While I was reading through Judges, I noticed that animals are used for symbols and by digging deeper into the scripture and Googling stuff, I found that ordinary peopled used ordinary thing to do extraordinary things. Like Samson! He did some messed up things even while he was serving God and God forgave him. He married people that he wasn't suppose to and when when he was tied up and trapped in his sin, God gave him last chance and he ended up killing himself to finish the work he was called to do. The people in the bible where not out of the ordinary, but God still used them. Time and time again, God demonstrates his love for us, killing his son being the biggest example. "God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8) And God is and always will be the same! God used ordinary people 1,000's of years ago and he still does today. I think that message is said time and time again in Judges.
In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.
Ephesians 1:11-12
Monday, April 30, 2012
Friday, April 27, 2012
The Unfamiliar Judges: Abdon
After him, Abdon son of Hillel, from Pirathon, led Israel. He had forty sons and thirty grandsons, who rode on seventy donkeys. He led Israel eight years. Then Abdon son of Hillel died, and was buried at Pirathon in Ephraim, in the hill country of the Amalekites.
Judges 12:13-15
Here are some more verses about other Abdons.
The fifth lot came out for the tribe of Asher, clan by clan. Their territory included: Helkath, Hali, Beten, Acshaph, Allammelech, Amad and Mishal. On the west the boundary touched Carmel and Shihor Libnath. It then turned east toward Beth Dagon, touched Zebulun and the Valley of Iphtah El, and went north to Beth Emek and Neiel, passing Cabul on the left. It went to Abdon, Rehob, Hammon and Kanah, as far as Greater Sidon. The boundary then turned back toward Ramah and went to the fortified city of Tyre, turned toward Hosah and came out at the sea in the region of Aczib, Ummah, Aphek and Rehob. There were twenty-two towns and their villages.
Joshua 19:24-30
from the tribe of Asher, Mishal, Abdon, Helkath and Rehob, together with their pasturelands--four towns;
Joshua 21:30
Ishpan, Eber, Eliel, Abdon, Zicri, Hanan, Hananiah, Elam, Anthothijah, Iphdeiah and Penuel were the sons of Shashak.
1 Chronicles 8:22-25
Jeiel the father of Gibeon lived in Gibeon. His wife's name was Maacah, and his firstborn son was Abdon, followed by Zur, Kish, Baal, Ner, Nadab, Gedor, Ahio, Zeker
1 Chronicles 8:29-31
He gave these orders to Hilkiah, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Abdon son of Micah, Shaphan the secretary and Asaiah the king's attendant:
2 Chronicles 34:20
Joshua 19:24-30 and Joshua 21:30 say that one of Asher's sons was Abdon. And the verse in Chronicles says that Abdon is also a son of a man named Shashak. And in 1 Chronicles 8:29-31, It says that Jeiel, who was the father of Gibeon (Not Gideon, but Gibeon) Had a firstborn named Abdon. But Jeiel Probably was in the tribe of Benjamin...
And from the tribe of Benjamin they were given Gibeon, Geba, Alemeth and Anathoth, together with their pasturelands. These towns, which were distributed among the Kohathite clans, were thirteen in all.
1 Chronicles 6:60
It's odd that a son named Gibeon was mentioned because normally, it says the firstborn child and no one else.
There was another Judge that mentioned donkeys too, and I said that the donkeys symbolize peace. Abdon's sons and grandsons were trying to bring peace.
Abdon is the very last Judge mentioned in the book of Judges, which means that this is the last post in my series.
Judges 12:13-15
Here are some more verses about other Abdons.
The fifth lot came out for the tribe of Asher, clan by clan. Their territory included: Helkath, Hali, Beten, Acshaph, Allammelech, Amad and Mishal. On the west the boundary touched Carmel and Shihor Libnath. It then turned east toward Beth Dagon, touched Zebulun and the Valley of Iphtah El, and went north to Beth Emek and Neiel, passing Cabul on the left. It went to Abdon, Rehob, Hammon and Kanah, as far as Greater Sidon. The boundary then turned back toward Ramah and went to the fortified city of Tyre, turned toward Hosah and came out at the sea in the region of Aczib, Ummah, Aphek and Rehob. There were twenty-two towns and their villages.
