A C 1:1–2:5. Israel and other people. Aggressors.D 2:6–8:35. Government.
B 9:1-57. Internal disorders.
A D 10:1–16:31. Goverment.
C 17:1–18:31. Israel and other peoples. Aggressors.
B 19:1–21:25. Internal disorders.
The Rulers were temporary and special deliverers, sent by God to deliver the Israelites from their oppressors; not supreme magistrates, succeeding to the athority of Moses and Joshua. Their power only extended over portions of the country, and some of the were contemporaneous. Their first work was that of deliverers and leaders in war; then they administered justice to the People, and their authorty supplied the want of a regular government. Even while the administration of Samuel gave something like a settled government to the south, there was scope for irregular exploits of Samson on the borders of the Philistines; and Samuel at least established his authority as ruler and prophet, but still the servant of Yehovah, only to see it so abused by his sons as to exaust the patience of the People, who at length demanded a king, after the pattern of the surrounding natons. The following is a list of the ruers, whose history is given under their respective names: -
First servitude, to Mesoptamia 8 years First Ruler: Othniel. 40 " Second servitude, to Moab 18 " Second ruler: Ehud; 80 " Third ruler: Shamgar. -- " Third servitude, to Jabin and Sisera 20 " Fourth ruler: Deborah and Barak. 40 " Fourth servitude, to Midian 7 " Fifth ruler: Gideon. 40 " Sixth ruler: Abimelech; 3 " Seventh ruler: Tola; 23 " Eigth ruler: Jair. 4 " Fifth servitude, to Ammon 18 " Ninth ruler: Jephthah; 6 " Tenth ruler: Ibzan; 7 " Eleventh ruler: Elon; 10 " Twelfth ruler: Abdon. 8 " Sixth servitude, to the Philistines 40 " Thirteenth ruler: Samson; 20 " Fourteenth ruler: Eli; 40 " Fifteenth ruler: Samuel.
More than likely some of these ruled simultaneously.
C A 1:1-20. By the tribe of Judah. B 1:21. Unexpelled inhabitants. A 1:21-26. By the house of Joseph. B 1:27–2:5. Unexpelled inhabitants.
A a c 1-4. Judah. d 5-8. Conquest. Jerusalem. b e 9. Judah. f 10. Conquest. Hebron. a c 11. Judah. d 12-16. Conquest. Debir. b e 17. Judah. f 18-20. Conquest. Hebron.
1434 B.C.
1)
1: And (commencing with the same word as the preceding Books; thus connecting them all together. The Book of Joshua = the inheritance possessed; Judges = the inheritance despised. Records the failure of the People, and the faithfulness of Yehovah. The Epilogue [21:24] gives the key to the whole Book. See 17:6) after the death of Joshua it came to pass (cp. Josh.24:29), that the sons of Israel inquired the Lord Yehovah (i.e. by the Urim and the Thummim, as in 18:5; 20:18. See Ex.17:14. Num.26:55), saying, “Who shall go up for us against the Canaanites first, to fight against them?”
2: And the Lord (Yehovah) said, “Judah shall go up: behold, I have delivered the land into his hand.”
3: And Judah said to Simeon his brother, “Come up with me into my lot, that we may fight against the Canaanites; and I likewise will go with you into your lot.” So Simeon went with him.
4: And Judah went up; and the Lord (Yehovah) delivered 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 (= lord of lightning. Bezek was 17 miles south of Shechem. Cp. 1 Sam.11:8. Cp. Josh.15:13-19): and they fought against him, and they slew the Canaanites and the Perizzites.
6: But Adoni-bezek fled; and they pursued after him, and caught him, and cut off his thumbs and his great toes. (as he had done to others. See v.7)
7: And Adoni-bezek said, “Threescore and ten kings, having their thumbs and their great toes cut off, gathered (i.e. the pieces) of their meat under my table: according as I have done, so God (Elohim) has requited me.” And they brought him to Jerusalem, and there he died.
