Book of Judges complete bible study part two

                       

            Here are all of some additional chapters to add to my bible study on judges, covering the remaining judges who would deliver Israel from her adversaries in that time period, as well as the other topics at the end of the book. Israel was in a  cyclical period of apostasy with idolatry, then judgment, then repentance, then God would raise up a judge by whom who He would use to deliver from whatever adversary that was vexing and abusing them to punish them for the idolatry they had committed before repenting of it and then God showing His mercy through this or that judge. Chapters 4, 5, and 9-12,17-21 are covered in this study. For the other chapters which I am led to use in judges please go here

https://www.facebook.com/notes/jay-dougherty/book-of-judges-bible-study/250855628390579

This bible study could be interspersed with that one, as the two together are intended to give you a complete bible study of the book of Judges.

In chapter 4 then the Israelites, sin and are delivered into an enemy, Jabin king of Canaan but then repent and cry out to God and then God raises Deborah the prophetess, Barak and others to deliver them

(Judges 4:1)  And the people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the LORD after Ehud died.

 

(Judges 4:2)  And the LORD sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor. The commander of his army was Sisera, who lived in Harosheth-hagoyim.

 

(Judges 4:3)  Then the people of Israel cried out to the LORD for help, for he had 900 chariots of iron and he oppressed the people of Israel cruelly for twenty years.

 

(Judges 4:4)  Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel at that time.

 

(Judges 4:5)  She used to sit under the palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the people of Israel came up to her for judgment.

 

(Judges 4:6)  She sent and summoned Barak the son of Abinoam from Kedesh-naphtali and said to him, "Has not the LORD, the God of Israel, commanded you, 'Go, gather your men at Mount Tabor, taking 10,000 from the people of Naphtali and the people of Zebulun.

 

(Judges 4:7)  And I will draw out Sisera, the general of Jabin's army, to meet you by the river Kishon with his chariots and his troops, and I will give him into your hand'?"

 

(Judges 4:8)  Barak said to her, "If you will go with me, I will go, but if you will not go with me, I will not go."

 

(Judges 4:9)  And she said, "I will surely go with you. Nevertheless, the road on which you are going will not lead to your glory, for the LORD will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman." Then Deborah arose and went with Barak to Kedesh.

 

(Judges 4:10)  And Barak called out Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh. And 10,000 men went up at his heels, and Deborah went up with him.

 

(Judges 4:11)  Now Heber the Kenite had separated from the Kenites, the descendants of Hobab the father-in-law of Moses, and had pitched his tent as far away as the oak in Zaanannim, which is near Kedesh.

 

(Judges 4:12)  When Sisera was told that Barak the son of Abinoam had gone up to Mount Tabor,

 

(Judges 4:13)  Sisera called out all his chariots, 900 chariots of iron, and all the men who were with him, from Harosheth-hagoyim to the river Kishon.

 

(Judges 4:14)  And Deborah said to Barak, "Up! For this is the day in which the LORD has given Sisera into your hand. Does not the LORD go out before you?" So Barak went down from Mount Tabor with 10,000 men following him.

 

(Judges 4:15)  And the LORD routed Sisera and all his chariots and all his army before Barak by the edge of the sword. And Sisera got down from his chariot and fled away on foot.

 

(Judges 4:16)  And Barak pursued the chariots and the army to Harosheth-hagoyim, and all the army of Sisera fell by the edge of the sword; not a man was left.

 

(Judges 4:17)  But Sisera fled away on foot to the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, for there was peace between Jabin the king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite.

 

(Judges 4:18)  And Jael came out to meet Sisera and said to him, "Turn aside, my lord; turn aside to me; do not be afraid." So he turned aside to her into the tent, and she covered him with a rug.

 

(Judges 4:19)  And he said to her, "Please give me a little water to drink, for I am thirsty." So she opened a skin of milk and gave him a drink and covered him.

 

(Judges 4:20)  And he said to her, "Stand at the opening of the tent, and if any man comes and asks you, 'Is anyone here?' say, 'No.'"

 

(Judges 4:21)  But Jael the wife of Heber took a tent peg, and took a hammer in her hand. Then she went softly to him and drove the peg into his temple until it went down into the ground while he was lying fast asleep from weariness. So he died.

 

(Judges 4:22)  And behold, as Barak was pursuing Sisera, Jael went out to meet him and said to him, "Come, and I will show you the man whom you are seeking." So he went in to her tent, and there lay Sisera dead, with the tent peg in his temple.

 

(Judges 4:23)  So on that day God subdued Jabin the king of Canaan before the people of Israel.

 

(Judges 4:24)  And the hand of the people of Israel pressed harder and harder against Jabin the king of Canaan, until they destroyed Jabin king of Canaan.

 

Judges chapter 5 is the song of praise they gave in appreciation of the deliverance from this enemy

(Judges 5:1)  Then sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam on that day:

 

(Judges 5:2)  "That the leaders took the lead in Israel, that the people offered themselves willingly, bless the LORD!

 

(Judges 5:3)  "Hear, O kings; give ear, O princes; to the LORD I will sing; I will make melody to the LORD, the God of Israel.

 

(Judges 5:4)  "LORD, when you went out from Seir, when you marched from the region of Edom, the earth trembled and the heavens dropped, yes, the clouds dropped water.

 

(Judges 5:5)  The mountains quaked before the LORD, even Sinai before the LORD, the God of Israel.

 

(Judges 5:6)  "In the days of Shamgar, son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were abandoned, and travelers kept to the byways.

 

(Judges 5:7)  The villagers ceased in Israel; they ceased to be until I arose; I, Deborah, arose as a mother in Israel.

 

(Judges 5:8)  When new gods were chosen, then war was in the gates. Was shield or spear to be seen among forty thousand in Israel?

 

(Judges 5:9)  My heart goes out to the commanders of Israel who offered themselves willingly among the people. Bless the LORD.

 

(Judges 5:10)  "Tell of it, you who ride on white donkeys, you who sit on rich carpets and you who walk by the way.

 

(Judges 5:11)  To the sound of musicians at the watering places, there they repeat the righteous triumphs of the LORD, the righteous triumphs of his villagers in Israel. "Then down to the gates marched the people of the LORD.

 

(Judges 5:12)  "Awake, awake, Deborah! Awake, awake, break out in a song! Arise, Barak, lead away your captives, O son of Abinoam.

 

(Judges 5:13)  Then down marched the remnant of the noble; the people of the LORD marched down for me against the mighty.