Joshua 19:24-30
from the tribe of Asher, Mishal, Abdon, Helkath and Rehob, together with their pasturelands--four towns;
Joshua 21:30
Ishpan, Eber, Eliel, Abdon, Zicri, Hanan, Hananiah, Elam, Anthothijah, Iphdeiah and Penuel were the sons of Shashak.
1 Chronicles 8:22-25
Jeiel the father of Gibeon lived in Gibeon. His wife's name was Maacah, and his firstborn son was Abdon, followed by Zur, Kish, Baal, Ner, Nadab, Gedor, Ahio, Zeker
1 Chronicles 8:29-31
He gave these orders to Hilkiah, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Abdon son of Micah, Shaphan the secretary and Asaiah the king's attendant:
2 Chronicles 34:20
Joshua 19:24-30 and Joshua 21:30 say that one of Asher's sons was Abdon. And the verse in Chronicles says that Abdon is also a son of a man named Shashak. And in 1 Chronicles 8:29-31, It says that Jeiel, who was the father of Gibeon (Not Gideon, but Gibeon) Had a firstborn named Abdon. But Jeiel Probably was in the tribe of Benjamin...
And from the tribe of Benjamin they were given Gibeon, Geba, Alemeth and Anathoth, together with their pasturelands. These towns, which were distributed among the Kohathite clans, were thirteen in all.
1 Chronicles 6:60
It's odd that a son named Gibeon was mentioned because normally, it says the firstborn child and no one else.
There was another Judge that mentioned donkeys too, and I said that the donkeys symbolize peace. Abdon's sons and grandsons were trying to bring peace.
Abdon is the very last Judge mentioned in the book of Judges, which means that this is the last post in my series.
Friday, April 20, 2012
The Unfamiliar Judges: Elon
After him, Elon the Zebulunite led Israel ten years. Then Elon died, and was buried in Aijalon in the land of Zebulun.
Judges 12:11-12
Here's some other verses about different Elons.
The sons of Zebulun were Sered, Elon, and Jahleel.
Genesis 46:14
These were the clans descended from the sons of Zebulun: The Seredite clan, named after their ancestor Sered. The Elonite clan, named after their ancestor Elon. The Jahleelite clan, named after their ancestor Jahleel.
Number 26:26
Elon is yet another Judge that was named after his ancestor, and yet another Judge who wasn't a judge for very long before death.
Judges 12:11-12
Here's some other verses about different Elons.
The sons of Zebulun were Sered, Elon, and Jahleel.
Genesis 46:14
These were the clans descended from the sons of Zebulun: The Seredite clan, named after their ancestor Sered. The Elonite clan, named after their ancestor Elon. The Jahleelite clan, named after their ancestor Jahleel.
Number 26:26
Elon is yet another Judge that was named after his ancestor, and yet another Judge who wasn't a judge for very long before death.
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
The Unfamiliar Judges: Ibzan
After him, Ibzan of Bethlehem led Israel. He had thirty sons and thirty daughters. He gave his daughters away in marriage to those outside his clan, and for his sons he brought in thirty young women as wives from outside his clan. Ibzan led Israel seven years. Then Ibzan died, and was buried in Bethlehem.
Judges 12:8-10
The fact that Ibzan arrandged for all of his children to be married to someone outside of the clan is rather odd because in bible times, it was customary to be married to extended family. But also in bible times, when peace and alliances were being or trying to be made, the leader's children would marry, so there might have been some instability or lack of trust between different clans.
And seven years is not a long time! There are so many thing that could have happened in the seven years that Ibzan was a judges, but the author chose not to tell about anything. More than likely, Ibzan couldn't keep the peace. Even though the 60 children married people out of there tribe, this peace that Ibzan tried to obtain probably didn't last long. How long peace lasted, I don't know, But I do know that pretty soon after that, Elon took his turn at Judging.
