Judges 10:6-18

Jephthah of Gilead Judges 10:6 to Judges 12:7

Israel Humiliated Judges 10:6-18

6 And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the Lord, and served Baalim, and Ashtaroth, and the gods of Syria, and the gods of Zidon, and the gods of Moab, and the gods of the children of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines, and forsook the Lord, and served not him.
7 And the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel, and he sold them into the hands of the Philistines, and into the hands of the children of Ammon.
8 And that year they vexed and oppressed the children of Israel: eighteen years, all the children of Israel that were on the other side Jordan in the land of the Amorites, which is in Gilead.
9 Moreover the children of Ammon passed over Jordan to fight also against Judah, and against Benjamin, and against the house of Ephraim; so that Israel was sore distressed.
10 And the children of Israel cried unto the Lord, saying, We have sinned against thee, both because we have forsaken our God, and also served Baalim.
11 And the Lord said unto the children of Israel, Did not I deliver you from the Egyptians, and from the Amorites, from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines?
12 The Zidonians also, and the Amalekites, and the Maonites, did oppress you; and ye cried to me, and I delivered you out of their hand.
13 Yet ye have forsaken me, and served other gods: wherefore I will deliver you no more,
14 Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation.
15 And the children of Israel said unto the Lord, We have sinned: do thou unto us whatsoever seemeth good unto thee; deliver us only, we pray thee, this day.
16 And they put away the strange gods from among them, and served the Lord: and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel.
17 Then the children of Ammon were gathered together, and encamped in Gilead. And the children of Israel assembled themselves together, and encamped in Mizpeh.
18 And the people and princes of Gilead said one to another, What man is he that will begin to fight against the children of Ammon? he shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.

5.

What kinds of gods did the surrounding nations serve? Judges 10:6

Once again, the pagan gods of Israel's neighbors are grouped under the heading of Baalim and Ashtaroth. Baalim is the masculine plural form of Baal and stands for all the male deities which these people worshiped. Ashtaroth is the feminine plural form of the root for the name of the goddess Astarte and signifies a host of female deities whom Israel's neighbors worshiped. The Assyrians, the Zidonians, the Moabites, the Ammonites, and the Philistines all had their favorite gods and goddesses. Some were national deities; some were symbols of fertility; and the multiplicity indicates the unending deviations and perversions into which men fall when they turn their backs from the revealed way of God.

6.

Who oppressed Israel in these days? Judges 10:7-9

The Philistines living along the west coast of Palestine are singled out for notice as leaders in the attacking and oppressing of Israel. They were not alone in their harassment of God's people. The Ammonites who lived on the extreme eastern border across the Jordan River are also mentioned as those who troubled Israel in this time of apostasy. These two nations brought trouble out of which God delivered Israel under the hands of two of the best known judges, Jephthah and Samson. As a result, this passage of Scripture forms something of an introduction to the forthcoming judges. It is noted especially that the oppression of the Ammonites was so severe that they did not confine their attacks to the tribes living east of the Jordan, but crossed over the Jordan River to fight against Judah, Benjamin and Ephraim. Beset on the east and on the west, Israel was really sore distressed.

7.

When had Israel been delivered from the Sidonians? Judges 10:12

God reminded Israel of her past glorious history. The glory had been theirs because God Himself had delivered them from their many oppressors. They well knew how they had been brought out of Egypt and delivered from the slavery in Egypt. The Amorites were the Canaanites, and under Joshua they had been victorious over thrity-one different kings of the Canaanites. The Ammonites had oppressed Israel along with the Moabites in the time of Ehud (Judges 3:12 ff.). The Philistines had been vanquished by Shamgar (Judges 3:31). The Amalekites had attacked Israel at Horeb (Exodus 17:8 ff.) and God had wrought a great victory as the people were first led to battle by Joshua. The Midianites were the oppressors whom Gideon had driven out of the land (Judges 6:7). We never read specifically of the Israelites having been attacked by the Sidonians, This is probably a reference to the war which was brought on by the northern Canaanites under Jabin, since Sidon appears to have had some kind of principality or protectorate over the northern Canaanites (Judges 18:7; Judges 18:28). Deborah and Barak had brought deliverance on one occasion from these people, and earlier Joshua had defeated the northern coalition of kings who attacked from the same area.

8.

Why was Israel told to go and cry to other gods? Judges 10:14

When God saw that the people of Israel had turned their backs on Him, He chided them for serving other gods. At the same time he reminded them that He had cared for them as a father cares for his children. In sarcasm He told them to, Go and cry unto the gods which you have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation (Judges 10:14). This kind of an injunction put Israel's condition in the kind of perspective which they could understand. They knew, when they stopped and thought about it, that no other god could deliver them. They had forsaken God, and God was forsaking them.

9.

What was the meaning of Israel's confession? Judges 10:15

When the children of Israel realized the desperate plight into which they had fallen, they made a confession of their sin. In the simplest terms they couched it by saying only, We have sinned. At the same time they threw themselves completely upon the mercy of God. They asked Him to do unto them whatever seemed good unto Him. Their only petition was that God would deliver them from the oppressors who were besieging them.

10. Why was God's soul grieved? Judges 10:16

The people of Israel tore down the idols which they had erected. They changed their ways and began to worship God in the manner which He had prescribed. When God saw this kind of complete about-face on the part of His people, it is said, His soul is grieved for the misery of Israel. Their misery was not only the oppression brought on them by the Philistines and the Ammonites, but it was a misery of soul which had brought about their repentance. Of course, this kind of statement is anthropomorphic. The writer has put God's feelings in the form of men's feelings. After all, man is made in the image of God; and he can understand his Maker best when God's ways are described in man's language.

11.

Where was Israel's camp? Judges 10:17

The Ammonites assembled in the part of Gilead which they had possessed. The Israelites assembled and encamped at Mizpeh. This cannot be the Mizpeh of Samuel of a later time (1 Samuel 7:12; 1 Samuel 7:16), but was probably Ramath mizpeh (Joshua 13:26; Joshua 20:8). This spot was on the site of the modern Es salt. This was the Mizpeh which commemorated the parting of Jacob and Laban (Genesis 31:49).

12.

Why did Israel look for someone to begin the fight? Judges 10:18

It was imperative for the Israelites to assemble in order to challenge the Ammonites, who had gathered in Gilead. At the same time, they were not prepared for battle; because they did not have a recognized leader. When Tola judged, it was said that he arose to defend Israel (Judges 10:1); but in this case there was no one to rise to the occasion. It was necessary for the people through their recognized leaders, their princes, to select one to be their captain or head. Until they had such a recognized leader, it was impossible for them to make a united effort against their oppressors.