March 11, 2025
God's Constant Presence in Our Constant Inconsistency
Judges 5-8
Brooke Holt
Big Book Idea
Gideon's leadership as Israel is delivered from the Midianites is a small glimpse into the picture of Christ as our deliverer, and Gideon could not have accomplished this on his own.
Key Verse | Judges 6:12
And the angel of the LORD appeared to him and said to him, "The LORD is with you, O mighty man of valor."
Judges 5-8
Chapter 5
The Song of Deborah and Barak
1 Then sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam on that day:
2
“That the leaders took the lead in Israel,
that the people offered themselves willingly,
bless the LORD!
3
Hear, O kings; give ear, O princes;
to the LORD I will sing;
I will make melody to the LORD, the God of Israel.
4
LORD, when you went out from Seir,
when you marched from the region of Edom,
the earth trembled
and the heavens dropped,
yes, the clouds dropped water.
5
The mountains quaked before the LORD,
even Sinai before the LORD,
1
5:5
Or before the LORD, the One of Sinai, before the LORD
the God of Israel.
6
In the days of Shamgar, son of Anath,
in the days of Jael, the highways were abandoned,
and travelers kept to the byways.
7
The villagers ceased in Israel;
they ceased to be until I arose;
I, Deborah, arose as a mother in Israel.
8
When new gods were chosen,
then war was in the gates.
Was shield or spear to be seen
among forty thousand in Israel?
9
My heart goes out to the commanders of Israel
who offered themselves willingly among the people.
Bless the LORD.
10
Tell of it, you who ride on white donkeys,
you who sit on rich carpets
2
5:10
The meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain; it may connote saddle blankets
and you who walk by the way.
11
To the sound of musicians
3
5:11
Or archers; the meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain
at the watering places,
there they repeat the righteous triumphs of the LORD,
the righteous triumphs of his villagers in Israel.
Then down to the gates marched the people of the LORD.
12
Awake, awake, Deborah!
Awake, awake, break out in a song!
Arise, Barak, lead away your captives,
O son of Abinoam.
13
Then down marched the remnant of the noble;
the people of the LORD marched down for me against the mighty.
14
From Ephraim their root they marched down into the valley,
4
5:14
Septuagint; Hebrew in Amalek
following you, Benjamin, with your kinsmen;
from Machir marched down the commanders,
and from Zebulun those who bear the lieutenant's
5
5:14
Hebrew commander's
staff;
15
the princes of Issachar came with Deborah,
and Issachar faithful to Barak;
into the valley they rushed at his heels.
Among the clans of Reuben
there were great searchings of heart.
16
Why did you sit still among the sheepfolds,
to hear the whistling for the flocks?
Among the clans of Reuben
there were great searchings of heart.
17
Gilead stayed beyond the Jordan;
and Dan, why did he stay with the ships?
Asher sat still at the coast of the sea,
staying by his landings.
18
Zebulun is a people who risked their lives to the death;
Naphtali, too, on the heights of the field.
19
The kings came, they fought;
then fought the kings of Canaan,
at Taanach, by the waters of Megiddo;
they got no spoils of silver.
20
From heaven the stars fought,
from their courses they fought against Sisera.
21
The torrent Kishon swept them away,
the ancient torrent, the torrent Kishon.
March on, my soul, with might!
22
Then loud beat the horses' hoofs
with the galloping, galloping of his steeds.
23
Curse Meroz, says the angel of the LORD,
curse its inhabitants thoroughly,
because they did not come to the help of the LORD,
to the help of the LORD against the mighty.
24
Most blessed of women be Jael,
the wife of Heber the Kenite,
of tent-dwelling women most blessed.
25
He asked for water and she gave him milk;
she brought him curds in a noble's bowl.
26
She sent her hand to the tent peg
and her right hand to the workmen's mallet;
she struck Sisera;
she crushed his head;
she shattered and pierced his temple.
27
Between her feet
he sank, he fell, he lay still;
between her feet
he sank, he fell;
where he sank,
there he fell—dead.
28
Out of the window she peered,
the mother of Sisera wailed through the lattice:
‘Why is his chariot so long in coming?
Why tarry the hoofbeats of his chariots?’
29
Her wisest princesses answer,
indeed, she answers herself,
30
‘Have they not found and divided the spoil?—
A womb or two for every man;
spoil of dyed materials for Sisera,
spoil of dyed materials embroidered,
two pieces of dyed work embroidered for the neck as spoil?’
31
So may all your enemies perish, O LORD!
But your friends be like the sun as he rises in his might.”
And the land had rest for forty years.
Chapter 6
Midian Oppresses Israel
1 The people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, and the LORD gave them into the hand of Midian seven years. 2 And the hand of Midian overpowered Israel, and because of Midian the people of Israel made for themselves the dens that are in the mountains and the caves and the strongholds. 3 For whenever the Israelites planted crops, the Midianites and the Amalekites and the people of the East would come up against them. 4 They would encamp against them and devour the produce of the land, as far as Gaza, and leave no sustenance in Israel and no sheep or ox or donkey. 5 For they would come up with their livestock and their tents; they would come like locusts in number—both they and their camels could not be counted—so that they laid waste the land as they came in. 6 And Israel was brought very low because of Midian. And the people of Israel cried out for help to the LORD.
