gilead by his brothers.
   3. In the land of Tob, Jephthah became a leader of worthless fellows: אֲנָשִׁים רֵיקִים. רֵיק reyq ^#7386: empty, vain, idle, worthless (ethically).
2. Jephthah was not called by the Lord.  He was called by the elders of Gilead, and called the Lord as his witness (Jdg. 11:4-11).
3. Jephthah sent word to the Ammonites, and sought unsuccessfully to resolve the war through accurate Bible teaching (Jdg. 11:12-28).

(Chapter Eleven continues tomorrow)