Servitude Under the Philistines and Ammonites

The greatest difference of religions that lies between the Bible which says we can never save ourselves - that salvation is the gift of God through faith in Christ Jesus (Eph. 2:8-9); and all the ... More

Servitude

After Abimelech, Tola arose to rescue Israel (vv. 1-2). We know little about this sixth judge.  He was a member of the tribe of Issachar and his regime lasted 23 years. Apparently, nothing outstanding occurred during his reign. Jair was the seventh judge who apparently was wealthy (vv. 3-5). He was noted for his sizable family as he had thirty sons and it seems that he built thirty cities. These may not have been permanently built towns but tent villages.

It says, “Then the sons of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord” (v. 6). The failure in previous years to drive out the various nations who worshiped various gods now brought serious results. These pagan deities now claimed the Hebrews’ devotion and they once more abandoned the one true God of their fathers. The LORD was angry at Israel and decided to let Philistia and Ammon conquer them (v. 7). So, the same year that Jair died, Israel’s army was crushed by these two nations. With the Israelites trying to honor all the false idols of their neighbors it is no wonder that the true God of the heavens was angry with them. For eighteen years, Ammon was cruel to the Israelites who lived in Gilead, the region east of the Jordan River that had once belonged to the Amorites (v. 8). He turned them over to their enemies for a time of affliction to teach them a lesson. For eighteen years the merciless Philistines oppressed them, and despair gripped the nation.

Application

What are some of the gods of today that I may be tempted to follow instead of following the Lord? Do you think God might become angry at me for not allowing Him to have full control of my life? What are some of the potential results if I continue to serve the god of materialism, etc.?

Judges 10:1-9 (English Standard Version)


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