 

(Judges 5:14)  From Ephraim their root they marched down into the valley, following you, Benjamin, with your kinsmen; from Machir marched down the commanders, and from Zebulun those who bear the lieutenant's staff;

 

(Judges 5:15)  the princes of Issachar came with Deborah, and Issachar faithful to Barak; into the valley they rushed at his heels. Among the clans of Reuben there were great searchings of heart.

 

(Judges 5:16)  Why did you sit still among the sheepfolds, to hear the whistling for the flocks? Among the clans of Reuben there were great searchings of heart.

 

(Judges 5:17)  Gilead stayed beyond the Jordan; and Dan, why did he stay with the ships? Asher sat still at the coast of the sea, staying by his landings.

 

(Judges 5:18)  Zebulun is a people who risked their lives to the death; Naphtali, too, on the heights of the field.

 

(Judges 5:19)  "The kings came, they fought; then fought the kings of Canaan, at Taanach, by the waters of Megiddo; they got no spoils of silver.

 

(Judges 5:20)  From heaven the stars fought, from their courses they fought against Sisera.

 

(Judges 5:21)  The torrent Kishon swept them away, the ancient torrent, the torrent Kishon. March on, my soul, with might!

 

(Judges 5:22)  "Then loud beat the horses' hoofs with the galloping, galloping of his steeds.

 

(Judges 5:23)  "Curse Meroz, says the angel of the LORD, curse its inhabitants thoroughly, because they did not come to the help of the LORD, to the help of the LORD against the mighty.

 

(Judges 5:24)  "Most blessed of women be Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, of tent-dwelling women most blessed.

 

(Judges 5:25)  He asked water and she gave him milk; she brought him curds in a noble's bowl.

 

(Judges 5:26)  She sent her hand to the tent peg and her right hand to the workmen's mallet; she struck Sisera; she crushed his head; she shattered and pierced his temple.

 

(Judges 5:27)  Between her feet he sank, he fell, he lay still; between her feet he sank, he fell; where he sank, there he fell--dead.

 

(Judges 5:28)  "Out of the window she peered, the mother of Sisera wailed through the lattice: 'Why is his chariot so long in coming? Why tarry the hoofbeats of his chariots?'

 

(Judges 5:29)  Her wisest princesses answer, indeed, she answers herself,

 

(Judges 5:30)  'Have they not found and divided the spoil?-- A womb or two for every man; spoil of dyed materials for Sisera, spoil of dyed materials embroidered, two pieces of dyed work embroidered for the neck as spoil?'

 

(Judges 5:31)  "So may all your enemies perish, O LORD! But your friends be like the sun as he rises in his might." And the land had rest for forty years.

 

Now in chapter 9 is the story of Abilemech and his time as judge, even king over the people and how it resolved

(Judges 9:1)  Now Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem to his mother's relatives and said to them and to the whole clan of his mother's family,

 

(Judges 9:2)  "Say in the ears of all the leaders of Shechem, 'Which is better for you, that all seventy of the sons of Jerubbaal rule over you, or that one rule over you?' Remember also that I am your bone and your flesh."

 

(Judges 9:3)  And his mother's relatives spoke all these words on his behalf in the ears of all the leaders of Shechem, and their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, "He is our brother."

 

(Judges 9:4)  And they gave him seventy pieces of silver out of the house of Baal-berith with which Abimelech hired worthless and reckless fellows, who followed him.

 

(Judges 9:5)  And he went to his father's house at Ophrah and killed his brothers the sons of Jerubbaal, seventy men, on one stone. But Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left, for he hid himself.

 

(Judges 9:6)  And all the leaders of Shechem came together, and all Beth-millo, and they went and made Abimelech king, by the oak of the pillar at Shechem.

 

(Judges 9:7)  When it was told to Jotham, he went and stood on top of Mount Gerizim and cried aloud and said to them, "Listen to me, you leaders of Shechem, that God may listen to you.

 

(Judges 9:8)  The trees once went out to anoint a king over them, and they said to the olive tree, 'Reign over us.'

 

(Judges 9:9)  But the olive tree said to them, 'Shall I leave my abundance, by which gods and men are honored, and go hold sway over the trees?'

 

(Judges 9:10)  And the trees said to the fig tree, 'You come and reign over us.'

 

(Judges 9:11)  But the fig tree said to them, 'Shall I leave my sweetness and my good fruit and go hold sway over the trees?'

 

(Jdg 9:12)  And the trees said to the vine, 'You come and reign over us.'

 

(Judges 9:13)  But the vine said to them, 'Shall I leave my wine that cheers God and men and go hold sway over the trees?'

 

(Judges 9:14)  Then all the trees said to the bramble, 'You come and reign over us.'

 

(Judges 9:15)  And the bramble said to the trees, 'If in good faith you are anointing me king over you, then come and take refuge in my shade, but if not, let fire come out of the bramble and devour the cedars of Lebanon.'

 

(Judges 9:16)  "Now therefore, if you acted in good faith and integrity when you made Abimelech king, and if you have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house and have done to him as his deeds deserved--

 

(Judges 9:17)  for my father fought for you and risked his life and delivered you from the hand of Midian,

 

(Judges 9:18)  and you have risen up against my father's house this day and have killed his sons, seventy men on one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his female servant, king over the leaders of Shechem, because he is your relative--

 

(Judges 9:19)  if you then have acted in good faith and integrity with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you.

 

(Judges 9:20)  But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech and devour the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo; and let fire come out from the leaders of Shechem and from Beth-millo and devour Abimelech."

 

(Judges 9:21)  And Jotham ran away and fled and went to Beer and lived there, because of Abimelech his brother.

 

(Judges 9:22)  Abimelech ruled over Israel three years.

 

(Judges 9:23)  And God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem, and the leaders of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech,

 

(Judges 9:24)  that the violence done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might come, and their blood be laid on Abimelech their brother, who killed them, and on the men of Shechem, who strengthened his hands to kill his brothers.

 

(Judges 9:25)  And the leaders of Shechem put men in ambush against him on the mountaintops, and they robbed all who passed by them along that way. And it was told to Abimelech.

 

(Judges 9:26)  And Gaal the son of Ebed moved into Shechem with his relatives, and the leaders of Shechem put confidence in him.

 

(Judges 9:27)  And they went out into the field and gathered the grapes from their vineyards and trod them and held a festival; and they went into the house of their god and ate and drank and reviled Abimelech.

 

(Judges 9:28)  And Gaal the son of Ebed said, "Who is Abimelech, and who are we of Shechem, that we should serve him? Is he not the son of Jerubbaal, and is not Zebul his officer? Serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem; but why should we serve him?

 

(Judges 9:29)  Would that this people were under my hand! Then I would remove Abimelech. I would say to Abimelech, 'Increase your army, and come out.'"