8: Now the sons of Judah had fought against Jerusalem (the first occurance is in Josh.10:1, in connection with Adoni-zedek's fear of its being "utterly destroyed" like Ai. Here in v.8, we have a picture of its future history in miniature. See "Sieges of Jerusalem" below. The Tel-el-Amarna tablets contain a long correspondence with Egypt about 1400 B.C.), and had taken it (the citadel not taken till 2 Sam.5:69, by David), and smitten it with the edge of the sword, and set the city on fire.
The histroy of the city has been a record of its sieges. No fewer than 28 go to complete the list.
A cycle of ordinal completeness is marked by the 10th and 20th (2 x 10) sieges. These were the two characterized by the destruction of the Temple by fire, which is in accord with the number 10, being that of ordinal perfection. Both also were foretold: the former by Jeremiah and Ezekiel; the later by or LORD.
Seven is the number of spiritual perfection, and it is worthy of note that the 7th, 14th (2 x 7), and the 21st (3 x 7) sieges were each the subject of Divine prophecy. Further, a 28th (4 x 7) siege, yet future, is foretold in Zech. 14, &c.
While 14 (2 x 7) of the sieges are recorded in Holy Sciptures, 14 are recorded in profane history.
The following is a complete list of the sieges:
1). By the tribe of Judah against the Jebusites, about 1443 B.C. This was some 700 years before Rome was founded. It was only partial, for in David's reign we still find Jebusites occupying the citadel (the future Zion). The Solemn words in Judg.1:8, describing the first siege, vividly portray the after history of the city.
2). By David against the Jebusites (2 Sam.5:6-10. 1 Chron.11:4-7), about 960 B.C.
3). By Shishak king of Egypt, against Rehoboam (1 Kings 14:25,26. 2 Chron.12:2-12), about 875 B.C. To this there were only a feeble resistence; and the Temple was plundered.
4). By the Philistines, Arabians, and Ethiopians, against Jehoram (2 Chron.21:16,17), about 79 B.C. In this siege the royal palace was sacked, and the Temple again plundered.
5). By Jehoash king of Israel, against Amaziah king of Judah (2 Kings 14:13,14), about 739 B.C. The wall was partially broken down, and the city and Temple pillaged.
6). By Rezin king of Syria, and Pekah king of Israel, against Ahaz (2 Chron. 28), about 630 B.C. The city held out, but Ahaz sought the aid of Tiglah-Pilesar king of Assyria, for whom he stripped the Temple.
7). By Sennacherib king of Assyria, against Hezekiah (2 Kings 24:10-16), about 603 B.C. In this case the siege was raised by a Devine interposition, as foretold by Isaiah the prophet.
8). By Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, against Jehoiakim (2 Chron.36:6,7), about 496 B.C., when the Temple was partly pillaged.
9). By Nebuchadnezzar again, against Jehoichin (2 Chron.36:10), about 489 B.C., when the pillage of the Temple was carried further, and 10,000 people carried away.
10). By Nebuchadnezzar, against Zedekiah (2 Chron.36:17-20), 478-477 B.C. In this case the Temple was burnt with fire, and the city and the Temple lay desolate for 50 years.
11). By Ptolemy Soter king of Egypt, against the Jews, 320 B.C. More than 100,000 catives were taken to Egypt.
12). By Antiochus the Great, about 203 B.C.
13). By Scopus, a general of Alexander, about 199 B.C., who left a garrison.
14). By Antiochus IV, surnamed Epyphanes, 168 B.C. This was the worse siege since the 10th. The whole city was pillaged; 100,000 captives taken; the walls destroyed; the altar defiled; ancient manuscripts perished; the finest buildings were burned; and the Jews were forbidden to worship there. Foretold - Dan. 11.
15). By Antiochus V, surnamed Eupator, against Judas Macabæus, about 162 B.C. This time honourable terms were made, and certain priveleges were secured.
16). By Antiochus VII, surnamed Sidetes king of Syria, against John Hyrcanus, about 135 B.C.
