Off the Grid Christian Bible Study - Judges 8-11

Pastor Mary Kearney

Judges 8-11 is a portion of the Old Testament book of Judges that tells the story of several events in the life of Gideon, who was a judge and military leader of the Israelites during a time of conflict with the Midianites. In Judges 8, we read about Gideon's victorious battle against the Midianites, during which he and his army capture two Midianite leaders and kill them. Gideon then returns home, but faces opposition from some of his own people, who accuse him of not including them in the battle and of taking too much plunder for himself. Gideon reassures them and refuses their offer to make him their king, instead asking for a share of the plunder, which he uses to make an ephod (a type of religious garment). In Judges 9, we read about Gideon's son Abimelech, who tries to seize power in Israel by killing his brothers and making himself king. However, he faces opposition from a man named Jotham, who tells a parable about trees choosing a king, in which the trees reject the offer of a bramble to rule over them. Jotham's parable is a warning to the people of Israel about the dangers of choosing a wicked ruler. In Judges 10, we read about another judge named Tola, who leads Israel for 23 years, followed by another judge named Jair, who leads Israel for 22 years. During this time, the Israelites continue to struggle against their enemies and to turn away from God. In Judges 11, we read about another judge named Jephthah, who comes from a family of outcasts and is rejected by his half-brothers. However, when the Ammonites threaten to attack Israel, the elders of the Israelites ask Jephthah to lead them in battle. Jephthah agrees, but first makes a vow to God, promising to sacrifice the first thing that comes out of his house if God grants him victory. Jephthah is successful in battle, but the first thing to come out of his house is his only daughter, whom he is forced to sacrifice as a result of his vow. The story of Jephthah's vow and his daughter's sacrifice is a tragic reminder of the dangers of making rash promises and failing to seek God's guidance.