7 When the people of Israel cried out to the LORD on account of the Midianites, 8 the LORD sent a prophet to the people of Israel. And he said to them, “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: I led you up from Egypt and brought you out of the house of slavery. 9 And I delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of all who oppressed you, and drove them out before you and gave you their land. 10 And I said to you, ‘I am the LORD your God; you shall not fear the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell.’ But you have not obeyed my voice.”
The Call of Gideon
11 Now the angel of the LORD came and sat under the terebinth at Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, while his son Gideon was beating out wheat in the winepress to hide it from the Midianites. 12 And the angel of the LORD appeared to him and said to him, “The LORD is with you, O mighty man of valor.” 13 And Gideon said to him, “Please, my lord, if the LORD is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all his wonderful deeds that our fathers recounted to us, saying, ‘Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt?’ But now the LORD has forsaken us and given us into the hand of Midian.” 14 And the LORD 6 6:14 Septuagint the angel of the LORD; also verse 16 turned to him and said, “Go in this might of yours and save Israel from the hand of Midian; do not I send you?” 15 And he said to him, “Please, Lord, how can I save Israel? Behold, my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house.” 16 And the LORD said to him, “But I will be with you, and you shall strike the Midianites as one man.” 17 And he said to him, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, then show me a sign that it is you who speak with me. 18 Please do not depart from here until I come to you and bring out my present and set it before you.” And he said, “I will stay till you return.”
19 So Gideon went into his house and prepared a young goat and unleavened cakes from an ephah 7 6:19 An ephah was about 3/5 bushel or 22 liters of flour. The meat he put in a basket, and the broth he put in a pot, and brought them to him under the terebinth and presented them. 20 And the angel of God said to him, “Take the meat and the unleavened cakes, and put them on this rock, and pour the broth over them.” And he did so. 21 Then the angel of the LORD reached out the tip of the staff that was in his hand and touched the meat and the unleavened cakes. And fire sprang up from the rock and consumed the meat and the unleavened cakes. And the angel of the LORD vanished from his sight. 22 Then Gideon perceived that he was the angel of the LORD. And Gideon said, “Alas, O Lord God! For now I have seen the angel of the LORD face to face.” 23 But the LORD said to him, “Peace be to you. Do not fear; you shall not die.” 24 Then Gideon built an altar there to the LORD and called it, The LORD Is Peace. To this day it still stands at Ophrah, which belongs to the Abiezrites.
25 That night the LORD said to him, “Take your father's bull, and the second bull seven years old, and pull down the altar of Baal that your father has, and cut down the Asherah that is beside it 26 and build an altar to the LORD your God on the top of the stronghold here, with stones laid in due order. Then take the second bull and offer it as a burnt offering with the wood of the Asherah that you shall cut down.” 27 So Gideon took ten men of his servants and did as the LORD had told him. But because he was too afraid of his family and the men of the town to do it by day, he did it by night.
Gideon Destroys the Altar of Baal
28 When the men of the town rose early in the morning, behold, the altar of Baal was broken down, and the Asherah beside it was cut down, and the second bull was offered on the altar that had been built. 29 And they said to one another, “Who has done this thing?” And after they had searched and inquired, they said, “Gideon the son of Joash has done this thing.” 30 Then the men of the town said to Joash, “Bring out your son, that he may die, for he has broken down the altar of Baal and cut down the Asherah beside it.” 31 But Joash said to all who stood against him, “Will you contend for Baal? Or will you save him? Whoever contends for him shall be put to death by morning. If he is a god, let him contend for himself, because his altar has been broken down.” 32 Therefore on that day Gideon 8 6:32 Hebrew he was called Jerubbaal, that is to say, “Let Baal contend against him,” because he broke down his altar.
33 Now all the Midianites and the Amalekites and the people of the East came together, and they crossed the Jordan and encamped in the Valley of Jezreel. 34 But the Spirit of the LORD clothed Gideon, and he sounded the trumpet, and the Abiezrites were called out to follow him. 35 And he sent messengers throughout all Manasseh, and they too were called out to follow him. And he sent messengers to Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali, and they went up to meet them.
The Sign of the Fleece
36 Then Gideon said to God, “If you will save Israel by my hand, as you have said, 37 behold, I am laying a fleece of wool on the threshing floor. If there is dew on the fleece alone, and it is dry on all the ground, then I shall know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you have said.” 38 And it was so. When he rose early next morning and squeezed the fleece, he wrung enough dew from the fleece to fill a bowl with water. 39 Then Gideon said to God, “Let not your anger burn against me; let me speak just once more. Please let me test just once more with the fleece. Please let it be dry on the fleece only, and on all the ground let there be dew.” 40 And God did so that night; and it was dry on the fleece only, and on all the ground there was dew.