17). By Hyrcanus (son of Alex. Jannæus) and the priest Aristobulus. The siege was raised by Scaurus, one of Pompey's lieutenants, about 65 B.C.
18). By Pompey against Arstobulus, about 63 B.C. The machines were moved on the Sabbath, when the Jews made no resistance. Only thus was it reduced; 12,000 Jews were slain. (Antgonus, son of Aristobulus, with a Parthian army, took the city in 40 B.C.; but there was no siege, the city was taken by a sudden surprise).
19). By Herod with a Roman army besieged the city in 39 B.C. for 5 months.
20). By Titus, A.D. 69. The second Temple (Herod's) was burnt, and for 50 years the city disappeared from history, as after the 10th siege (Jer.20:5).
21). The Romans had again to besiege the city in A.D. 135 against a false Messiah, Bar-Chochebas, who had acquired possession of the ruins. The city was obliterated, and renamed Ælia Capitolina, and a temple was erected to Jupiter. For 200 years the city passed out of history, no Jews being permitted to approach it. This siege was foretold in Luke 19:43,44; 21:20-24.
22). After 400 yeras of so-called Christian colonization, Chosroes the Persian (about 559 A.D.) swept through the country; thousands were massacred, and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre was destroyed. The Emperor Heraclius afterward defeated him, and restored the city and the church.
23). The Caliph Omar, in A.D. 63607, besieged the city against Heraclius. It was followed by capitulation on favourable terms, and the city passed into the hands of the Turks.
24). Afdal, the Vizier of the Caliph of Egypt, besieged the two rival factions of Moslems, and pillaged the city in 1098.
25). In 1099 it was besieged by the army of the first Crusade.
26). In 1187 it was besieged by Saladin for 7 weeks.
27). The wild Kharezmian Tartar hordes, in 1244, captured and plundered the city, slaughtering the monks and priests.
28). By Israel, 6 day war. May 17, 1967 Nasser declared, "Egypt, with all its resources, human, economic, and military, is ready to plunge into a total war that will be the end of Israel". Egyptian artillery was bombarding Jewish villages along the Gaza Strip when general fighting broke out on June 6. Israel tried to limit fighting by sending word to King Hussein that Israel would respect Jordan's boundaries if she reciprocated. Hussein, however, had already pledged loyalty to Egypt and began shelling Israel. The Arab legion was driven out of Jerusalem and from the entire west bank of of the Jordan, making the Jordan River the boundary between King Hussein's territory and that now occupied by Israel. At the end of the short war, Israel occupied territory formerly held by Egypt, including the Gaza Strip and the entire Sinai peninsula, the entire west bank of the Jordan, and the Golan Heights of Syria. As we can see God has his hand with Israel and with Jerusalem. Israel returned to become a nation again in 1948 but would not obtain Jerusalem until June 7,1967 under circumstances Israel could not foresee or plan out. "It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am going to do these things, but for the sake of My holy name, which you have profaned among the nations. The nations will know that I am the Lord, declares the Sovereign Lord, when I show Myself holy through you before their eyes." (Ezekiel 36:22-23).
9: And afterward the sons of Judah went down to fight against the Canaanites, that dwelt in the hill country, and in the south (Heb. Negeb), and in the low-lands.
10: And Judah went against the Canaanites that dwelt in Hebron: {now the name of Hebron (cp. Num.13:22. Josh.14:13) before was Kirjath-arba (cp. Gen.23:2. Josh 14:15; 20:7):} and they slew Sheshai (these are sons of Anak. Cp. v.20), and Ahiman, and Talmai.
11: And from that place he went against the inhabitants of Debir: and the name of Debir before was Kirjath-sepher (see Josh 11:21 and 15:49):
12: And Caleb said, “He that smites Kirjath-sepher, and takes it, to him will I give Achsah my daughter to wife.”
13: And Othniel (mentioned only here; and 3:9-11; and 1 Chron.4:13) the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother, took it: and he gave him Achsah his daughter to wife.
1434 to 1431 B.C.