 

(Judges 9:30)  When Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was kindled.

 

(Judges 9:31)  And he sent messengers to Abimelech secretly, saying, "Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his relatives have come to Shechem, and they are stirring up the city against you.

 

(Judges 9:32)  Now therefore, go by night, you and the people who are with you, and set an ambush in the field.

 

(Judges 9:33)  Then in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, rise early and rush upon the city. And when he and the people who are with him come out against you, you may do to them as your hand finds to do."

 

(Judges 9:34)  So Abimelech and all the men who were with him rose up by night and set an ambush against Shechem in four companies.

 

(Judges 9:35)  And Gaal the son of Ebed went out and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city, and Abimelech and the people who were with him rose from the ambush.

 

(Judges 9:36)  And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, "Look, people are coming down from the mountaintops!" And Zebul said to him, "You mistake the shadow of the mountains for men."

 

(Judges 9:37)  Gaal spoke again and said, "Look, people are coming down from the center of the land, and one company is coming from the direction of the Diviners' Oak."

 

(Judges 9:38)  Then Zebul said to him, "Where is your mouth now, you who said, 'Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him?' Are not these the people whom you despised? Go out now and fight with them."

 

(Judges 9:39)  And Gaal went out at the head of the leaders of Shechem and fought with Abimelech.

 

(Judges 9:40)  And Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him. And many fell wounded, up to the entrance of the gate.

 

(Judges 9:41)  And Abimelech lived at Arumah, and Zebul drove out Gaal and his relatives, so that they could not dwell at Shechem.

 

(Judges 9:42)  On the following day, the people went out into the field, and Abimelech was told.

 

(Judges 9:43)  He took his people and divided them into three companies and set an ambush in the fields. And he looked and saw the people coming out of the city. So he rose against them and killed them.

 

(Judges 9:44)  Abimelech and the company that was with him rushed forward and stood at the entrance of the gate of the city, while the two companies rushed upon all who were in the field and killed them.

 

(Judges 9:45)  And Abimelech fought against the city all that day. He captured the city and killed the people who were in it, and he razed the city and sowed it with salt.

 

(Judges 9:46)  When all the leaders of the Tower of Shechem heard of it, they entered the stronghold of the house of El-berith.

 

(Judges 9:47)  Abimelech was told that all the leaders of the Tower of Shechem were gathered together.

 

(Judges 9:48)  And Abimelech went up to Mount Zalmon, he and all the people who were with him. And Abimelech took an axe in his hand and cut down a bundle of brushwood and took it up and laid it on his shoulder. And he said to the men who were with him, "What you have seen me do, hurry and do as I have done."

 

(Judges 9:49)  So every one of the people cut down his bundle and following Abimelech put it against the stronghold, and they set the stronghold on fire over them, so that all the people of the Tower of Shechem also died, about 1,000 men and women.

 

(Judges 9:50)  Then Abimelech went to Thebez and encamped against Thebez and captured it.

 

(Judges 9:51)  But there was a strong tower within the city, and all the men and women and all the leaders of the city fled to it and shut themselves in, and they went up to the roof of the tower.

 

(Judges 9:52)  And Abimelech came to the tower and fought against it and drew near to the door of the tower to burn it with fire.

 

(Judges 9:53)  And a certain woman threw an upper millstone on Abimelech's head and crushed his skull.

 

(Judges 9:54)  Then he called quickly to the young man his armor-bearer and said to him, "Draw your sword and kill me, lest they say of me, 'A woman killed him.'" And his young man thrust him through, and he died.

 

(Judges 9:55)  And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, everyone departed to his home.

 

(Judges 9:56)  Thus God returned the evil of Abimelech, which he committed against his father in killing his seventy brothers.

 

(Judges 9:57)  And God also made all the evil of the men of Shechem return on their heads, and upon them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal.

 

In chapters 10 and 11 the judge is Jephthah who was raised up to save the people who were delivered to the Philistines.

(Judges 10:1)  After Abimelech there arose to save Israel Tola the son of Puah, son of Dodo, a man of Issachar, and he lived at Shamir in the hill country of Ephraim.

 

(Judges 10:2)  And he judged Israel twenty-three years. Then he died and was buried at Shamir.

 

(Judges 10:3)  After him arose Jair the Gileadite, who judged Israel twenty-two years.

 

(Judges 10:4)  And he had thirty sons who rode on thirty donkeys, and they had thirty cities, called Havvoth-jair to this day, which are in the land of Gilead.

 

(Judges 10:5)  And Jair died and was buried in Kamon.

 

(Judges 10:6)  The people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the LORD and served the Baals and the Ashtaroth, the gods of Syria, the gods of Sidon, the gods of Moab, the gods of the Ammonites, and the gods of the Philistines. And they forsook the LORD and did not serve him.

 

(Judges 10:7)  So the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of the Philistines and into the hand of the Ammonites,

 

(Judges 10:8)  and they crushed and oppressed the people of Israel that year. For eighteen years they oppressed all the people of Israel who were beyond the Jordan in the land of the Amorites, which is in Gilead.

 

(Judges 10:9)  And the Ammonites crossed the Jordan to fight also against Judah and against Benjamin and against the house of Ephraim, so that Israel was severely distressed.

 

(Judges 10:10)  And the people of Israel cried out to the LORD, saying, "We have sinned against you, because we have forsaken our God and have served the Baals."

 

(Judges 10:11)  And the LORD said to the people of Israel, "Did I not save you from the Egyptians and from the Amorites, from the Ammonites and from the Philistines?

 

(Judges 10:12)  The Sidonians also, and the Amalekites and the Maonites oppressed you, and you cried out to me, and I saved you out of their hand.

 

(Judges 10:13)  Yet you have forsaken me and served other gods; therefore I will save you no more.

 

(Judges 10:14)  Go and cry out to the gods whom you have chosen; let them save you in the time of your distress."

 

(Judges 10:15)  And the people of Israel said to the LORD, "We have sinned; do to us whatever seems good to you. Only please deliver us this day."

 

(Judges 10:16)  So they put away the foreign gods from among them and served the LORD, and he became impatient over the misery of Israel.

 

(Judges 10:17)  Then the Ammonites were called to arms, and they encamped in Gilead. And the people of Israel came together, and they encamped at Mizpah.

 

(Judges 10:18)  And the people, the leaders of Gilead, said one to another, "Who is the man who will begin to fight against the Ammonites? He shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead."

 

(Judges 11:1)  Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty warrior, but he was the son of a prostitute. Gilead was the father of Jephthah.

