Judges 9-10

1. Abimelech
In this passage, Abimelech - the bastard son of Gideon - begins to reign over Israel, including the city of Shechem.  His rise to power is marked by his murder of all but one of his half-brothers in Shechem; the surviving half-brother, Jotham, then delivers an ominous prophecy regarding Abimelech and the people of Shechem.  Abimelech reigns for three years before Jotham's prophecy is fulfilled as God sends an evil spirit between him and the people of Shechem.  In particular, Abimelech eventually destroys Shechem and scatters salt over it; he also burns its survivors to death inside a tower.  Abimelech suffers an untimely demise, though, when a woman drops a millstone on his head during his attack on Thebez.

This is a rather unpleasant account, as both Abimelech and the people of Shechem die without expressing any desire for forgiveness by God.  The violence in this passage is shocking; for example, I had difficulty contemplating verse 5, where Abimelech murders most of his half-brothers on a stone.  This is bolstered by the description of Abimelech scattering salt over the ruins of Shechem, which also highlights his burning desire to assert his authority over Israel.

2. Tola
In this passage, Tola, the son of Puah, becomes the judge of Israel.  An Ephraimite, he leads Israel for 23 years before his death.

It appears that Tola's reign was relatively uneventful; perhaps the writer of Judges penned this passage with great relief after recounting the madness that swirled around Abimelech.

3. Jair
In this passage, Jair of Gilead becomes the judge of Israel.  He has thirty sons, who ride thirty donkeys and control thirty towns in Gilead.  Jair leads Israel for 22 years before his death.

According to the sidebar in my NIV Study Bible, "riding on donkeys was a mark of both prestige and power.  Horses were evidently not present until later when Solomon imported them."

4. Jephthah

In this passage, Israel engages in idolatry after the death of Jair.  The Lord then sells Israel into the hands of the Philistines and the Ammonites, who oppress them for 18 years.  Eventually Israel cries out to the Lord for mercy; He reminds them of their idolatry, yet they plead with Him and actually dispose of the idols that they have been worshiping.  So the Lord prepares to deliver them from their oppressors; now they need to defeat the Ammonite forces that have assembled at Gilead.

I found the dialogue between Israel and the Lord in this passage to be intriguing, as He does not immediately acquiesce to their plea for deliverance from their oppressors.  Most likely He wants the Israelites to see their need for Him.  Could His righteous jealousy be on display here?

Joshua 22-24

1. Eastern Tribes Return Home
In this passage, Joshua blesses the tribes who will dwell on the eastern side of the Jordan River - the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh.  Now as these tribes return to their homes, they build an altar that spurs the rest of Israel to prepare for war against them.  Phinehas (the son of Eleazar) and ten tribal leaders - one for each of the "western tribes" - meet the "eastern tribes" in order to forestall a civil war; it turns out that a great misunderstanding has occurred, and so no blood is spilled.

This is a rather bizarre story; it does illustrate the importance of communication.  Perhaps the eastern tribes should have informed the western tribes of their plans before they built their altar (to serve as a memorial for future generations).  This story also illustrates the zeal for the Lord that prevailed in Israel at that time; any perceived affront to His glory and honor would be immediately addressed in the appropriate fashion - with war being an option.

2. Joshua's Farewell to the Leaders
In this passage, Joshua reminds the leaders of Israel of the Lord's providence in bringing them to their present inheritance.  He exhorts them to hold fast to the Lord and to His Law.  He also assures them that if they turn away from the Lord and intermarry/associate with other nations, the Lord will punish them - via these other nations.

I wonder if the people of Israel were feeling rather complacent after the allocation of the Promised Land; if so, this speech by Joshua was designed to wake them from their stupor and help them focus on God and His covenant with them.

3. The Covenant Renewed at Shechem
In this passage, Joshua reminds the Israelites of all that the Lord had done for them, starting from the time of Abraham.  Given the Lord's providence in bringing Israel to the Promised Land, Joshua challenges them regarding their ultimate loyalties.  The people respond by declaring their allegiance to God, and they refuse to change their minds after Joshua hints at their inability to fulfill their vows to Him.  Thus, Joshua renews the covenant between Israel and the Lord; he commemorates the occasion by placing a stone under an oak tree.

This story implies that the Israelites were experiencing a "spiritual high" after the allocation of the Promised Land.  Perhaps they should have listened carefully to Joshua's hint in verses 19-20 that they would be unable to fulfill their vows to the Lord.  Yet they were probably so ensnared by their spiritual high that they repeatedly declared their devotion to God.

4. Buried in the Promised Land
In this passage, it is noted that Joshua passes away at the age of 110.  Israel continues to serve the Lord faithfully during Joshua's lifetime and that of the elders who outlive him.  Joseph's bones, which had been transported by Israel during their years of wandering in the desert - are buried at Shechem.  Eleazar, the high priest, also passes away.

This is a very natural way to conclude the book of Joshua.  The leaders - both military and spiritual - of Israel have now passed on, and the onus is on Israel to remain faithful to the Lord in their absence.  Of course, the book of Judges will reveal how they did...