Judges 12:8-10
The fact that Ibzan arrandged for all of his children to be married to someone outside of the clan is rather odd because in bible times, it was customary to be married to extended family. But also in bible times, when peace and alliances were being or trying to be made, the leader's children would marry, so there might have been some instability or lack of trust between different clans.
And seven years is not a long time! There are so many thing that could have happened in the seven years that Ibzan was a judges, but the author chose not to tell about anything. More than likely, Ibzan couldn't keep the peace. Even though the 60 children married people out of there tribe, this peace that Ibzan tried to obtain probably didn't last long. How long peace lasted, I don't know, But I do know that pretty soon after that, Elon took his turn at Judging.
Saturday, April 14, 2012
The Unfamiliar Judges: Jair
He was followed by Jair of Gilead, who led Israel twenty-two years. He had thirty sons, who rode thirty donkeys. They controlled thirty towns in Gilead, which to this day are called Havvoth Jair. When Jair died, he was buried in Kamon.
Judges 10:3-5
Sometimes I'm reading the bible, and there are the weirdest details. This is one of those weird details. "He had thirty sons, who rode thirty donkeys." And I have no idea how that has any relevance to the story. Seriously, I don't.
UPDATE: I figured there was no harm in researching this topic and the whole donkey thing...Well donkeys are used to describe royalty. And that had me remember that kings and rulers ride donkeys as signs of peace and horses as a sign of war. So that could mean that Jair's thirty sons controlled Gilead and where peaceful. Jesus even rode a donkey! "When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields." (Mark 11:7-8)
And later in Revelations, you find out that when Jesus comes back again, he will be riding a white horse. But people don't really think very highly of donkeys. They're know for their stubbornness and dumbness, but God still used them. Likewise God will use you because you are more important to him than animals. And if he used the "dumb" and "stubborn" animals, then he'll use anyone.
Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
Mathew 10:29-31
Judges 10:3-5
Sometimes I'm reading the bible, and there are the weirdest details. This is one of those weird details. "He had thirty sons, who rode thirty donkeys." And I have no idea how that has any relevance to the story. Seriously, I don't. UPDATE: I figured there was no harm in researching this topic and the whole donkey thing...Well donkeys are used to describe royalty. And that had me remember that kings and rulers ride donkeys as signs of peace and horses as a sign of war. So that could mean that Jair's thirty sons controlled Gilead and where peaceful. Jesus even rode a donkey! "When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields." (Mark 11:7-8)
And later in Revelations, you find out that when Jesus comes back again, he will be riding a white horse. But people don't really think very highly of donkeys. They're know for their stubbornness and dumbness, but God still used them. Likewise God will use you because you are more important to him than animals. And if he used the "dumb" and "stubborn" animals, then he'll use anyone.
Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
Mathew 10:29-31
Thursday, April 12, 2012
The Unfamiliar Judges: Tola
After the time of Abimelech a man of Issachar, Tola son of Puah, the son of Dodo, rose to save Israel. He lived in Shamir, in the hill country of Ephraim. He led Israel twenty-three years; then he died, and was buried in Shamir.
Judges 10:1-2
Tola's grandfather was named Dodo, which is also the name of an extinct bird. And even though this passage is small, there's always research. And by that, I found out that Tola means "worm or grub" Another thing is this:
The sons of Issachar: Tola, Puah, Jashub and Shimron.
Genesis 46:13
The sons of Issachar: Tola, Puah, Jashub and Shimron--four in all.
The sons of Tola: Uzzi, Rephaiah, Jeriel, Jahmai, Ibsam and Samuel--heads of their families. During the reign of David, the descendants of Tola listed as fighting men in their genealogy numbered 22,600.
The son of Uzzi: Izrahiah.