 

(Judges 11:2)  And Gilead's wife also bore him sons. And when his wife's sons grew up, they drove Jephthah out and said to him, "You shall not have an inheritance in our father's house, for you are the son of another woman."

 

(Judges 11:3)  Then Jephthah fled from his brothers and lived in the land of Tob, and worthless fellows collected around Jephthah and went out with him.

 

(Judges 11:4)  After a time the Ammonites made war against Israel.

 

(Judges 11:5)  And when the Ammonites made war against Israel, the elders of Gilead went to bring Jephthah from the land of Tob.

 

(Judges 11:6)  And they said to Jephthah, "Come and be our leader, that we may fight against the Ammonites."

 

(Judges 11:7)  But Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, "Did you not hate me and drive me out of my father's house? Why have you come to me now when you are in distress?"

 

(Judges 11:8)  And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, "That is why we have turned to you now, that you may go with us and fight against the Ammonites and be our head over all the inhabitants of Gilead."

 

(Judges 11:9)  Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, "If you bring me home again to fight against the Ammonites, and the LORD gives them over to me, I will be your head."

 

(Judges 11:10)  And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, "The LORD will be witness between us, if we do not do as you say."

 

(Judges 11:11)  So Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and leader over them. And Jephthah spoke all his words before the LORD at Mizpah.

 

(Judges 11:12)  Then Jephthah sent messengers to the king of the Ammonites and said, "What do you have against me, that you have come to me to fight against my land?"

 

(Judges 11:13)  And the king of the Ammonites answered the messengers of Jephthah, "Because Israel on coming up from Egypt took away my land, from the Arnon to the Jabbok and to the Jordan; now therefore restore it peaceably."

 

(Judges 11:14)  Jephthah again sent messengers to the king of the Ammonites

 

(Judges 11:15)  and said to him, "Thus says Jephthah: Israel did not take away the land of Moab or the land of the Ammonites,

 

(Judges 11:16)  but when they came up from Egypt, Israel went through the wilderness to the Red Sea and came to Kadesh.

 

(Judges 11:17)  Israel then sent messengers to the king of Edom, saying, 'Please let us pass through your land,' but the king of Edom would not listen. And they sent also to the king of Moab, but he would not consent. So Israel remained at Kadesh.

 

(Judges 11:18)  "Then they journeyed through the wilderness and went around the land of Edom and the land of Moab and arrived on the east side of the land of Moab and camped on the other side of the Arnon. But they did not enter the territory of Moab, for the Arnon was the boundary of Moab.

 

(Judges 11:19)  Israel then sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, king of Heshbon, and Israel said to him, 'Please let us pass through your land to our country,'

 

(Judges 11:20)  but Sihon did not trust Israel to pass through his territory, so Sihon gathered all his people together and encamped at Jahaz and fought with Israel.

 

(Judges 11:21)  And the LORD, the God of Israel, gave Sihon and all his people into the hand of Israel, and they defeated them. So Israel took possession of all the land of the Amorites, who inhabited that country.

 

(Judges 11:22)  And they took possession of all the territory of the Amorites from the Arnon to the Jabbok and from the wilderness to the Jordan.

 

(Judges 11:23)  So then the LORD, the God of Israel, dispossessed the Amorites from before his people Israel; and are you to take possession of them?

 

(Judges 11:24)  Will you not possess what Chemosh your god gives you to possess? And all that the LORD our God has dispossessed before us, we will possess.

 

(Judges 11:25)  Now are you any better than Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab? Did he ever contend against Israel, or did he ever go to war with them?

 

(Judges 11:26)  While Israel lived in Heshbon and its villages, and in Aroer and its villages, and in all the cities that are on the banks of the Arnon, 300 years, why did you not deliver them within that time?

 

(Judges 11:27)  I therefore have not sinned against you, and you do me wrong by making war on me. The LORD, the Judge, decide this day between the people of Israel and the people of Ammon."

 

(Judges 11:28)  But the king of the Ammonites did not listen to the words of Jephthah that he sent to him.

 

(Judges 11:29)  Then the Spirit of the LORD was upon Jephthah, and he passed through Gilead and Manasseh and passed on to Mizpah of Gilead, and from Mizpah of Gilead he passed on to the Ammonites.

 

(Judges 11:30)  And Jephthah made a vow to the LORD and said, "If you will give the Ammonites into my hand,

 

(Judges 11:31)  then whatever comes out from the doors of my house to meet me when I return in peace from the Ammonites shall be the LORD's, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering."

 

(Judges 11:32)  So Jephthah crossed over to the Ammonites to fight against them, and the LORD gave them into his hand.

 

(Judges 11:33)  And he struck them from Aroer to the neighborhood of Minnith, twenty cities, and as far as Abel-keramim, with a great blow. So the Ammonites were subdued before the people of Israel.

 

(Judges 11:34)  Then Jephthah came to his home at Mizpah. And behold, his daughter came out to meet him with tambourines and with dances. She was his only child; besides her he had neither son nor daughter.

 

(Judges 11:35)  And as soon as he saw her, he tore his clothes and said, "Alas, my daughter! You have brought me very low, and you have become the cause of great trouble to me. For I have opened my mouth to the LORD, and I cannot take back my vow."

 

(Judges 11:36)  And she said to him, "My father, you have opened your mouth to the LORD; do to me according to what has gone out of your mouth, now that the LORD has avenged you on your enemies, on the Ammonites."

 

(Judges 11:37)  So she said to her father, "Let this thing be done for me: leave me alone two months, that I may go up and down on the mountains and weep for my virginity, I and my companions."

 

(Judges 11:38)  So he said, "Go." Then he sent her away for two months, and she departed, she and her companions, and wept for her virginity on the mountains.

 

(Judges 11:39)  And at the end of two months, she returned to her father, who did with her according to his vow that he had made. She had never known a man, and it became a custom in Israel

 

(Judges 11:40)  that the daughters of Israel went year by year to lament the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite four days in the year.

 

The story finishes in chapter 12 of judges

(Judges 12:1)  The men of Ephraim were called to arms, and they crossed to Zaphon and said to Jephthah, "Why did you cross over to fight against the Ammonites and did not call us to go with you? We will burn your house over you with fire."

 

(Judges 12:2)  And Jephthah said to them, "I and my people had a great dispute with the Ammonites, and when I called you, you did not save me from their hand.

 

(Judges 12:3)  And when I saw that you would not save me, I took my life in my hand and crossed over against the Ammonites, and the LORD gave them into my hand. Why then have you come up to me this day to fight against me?"