14: And it came to pass, when she came home to him, that she moved him to ask of her father the field: and she lighted from off her ass; and Caleb said to her, “What ailes you?” (Josh.15:18,19)
15: And she said to him, “Give me a blessing: for you have given me a south land; give me also springs of water.” And Caleb gave her the upper springs and the lower springs.
16: And the sons of the Kenite (This is a reference to a geographical location, not blood-line. Jethro was a Medianite priest. A descendant of Abraham, by Keturah. He was NOT a Kenite.), Moses' father in law, went up out of the city of palm trees (i.e. Jericho, 3:13. Deut.34:3) with the children of Judah into the wilderness of Judah, which lies in the south of Arad; and they went and dwelt among the People (i.e. Isael).
17: And Judah went with Simeon his brother, and they slew the Canaanites that inhabited Zephath, and utterly destroyed it (= devoted). {And the name of the city was called Hormah} (= utter destruction).
18: Also Judah took Gaza with the boder thereof, and Askelon with the border thereof, and Ekron with the border thereof. (These were wholly or partially retaken by the enemy, cp. 14:19; 16:1. 1 Sam.5:10. Perhaps this accounts for the Sept. reading, "Judah too did not inherit")
19: And the Lord (Yehovah) was with Judah; and he posseded the inhabitants of the hil country; but could not drive out the inhabitants of the low-lands, because they had chariots of iron (cp. 4:3).
20: And they gave Hebron to Caleb, according as Moses said (cp. Num.14:24. Josh.14:13; 15:13): and he expelled from that place the three sons of Anak (see their names in v.10, and see Gen.6:2,4).
21: And the sons of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites that inhabited Jerusalem (cp. Josh.15:63; 18:28. 2 Sam.5:6-10); but the Jebusites dwell with the sons of Benjamin in Jerusalem to this day.
A g i 22,23-. Beth-el besieged. k -23. Name explained. h 24-. Spies. Mission. h -24. Spies. Action. g i 25. Beth-el taken. k 26. Name explained.
22: And the house of Joseph, they also went up against Bethel: and the Lord (Yehovah) was with them.
23: And the house of Joseph sent to descry Bethel.
{Now the name of the city before was Luz (cp. Gen.28:19, and see Josh.16:1,2. Luz and Beth-el are not two cities).}
24: And the sentries saw a man come forth out of the city, and they said to him,
“Shew us, we pray you, the entrance into the city, and we will shew you mercy.”
25: And when he shewed them the entrance into the city, they smote the city with the edge of the sword; but they let go the man and all his family.
26: And the man went into the land of the Hittites (a nation north of Syria, mentioned on Egyptian inscriptions from 1500 B.C.), and built a city, and called the name thereof Luz: which is the name thereof to this day.
B C¹ 1:27-36. Non-expulsion. The sin. C² 2:1–5. Non-expulsion. the punishment.
C¹ l n 27. Manasseh. o 28. Made the tributaries. m p 29,30-. Ephraim and Zebulun. q -30. Made them tributaries. m p 31-33-. Asher and Naphtali. q -33. Made them tributaries. l n 34,35-. Dan. o -35,36. Made the tributaries.
27: Neither did Manasseh possess the inhabitants of Beth-shean and her towns, nor Taanach and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Dor and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Ibleam and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Megiddo and her towns: but the Canaanites would dwell in that land. (Emphasising the unfaithfulness and disobedience, the cause of all subsequent trouble)
28: And it came to pass, when Israel was strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute, and did not utterly drive them out.
29: Neither did Ephraim possess the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer (i.e. in friendly relations. Ps.133:1. 2 Kings 4:13. See 1 Kings 9:16,17); but the Canaanites dwelt in Gezer among them.
30: Neither did Zebulun possess the inhabitants of Kitron, nor the inhabitants of Nahalol;
but the Canaanites dwelt among them, and became tributaries.