The sons of Izrahiah: Michael, Obadiah, Joel and Isshiah. All five of them were chiefs.
1 Chronicles 7:1-4
The descendants of Issachar by their clans were: through Tola, the Tolaite clan; through Puah, the Puite clan; through Jashub, the Jashubite clan; through Shimron, the Shimronite clan. These were the clans of Issachar; those numbered were 64,25300.
Numbers 26:23-25
So there was at least on other Tola and the Judge Tola was from the tribe of Issachar, which means that Puah probably named his son after Issachar's son. And Dodo named his son after another on of Issachar's sons. There were also Clans. Of Issachar there where 4. I don't really know what the whole clan thing was about because there were already 12 tribes, but if the clan thing was still around when the judges where, then everyone in the tribe of Issachar would know about Tola, Puah, Jashub, and Shimron for sure.
Judges 10:1-2
Tola's grandfather was named Dodo, which is also the name of an extinct bird. And even though this passage is small, there's always research. And by that, I found out that Tola means "worm or grub" Another thing is this:
The sons of Issachar: Tola, Puah, Jashub and Shimron.
Genesis 46:13
The sons of Issachar: Tola, Puah, Jashub and Shimron--four in all.
The sons of Tola: Uzzi, Rephaiah, Jeriel, Jahmai, Ibsam and Samuel--heads of their families. During the reign of David, the descendants of Tola listed as fighting men in their genealogy numbered 22,600.
The son of Uzzi: Izrahiah.
The sons of Izrahiah: Michael, Obadiah, Joel and Isshiah. All five of them were chiefs.
1 Chronicles 7:1-4
The descendants of Issachar by their clans were: through Tola, the Tolaite clan; through Puah, the Puite clan; through Jashub, the Jashubite clan; through Shimron, the Shimronite clan. These were the clans of Issachar; those numbered were 64,25300.
Numbers 26:23-25
So there was at least on other Tola and the Judge Tola was from the tribe of Issachar, which means that Puah probably named his son after Issachar's son. And Dodo named his son after another on of Issachar's sons. There were also Clans. Of Issachar there where 4. I don't really know what the whole clan thing was about because there were already 12 tribes, but if the clan thing was still around when the judges where, then everyone in the tribe of Issachar would know about Tola, Puah, Jashub, and Shimron for sure.
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
The Unfamiliar Judges: Shamgar
And after him was Shamgar the son of Anath, which slew of the Philistines six hundred men with an ox goad: and he also delivered Israel.
Judges 3:31
This is probably the shortest passage of any of the Judges, but the one thing that I was curious about is this: What is an ox goad?
Upon research, I found that an ox goad, also called a goad or and oxgoad, was used to to spur cattle on while pulling plows (They were stabbed with a sharp stick to keep them moving.) And were also whenever you wanted the animal to move. The back often had a shovel-like instrument used to clean the plow. Since the goad was only meant to annoy the ox, not actually injure it, it probably would not have been all that sharp. It was not really supposed to be dangerous. It'd be pretty hard to kill 600 Philistines with a slightly sharpened stick. Which means that Shamgar must have been pretty strong...or God gave him strength. And Shamgar was most likely a farmer because he probably already had a goad in his possession.Which is another example of how God can use ANYONE. Even the son of Anath can strike down 600 Philistines if he has faith in God. ANYONE.
Judges 3:31
This is probably the shortest passage of any of the Judges, but the one thing that I was curious about is this: What is an ox goad?Upon research, I found that an ox goad, also called a goad or and oxgoad, was used to to spur cattle on while pulling plows (They were stabbed with a sharp stick to keep them moving.) And were also whenever you wanted the animal to move. The back often had a shovel-like instrument used to clean the plow. Since the goad was only meant to annoy the ox, not actually injure it, it probably would not have been all that sharp. It was not really supposed to be dangerous. It'd be pretty hard to kill 600 Philistines with a slightly sharpened stick. Which means that Shamgar must have been pretty strong...or God gave him strength. And Shamgar was most likely a farmer because he probably already had a goad in his possession.Which is another example of how God can use ANYONE. Even the son of Anath can strike down 600 Philistines if he has faith in God. ANYONE.