 

(Judges 12:4)  Then Jephthah gathered all the men of Gilead and fought with Ephraim. And the men of Gilead struck Ephraim, because they said, "You are fugitives of Ephraim, you Gileadites, in the midst of Ephraim and Manasseh."

 

(Judges 12:5)  And the Gileadites captured the fords of the Jordan against the Ephraimites. And when any of the fugitives of Ephraim said, "Let me go over," the men of Gilead said to him, "Are you an Ephraimite?" When he said, "No,"

 

(Judges 12:6)  they said to him, "Then say Shibboleth," and he said, "Sibboleth," for he could not pronounce it right. Then they seized him and slaughtered him at the fords of the Jordan. At that time 42,000 of the Ephraimites fell.

 

(Judges 12:7)  Jephthah judged Israel six years. Then Jephthah the Gileadite died and was buried in his city in Gilead.

 

(Judges 12:8)  After him Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel.

 

(Judges 12:9)  He had thirty sons, and thirty daughters he gave in marriage outside his clan, and thirty daughters he brought in from outside for his sons. And he judged Israel seven years.

 

(Judges 12:10)  Then Ibzan died and was buried at Bethlehem.

 

(Judges 12:11)  After him Elon the Zebulunite judged Israel, and he judged Israel ten years.

 

(Judges 12:12)  Then Elon the Zebulunite died and was buried at Aijalon in the land of Zebulun.

 

(Judges 12:13)  After him Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite judged Israel.

 

(Judges 12:14)  He had forty sons and thirty grandsons, who rode on seventy donkeys, and he judged Israel eight years.

 

(Judges 12:15)  Then Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite died and was buried at Pirathon in the land of Ephraim, in the hill country of the Amalekites.

 

In chapters 17 and 18 is the story of judge Micah and his adventure

(Judges 17:1)  There was a man of the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Micah.

 

(Judges 17:2)  And he said to his mother, "The 1,100 pieces of silver that were taken from you, about which you uttered a curse, and also spoke it in my ears, behold, the silver is with me; I took it." And his mother said, "Blessed be my son by the LORD."

 

(Judges 17:3)  And he restored the 1,100 pieces of silver to his mother. And his mother said, "I dedicate the silver to the LORD from my hand for my son, to make a carved image and a metal image. Now therefore I will restore it to you."

 

(Judges 17:4)  So when he restored the money to his mother, his mother took 200 pieces of silver and gave it to the silversmith, who made it into a carved image and a metal image. And it was in the house of Micah.

 

(Judges 17:5)  And the man Micah had a shrine, and he made an ephod and household gods, and ordained one of his sons, who became his priest.

 

(Judges 17:6)  In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

 

(Judges 17:7)  Now there was a young man of Bethlehem in Judah, of the family of Judah, who was a Levite, and he sojourned there.

 

(Judges 17:8)  And the man departed from the town of Bethlehem in Judah to sojourn where he could find a place. And as he journeyed, he came to the hill country of Ephraim to the house of Micah.

 

(Judges 17:9)  And Micah said to him, "Where do you come from?" And he said to him, "I am a Levite of Bethlehem in Judah, and I am going to sojourn where I may find a place."

 

(Judges 17:10)  And Micah said to him, "Stay with me, and be to me a father and a priest, and I will give you ten pieces of silver a year and a suit of clothes and your living." And the Levite went in.

 

(Judges 17:11)  And the Levite was content to dwell with the man, and the young man became to him like one of his sons.

 

(Judges 17:12)  And Micah ordained the Levite, and the young man became his priest, and was in the house of Micah.

 

(Judges 17:13)  Then Micah said, "Now I know that the LORD will prosper me, because I have a Levite as priest."

 

(Judges 18:1)  In those days there was no king in Israel. And in those days the tribe of the people of Dan was seeking for itself an inheritance to dwell in, for until then no inheritance among the tribes of Israel had fallen to them.

 

(Judges 18:2)  So the people of Dan sent five able men from the whole number of their tribe, from Zorah and from Eshtaol, to spy out the land and to explore it. And they said to them, "Go and explore the land." And they came to the hill country of Ephraim, to the house of Micah, and lodged there.

 

(Judges 18:3)  When they were by the house of Micah, they recognized the voice of the young Levite. And they turned aside and said to him, "Who brought you here? What are you doing in this place? What is your business here?"

 

(Judges 18:4)  And he said to them, "This is how Micah dealt with me: he has hired me, and I have become his priest."

 

(Judges 18:5)  And they said to him, "Inquire of God, please, that we may know whether the journey on which we are setting out will succeed."

 

(Judges 18:6)  And the priest said to them, "Go in peace. The journey on which you go is under the eye of the LORD."

 

(Judges 18:7)  Then the five men departed and came to Laish and saw the people who were there, how they lived in security, after the manner of the Sidonians, quiet and unsuspecting, lacking nothing that is in the earth and possessing wealth, and how they were far from the Sidonians and had no dealings with anyone.

 

(Judges 18:8)  And when they came to their brothers at Zorah and Eshtaol, their brothers said to them, "What do you report?"

 

(Judges 18:9)  They said, "Arise, and let us go up against them, for we have seen the land, and behold, it is very good. And will you do nothing? Do not be slow to go, to enter in and possess the land.

 

(Judges 18:10)  As soon as you go, you will come to an unsuspecting people. The land is spacious, for God has given it into your hands, a place where there is no lack of anything that is in the earth."

 

(Judges 18:11)  So 600 men of the tribe of Dan, armed with weapons of war, set out from Zorah and Eshtaol,

 

(Judges 18:12)  and went up and encamped at Kiriath-jearim in Judah. On this account that place is called Mahaneh-dan to this day; behold, it is west of Kiriath-jearim.

 

(Judges 18:13)  And they passed on from there to the hill country of Ephraim, and came to the house of Micah.

 

(Judges 18:14)  Then the five men who had gone to scout out the country of Laish said to their brothers, "Do you know that in these houses there are an ephod, household gods, a carved image, and a metal image? Now therefore consider what you will do."

 

(Judges 18:15)  And they turned aside there and came to the house of the young Levite, at the home of Micah, and asked him about his welfare.

 

(Judges 18:16)  Now the 600 men of the Danites, armed with their weapons of war, stood by the entrance of the gate.

 

(Judges 18:17)  And the five men who had gone to scout out the land went up and entered and took the carved image, the ephod, the household gods, and the metal image, while the priest stood by the entrance of the gate with the 600 men armed with weapons of war.

 

(Judges 18:18)  And when these went into Micah's house and took the carved image, the ephod, the household gods, and the metal image, the priest said to them, "What are you doing?"