Chapter 7
Gideon's Three Hundred Men
1 Then Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon) and all the people who were with him rose early and encamped beside the spring of Harod. And the camp of Midian was north of them, by the hill of Moreh, in the valley.
2 The LORD said to Gideon, “The people with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel boast over me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’ 3 Now therefore proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, ‘Whoever is fearful and trembling, let him return home and hurry away from Mount Gilead.’” Then 22,000 of the people returned, and 10,000 remained.
4 And the LORD said to Gideon, “The people are still too many. Take them down to the water, and I will test them for you there, and anyone of whom I say to you, ‘This one shall go with you,’ shall go with you, and anyone of whom I say to you, ‘This one shall not go with you,’ shall not go.” 5 So he brought the people down to the water. And the LORD said to Gideon, “Every one who laps the water with his tongue, as a dog laps, you shall set by himself. Likewise, every one who kneels down to drink.” 6 And the number of those who lapped, putting their hands to their mouths, was 300 men, but all the rest of the people knelt down to drink water. 7 And the LORD said to Gideon, “With the 300 men who lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hand, and let all the others go every man to his home.” 8 So the people took provisions in their hands, and their trumpets. And he sent all the rest of Israel every man to his tent, but retained the 300 men. And the camp of Midian was below him in the valley.
9 That same night the LORD said to him, “Arise, go down against the camp, for I have given it into your hand. 10 But if you are afraid to go down, go down to the camp with Purah your servant. 11 And you shall hear what they say, and afterward your hands shall be strengthened to go down against the camp.” Then he went down with Purah his servant to the outposts of the armed men who were in the camp. 12 And the Midianites and the Amalekites and all the people of the East lay along the valley like locusts in abundance, and their camels were without number, as the sand that is on the seashore in abundance. 13 When Gideon came, behold, a man was telling a dream to his comrade. And he said, “Behold, I dreamed a dream, and behold, a cake of barley bread tumbled into the camp of Midian and came to the tent and struck it so that it fell and turned it upside down, so that the tent lay flat.” 14 And his comrade answered, “This is no other than the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel; God has given into his hand Midian and all the camp.”
15 As soon as Gideon heard the telling of the dream and its interpretation, he worshiped. And he returned to the camp of Israel and said, “Arise, for the LORD has given the host of Midian into your hand.” 16 And he divided the 300 men into three companies and put trumpets into the hands of all of them and empty jars, with torches inside the jars. 17 And he said to them, “Look at me, and do likewise. When I come to the outskirts of the camp, do as I do. 18 When I blow the trumpet, I and all who are with me, then blow the trumpets also on every side of all the camp and shout, ‘For the LORD and for Gideon.’”
Gideon Defeats Midian
19 So Gideon and the hundred men who were with him came to the outskirts of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, when they had just set the watch. And they blew the trumpets and smashed the jars that were in their hands. 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 the LORD and for Gideon!” 21 Every man stood in his place around the camp, and all the army ran. They cried out and fled. 22 When they blew the 300 trumpets, the LORD set every man's sword against his comrade and against all the army. And the army fled as far as Beth-shittah toward Zererah, 9 7:22 Some Hebrew manuscripts Zeredah as far as the border of Abel-meholah, by Tabbath. 23 And the men of Israel were called out from Naphtali and from Asher and from all Manasseh, and they pursued after Midian.
24 Gideon sent messengers throughout all the hill country of Ephraim, saying, “Come down against the Midianites and capture the waters against them, as far as Beth-barah, and also the Jordan.” So all the men of Ephraim were called out, and they captured the waters as far as Beth-barah, and also the Jordan. 25 And they captured the two princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb. They killed Oreb at the rock of Oreb, and Zeeb they killed at the winepress of Zeeb. Then they pursued Midian, and they brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon across the Jordan.
Chapter 8
Gideon Defeats Zebah and Zalmunna
1 Then the men of Ephraim said to him, “What is this that you have done to us, not to call us when you went to fight against Midian?” And they accused him fiercely. 2 And he said to them, “What have I done now in comparison with you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the grape harvest of Abiezer? 3 God has given into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb. What have I been able to do in comparison with you?” Then their anger 10 8:3 Hebrew their spirit against him subsided when he said this.
4 And Gideon came to the Jordan and crossed over, he and the 300 men who were with him, exhausted yet pursuing. 5 So he said to the men of Succoth, “Please give loaves of bread to the people who follow me, for they are exhausted, and I am pursuing after Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian.” 6 And the officials of Succoth said, “Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna already in your hand, that we should give bread to your army?” 7 So Gideon said, “Well then, when the LORD has given Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand, I will flail your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers.” 8 And from there he went up to Penuel, and spoke to them in the same way, and the men of Penuel answered him as the men of Succoth had answered. 9 And he said to the men of Penuel, “When I come again in peace, I will break down this tower.”
10 Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor with their army, about 15,000 men, all who were left of all the army of the people of the East, for there had fallen 120,000 men who drew the sword. 11 And Gideon went up by the way of the tent dwellers east of Nobah and Jogbehah and attacked the army, for the army felt secure. 12 And Zebah and Zalmunna fled, and he pursued them and captured the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and he threw all the army into a panic.
