March 19

March 19

Judges 3–5

Scripture Text: Judges 3:1–5:31

Series: Read the Bible in a Year

They would need leadership because each person had been following their own will, taking them far afield of what God had in mind for Israel. They had not driven out the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites but instead, had taken their daughters as wives, and given their own daughters as wives to the very people God had instructed to drive from the promised land. His reason for driving them out was very clear: that they would not end up worshiping idols. And what happened? Israel did evil in the sight of God, forgetting him and serving foreign gods, the Baals and Asheroth (Judges 3:6–7). 

Israel had made their choice: to follow their own ways instead of God’s. Now, God would no longer automatically drive out the Canaanites before rebellious Israel (Judges 2:21–23). They would need to learn trust and faithfulness. As always, to help the people do so, God provides leaders for the people to follow. Instead of a leader like Moses or Joshua, he gives them judges, those who will dispense God’s judgment among themselves and on the nations in their midst. 

Othniel, Caleb’s nephew, judged Israel when they cried out to the Lord from their eight-year captivity in Mesopotamia. Their slavery was a direct result of their disobedience to God, but God has mercy by sending his Spirit upon Othniel. He went to war against Mesopotamia and prevailed, delivering the people who then had peace for about a generation. This is the pattern. Israel forgets the Lord, then remembers him after they are oppressed by other nations. They remember the Lord and cry out to him. God sends a judge to save the people, who have rest for a generation. The next generation forgets the Lord again.

The next judge, Ehud, appeals to the oppressing king’s greed and pride by bringing him tribute in-person. Having smuggled a short sword under his clothing into the king’s palace, he tricks the Moabite king into emptying his court, then slays him when they are alone. He gathers the people to finish the defeat of the Moabites, declaring that the Lord has given them into their hands. The judge Shamgar is briefly mentioned, then the remainder of the reading is focused on Deborah and Barak, who had a notable and gruesome campaign against the Canaanites. The battle cry is, as it has been since the people left Egypt, “The Lord goes before you!” Deborah’s and Barak’s song of praise fills the entirety of chapter five. 

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