 

(Judges 18:19)  And they said to him, "Keep quiet; put your hand on your mouth and come with us and be to us a father and a priest. Is it better for you to be priest to the house of one man, or to be priest to a tribe and clan in Israel?"

 

(Judges 18:20)  And the priest's heart was glad. He took the ephod and the household gods and the carved image and went along with the people.

 

(Judges 18:21)  So they turned and departed, putting the little ones and the livestock and the goods in front of them.

 

(Judges 18:22)  When they had gone a distance from the home of Micah, the men who were in the houses near Micah's house were called out, and they overtook the people of Dan.

 

(Judges 18:23)  And they shouted to the people of Dan, who turned around and said to Micah, "What is the matter with you, that you come with such a company?"

 

(Judges 18:24)  And he said, "You take my gods that I made and the priest, and go away, and what have I left? How then do you ask me, 'What is the matter with you?'"

 

(Judges 18:25)  And the people of Dan said to him, "Do not let your voice be heard among us, lest angry fellows fall upon you, and you lose your life with the lives of your household."

 

(Judges 18:26)  Then the people of Dan went their way. And when Micah saw that they were too strong for him, he turned and went back to his home.

 

(Judges 18:27)  But the people of Dan took what Micah had made, and the priest who belonged to him, and they came to Laish, to a people quiet and unsuspecting, and struck them with the edge of the sword and burned the city with fire.

 

(Judges 18:28)  And there was no deliverer because it was far from Sidon, and they had no dealings with anyone. It was in the valley that belongs to Beth-rehob. Then they rebuilt the city and lived in it.

 

(Judges 18:29)  And they named the city Dan, after the name of Dan their ancestor, who was born to Israel; but the name of the city was Laish at the first.

 

(Judges 18:30)  And the people of Dan set up the carved image for themselves, and Jonathan the son of Gershom, son of Moses, and his sons were priests to the tribe of the Danites until the day of the captivity of the land.

 

(Judges 18:31)  So they set up Micah's carved image that he made, as long as the house of God was at Shiloh.

 

Here are the final three chapters of the book of judges so you can do a complete bible study of the book. I am presenting them and their events without any comments in between except to say that without any king people pretty much did as they pleased

(Judges 19:1)  In those days, when there was no king in Israel, a certain Levite was sojourning in the remote parts of the hill country of Ephraim, who took to himself a concubine from Bethlehem in Judah.

 

(Judges 19:2)  And his concubine was unfaithful to him, and she went away from him to her father's house at Bethlehem in Judah, and was there some four months.

 

(Judges 19:3)  Then her husband arose and went after her, to speak kindly to her and bring her back. He had with him his servant and a couple of donkeys. And she brought him into her father's house. And when the girl's father saw him, he came with joy to meet him.

 

(Judges 19:4)  And his father-in-law, the girl's father, made him stay, and he remained with him three days. So they ate and drank and spent the night there.

 

(Judges 19:5)  And on the fourth day they arose early in the morning, and he prepared to go, but the girl's father said to his son-in-law, "Strengthen your heart with a morsel of bread, and after that you may go."

 

(Judges 19:6)  So the two of them sat and ate and drank together. And the girl's father said to the man, "Be pleased to spend the night, and let your heart be merry."

 

(Judges 19:7)  And when the man rose up to go, his father-in-law pressed him, till he spent the night there again.

 

(Judges 19:8)  And on the fifth day he arose early in the morning to depart. And the girl's father said, "Strengthen your heart and wait until the day declines." So they ate, both of them.

 

(Judges 19:9)  And when the man and his concubine and his servant rose up to depart, his father-in-law, the girl's father, said to him, "Behold, now the day has waned toward evening. Please, spend the night. Behold, the day draws to its close. Lodge here and let your heart be merry, and tomorrow you shall arise early in the morning for your journey, and go home."

 

(Judges 19:10)  But the man would not spend the night. He rose up and departed and arrived opposite Jebus (that is, Jerusalem). He had with him a couple of saddled donkeys, and his concubine was with him.

 

(Judges 19:11)  When they were near Jebus, the day was nearly over, and the servant said to his master, "Come now, let us turn aside to this city of the Jebusites and spend the night in it."

 

(Judges 19:12)  And his master said to him, "We will not turn aside into the city of foreigners, who do not belong to the people of Israel, but we will pass on to Gibeah."

 

(Judges 19:13)  And he said to his young man, "Come and let us draw near to one of these places and spend the night at Gibeah or at Ramah."

 

(Judges 19:14)  So they passed on and went their way. And the sun went down on them near Gibeah, which belongs to Benjamin,

 

(Judges 19:15)  and they turned aside there, to go in and spend the night at Gibeah. And he went in and sat down in the open square of the city, for no one took them into his house to spend the night.

 

(Judges 19:16)  And behold, an old man was coming from his work in the field at evening. The man was from the hill country of Ephraim, and he was sojourning in Gibeah. The men of the place were Benjaminites.

 

(Judges 19:17)  And he lifted up his eyes and saw the traveler in the open square of the city. And the old man said, "Where are you going? And where do you come from?"

 

(Judges 19:18)  And he said to him, "We are passing from Bethlehem in Judah to the remote parts of the hill country of Ephraim, from which I come. I went to Bethlehem in Judah, and I am going to the house of the Lord, but no one has taken me into his house.

 

(Judges 19:19)  We have straw and feed for our donkeys, with bread and wine for me and your female servant and the young man with your servants. There is no lack of anything."

 

(Judges 19:20)  And the old man said, "Peace be to you; I will care for all your wants. Only, do not spend the night in the square."

 

(Judges 19:21)  So he brought him into his house and gave the donkeys feed. And they washed their feet, and ate and drank.

 

(Judges 19:22)  As they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, worthless fellows, surrounded the house, beating on the door. And they said to the old man, the master of the house, "Bring out the man who came into your house, that we may know him."

 

(Judges 19:23)  And the man, the master of the house, went out to them and said to them, "No, my brothers, do not act so wickedly; since this man has come into my house, do not do this vile thing.

 

(Judges 19:24)  Behold, here are my virgin daughter and his concubine. Let me bring them out now. Violate them and do with them what seems good to you, but against this man do not do this outrageous thing."

 

(Judges 19:25)  But the men would not listen to him. So the man seized his concubine and made her go out to them. And they knew her and abused her all night until the morning. And as the dawn began to break, they let her go.

 

(Judges 19:26)  And as morning appeared, the woman came and fell down at the door of the man's house where her master was, until it was light.

 

(Judges 19:27)  And her master rose up in the morning, and when he opened the doors of the house and went out to go on his way, behold, there was his concubine lying at the door of the house, with her hands on the threshold.

