Bible Old Testament Judges The 12 tribes now

Bible – Old Testament - Judges • The 12 tribes now attack the Canaanites & others living in the promised land • Many are driven out but many stay and become subjects and forced labour to the Israelites. • The land is divided between the tribes (see next slide) • As time passes Israel becomes stronger and suppresses all opposition to them

ASHER NATHTALI ZEBULUN ISSACHAR MANASSEH (JOSEPH) EPHRAIM (JOSEPH) GAD DAN BENJAMIN REUBEN JUDAH SIMEON LEVI The Levites are the priesthood Living among the other tribes From Wikimedia Commons, the free media repository

Bible – Old Testament - Judges • By not chasing out all the inhabitants of the lands , Israel had disobeyed God • When Joshua’s generation died out many Israelites began to worship local gods • God no longer supports Israel and they suffer several defeats to raiders and local tribes. • God raises up Judges to rule over Israel and help defend against their enemies • The Israelites still lived with the following peoples in the land. • Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, Jebusites • Many intermarried and served false gods

Bible – Old Testament - Judges • Twice more Israel was invaded and made subject to other kings. • Twice more God raised up Judges , first Othniel then Ehud who defeated their enemies. • Then Shamgar was raised up as a judge and defeated the Philistines • Again they were overrun by Jabin king of Canaan • This time God gave leadership to a woman Deborah • Deborah plans the strategy with Barak the military commander and they defeat Sisera , Jabin’s military commander. Jabin is eventually destroyed

Bible – Old Testament - Judges • Victory song of Deborah • Israel was later invaded by Midianites(from the east) who raided crops and animals • God sends a prophet to remind the Israelites of their history. Do not worship other gods • An angel appears to Gideon replaces the alter to Baal with an alter to the Lord • Gideon defeats the Midianites with only 300 men and the help of God

Bible – Old Testament - Judges • The Israelites ask Gideon to rule over them • He refuses stating only God must rule • After Gideon died (40 years later) Israel again turned to worship other gods. • Abimelek, Gideon’s son by a concubine murders Gideon’s other 70 sons but Jotham another son escaped. Abimelek is crowned king. • After 3 years the people rise against Abimelek and after a few victories for Abimelek he is eventually killed at Thebez. Thus God repaid Abimelek’s wickedness

Bible – Old Testament - Judges • After Abimelek the Israelites are led by – Tola – 23 years – Jair – 22 years • But again the Israelites turned to foreign gods • And fell to the forces of Philistines & Ammonites and were oppressed by them 18 years • God raised up Jepthah to lead them and he defeated the Ammonites • Jepthah led Israel 6 years then died • Ibzan – 7 years, Elon – 10 years, Abdon – 8 years

Bible – Old Testament - Judges • Philistines overrun Israel and rule over them 40 years • Zorah, named Manoah, from the clan of the Dan, had a wife who was childless. An angel of the LORD appeared to her and said, “You are going to become pregnant and bear a son. Now see to it that you drink no alcohol and do not eat anything unclean. Your son’s head is never to be cut because the boy is to be dedicated to God from birth. He will take the lead in delivering Israel from the hands of the Philistines. ” • The boy is born and is called Samson • Story of Samson’s marriage and the riddle of the lion see Judges Chapter 14.

Bible – Old Testament - Judges • Philistines murder Samson’s wife and father in law • Samson takes revenge. • Samson meets Delilah who works for the Philistines. She betrays him • Samson is captured and blinded • His hair grows back and while he is being shown off by his captors he pulls down the 2 pillars supporting the temple to the Philistine god Dagon and kills the rulers of the Philistines and himself • Thus he killed more when he died than when he lived. • His family retrieve his remains and he is buried in his fathers tomb. He had led Israel 20 years.

Bible – Old Testament - Judges • Civil war between Benjamites and the rest of Israel. Benjamites lose. • The clan of Benjamin so weakened they did not have enough women to marry. • Israel sworn not to provide wives. • Benjamin get women through warfare & a ruse.