Day 47 Reading Schedule: Judges 10-14

Judges 10: Judges Tola and Jair, and the Oppression of the Ammonites 

[Summary]

Even after the death of Abimelech, who had ruled the Israelites with tyranny, judges continued to appear and rule Israel. The judges active at that time were Tola, the son of Puah, and Jair the Gileadite (verses 1-5). However, this chapter does not record much about them except for their names and the length of their reigns. This does not mean that they were not important figures, but rather that this chapter intends to tell us that God’s grace continued through the judges even during this dark period. However, Israel, which had been living in a peaceful era because of the judges, once again forgot God and began to serve idols. God was angry at this and allowed the Philistines to oppress them for eighteen years (verses 6-9). Only then did the Israelites realize their sins and abandon their idols, repent, and pray to God for salvation (verses 10-16). At that time, a war broke out between the Ammonites and Israel in Gilead (vv. 17-18).

Although Israel had to face great crises every moment due to human mistakes and faults, the nation of Israel was able to continue because God’s love for them was constant even in such times. This chapter introduces God’s extreme love for Israel through the judges Tola and Jair, and the painful reality that Israel faced despite this, as they continued to indulge in sin. Indeed, the way a person lives will clearly change depending on how they respond to God’s love.

Judges 11: Judge Jephthah and His Vow 

[Summary]

The judges who ruled over Israel had very diverse backgrounds, such as their tribes of origin and occupations. This chapter tells the story of Jephthah, who had a special origin. Jephthah was born to a prostitute in Gilead and was driven out by his brothers and lived with the common people. When the elders of Gilead asked Jephthah for help when they were faced with an attack by the Ammonites, Jephthah agreed to their request on the condition that if they defeated them, he would be made the leader of Israel (verses 1-11). Jephthah first sent a messenger to the king of Ammon, asking to return, but the king of Ammon refused Jephthah's request, citing the fact that Israel had once been their land (verses 12-28). Then, the Spirit of God came upon Jephthah, and he gathered his soldiers and went out to attack Ammon. At this time, Jephthah vowed that if God gave him victory, he would offer the first thing he found after returning from battle as a burnt offering. Finally, with God’s help, Jephthah returned home victorious from the war and met his daughter who had come out to welcome him. However, Jephthah kept his vow by offering his daughter to God even though he was sad (vv. 29-40).

This chapter introduces the scene where God heard the cry of the Israelites who were suffering under the oppression of the Philistines and the Ammonites, raised up Jephthah as a judge to save Israel, and enabled him to achieve a great victory. This chapter especially introduces the painful realities that hasty and passionate vows bring, reminding us of the need for moderation, humility, and prudence in our religious lives.

Judges 12: Civil War in Israel 

[Summary]

Israel, which entered Canaan under the leadership of Joshua, gradually lost its sense of national community through its approximately 400-year existence in Canaan. They only pursued the interests of their own tribes, and even when other tribes were in danger, they only thought of their own safety and ignored them. This chapter vividly shows the state of the community in Israel at the time by recording the civil war in Israel that arose as a result of the war with Ammon. When Jephthah fought the Ammonites, the Ephraimites, who had cowardly stayed behind, tried to attack Jephthah instead because he had not participated in the battle against Ammon. Jephthah was furious and rebuked them, gathered the Gileadites, and fought the Ephraimites. As a result, Ephraim was defeated and Jephthah killed 42,000 Ephraimites that day. After that, Jephthah became a judge of Israel and ruled for six years (verses 1-7). Even after Jephthah died, Ibzan from Bethlehem, Elon from Zebulun, and Abdon son of Hillel from Pirathon continued to judge Israel and govern them (vv. 8-15).

This chapter is connected to the results of the battle between Israel and Ammon that occurred on the battlefield. Jephthah had previously gathered the Israelites and destroyed the Ammonites who were harassing Israel. However, after the war, the Ephraimites, one of the Israelites, began to quarrel with Jephthah. The reason was that he had not requested their participation in the battle against the Ammonites. As a result, a fratricidal war broke out between the tribe of Gilead, to which Jephthah belonged, and the tribe of Ephraim. The text uses this historical fact as its background.

Judges 13: The Oppression of the Philistines and Samson 

[Summary]

This chapter records the birth of Samson, who lived the most dramatic life among the judges of Israel. God punished Israel, which had begun to fall again after thirty years of peace, through the Philistines. However, God also raised a judge to save His people who were in trouble. So He appeared to Manoah and his wife from the tribe of Dan and told them that a judge who would save Israel would be born. He raised him as a pure Nazirite and told him not to shave his head and to stay away from unclean things (verses 1-14). Upon hearing the news of his birth, the couple offered burnt offerings and sacrifices (verses 15-20), and later, as prophesied, they gave birth to a son and named him Samson (verses 21-25).

After Jephthah, Israel enjoyed a period of peace and prosperity, but then began to sin against God again. As all living environments and conditions improved, the Israelites once again turned away from God and fell into the sinful path of debauchery and idolatry. As a result, Israel incurred God’s wrath and eventually came under the rule of the Philistines. After 40 years, God heard Israel’s cries, took pity on Israel, and tried to relieve Israel’s suffering through a savior. The minister who was called to this amazing work of salvation was none other than Samson. The text introduces the prophecy about Samson’s birth and the scene where that prophecy was fulfilled.

Judges 14: Samson's Marriage to a Philistine Woman 

[Summary]

This chapter records Samson, who was born a Nazirite, as he began to work as a judge of Israel. As a judge of Israel, Samson proposed to Timna, a Philistine woman, despite his parents' opposition, in order to prepare an opportunity to attack the Philistines (verses 1-4). After that, on his way to Timna, he encountered a lion and killed it, and at the wedding, he presented a riddle about the lion (verses 5-14). When the Philistines, who could not solve the riddle, used Timna to find the answer and won the bet, Samson killed forty Ashkelonites and plundered their sacrifices (verses 15-20).

This chapter introduces Samson's ministry in earnest. Samson, who was called to be a judge from the womb by God's providence, grew up and finally became a judge of God. And he began to carry out the work of salvation for Israel in earnest. However, Samson, too, was born in sin and lived in a corrupt and depraved world, so he could not live a completely blameless life. Nevertheless, God carried out His will through Samson. The text here shows the incident of the Philistine punishment that occurred during Samson's first ministry, the marriage with the woman of Timnah.