 

(Judges 19:28)  He said to her, "Get up, let us be going." But there was no answer. Then he put her on the donkey, and the man rose up and went away to his home.

 

(Judges 19:29)  And when he entered his house, he took a knife, and taking hold of his concubine he divided her, limb by limb, into twelve pieces, and sent her throughout all the territory of Israel.

 

(Judges 19:30)  And all who saw it said, "Such a thing has never happened or been seen from the day that the people of Israel came up out of the land of Egypt until this day; consider it, take counsel, and speak."

 

(Judges 20:1)  Then all the people of Israel came out, from Dan to Beersheba, including the land of Gilead, and the congregation assembled as one man to the LORD at Mizpah.

 

(Judges 20:2)  And the chiefs of all the people, of all the tribes of Israel, presented themselves in the assembly of the people of God, 400,000 men on foot that drew the sword.

 

(Judges 20:3)  (Now the people of Benjamin heard that the people of Israel had gone up to Mizpah.) And the people of Israel said, "Tell us, how did this evil happen?"

 

(Judges 20:4)  And the Levite, the husband of the woman who was murdered, answered and said, "I came to Gibeah that belongs to Benjamin, I and my concubine, to spend the night.

 

(Judges 20:5)  And the leaders of Gibeah rose against me and surrounded the house against me by night. They meant to kill me, and they violated my concubine, and she is dead.

 

(Judges 20:6)  So I took hold of my concubine and cut her in pieces and sent her throughout all the country of the inheritance of Israel, for they have committed abomination and outrage in Israel.

 

(Judges 20:7)  Behold, you people of Israel, all of you, give your advice and counsel here."

 

(Judges 20:8)  And all the people arose as one man, saying, "None of us will go to his tent, and none of us will return to his house.

 

(Judges 20:9)  But now this is what we will do to Gibeah: we will go up against it by lot,

 

(Judges 20:10)  and we will take ten men of a hundred throughout all the tribes of Israel, and a hundred of a thousand, and a thousand of ten thousand, to bring provisions for the people, that when they come they may repay Gibeah of Benjamin, for all the outrage that they have committed in Israel."

 

(Judges 20:11)  So all the men of Israel gathered against the city, united as one man.

 

(Judges 20:12)  And the tribes of Israel sent men through all the tribe of Benjamin, saying, "What evil is this that has taken place among you?

 

(Judges 20:13)  Now therefore give up the men, the worthless fellows in Gibeah, that we may put them to death and purge evil from Israel." But the Benjaminites would not listen to the voice of their brothers, the people of Israel.

 

(Judges 20:14)  Then the people of Benjamin came together out of the cities to Gibeah to go out to battle against the people of Israel.

 

(Judges 20:15)  And the people of Benjamin mustered out of their cities on that day 26,000 men who drew the sword, besides the inhabitants of Gibeah, who mustered 700 chosen men.

 

(Judges 20:16)  Among all these were 700 chosen men who were left-handed; every one could sling a stone at a hair and not miss.

 

(Judges 20:17)  And the men of Israel, apart from Benjamin, mustered 400,000 men who drew the sword; all these were men of war.

 

(Judges 20:18)  The people of Israel arose and went up to Bethel and inquired of God, "Who shall go up first for us to fight against the people of Benjamin?" And the LORD said, "Judah shall go up first."

 

(Judges 20:19)  Then the people of Israel rose in the morning and encamped against Gibeah.

 

(Judges 20:20)  And the men of Israel went out to fight against Benjamin, and the men of Israel drew up the battle line against them at Gibeah.

 

(Judges 20:21)  The people of Benjamin came out of Gibeah and destroyed on that day 22,000 men of the Israelites.

 

(Judges 20:22)  But the people, the men of Israel, took courage, and again formed the battle line in the same place where they had formed it on the first day.

 

(Judges 20:23)  And the people of Israel went up and wept before the LORD until the evening. And they inquired of the LORD, "Shall we again draw near to fight against our brothers, the people of Benjamin?" And the LORD said, "Go up against them."

 

(Judges 20:24)  So the people of Israel came near against the people of Benjamin the second day.

 

(Judges 20:25)  And Benjamin went against them out of Gibeah the second day, and destroyed 18,000 men of the people of Israel. All these were men who drew the sword.

 

(Judges 20:26)  Then all the people of Israel, the whole army, went up and came to Bethel and wept. They sat there before the LORD and fasted that day until evening, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.

 

(Judges 20:27)  And the people of Israel inquired of the LORD (for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days,

 

(Judges 20:28)  and Phinehas the son of Eleazar, son of Aaron, ministered before it in those days), saying, "Shall we go out once more to battle against our brothers, the people of Benjamin, or shall we cease?" And the LORD said, "Go up, for tomorrow I will give them into your hand."

 

(Judges 20:29)  So Israel set men in ambush around Gibeah.

 

(Judges 20:30)  And the people of Israel went up against the people of Benjamin on the third day and set themselves in array against Gibeah, as at other times.

 

(Judges 20:31)  And the people of Benjamin went out against the people and were drawn away from the city. And as at other times they began to strike and kill some of the people in the highways, one of which goes up to Bethel and the other to Gibeah, and in the open country, about thirty men of Israel.

 

(Judges 20:32)  And the people of Benjamin said, "They are routed before us, as at the first." But the people of Israel said, "Let us flee and draw them away from the city to the highways."

 

(Judges 20:33)  And all the men of Israel rose up out of their place and set themselves in array at Baal-tamar, and the men of Israel who were in ambush rushed out of their place from Maareh-geba.

 

(Judges 20:34)  And there came against Gibeah 10,000 chosen men out of all Israel, and the battle was hard, but the Benjaminites did not know that disaster was close upon them.

 

(Judges 20:35)  And the LORD defeated Benjamin before Israel, and the people of Israel destroyed 25,100 men of Benjamin that day. All these were men who drew the sword.

 

(Judges 20:36)  So the people of Benjamin saw that they were defeated. The men of Israel gave ground to Benjamin, because they trusted the men in ambush whom they had set against Gibeah.

 

(Judges 20:37)  Then the men in ambush hurried and rushed against Gibeah; the men in ambush moved out and struck all the city with the edge of the sword.

 

(Judges 20:38)  Now the appointed signal between the men of Israel and the men in the main ambush was that when they made a great cloud of smoke rise up out of the city

 

(Judges 20:39)  the men of Israel should turn in battle. Now Benjamin had begun to strike and kill about thirty men of Israel. They said, "Surely they are defeated before us, as in the first battle."