13 Then Gideon the son of Joash returned from the battle by the ascent of Heres. 14 And he captured a young man of Succoth and questioned him. And he wrote down for him the officials and elders of Succoth, seventy-seven men. 15 And he came to the men of Succoth and said, “Behold Zebah and Zalmunna, about whom you taunted me, saying, ‘Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna already in your hand, that we should give bread to your men who are exhausted?’” 16 And he took the elders of the city, and he took thorns of the wilderness and briers and with them taught the men of Succoth a lesson. 17 And he broke down the tower of Penuel and killed the men of the city.
18 Then he said to Zebah and Zalmunna, “Where are the men whom you killed at Tabor?” They answered, “As you are, so were they. Every one of them resembled the son of a king.” 19 And he said, “They were my brothers, the sons of my mother. As the LORD lives, if you had saved them alive, I would not kill you.” 20 So he said to Jether his firstborn, “Rise and kill them!” But the young man did not draw his sword, for he was afraid, because he was still a young man. 21 Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, “Rise yourself and fall upon us, for as the man is, so is his strength.” And Gideon arose and killed Zebah and Zalmunna, and he took the crescent ornaments that were on the necks of their camels.
Gideon's Ephod
22 Then the men of Israel said to Gideon, “Rule over us, you and your son and your grandson also, for you have saved us from the hand of Midian.” 23 Gideon said to them, “I will not rule over you, and my son will not rule over you; the LORD will rule over you.” 24 And Gideon said to them, “Let me make a request of you: every one of you give me the earrings from his spoil.” (For they had golden 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 And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was 1,700 shekels 11 8:26 A shekel was about 2/5 ounce or 11 grams of gold, besides the crescent ornaments and the pendants and the purple garments worn by the kings of Midian, and besides the collars that were around the necks of their camels. 27 And Gideon made an ephod of it and put it in his city, in Ophrah. And all Israel whored after it there, and it became a snare to Gideon and to his family. 28 So Midian was subdued before the people of Israel, and they raised their heads no more. And the land had rest forty years in the days of Gideon.
The Death of Gideon
29 Jerubbaal the son of Joash went and lived in his own house. 30 Now Gideon had seventy sons, his own offspring, 12 8:30 Hebrew who came from his own loins for he had many wives. 31 And his concubine who was in Shechem also bore him a son, and he called his name Abimelech. 32 And Gideon the son of Joash died in a good old age and was buried in the tomb of Joash his father, at Ophrah of the Abiezrites.
33 As soon as Gideon died, the people of Israel turned again and whored after the Baals and made Baal-berith their god. 34 And the people of Israel did not remember the LORD their God, who had delivered them from the hand of all their enemies on every side, 35 and they did not show steadfast love to the family of Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon) in return for all the good that he had done to Israel.
Footnotes
[1] 5:5 Or before the LORD, the One of Sinai, before the LORD[2] 5:10 The meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain; it may connote saddle blankets
[3] 5:11 Or archers; the meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain
[4] 5:14 Septuagint; Hebrew in Amalek
[5] 5:14 Hebrew commander's
[6] 6:14 Septuagint the angel of the LORD; also verse 16
[7] 6:19 An ephah was about 3/5 bushel or 22 liters
[8] 6:32 Hebrew he
[9] 7:22 Some Hebrew manuscripts Zeredah
[10] 8:3 Hebrew their spirit
[11] 8:26 A shekel was about 2/5 ounce or 11 grams
[12] 8:30 Hebrew who came from his own loins
Table of Contents
Introduction to Judges
Timeline
Author and Date
Nowhere in Scripture is an author of this book named. The events in Judges took place in the period between Joshua’s death and the rise of Samuel and Saul. Most of the book was likely written by David’s time (1010–970 B.C.).
Theme
The theme of Judges is the downward spiral of Israel’s national and spiritual life into chaos and rebellion against God, showing the need for a godly king (17:6; 21:25).
Purpose and Pattern
The book of Judges was written to show the consequences of religious unfaithfulness and to point the way to a king who, if righteous, would lead the people to God. In the book of Joshua, the people of Israel seemed to want to follow the Lord and obey his commands. The book of Judges reveals, however, that the people had been rebelling even in Joshua’s time. This disobedience continued and grew more serious throughout the period of the judges. As summarized in Judges 2:16–23, time and again Israel turned its back on God and embraced the gods and ways of the Canaanites. Israel’s history unfolds in a repetitive way, with each cycle taking Israel further away from God. By the end of the book, Israel had violated its covenant with God in almost every way imaginable.
Key Themes
- Israel’s existence in the land, which had been promised by God, was threatened by its continuing rebellion. Israel had not conquered the land completely (ch. 1), because of its unfaithfulness (2:1–3, 20–22). Therefore, the day would come when the nation would be taken captive, away from the land (18:30).