Sunday, April 8, 2012
JESUS IS NOT DEAD!!!
Today is one of my favorite days of the year because it is the day that Jesus Christ came back to life. Two days ago was Good Friday, the day that Judas decided was time to hand Jesus over to the high priest, who killed him. Jesus Christ was put on trail like a criminal and sentenced to death, even though he never ever sinned, but almost everyone wanted him killed. Then the Romans took a cross and had Jesus carry the thing that would help kill him. When Jesus got to were he was to be hung on his cross, some soldiers took away all of Jesus' clothes but his undergarments and gambled for them and then they got out their whip, but this whip had broken glass woven into the leather whip and that was what they used to beat their king. They lashed him 40 times because if the stuck him more than 40 times, then it would kill him. Then the the people made a crown for their king by twisting thorny branches together. And they pushed that into Jesus' head. After that, they prepared the cross and nailed Jesus to it, putting a nail in both feet and in his arms. There the perfect king was carrying everyone's sin. He did that to save everyone from there sin, but there was so much sin that God could not look upon Jesus and there Jesus died, with only a few cruel guards by his side, but even they sky missed it's king because that night when moon rose into the sky, it was blood red. And since the next day was Sabbath, one of Jesus' followers moved his dead king to tomb and wrapped him in cloth.
Since no one could do any work on the Sabbath, there were no burial spices laid on Jesus' body so after Sabbath, three women came to bring him spices, but when they came to the tomb, God was not there...
HE WAS ALIVE!
While Jesus was dead, he defeated sin. And so you do not have to live with your sin, God will forgive you because of was Jesus did.
JESUS IS NOT DEAD!!!
JESUS IS NOT DEAD!!!
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
The Unfamiliar Judges: Ehud
Once again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD, and because they did this evil the LORD gave Eglon king of Moab power over Israel. Getting the Ammonites and Amalekites to join him, Eglon came and attacked Israel, and they took possession of the City of Palms. The Israelites were subject to Eglon king of Moab for eighteen years. Again the Israelites cried out to the LORD, and he gave them a deliverer--Ehud, a left-handed man, the son of Gera the Benjamite. The Israelites sent him with tribute to Eglon king of Moab. Now Ehud had made a double-edged sword about a foot and a half long, which he strapped to his right thigh under his clothing. He presented the tribute to Eglon king of Moab, who was a very fat man. After Ehud had presented the tribute, he sent on their way the men who had carried it. At the idols near Gilgal he himself turned back and said, "I have a secret message for you, O king." The king said, "Quiet!" And all his attendants left him. Ehud then approached him while he was sitting alone in the upper room of his summer palace and said, "I have a message from God for you." As the king rose from his seat, Ehud reached with his left hand, drew the sword from his right thigh and plunged it into the king's belly. Even the handle sank in after the blade, which came out his back. Ehud did not pull the sword out, and the fat closed in over it. Then Ehud went out to the porch; he shut the doors of the upper room behind him and locked them. After he had gone, the servants came and found the doors of the upper room locked. They said, "He must be relieving himself in the inner room of the house." They waited to the point of embarrassment, but when he did not open the doors of the room, they took a key and unlocked them. There they saw their LORD fallen to the floor, dead. While they waited, Ehud got away. He passed by the idols and escaped to Seirah. When he arrived there, he blew a trumpet in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites went down with him from the hills, with him leading them. "Follow me," he ordered, "for the LORD has given Moab, your enemy, into your hands." So they followed him down and, taking possession of the fords of the Jordan that led to Moab, they allowed no one to cross over. At that time they struck down about ten thousand Moabites, all vigorous and strong; not a man escaped. That day Moab was made subject to Israel, and the land had peace for eighty years.
Judges 3:12-30
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Judges 3:12-30
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