 

(Judges 20:40)  But when the signal began to rise out of the city in a column of smoke, the Benjaminites looked behind them, and behold, the whole of the city went up in smoke to heaven.

 

(Judges 20:41)  Then the men of Israel turned, and the men of Benjamin were dismayed, for they saw that disaster was close upon them.

 

(Judges 20:42)  Therefore they turned their backs before the men of Israel in the direction of the wilderness, but the battle overtook them. And those who came out of the cities were destroying them in their midst.

 

(Judges 20:43)  Surrounding the Benjaminites, they pursued them and trod them down from Nohah as far as opposite Gibeah on the east.

 

(Judges 20:44)  Eighteen thousand men of Benjamin fell, all of them men of valor.

 

(Judges 20:45)  And they turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon. Five thousand men of them were cut down in the highways. And they were pursued hard to Gidom, and 2,000 men of them were struck down.

 

(Judges 20:46)  So all who fell that day of Benjamin were 25,000 men who drew the sword, all of them men of valor.

 

(Judges 20:47)  But 600 men turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon and remained at the rock of Rimmon four months.

 

(Judges 20:48)  And the men of Israel turned back against the people of Benjamin and struck them with the edge of the sword, the city, men and beasts and all that they found. And all the towns that they found they set on fire.

 

(Judges 21:1)  Now the men of Israel had sworn at Mizpah, "No one of us shall give his daughter in marriage to Benjamin."

 

(Judges 21:2)  And the people came to Bethel and sat there till evening before God, and they lifted up their voices and wept bitterly.

 

(Judges 21:3)  And they said, "O LORD, the God of Israel, why has this happened in Israel, that today there should be one tribe lacking in Israel?"

 

(Judges 21:4)  And the next day the people rose early and built there an altar and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings.

 

(Judges 21:5)  And the people of Israel said, "Which of all the tribes of Israel did not come up in the assembly to the LORD?" For they had taken a great oath concerning him who did not come up to the LORD to Mizpah, saying, "He shall surely be put to death."

 

(Judges 21:6)  And the people of Israel had compassion for Benjamin their brother and said, "One tribe is cut off from Israel this day.

 

(Judges 21:7)  What shall we do for wives for those who are left, since we have sworn by the LORD that we will not give them any of our daughters for wives?"

 

(Judges 21:8)  And they said, "What one is there of the tribes of Israel that did not come up to the LORD to Mizpah?" And behold, no one had come to the camp from Jabesh-gilead, to the assembly.

 

(Judges 21:9)  For when the people were mustered, behold, not one of the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead was there.

 

(Judges 21:10)  So the congregation sent 12,000 of their bravest men there and commanded them, "Go and strike the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead with the edge of the sword; also the women and the little ones.

 

(Judges 21:11)  This is what you shall do: every male and every woman that has lain with a male you shall devote to destruction."

 

(Judges 21:12)  And they found among the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead 400 young virgins who had not known a man by lying with him, and they brought them to the camp at Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan.

 

(Judges 21:13)  Then the whole congregation sent word to the people of Benjamin who were at the rock of Rimmon and proclaimed peace to them.

 

(Judges 21:14)  And Benjamin returned at that time. And they gave them the women whom they had saved alive of the women of Jabesh-gilead, but they were not enough for them.

 

(Judges 21:15)  And the people had compassion on Benjamin because the LORD had made a breach in the tribes of Israel.

 

(Judges 21:16)  Then the elders of the congregation said, "What shall we do for wives for those who are left, since the women are destroyed out of Benjamin?"

 

(Judges 21:17)  And they said, "There must be an inheritance for the survivors of Benjamin, that a tribe not be blotted out from Israel.

 

(Judges 21:18)  Yet we cannot give them wives from our daughters." For the people of Israel had sworn, "Cursed be he who gives a wife to Benjamin."

 

(Judges 21:19)  So they said, "Behold, there is the yearly feast of the LORD at Shiloh, which is north of Bethel, on the east of the highway that goes up from Bethel to Shechem, and south of Lebonah."

 

(Judges 21:20)  And they commanded the people of Benjamin, saying, "Go and lie in ambush in the vineyards

 

(Judges 21:21)  and watch. If the daughters of Shiloh come out to dance in the dances, then come out of the vineyards and snatch each man his wife from the daughters of Shiloh, and go to the land of Benjamin.

 

(Judges 21:22)  And when their fathers or their brothers come to complain to us, we will say to them, 'Grant them graciously to us, because we did not take for each man of them his wife in battle, neither did you give them to them, else you would now be guilty.'"

 

(Judges 21:23)  And the people of Benjamin did so and took their wives, according to their number, from the dancers whom they carried off. Then they went and returned to their inheritance and rebuilt the towns and lived in them.

 

(Judges 21:24)  And the people of Israel departed from there at that time, every man to his tribe and family, and they went out from there every man to his inheritance.

 

(Judges 21:25)  In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

Here is a link to a bible study on the final judge Samuel and also the study goes into the first king, Saul please go here

https://www.facebook.com/notes/jay-dougherty/samuel-bible-study/10200714033466794

 

The book of judges shows God at His most merciful rescuing Israel again and again from the consequences they largely brought on themselves by worshipping other gods like Baal and Ashteroth and more. Yet when they were oppressed they did cry out to God and repented of their foolishness and wanted to come back to serve Him. God then was merciful and rose up judges to deliver them from the oppressing nations. He has done similarly with us, too by sending His only Son Jesus to die for us to deliver us from our own sins. All we need do is accept Jesus into our own heart repenting of sin as Israel did in the book of Judges. I am now including a prayer to enable you to do just that, and find the wonderful relationship with God that nothing can compare to. Please pray the following prayer with me

Dear God in heaven, I come to you in the name of Jesus. I acknowledge to You that I am a sinner, and I am sorry for my sins and the life that I have lived; I need your forgiveness. I believe that your only begotten Son Jesus Christ shed His precious blood on the cross at Calvary and died for my sins, and I am now willing to turn from my sin. You said in Your Holy Word, Romans 10:9 that if we confess Jesus as our Lord and believe in our hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead, we will be saved. Right now I confess Jesus as the Lord of my soul. With my heart, I believe that God raised Jesus from the dead. This very moment I accept Jesus Christ as my own personal Savior and according to His Word, right now I am saved. Thank you Jesus for your unlimited grace which has saved me from my sins. I thank you Jesus that your grace never leads to license, but rather it always leads to repentance. Therefore Lord Jesus transform my life so that I may bring glory and honor to you alone and not to myself. Thank you Jesus for dying for me and giving me eternal life.

Amen.

God bless you and yours