- The oppressions, chaos, and generally negative picture in the book are due to Israel’s repeated sin. Time and again the Israelites broke the covenant, turning to the Canaanite gods and “doing evil” (2:3, 11–13, 17, 19; 3:6, 7, 12; 4:1; 6:1, 10; 8:24–27, 33; 10:6; 13:1; 17:6; 21:25), and they repeatedly suffered the consequences.
- Despite Israel’s repeated falling away, God in his faithfulness continually delivered them. This was not due to Israel’s merits or its repentance. Instead it was because of God’s compassion and pity (2:16, 18) and his faithfulness to his promises to Abraham (Deut. 6:10–11; compare Gen. 12:7; 15:7, 18–21; 26:2–3; 35:12).
- The judges were not able to stop the peoples’ unfaithfulness. If anything, they made it worse. Major judges such as Gideon (8:24–27), Jephthah (11:30–31, 34–40), and Samson (chs. 14–16) were guilty of significant sin. The shining exception was Deborah (chs. 4–5).
- Israel needed a godly king to lead it in doing right in the Lord’s eyes rather than a leader who “did what was right in his own eyes” (compare 17:6; 21:25). God had promised from the beginning that there would be kings (Gen. 17:6, 16; 35:11; 49:10), and had explained what a godly king would look like (Deut. 17:14–20). The book of Judges shows the depths to which the people of Israel descended in the absence of a godly king.
Outline
- The Roots of Israel’s Unfaithfulness (1:1–3:6)
- The Downward Spiral of Israel’s Unfaithfulness (3:7–16:31)
- The Depths of Israel’s Unfaithfulness (17:1–21:25)
The Setting of Judges
Fact: Donkeys
Donkeys played many roles in the ancient Near East. They provided much of the heavy labor in agriculture and provided personal transportation. The number of donkeys a man possessed often determined his wealth. White donkeys were highly prized (5:10) because they were rare.
Fact: Camels at war?
Camels at war? The Midianites were among the first to use camels in warfare (6:5). Their camels were most likely the single-humped dromedary, which could travel more than 150 miles (240 km) in one day. The two-humped Bactrian camel was slower but could carry more weight than the dromedary. It was therefore ideal for trade caravans. Camels could be dangerous and unpredictable. If they became angry, they could wreck an entire campsite.
Fact: The night watch
The night watch. Watchmen were an important part of life in Bible times. They provided night-time protection both for soldiers in their tents and for ordinary people in their homes.
Fact: Crescents
Crescents. Midianite kings often decorated their camels with gold or silver pendants in the shape of a crescent moon (8:21). They may have believed the crescents were magic, since many of Israel’s neighbors worshiped the moon. Crescents are mentioned in Isaiah 3:16–18 as part of the “finery” that the Lord will take away from the “daughters of Zion.”
Gideon Defeats the Midianites
Gideon’s small army of 300 men camped by the spring of Harod while the vast Midianite army spread out in the Jezreel Valley by the hill of Moreh. When Gideon’s men encircled and surprised the Midianites during the night, the Midianites fled. Gideon’s men chased them to Abel-meholah and beyond, passing through Succoth and Penuel on their way to Karkor, where they captured the leaders of the Midianite army.
The Judges
| Judge | Reference | Tribe | Oppressor | Period of Oppression | Period of Rest | Total Length of Time* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Othniel | 3:7–11 | Judah | Mesopotamians | 8 years (3:8) | 40 years (3:11) | 48 years |
| Ehud | 3:12–30 | Benjamin | Moabites | 18 years (3:14) | 80 years (3:30) | 98 years |
| Shamgar | 3:31 | Philistines | ||||
| Deborah | chs. 4–5 | Ephraim | Canaanites | 20 years (4:3) | 40 years (5:31) | 60 years |
| Gideon | chs. 6–8 | Manasseh | Midianites | 7 years (6:1) | 40 years (8:28) | 47 years |
| Tola | 10:1–2 | Issachar | 23 years (10:2) | 23 years | ||
| Jair | 10:3–5 | Gilead-Manasseh | 22 years (10:3) | 22 years | ||
| Jephthah | 10:6–12:7 | Gilead-Manasseh | Ammonites | 24 years (10:8; 12:7) | 24 years | |
| Ibzan | 12:8–10 | Judah or Zebulun? | 7 years (12:9) | 7 years | ||
| Elon | 12:11–12 | Zebulun | 10 years (12:11) | 10 years | ||
| Abdon | 12:13–15 | Ephraim | 8 years (12:14) | 8 years | ||
| Samson | chs. 13–16 | Dan | Philistines | 40 years (13:1) | 20 years (15:20; 16:31) | 60 years |
*Added together, the dates in this column total about 410 years. However, many of the episodes in Judges overlap each other, unfolding in different parts of the land.
Common Cycle for Each Judge
God’s sending of judges to Israel repeatedly followed a fourfold cycle:
- apostasy: the Israelites do what is evil in the sight of the Lord;
- servitude: God allows the nation to be conquered and oppressed by a neighboring nation;
- supplication: the people cry out to God; and
- salvation: God sends a judge to deliver the Israelites.
