March 21 Readings

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The Back to the Bible Beginning to End Reading Plan

Apostasy and the Judges
Today's reading from Judges 8-9

Gideon and His Son
Judges 8.1-3
People were critical and angry with Gideon since they were not included in the defeat of the Midianites. They wanted to share in the glory.

Judges 8.4-9 There were the officials of Succoth who were cynical of Gideon did not want anything to do with Gideon or his men or had faith in God. There attitude was since you do not have Zebah and Zalmunna, kings of Midian why should we help you? They paid for this attitude.
Gideon and his men finally captured Zebah and Zalmunna. there were the cowardly (10-21) killing two famous kings was difficult for Jether, Gideon eldest son to do.
Finally Gideon, had wanted an earring from the share of the plunder from each of thr Israelites. Gideon received a large amount of gold, jewelry and clothing. The people compromised: the gold use use to make an ephod. Gideon placed the gold in Oprah and people ended up worshipping this ephod. Does this sound familiar? It is very similar to the golden calf that Aaron created in Exodus 32. When Gideon died (v. 28-35), the people prostituted themselves to the Baals (v. 33-25).

Judges 9
God called Gideon as a leader. Abimelech appointed himself as leader and murdered his brothers to make sure that he was the leaders. Jothan gave a parable (7-13) of the olive tree, the fig tree and the vine. The parable showed that there is a price to pay for true leadership. True leaders have to sacrifice many things to serve the people. Ahimelech was only interested in himself. If good leaders will not sacrifice their somforts and lead them the people would have to settle for brambles. Abimelch reap what he sowed, his sins caught up with him, his family and people suffered for his selfishness.

Link on Gideon
More on Gideon
More on Gideon

Division of the Land
Tribal Lands
Judges 8, with Commentaries, verse by verse
Judges 9, with Commentaries, verse by verse

Division of the Land
Tribal Lands

Other Links
OT Gateway Links on Judges
Introduction to Judges by Malik
Malik Argument of Judges
Israel's Dark Age by Deffinbaugh
Dr. Thomas Constable Study Notes is a PDF file, open with Adobe Acrobatic Reader
Zeisler on Judges, scroll down
Spurgeon on Judges
Biblebb.com Website
Ritchie on Judges - 9 sermons

The Commentary Page

Jesus Saves
This Posting is NOT a commentary of the passages read today but it is a devotional. Please send a comment if something spoke to you today from the passages, links or thoughts that I have shared with you.