The Strand Study Bible

JUDGES

Author: Unknown Theme: Apostasy Via Compromise Book’s Main Character: Samson

About the Book: After the death of Joshua (c. 1395 BC) the nation of Israel became self-satisfied with their inheritance. No longer wanting to fight, they instead compromised with their enemies and were soon marrying their women and worshipping their gods. Because of their disobedience, God used different nations to chasten them. As soon as the children of Israel had had enough, they would repent and beg God for deliverance. God would then raise up a judge to deliver them. A simple outline for the book of Judges, which is easy to remember, is: “Seven apostasies, seven servitudes to seven heathen nations, seven deliverances.” The book of Judges covers some 325 years (from c. 1425 - 1100 BC). Notes of Interest: 1. Judges is not quoted in the NT. 2. There are no prophecies referred to in Judges . 3. CHRIST appeared in a preincarnate physical form 3 different times in Judges (Judg 2:1-4, 6:11-22, 13:1-22). 4. There are 27 inset maps used in the book of Judges . They are numbered chronologically (#94-104,107-116,118-123) Outline of Judges : 1. Israel is chastened for disobedience (Judg 1-2) 2. Israel’s twelve Judges : Othniel, Ehud, Shamgar, Deborah, Gideon, Tola, Jair, Jephthah, Ibzan, Elon, Abdon, and Samson (Judg 3-16) 3. Israel’s fatal independence (Judg 17-21) Judges 1 Judah and Simeon defeat Adonibezek Date - c. 1395 BC/AM 2605 1. Josh 24:29 2. that is, “they were treated like dogs in my household” MED SEA

3. Lev 24:19 4. Josh 15:63 5. Josh 15:13-14 6. Gen 23:2 & Josh 14:15 7. Josh 15:15

1 Now after the death of 1 Joshua it came to pass, that the children of Israel asked the LORD, saying, Who shall go up for us against the Canaanites first, to fight against them? 2 And the LORD said, Judah shall go up: behold, I have delivered the land into his hand. 3 And Judah said unto Simeon his broth- er, Come up with me into my lot, that we may fight against the Canaanites; and I likewise will go with thee into thy lot. So Simeon went with him. 4 And Judah went up; and the LORD de- livered the Canaanites and the Perizzites into their hand: and they slew of them in Bezek ten thousand men. 5 And they found Adoni-bezek in Bezek: and they fought against him, and they slew the Canaanites and the Perizzites. 6 But Adoni-bezek fled; and they pur- sued after him, and caught him, and cut off his thumbs and his great toes. Historical Note - Grecian history continued c. 1400 BC with the Old Kingdom Period in which a war-like people called the Mycenaens took control of the mainland of Greece. The Mycenaens flourished for almost 200 years. 7 And Adoni-bezek said, Threescore and ten kings, having their thumbs and their great toes cut off, 2 gathered their meat un- der my table: 3 as I have done, so God hath requited me. And they brought him to Je- rusalem, and there he died.

Jordan River

Bezek

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Gezer •

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Jerusalem

JUDAH

DEAD SEA

SIMEON

Adonibezek is captured and taken to Jerusalem Map #94 Review of Judah’s victories 8 Now the children of Judah 4 had fought against Jerusalem, and had taken it, and smitten it with the edge of the sword, and set the city on fire. 9 And afterward the children of Judah went down to fight against the Canaan- ites, that dwelt in the mountain, and in the south, and in the valley. 10 5 And Judah went against the Canaan- ites that dwelt in Hebron: ( 6 now the name of Hebron before was Kirjath-arba:) and they slew Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai. 11 7 And from thence he went against

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