The cycle then repeats after the judge dies.
Gideon
Gideon was called by God to free the Israelites from oppression by the Midianites. After destroying an altar of Baal, he was given the name Jerubbaal, which means, “let Baal contend.” The name was a mocking challenge to this powerless false god. The God of Israel proved his own power by leading Gideon to choose his army in a very unusual way, reducing it from 32,000 to only 300 men. Those 300 men defeated the Midianites, not with the sword but with trumpets, torches, and pitchers! Gideon was viewed as a hero, and the people tried to make him king. He refused their request, rightly declaring that “the Lord will rule over you” (8:23). Sadly, however, Gideon went on to do things that suggested a heart filled with pride rather than humility. (Judges 6:36–40)
Abimelech
Gideon’s son Abimelech became king over the city of Shechem thanks to his family’s successful campaign to influence the city’s leaders. He then removed his strongest competition for leadership by ruthlessly killing 70 of his own brothers. Abimelech’s youngest brother Jotham, who alone had escaped the murderous rampage, courageously condemned Abimelech and the leaders. He told a fable that predicted the judgment that would fall on Abimelech and the leaders for the deaths of Gideon’s sons. When the people of Shechem later turned against Abimelech, he successfully resisted their rebellion by killing many people and destroying their city. But then, as he tried to capture a nearby city, a woman dropped a millstone on his head, crushing his skull. This episode in Israel’s history shows some of the consequences of Israel’s unfaithfulness to the Lord (8:33–34). (Judges 9:5–6)
Judg 5:4–5 The Lord’s marching from Seir and Edom may suggest the time following Israel’s exodus from Egypt (compare Num. 10:12; 20:22).
Judg 5:6–8 Before Deborah arose as a deliverer, life as it had been had ceased when Israel submitted to its enemies. a mother in Israel. A title of honor and respect. new gods. See 10:14.
Fact: Donkeys
Donkeys played many roles in the ancient Near East. They provided much of the heavy labor in agriculture and provided personal transportation. The number of donkeys a man possessed often determined his wealth. White donkeys were highly prized (5:10) because they were rare.
Judg 5:10–11 All classes of society were to testify to the mighty acts of God, from the ruling classes (those riding on white donkeys) to the lowest classes (those who walk by the way, that is, along the road). Watering places were public places where the entire community gathered.
Judg 5:13–18 Five of the tribes (plus the western part of Manasseh, here called Machir) are mentioned favorably because they responded to Deborah and Barak’s call to arms. Four tribes (and the other part of Manasseh) did not respond to the order. Judah and Simeon are not mentioned. Dan’s connection with ships (v. 17) probably reflects the tribe’s original inheritance along the south-central coastal plain, with access to the sea (Josh. 19:40–46).
Judg 5:19–23 The imagery suggests that the forces of nature fought on God’s side (and the Canaanite deities, who supposedly ruled over nature, were powerless to help against the true God). The frantic pounding of the horses’ hoofs suggests the disorder caused by the waters of the Kishon (vv. 21–22; see 4:7).
Judg 5:24–27 Most blessed of women. Jael is a heroine for killing Sisera (see 4:17–22).
Judg 5:28–30 The mother of Sisera is a pitiable figure, but these verses highlight Jael’s achievement. Rather than bringing stolen goods to impress his women, Sisera lay dead at another woman’s feet. A womb or two. A crude reference to captured women.
Judg 4:1–5:31 The fourth judge, Deborah, distinguishes herself as the most godly of all the judges. Her actions and words consistently pointed to God, not away from him.
Judg 5:1–31 The victory song of Deborah and Barak praises God for his triumph over the Canaanites on Israel’s behalf (compare the Song of Moses and Miriam in Ex. 15:1–21).
Judg 6:2–4 The Midianites oppressed the Israelites so greatly that they were forced to live in dens and caves, and they couldn’t harvest their crops.
Fact: Camels at war?
Camels at war? The Midianites were among the first to use camels in warfare (6:5). Their camels were most likely the single-humped dromedary, which could travel more than 150 miles (240 km) in one day. The two-humped Bactrian camel was slower but could carry more weight than the dromedary. It was therefore ideal for trade caravans. Camels could be dangerous and unpredictable. If they became angry, they could wreck an entire campsite.
Judg 6:7–10 The message of the unnamed prophet represents the first time God rebuked the people when they called upon him.
Judg 6:11 the angel of the LORD. See note on 2:1. beating out wheat in the winepress. Wheat was usually threshed on open threshing floors, where the wind could carry away the chaff—and Gideon had access to such a place (see 6:37). The fact that he was doing his threshing within the confines of a winepress and was doing it secretly, to hide it from the Midianites, shows the extent to which they were oppressing Israel.
Judg 6:22 Gideon feared for his life because he had encountered God’s angel face to face (compare Gen. 32:30; Ex. 33:20).
Judg 6:24 To this day. See note on Josh. 4:9. The Abiezrites were part of the tribe of Manasseh that settled west of the Jordan River (Josh. 17:1–2).
