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Houston, Texas 77037
Tel: (281) 447-8484
SURVEY OF BIBLE HISTORY
(THE JUDGES TO THE KINGS)
Israel's Incomplete Victories
Written by Dr. Lester Hutson
Copyright - Lester Hutson -
1998
This material is copyrighted and may not be copied or reproduced without the express
written permission of Dr. Lester Hutson.
Lesson 2
Judges 1:1 - 2:5
A. The short-term results of Israel's loss of leadership an subsequent backsliding was a series of incomplete victories: (These efforts occurred shortly after Joshua, while the elders yet lived. Some think some of this activity occurred while Joshua yet lived,)
The efforts of Judah to conquer all of the territory allotted to him are recorded in Judges 1.
1. Judah solicited the help of Simeon with a promise to help Simeon with his conquests at the proper time. Judges 1:3.
2. In a major battle at Bezek, 10,000 Canaanite and Perizzite soldiers were slain.
3. Adoni-bezek was taken captive, and the Israelites cut off both his thumbs and his big toes. This rendered him unfit for battle as he was unable to hold a sword or run. Adoni-bezek recognized the "eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth" justice of this affair since he had conquered 70 kings during his day, cut off their thumbs and toes, and treated them like dogs under his table. Listen to Judges 1:7 "And Adoni-bezek said, Threescore and ten kings, having their thumbs and their great toes cut off, gathered their meat under my table: as I have done, so God hath requited me. And they brought him to Jerusalem, and there he died."
B. The point of reaping in like manner as you sow is illustrated here. Gal. 6:7 says what is sown must be reaped. Most often reaping is in keeping with the type of seed sown.
1. During the conquests of Joshua, Adoni-zedec, King of Jerusalem, was captured and killed. Although, Jerusalem was not conquered, Joshua 10:1,23-25. Judges 1:8 records the fact that by the time of the battle with Adoni-bezek, Jerusalem had been partially conquered, so the Israelites brought him there, where he died. The conquest of Jerusalem increasingly proved to be of major significance to Israel and the history of the world since.
2. After victory at Bezek. which was apparently near Jerusalem, Judah spread out, bringing under control Hebron, Zephath (Hormah), Gaza, Askelon, Ekron, and Debir. -Judges 1:9 mentions all 3 of the major geographical divisions in the southern end of Israel, the land of Judah and Simeon. "The mountain" refers to the hill country or central mountainous region including Jerusalem, Bethlehem, and Hebron. "The south "refers to the Negev desert area south of Hebron, including Beersheba and Kahesh-barnea. "The Valley" refers to the western foothills next to the Mediterranean Sea.
3. In spite of the fact that "the Lord was with Judah," Judah's faith began to waver; and when it did, victory ended. Note Judges 1:19 The promise of God to his people "according to your faith, be it unto you," in Mat. 9:29. It was "by faith" that the great victories of Heb. II were claimed. Faith is believing, and stepping forth on the promises of God, even when the way seems physically impossible.
C. The men of Judah had been doing great; but when they encountered the iron chariots of the Canaanites of the plains, their faith wavered. The iron charioted Canaanites were formidable enemies, but God had promised victory in Deut- 20-3:4 and Joshua
1. Israel's great victory over Jabin with his many chariots at Hazor in Joshua 11:1-9 should have been proof to Judah that the Lord would deliver these Canaanites of the plains also, but they failed in faith. Victory stopped when faith departed, and the enemies of the Lord's people remained, only to later rise up in strength to conquer God's people. Such has been the pattern of history.
2. Next came incomplete victory for Benjamin, Judges 1:21.Though Jerusalem was partially conquered, they did not completely rid the city of the Jebusites. Israel did not gain permanent and full possession of Jerusalem until the time of David in II Sam.5:6-7.
3. Then, the house of Joseph is discussed in Judges 1:22-28. This includes Ephraim and Manasseh. Manasseh went up against Bethel. but spared a man and his family. The command of God was that none be spared, Deut. 20:16-17 Manasseh did not conquer 5 major, strategic towns in the Jezreel and Esdraelon valleys. The 5 towns mentioned commanded the passes around this huge valley area, which was the major trade route of the mid to eastern Mediterranean area. Thus, with the trade route passes still in the hands of the Canaanites, and the valleys controlled by Canaanite chariots, Israel was physically divided and hamstrung. Beth-shean was located where the valley of Jezreel joins the Jordan valley. Taanach was located on the trade route where it enters the hill country from the plain of Sharon on the west. Dor lay on the Mediterranean coast just south of Mt. Carmel. Ibleam guarded the route to Dothan and the central plains. And, Megiddo guarded the main pass leading from Jezreel to the plain of Sharon. (Locate on map.)