31: Neither did Asher possess the inhabitants of Accho, nor the inhabitants of Zidon, nor of Ahlab, nor of Achzib, nor of Helbah, nor of Aphik, nor of Rehob:
32: But the Asherites dwelt among the Canaanites (= dwelt in the inside, as in the heart [mind] or bowels of the Canaanites; vv.27-30 very different), the inhabitants of the land: for they did not drive them out.
33: Neither did Naphtali possess the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh, nor the inhabitants of Beth-anath; but he dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land:
nevertheless the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh and of Beth-anath became tributaries unto them.
34: And the Amorites forced the sons of Dan into the mountain: for they would not suffer them to come down to the valley:
35: But the Amorites would dwell in mount Heres in Aijalon, and in Shaalbim:
yet the hand of the house of Joseph prevailed (Fig., by which the hand is put for the power exerted by it), so that they became tributaries.
36: And the border of the Amorites was from the going up to Akrabbim, from the rock, and upward.
C² r 1,2. Expostulation. Cause. Disobedience. s 3. Threatning. r 4. Expostulation. Effect. Warning. s 5. Worship.
2)
1434-1100 B.C.
1: And the Angel of the Lord (Yehovah) (or Captain of Yehovah's host, Who had appeared to Joshua in Gilgal. Josh.5:13-15) came up from Gilgal to Bochim (Heb. = weepers), and said, “I made you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you to the land which I sware to your fathers; and I said (cp. Gen.17:7), ‘I will never break My covenant with you.
2: And you all shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land (cp.Ex.23:22. Deut.7:2,5, &c.); you all shall throw down their altars’ (cp. Ex.34:12,13. Deut.12:3): but you all have not obeyed my voice: why have you all done this? (or "what is this that you all have done)
3: Wherefore I also said, ‘I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides (some codices read, "be adversaries to you". Cp. Num.33:55. Josh.23:13), and their gods shall be a snare to you.’ ”
4: And it came to pass, when the Angel of the Lord (Yehovah) spoke these words to all the sons of Israel, that the people lifted up their voice, and wept.
5: And they called the name of that place Bochim: and they sacrificed there to the Lord (Yehovah).
D D¹ 2:6-10. Antecedent. D² 2:11–8:32. Subsequent.
D¹ t 6. Joshua's life. u 7. Predecessors. Knowledge. Obedience. t 8-10-. Joshua's death. u -10. Successors. Ignorance. Disobedience.
6: And when Joshua had let the People go (cp. Josh.24:28-31), the sons of Israel went every man to his inheritance to possess the land.
7: And the People served the Lord (Yehovah) all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that outlived Joshua, and who had seen all the great work of the Lord (Yehovah), that He did for Israel.
1434 B.C.
8: And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord (Yehovah), died, being an hundred and ten years old.
9: And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnath-serah (cp. Josh.19:50; 24:30), in the hll country of Ephraim, on the north side of the hill Gaash.
10: And also all that generation were gathered to their fathers:
and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the Lord (Yehovah) (Fig., put for obeyed not or cared not for), nor yet the work which He had done for Israel.
D² E¹ 2:11–3:4. The People and their Apostasies. E² 3:5–8:32. The opressors and the Deliverers.
E¹ v 2:11-13. Evil committed. w 2:14-. Anger of Yehovah. x 2:-14,15. Punishment. Sold to enemies. v 2:16-19. Evil repeated. w 2:20-. Anger of Yehovah. x 2:-20-3:4. Punishment. Proved by enemies.
11: And the sons of Israel did the evil in the sight of the Lord (Yehovah), and served Baalim (= lord [notice small "l", plural, i.e. lords], male Phoenician and Canaanitish deity, as Ashtoreth was their supreme female deity. Some suppose Baal to corespond to the sun and Ashtoreth to the moon; others that Baal was Jupiter and Ashtoreth Venus. The attractiveness of this worship to Israel undoubtedly grew out of its licentious character. The religion of the Ancient British Islands much resembled this ancient worship of Baal, and may have been derived from it. Nor need we hesitate to regard the Babylonian Bel, Isa.46:1, or Belus, as essentially identical with Baal, though perhaps under some modified form):
12: And they forsook the Lord God (Yehovah Elohim) of their fathers (religion is not a gradual evolution to what is higher, but a declension to what is lower. See Josh.24:14), Which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the peoples that were round about them, and bowed themselves to them, and provoked the Lord (Yehovah) to anger.