Judg 6:25–26 Asherah is sometimes the name of a pagan goddess. Here, it refers to the wooden poles at places where she was worshiped.
Judg 6:34 Spirit of the LORD clothed. See 1 Chron. 12:18; 2 Chron. 24:20. Other terms for the Spirit’s activity in Judges include “was upon” (Judg. 3:10; 11:29) and “rushed upon” (14:6, 19; 15:14). See note on 14:6.
Judg 6:36–40 laying a fleece. Gideon’s desire to test God directly violated Mosaic law (Deut. 6:16). Let not your anger burn against me. Gideon knew that he was doing something unwise, if not sinful. He already knew God’s will (see Judg. 6:14–16, 36). His requests reveal his weak faith.
Judg 7:2 lest Israel boast. God made it clear that the glory for this victory was to be all his.
Gideon Defeats the Midianites
Gideon’s small army of 300 men camped by the spring of Harod while the vast Midianite army spread out in the Jezreel Valley by the hill of Moreh. When Gideon’s men encircled and surprised the Midianites during the night, the Midianites fled. Gideon’s men chased them to Abel-meholah and beyond, passing through Succoth and Penuel on their way to Karkor, where they captured the leaders of the Midianite army.
Judg 7:3 The Mosaic laws allowed military exemptions for several classes of people, including those who were fearful (Deut. 20:5–8) since they might cause others to fear.
Judg 7:4–5 Every one who laps . . . as a dog laps. The second test for reducing Gideon’s forces took into account how men drank water from a brook. Neither way of drinking is singled out as the “right” way, so this may be simply a means of reducing the number of men rather than a critique of either form of drinking.
Judg 7:10–14 God gave Gideon a preview of the coming victory by allowing him to enter the Midianite camp and overhear a Midianite’s dream about Israel’s triumph.
Judg 7:13–15 Tumbled literally means “turned itself over.” The loaf in the dream, symbolizing the sword of Gideon, “overturned” the Midianite camp. The dream provided the confirmation that Gideon needed, in light of his earlier fear (v. 10).
Judg 7:18 For the LORD and for Gideon is a war cry.
Judg 7:19 middle watch. Jewish tradition divides the night into three segments, or “watches.” The later division into four watches (Matt. 14:25) seems to have been influenced by Roman practice.
Fact: The night watch
The night watch. Watchmen were an important part of life in Bible times. They provided night-time protection both for soldiers in their tents and for ordinary people in their homes.
Judg 7:20 A sword for the LORD and for Gideon! Ironically, no Israelite swords were used at all, only torches, trumpets, and jars.
Judg 7:22–25 The victory was clearly God’s. He turned the Midianites’ own swords against them (v. 22) and they fled.
Gideon
Gideon was called by God to free the Israelites from oppression by the Midianites. After destroying an altar of Baal, he was given the name Jerubbaal, which means, “let Baal contend.” The name was a mocking challenge to this powerless false god. The God of Israel proved his own power by leading Gideon to choose his army in a very unusual way, reducing it from 32,000 to only 300 men. Those 300 men defeated the Midianites, not with the sword but with trumpets, torches, and pitchers! Gideon was viewed as a hero, and the people tried to make him king. He refused their request, rightly declaring that “the Lord will rule over you” (8:23). Sadly, however, Gideon went on to do things that suggested a heart filled with pride rather than humility. (Judges 6:36–40)
Judg 8:1–3 The Ephraimites complained that they had been called upon too late to take part in the battle, but Gideon’s flattering response soothed them.
Judg 8:16–17 Gideon’s actions here fulfill his pledges in vv. 7 and 9.
Fact: Crescents
Crescents. Midianite kings often decorated their camels with gold or silver pendants in the shape of a crescent moon (8:21). They may have believed the crescents were magic, since many of Israel’s neighbors worshiped the moon. Crescents are mentioned in Isaiah 3:16–18 as part of the “finery” that the Lord will take away from the “daughters of Zion.”
Judg 8:22–23 Rule over us. It was God (not any human being) who delivered his people (see note on 7:2). the LORD will rule over you. The Hebrew word order might be paraphrased as, “It is the Lord, and no other, who shall rule over you!” While Gideon’s words were theologically correct, his later actions show either that he was only pretending or that he was self-deceived. He appears eventually to have been seduced by the power of being a king (8:24–28, 31).
Gideon
Gideon was called by God to free the Israelites from oppression by the Midianites. After destroying an altar of Baal, he was given the name Jerubbaal, which means, “let Baal contend.” The name was a mocking challenge to this powerless false god. The God of Israel proved his own power by leading Gideon to choose his army in a very unusual way, reducing it from 32,000 to only 300 men. Those 300 men defeated the Midianites, not with the sword but with trumpets, torches, and pitchers! Gideon was viewed as a hero, and the people tried to make him king. He refused their request, rightly declaring that “the Lord will rule over you” (8:23). Sadly, however, Gideon went on to do things that suggested a heart filled with pride rather than humility. (Judges 6:36–40)
Judg 8:27 The original ephod was an ornate ceremonial garment worn by the high priest (Exodus 28; 39). According to the Mosaic law, there was to be only one ephod in Israel (Ex. 28:15–30). It was used to inquire of God (see 1 Sam. 14:3; 23:9; 30:7). The ephod Gideon set up in his own city ultimately became a snare to him and his family, echoing Judg. 2:3. whored. See note on 2:17.