4. Furthermore, Ephraim in Judges 1.29 did not drive the Canaanites out of Geyer. Geyer was located 18 miles northwest of Jerusalem. Ephraim's failure to drive out the Canaanites is further indication of the fact that the integration of Israel and the Canaanites was beginning to permeate the land.
5. Zebulon is mentioned in Judges 1.30. This left Canaanites in the north.
6. Judges 1:31-32 is the account of Asher. Notice the phraseology change of verse 32. Previously the author has stated that the Canaanites continued to live among the Israelites. Now he says "the Asherites dwell among the Canaanites." Asher failed to conquer 7 of the 22 cities allotted him in Joshua 19:30. Acco, Sidon, and Achzib were important coastal cities north of Mt. Carmel. Sidon was the oldest Pheonician city, and together with the other Canaanites of the region, developed the great maritime Pheonician empire with which David and Solomon later made alliance, II Sam. 5:1 and I Kings 5.1-12. A resulting tragedy of Asher's failure was King Ahab's later marriage to Jezebel, a Sidonian, who introduced Baal worship to Israel in I Kings 16:31.
7. Next is listed the incomplete victory of Naphtali in Judges 1:33. Note to the phraseology that "he dwelt among the Canaanite, the inhabitants of the land." Beth-shemesh was a Canaanite shrine to Shemesh, the sun god, and Bethanath was a Canaanite shrine to Anath, the fertility goddess and consort of Baal. The emphasis is clear that idolatry remained firmly entrenched in the land, and was a problem that ultimately destroyed the moral fiber of the nation of Israel.
8. Finally Judges 1:34-36, shows that "the Amorites (synonymous with Canaanites) forced the children of Dan into the mountain " not permitting them to occupy any of the cities they inherited in the plains. Compare Joshua 19:41-46.
D. In his Bible Study Commentary on Judges, Paul Enns points out 4 factors which evidence Israel's weakened and problematic condition following the incomplete victories:
1. The Canaanites remained entrenched in the land since Israel was unable to drive them out.
2. Because of Canaanite strongholds throughout the land, Israel was unable to move about freely.
3. Canaanite idolatry remained intact in the land, a problem that would ultimately lead Israel into apostasy.
4. Instead of rejecting and removing the Canaanites from the land, Israel developed a relationship with them.
E .The great displeasure of the Lord against Israel as a result of her lack of faith and the resulting incomplete victories is expressed in Judges 2:1-5. "And an angel of the Lord came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said, I made you to go up out of Egypt and have brought you unto the land which I sware unto your fathers; and I said, I will never break my covenant with you. And ye shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land; ye shall throw down their altars: but ye have not obeyed my voice why have ye done this? Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you. And it came to pass, when the angel of Israel, that the people lifted up their voice and wept. And they called the name of that place Bochim: and they sacrificed there unto the Lord." What a warning to any believer, who allows sin to remain unconquered in his life!
QUESTIONS ON ISRAEL'S INCOMPLETE VICTORIES
1. What characterizes the history of Israel immediately following the death of Joshua?
2. Who did Judah enlist to assist him in his efforts to conquer his inheritance?
3. What happened at Bezek?
4. Who was Adoni-bezek?
5. What action taken on Adoni-bezek reflected the "eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth" concept?
6. Describe the conquest of Jerusalem.
7. Describe the 3 geographical regions of southern Israel.
8. Why did Judah fail to completely conquer his inheritance?
9. What object lesson had God given Judah about conquering chariots?
10. Where did Benjamin fail?
11. Which tribe does "the house of Joshua include?
12. Why was Manasseh's failure to conquer the 5 major towns around the Jezreel Valley such a blow to the entire nation of -Israel?
13. Of what is the failure of Ephraim at Gezer further evidence?
14. In what part of the country did Zebulun fail?
15. What does the phraseology change of Judges 1:23 suggest?
16. Of the 22 cities allotted to Asher, how many did he fail to conquer?
17. What did the failure of Asher to conquer Acco, Sidon, and Achzib ultimately produce for the Pheonicians?
18. How did the Pheonician maritime empire affect David & Solomon?
19. How did the failure of Asher to conquer her lands ultimately ruin the moral fiber of Israel during the days of Ahab?
20. Name four factors which evidence Israel's weakened and problematic condition following the incomplete victories?"It Does Make a Difference What You Believe"