Let’s suppose that we just finished reading through the book of Joshua. The book of Judges is next. But then, confusion follows. The tribal allotments were allocated. Joshua was successful. Only cleanup operations remain. But no! This is not what we encounter. What is going on? What is the author trying to convey?
The book of Judges is not an accurate chronology, though we know it covers the period from Joshua’s death to the establishment of the Davidic monarchy. It is not a complete, accurate history of Israel’s beginnings, though we can hypothesize plausible scenarios. So, what is it? The answer comes from two interesting, subtle, repeating phrases that are easy to miss. These are: “In those Days there was no king in Israel.”1 And: “Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.”2
These phrases stand out along with the people eventually crying out to Samuel for a king:
They said to him (Samuel), “Behold, you are old, and your sons don’t walk in your ways. Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations (1 Sam 8:5).”
It all becomes clear. During the time of Moses, Yahweh was in charge. Anytime the people sinned, Moses cried out, and God’s active presence remained. During the time of Joshua, at times the people acted before seeking Yahweh’s direction. Setbacks happened. But repentance quickly followed. Both Moses and Joshua were faithful leaders, respected by all of Israel.
The book of Joshua can be divided into three sections.
Section 1 Starts Well, then Disaster (Jdg 1:1–2:10).
This section summarizes the period of the judges. Joshua’s legacy overshadows both the beginning (1:1-2) and the ending verses (2:6–10). Things start well. Judah and Simeon excitedly continue their occupation of the Promised Land after properly consulting the Lord. But then, the remaining tribes go it alone and achieve only partial victories. The Canaanites got to keep their false idols and persist with their spiritual decadency. The tribe of Dan fared worse. They were driven back to the hill country. Even Judah’s initial victory was not complete:
Yahweh was with Judah; and he drove out the inhabitants of the hill country; but he could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley, because they had chariots of iron (Jdg 1:19).
Apparently, Judah chickened out, being terrified when confronted with new technology, iron chariots. Israel slides from excitement, relying on the Lord, to wailing when they lose his support.
Section 2: The book of deliverance (Jdg 2:11-16:31).
This section opens with the phrase, “The children of Israel did that which was evil in Yahweh’s sight and served the Baals (Jdg 2:11).” We then encounter a downward cycle: rebellion, oppression, crying out without repentance, deliverance, peace, more rebellion. The character of particular judges degrade as we continue reading. I could summarize this section as: “people don’t learn; they keep repeating the same mistakes.”
Section 3: Examples of depravity (jdg 17–21).
This last section complements the first. It provides two specific examples of utter corruption. Levites, who were supposed to be spiritual leaders figure in the depravity. It is a miracle of God’s grace that Israel survived the period of the Judges. The people chosen by God modeled themselves after the Canaanites. They fought and killed each other, and had so little interaction that their common language even began to diverge (Jdg 12:5–6). The horrifying final five chapters of the book illustrate this well.
Micah, the Levite, and the tribe of Dan (Jdg 17–18)
Micah is a great Jewish name, meaning “No one like Jehovah.” Micah’s actions in this account do not agree. The Levite is opportunistic, lured by status. We’re surprised to find out later that he is Jonathan, a grandson of Moses. The tribe of Dan splits. A contingent goes north to conquer Laish. The rest of the tribe disappears from history.
None of the cast of characters in this narrative have any redeeming value. Micah maintains a house of gods. The Levite agrees to be his personal priest amid the apostacy. Spies from Dan seek a good omen. Everyone thinks that they can manipulate God.
Eventually the Dan contingent steals Micah’s idols, and bribes the Levite to participate. The spiritual adultery remains at Dan until they eventually fall into Assyrian captivity. “Everyone did what was right in their own eyes” convinced that God would agree. How thoroughly Canaanized has Israel become.
The Levite and the Concubine (Jdg 19–21)
I find the last three chapters of Judges the most troubling of all scripture. It is shocking, disturbing, repulsive. It is meant to be. The account resembles Sodom and Gomorra in so many ways, but this time an angel was not present for deliverance. The very people of God were the villains. And it gets worse. A raped woman’s dead body was desecrated, cut into pieces, and sent to the twelve tribes. A war ensues. Israel fights Israel; thousands die; God is blamed. There is more. To honor a vow, genocide is inflicted on an innocent Israelite city; women are kidnapped and forced into marriages. Finally, everyone goes home feeling self-justified and righteous, as if nothing happened.
One expects that it would take a long time for Israel to sink so low. But no. Phinehas, grandson of Aaron was a major player. Jonathan, the Levite, was a grandson of Moses. The apostacy was in full bloom shortly after the death of Joshua.
Application
Does the Church shape culture? Or does culture shape the Church?. Does the Holy Spirit reign? Or does “everyone do what seems right in their own eyes?” “In these days is there no Lord among Christians?” Jesus said:
You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt has lost its flavor, with what will it be salted? It is then good for nothing, but to be cast out and trodden under the feet of men (Matt 5:13).
This is the power of the book of Judges. We graphically and bluntly witness how far and how fast a downward spiral can descend. It can apply to a nation, a congregation, or an individual. It causes me to reflect. Where are we in these days?
Thanks for listening.
References
Jdg 17:6; 18:1; 19:1; 21:25.
Jdg 17:6; 21:26.
Bible Hub, Topical Encyclopedia, “Duties of the Priests” .
Daniel L. Block, The New American Commentary , B&H Publishing: 1999.
Dan Harvey, author of Wrestling with Faith and Experiencing the Apocalypse,
secondlooknow.com
“Does the Church shape culture? Or does culture shape the Church?. Does the Holy Spirit reign? Or does “everyone do what seems right in their own eyes.” “In these days is there no Lord among Christians?”
That calls for a moment of silence. We are where we are without even real8zing how far we have strayed. God have mercy, bring us back.