Judg 8:22–28 Despite God’s faithfulness to Gideon, he leads the people into improper worship practices.
Judg 8:29–32 for he had many wives. On polygamy, see note on Gen. 16:3. Gideon had insisted that he should not be king (see note on Judg. 8:22–23), but he ended up functioning as king, and he named one of his sons Abimelech, which means “my father is king.” Abimelech’s impact on the nation will be seen in ch. 9.
Abimelech
Gideon’s son Abimelech became king over the city of Shechem thanks to his family’s successful campaign to influence the city’s leaders. He then removed his strongest competition for leadership by ruthlessly killing 70 of his own brothers. Abimelech’s youngest brother Jotham, who alone had escaped the murderous rampage, courageously condemned Abimelech and the leaders. He told a fable that predicted the judgment that would fall on Abimelech and the leaders for the deaths of Gideon’s sons. When the people of Shechem later turned against Abimelech, he successfully resisted their rebellion by killing many people and destroying their city. But then, as he tried to capture a nearby city, a woman dropped a millstone on his head, crushing his skull. This episode in Israel’s history shows some of the consequences of Israel’s unfaithfulness to the Lord (8:33–34). (Judges 9:5–6)
Judg 6:1–8:35 The fifth judge was Gideon, who fought the Midianites twice. The first time he followed God’s instructions (7:1–8:3); the second time he did not (8:4–21).
Judg 8:33–35 The steady downward cycle of Israel’s unfaithfulness continued. Though he had accomplished some good things, Gideon contributed significantly to this downward slide. whored. See note on 2:17. Baal-berith means “Baal of the covenant.” Israel made its covenant with one of the Baals, not with its own covenant-keeping God (see 9:46). Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon). See note on 6:32.
Common Cycle for Each Judge
God’s sending of judges to Israel repeatedly followed a fourfold cycle:
- apostasy: the Israelites do what is evil in the sight of the Lord;
- servitude: God allows the nation to be conquered and oppressed by a neighboring nation;
- supplication: the people cry out to God; and
- salvation: God sends a judge to deliver the Israelites.
The cycle then repeats after the judge dies.
Why does God engage Gideon's constant doubting?
Listen NowDive Deeper | Judges 5-8
Last summer, my husband and I took our kids to Six Flags for the first time, where they experienced the joy of roller coasters. The Judge Roy Scream, unfortunately, looks like a cakewalk compared to the ups and downs that the Israelites' experience in the book of Judges! In this passage alone, we see unlikely heroes, Deborah's song of praise, Gideon's doubts, an underdog victory, obedience, disobedience, oppression, deliverance, poor leadership, and good leadership.
Through the highs and lows, the years of obedience and years of distraction, one thing remained constant: God's presence. We see this in the story of God calling Gideon. While we might be quick to accuse Gideon of looking for a superfluous sign after he had already spoken directly with one of the Lord's angels, I like to give Gideon the benefit of the doubt. There was no written word to pass on to God's people at that time. Gideon's own family worshiped idols, and, let's be honest, things were not looking good for his people. God kindly responds to Gideon's requests for confirmation, and He relishes the opportunity to remind Gideon of His presence.
As the book of Judges famously repeats, "The people did what was evil in the sight of the LORD." And no, it did not go well for them. They experienced the consequences of their own choices, as enemy after enemy conquered them.
BUT GOD (see also Ephesians 2:4) rescued them when it appeared that He should not. He is crazy about His people (yes, that includes you) and faithfully shows up time and time again. In Judges 5-8, Deborah recounts how the earth trembles at His presence and how God Himself marched before His people. Later, we read about how He was at hand to orchestrate one of the biggest defeats of all time against the Midianites.
While there are painful consequences when we do what is right in our own eyes, we can rest assured that the presence of the Lord will go with us through the hills and valleys of life.
This month's memory verse
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”
– 1 Samuel 16:7
Discussion Questions
1. When have you experienced consequences as a result of going your own way? How has the Lord remained near during those times?
2. Who do you know that needs to be reminded of God's presence throughout the highs and lows of life?
3. In Judges 6:12, the angel of the LORD assures Gideon of His presence by saying, "The LORD is with you, O mighty man of valor." He speaks truth over Gideon and tells him who he is (a mighty man of valor). If an angel of the Lord were to show up and remind you of God's presence, how would he address you to encourage you in any challenges you are currently facing? Is this different from what you currently believe about yourself?
4. The Bible gives us repeated reminders that God is with us no matter what (Isaiah 41:10; Deuteronomy 31:8; Joshua 1:9; Psalm 139:7). Which of these verses can you cling to when it feels like He has forgotten you or isn't near?