Judges 10

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Dave Burnette's Commentary

Judges Chapter 10

Written By: God through Inspiration

Penned By: Samuel

Date Penned: (550 BC)

Overview: A Record of Israel's Compromise in the Promised Land (c 1-21)

Theme: The Rescue of Israel by the Judges (c 3-16)

Message: Jephthah, Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon (v 1-18)

Judges 10 Commentary

(10:1-5) The Fifth Period of Judges - In five verses we read about two men who judged Israel for a total of 45 years, but not many details are given of their lives. It is likely that they were wealthy and influential, and both served as judges for a significant length of time. Jair is remembered for his 30 sons who rode around on 30 donkeys, and he held influence over 30 towns. The few notes given on these judges' lives indicate quiet influence and effective leadership over a long period of time. After the terrible conflict resulting from Abimelech's leadership, this is what the people of Israel desperately needed. Though Tola's and Jair's service to God's people didn't involve heroic deeds in battle, they clearly rescued Israel through wise leadership and by engineering a long period of peace.

This is the work that many of us are called to do. We may never lead people into battle against oppressors, but we all are called to live and lead wisely according to God's principles and to be people who bring peace wherever God places us.

(10:6) Pagan gods - Baal and Ashtaroth are described in chapters 2:11-15 and 3:7. The gods of Syria and Sidon (Zidon) were very similar. The gods of Moab and Ammon were Chemosh and Molech. The Philistine gods were Dagon and Baalzebub, and Ashtaroth was a Sidonian goddess.

(10:7-10) God's Permissive Love - God permitted the pagan nations to oppress the Israelites because of their sin (2:1-3). Because he is just, God does punish sin (Leviticus 26). Sometimes he allows problems and pressures to enter our lives in order to lovingly draw us back into a relationship with him. When problems arise, before you ask, Why me? ask, Can I learn something about myself or about God through this?

(10:9-10) The End of the Rope - Once again the Israelites suffered for many years before they gave up their sinful ways and called out to God for help (see 4:1-3; 6:1-6). Notice that when the Israelites were at the end of their rope, they did not look to their pagan gods for help but to the only God who was really able to help.Is God your last resort? Much unnecessary suffering takes place because we don't call on God until we've exhausted all other resources. Rather than waiting until the situation becomes desperate, turn to God first-he has all that is necessary to meet all your needs.

(10:11-16) God Never Fails - These verses show how difficult it can be to follow God over the long haul. The Israelites always seemed to forget God when all was well. But despite being rejected by his own people, God never failed to rescue them when they called out to him in repentance. God never fails to rescue us, either. We act just like the Israelites when we put God on the outside edge of our lives instead of at the center. Just as a loving parent feels rejected when a child rebels, God feels great rejection when we ignore or neglect him (1 Samuel 8:4-9; 10:17-19; John 12:44-50). We should strive to obey God rather than see how far we can go before judgment comes.

(10:17-18) Facing the Sin of the Past - The power of the Ammonite nation was at its peak during the period of the judges. The people were descendants of Ammon, conceived when Lot's younger daughter slept with her drunk father (Genesis 19:30-38). The land of Ammon was located just east of the Jordan River across from Jerusalem. South of Ammon lay the land of Moab, the nation conceived when Lot's older daughter slept with her father. Moab and Ammon were usually allies. Defeating these nations was a formidable task.ce from the powers of darkness, separate themselves from sin, and from occasions of it, use the means of grace diligently, and wait the Lord's time, and so they shall certainly rejoice in his mercy.

Dave Burnette's Life Application

Sin & Judgement

Each day we walk through the Bible chapter by chapter making an application of our text to help us grow in the Lord. Many applications can be made from each day's text. Today we Continue in the book of Judges with Chapter 10 and we see the fifth period of the rescue of the Judges of Israel with Jephthan, Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon. Today we see Israel again worshiping strange gods which causes the hand of God to be removed and the enemy overtaking them. They then repent and called unto the Lord who moved but at a much slower rate due to their habitual disobedience. In making application and what catches my eye is the Lord taking His hand off our lives when we sin repeatedly. When we choose to sin it causes judgement to come in our lives. Judgement comes in many forms but what I have seen frequently is the Lord removing himself from our actions to simply see us suffer the consequences for our sin. I have seen this in my own life. Committing a sin and instantly being convicted to call on the Lord who delivered me from the consequences of that sin. To later do the same sin, calling on the Lord, to have him let me suffer the consequences of my sin. How about you? Have you seen the judgement of God in your life over sin? Let us learn from today's text to escape the Judgement of God by choosing not to sin lest we too suffer the full consequences of our sins and the judgement of God.

Judges 10

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Judges 10

¹And after Abimelech there arose to defend Israel Tola the son of Puah, the son of Dodo, a man of Issachar; and he dwelt in Shamir in mount Ephraim.

²And he judged Israel twenty and three years, and died, and was buried in Shamir.

³And after him arose Jair, a Gileadite, and judged Israel twenty and two years.

⁴And he had thirty sons that rode on thirty ass colts, and they had thirty cities, which are called Havothjair unto this day, which are in the land of Gilead.

⁵And Jair died, and was buried in Camon.

⁶And 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.

⁷And 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.

⁸And 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.

⁹Moreover 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.

¹⁰And 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.

¹¹And 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?

¹²The Zidonians also, and the Amalekites, and the Maonites, did oppress you; and ye cried to me, and I delivered you out of their hand.

¹³Yet ye have forsaken me, and served other gods: wherefore I will deliver you no more.

¹⁴Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation.

¹⁵And 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.

¹⁶And they put away the strange gods from among them, and served the LORD: and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel.

¹⁷Then the children of Ammon were gathered together, and encamped in Gilead. And the children of Israel assembled themselves together, and encamped in Mizpeh.

¹⁸And 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.

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