13: And they forsook the Lord (Yehovah), and served Baal and Ashtaroth (the special evil of Canaanite nations. Name derived from the Ashêroth [see Ex.34:13]. The Ashtêroth was idolatry of the most revolting form of immorality under the guise of religion. All virtue surrenderd. The "going a whoring" is more than a figure of speech". See Ex.34:13. Deut.7:5; 12:3; 16:21. Note all 11 occ. of Ashtêroth [11= disorder, disoganization]: Deut.1:4. Josh.9:10; 12:4; 13:12,31. Judg.2:13; 10:6. 1 Sam.7:3,4; 12:10; 31:10).
14: And the anger of the Lord (Yehovah) was hot against Israel,
and He delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and He sold them into the hands of their enemies round about, so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies (6 opressors and servitudes named: Judg.3:8,12; 4:2; 6:1; 10:7; 13:1. #6 = weakness of man, evils of Satan, manifestation of sin).
15: To which place soever they went out, the hand of the Lord (Yehovah) was against them for bad (or breaking up, tumolt), as the Lord (Yehovah) had said, and according as the Lord (Yehovah) had sworn to them (cp.Lev. 26. Deut. 28): and they were greatly distressed.
v y 16-. Rulers raised up. z -16. Deliverence. a 17. Apostacy. y 18-. Rulers raised up. z -18. Deliverence. a 19. Apostacy.
16: Nevertheless the Lord (Yehovah) raised up rulers (this word gives the name of the Book = one who puts right what was wrong),
which delivered them out of the hand of those that spoiled them (= saved. Six deliverances; 3:9,15; 4:23; 8:28; 11:33; 16:30).
17: And yet they would not listen to their rulers, but they went a whoring after other gods, and bowed themselves to them: they turned quickly out of the way which their fathers walked in, obeying the commandments of the Lord (Yehovah); but they did not so.
18: And when the Lord (Yehovah) raised them up rulers,
then the Lord (Yehovah) was with the ruler, and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the ruler (this raises the question as to Deborah's call. See 4:4): for it repented Yehovah because of their groanings by reason of them that oppressed them and vexed them.
19: And it came to pass, when the ruler was dead (cp. 3:12), that they returned, and corrupted themselves more than their fathers, in following other gods to serve them, and to bow down to them; they ceased not from their own doings, nor from their stubborn way.
20: And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel; and He said,
x b¹ -20,21. Non-expulsion. c¹ 2:22. Trial. b² 2:23. Non-expulsion. c¹ 3:1,2. Trial. b³ 3:3. Non-expulsion. c³ 3:4. Trial.
“Because that this nation has transgressed My covenant which I commanded their fathers, and have not listened to My voice;
21: I also will not henceforth drive out any from before them of the nations which Joshua left when he died:
22: That through them I may prove Israel, whether they will keep the way of Yehovah to walk in it (i.e. In Yehovah's way), as their fathers did keep it, or not.”
23: Therefore the Lord (Yehovah) left those nations, without dispossessing them hastily; neither delivered He them into the hand of Joshua.
1434 to 1431 B.C.
3)
1: Now these are the nations which Yehovah left, to prove Israel by them, even as many of Israel as had not known all the wars of Canaan;
2: Only that the generations of the sons of Israel might know, to teach them war, at the least such as before knew nothing thereof;
3: Namely, five lords of the Philistines (see Josh.13:2-6), and all the Canaanites, and the Sidonians, and the Hivites that dwelt in mount Lebanon, from mount Baal-hermon to the pass of Hamath.
4: And they were to prove Israel by them, to know whether they would listen to the commandments of the Lord (Yehovah), which He commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses.