Judges 5

Judges 5:23-8

XXVIII DEBORAH’S SONG (Concluded); MIDIAN AND GIDEON Judges 5:23-8:35 DEBOBAH’S SONG – Concluded In Judges 5:23 a curse is denounced on Meroz and in Judges 5:24 a blessing pronounced on Jael. Now, is this imprecation on the one hand or this benediction on the other hand merely an expression of Deborah’s personal enthusiasm and aroused patriotism, or must we attribute it to the inspiration of God?

Ans. – The whole context shows that she is not only speaking as a prophet under inspiration (compare Judges 4:9, “Jehovah will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman”), but quoting the very words of Jehovah, Judges 5:23.

2. Then would you approve the morality of Jael’s apparent violation of the laws of hospitality held so sacred in the Orient, and of what seems on its face to be assassination?

Ans. – Yes, what Jehovah himself commands and blesses is not to be judged by man according to human standards. The avenger of blood was not an assassin but commissioned as a sheriff. So the case of Ehud. So the destruction of the Canaanites. So the flood. So the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.

3. But may not Jehovah in a governmental sense avail himself of wicked instruments overruling the evil but not approving it, as in the case of Joseph’s brethren, Genesis 42:21; Genesis 45:5, of the remarkable case of the Assyrian, Isaiah 10:5-15, and in the case of the betrayers and crucifiers of Christ, Acts 2:23?

Ans. – This is all true but cannot under a fair construction of our text apply in the case of the inspired curse on Meroz and the inspired blessing on Jael, especially since it was “the angel of Jehovah” who curses and blesses and Deborah only quotes Judges 5:23. Compare the blessing on Jael with the blessings on Mary, the mother of our Lord, Luke 1:41-42, by Elisabeth and Mary’s own saying, Luke 1:48.

4. But is not the doctrine dangerous in the hands of fanatics as in the assassination of William of Orange and Henry of Navarre?

Ans. – All doctrines are dangerous in the hands of fanatics and are liable to fearful abuse. To assume, without warrant, to act in Jehovah’s name in either blessing or cursing or to cloak private revenge under religious sanction is a blasphemous usurpation of divine prerogative. See Romans 12:19. God only can bless or curse. See specially the case of Balaam, Numbers 22:5-6, and Numbers 23:7-8; Numbers 23:11-12; Numbers 23:20; Numbers 24:10-12. It devolves upon him who assumes to bless or curse or slay in God’s name to give miraculous proofs as signs of his credentials.

5. But is it ever true that an individual or a people may dispense with ordinary forms of law?

Ans. – It is true that under extraordinary conditions in which ordinary forms of law are not available the law of self-preservation may justify a father in protecting his family from burglary, assassination, and dishonor, and there have been extraordinary cases where there was no law to protect life or property, the right to social government inhering in the people justified extraordinary means of social protection, until ordinary forms of legal protection should be created. This doctrine also is liable to terrific abuses, but it is a true doctrine under the real conditions which demand it.

6. What can you say of the morality of Deborah’s exultation over the hopeless waiting of Sisera’s mother for the return of her son?

Ans. – It is of a piece with the rest. A mother watching through the lattice for the return of a son who for twenty years has ground an oppressed people to powder, and who is delighting herself with the expectation of a robber’s spoils and of captive maidens to be devoted to bondage and dishonor, cannot reasonably hope that the delivered people will condole with her disappointment. Nor can it be evil to rejoice at that disappointment. See Revelation 19:1-8. The joy of Deborah was a righteous joy. The sentimental deprecation of some commentators on this point is sickly, namby-pamby, goody-goody gush, very far from piety. It is such a weakness as would weep over the ultimate downfall of the poor devil!

MIDIAN AND GIDEON – Judges 6-87. What the occasion of the next oppression of Israel, how long the oppression, who the oppressor and where his territory?

Ans. – See Judges 6:1, and map.

8. Trace the origin of the Midianites and show their kinship to Israel and the past connection of Joseph and Moses with them and what part of them was associated with Israel in travel and settlement in Canaan.

Ans. – Examine Genesis 25:2; Exodus 3:1; Exodus 18:1-27; Numbers 10:29-32; Numbers 12:1; Numbers 22:4-7; Numbers 31:1-12; Judges 1:16; Judges 4:11-17; Judges 4:24, and then make your own reply.

9. Why are Midianites used synonymously with Ishmaelites both here (Judges 8:24) and in Genesis 37:25; Genesis 37:28?

Ans. – They were close akin, occupied the same territory and had the same customs of desert life, were intermingled as one people.

10. What other tribes or nations were associated with Midian in this invasion of Israel?

Ans. – Consult Judges 6:3, and Judges 8:24, and reply.

11. What characteristics show them to be the true children of the East?

Ans. – (1) Their methods of travel and making war, Judges 6:5.

(2) Their ornaments, Judges 8:24-26.

12. What the sweep of the invasion and the extent of the desolation wrought?

Ans. – Consult Judges 6:2-6 and answer.

13. To whom did Israel cry for help and the method of response?

Ans. – Consult Judges 7:7-10, and reply.

14. After the rebuke of Israel’s sin through a prophet how does Jehovah intervene?

Ans. – He comes to call and qualify a human deliverer, Judges 6:11.

15. Comparing Judges 6:11, with Genesis 15:1; Genesis 18:2; Genesis 21:17; Exodus 3:2; Exodus 23:20; Exodus 23:23; Exodus 33:2; Joshua 5:13; Judges 13:3-7, what are these appearances of the “angel, or Word of Jehovah”?

Ans. – They were real Theophanies or pre-manifestations of our Lord. Compare John 8:5-6 and Hebrews 9:26-27.

16. State the circumstances of Gideon’s call, its miraculous sign, its commemoration, the meaning of Jehovah-Shalom and cite other significant combinations of “Jehovah” with a modifying word and the meaning of each.

Ans. – For all but the last item see Judges 6:11-24. For the last item see Genesis 22:14; Exodus 17:15; Jeremiah 23:6. On the last item: Jehovah-Jireh – The Lord Will Provide, Genesis 22:14. Jehovah-Nissi – The Lord our Banner, Exodus 17:15. Jehovah-Shalom – The Lord our Peace, Judges 6:24. Jehovah-Tsidkenu – The Lord Our Righteousness, Jeremiah 3:6.

17. How does the New Testament comment on Genesis 18:1-8, and Judges 6:18-19?

Ans. – Hebrews 13:2.

18. Compare in the following cases the different ways in which men receive God’s call to service.

(1) Moses, Exodus 3:10-11; Exodus 4:10-13.

(2) Gideon, Judges 6:15.

(3) Samuel, 1 Samuel 3:4-10 (4) Saul, 1 Samuel 10:22.

(5) Jonah, Jonah 1:3; Jonah 3:2-3.

(6) Isaiah, Isaiah 6:8.

(7) Jeremiah, Jeremiah 1:6.

(8) Amos 7:14-16.

(9) Paul, Acts 26:19; Galatians 1:15-16.

19. How was Gideon directed to make a square issue and fulfil it?

Ans. – Judges 6:25-27.

20. Explain different renderings in common and revised versions of “cut down the grove,” “cut down the Asherah” in Judges 6:25.

Ans. – Form your own answer.

21. Wherein the great courage of Gideon in this act?

Ans. – It was against his own family and city.

22. What the reply of Gideon’s father to the demand of the city that Gideon be delivered up to die?

Ans. – Judges 6:31.

23. What new name was given to Gideon and of what was it a standing memorial?

Ans. – The name of Jerubbaal and it is a standing memorial of the fact that throughout his life Gideon was against Baal and that if Baal could not defend himself he was no god.

24. Compare this case with the remarkable case in 1 Kings 18:17-20.

25. How did both sides respond to Gideon’s issue?

Ans. – Judges 6:33-35.

26. What the two confirmatory signs of victory given to Gideon?

Ans. – Judges 6:36-40.

27. What and why the two eliminations of Gideon’s army?

Ans. – Judges 7:2-8. The first elimination was this: God said, “These 32,000 you have here are too many. The battle must be the Lord’s battle and you have too many men.” The first elimination was to send home every man that was afraid. You know men get scared when they jam right up against a formidable army. The first elimination was that every one of the 32,000 that was scared might fall out, and 22,000 fell out. God looked at the 10,000 and said, “There are still too many.

Now bring the 10,000 down to the creek and let me see them drink water,” and every one but 300 when they got there laid down their equipments and kneeled down and deliberately took a drink. But the 300 waded in and lapped up the water as they marched through, and never stopped walking. God said that the 300 that lapped the water like a dog were his crowd. Why? They had before them, after the battle, a march that would try the souls of men. Gideon will never let up pursuing them, across the Jordan and way out into Midian, and soldiers that have to lay aside their equipments and lie down and grunt, they never will overtake a fleeing enemy, and he needed people that wouldn’t lose time.

I once heard an infidel say that that was the sorriest test he ever heard of. I always thought it a remarkable test. It was precisely the kind of a test that was made by an old Indian fighter. He said, “I am going to pursue the Indians into the mountains; whoever cannot load your gun as you go must drop out; you must be able to load your gun as you go.”

28. What additional sign of victory?

Ans. – Judges 7:9-14. Gideon and one man marched up and took a close look at the enemy and heard one of them say, “I have dreamed. I dreamed that we would be destroyed by the sword of Gideon.” There is the mighty spirit of God sending a dream to a man as he sent a dream to Pharaoh.

29. What the arms of Gideon’s 300, his method of battle, the war cry and the result?

Ans. – Judges 7:16-23. Army trumpets, lamps, and pitchers. The trumpets to blow, the pitchers to hide the light until the time came. They put the light down deep in the pitchers so they could slip up to the enemy, then at a signal they broke the pitchers and the 300 trumpets blew and the war cry came from three directions, “The sword of the Lord and of Gideon.” You see he divided his men into three companies; let a big crowd of men wake up in the night with 100 lights burning on the right, 100 on the left and 100 behind and three divisions shouting, “The sword of the Lord and of Gideon,” it would scare them nearly to death. The result was that they just ran until they dropped. That great big army, a multitude, running away before trumpets, lamps, and pitchers and the war cry.

30. What great sermon by great men have been preached from two texts in this paragraph?

Ans. – I will give you two and let you think of a dozen more. Spurgeon has a sermon, indeed a series, on “Lamps and Pitchers.” Then John A. Broadus preached at the convention at Atlanta on “The Sword of the Lord and of Gideon.”

31. What other cases can you cite of using insignificant weapons to achieve great victories?

Ans. – I will tell you of a few and you must think of some more. The ox-goad in the hands of Shamgar, the jawbone of an ass in the hands of Samson, and the sling and pebble in the hands of David.

32. What precautions of Gideon to cut off the retreat of the enemy?

Ans. – He sent a rapid messenger to the tribe of Ephraim and they fell into line and captured two of the kings and killed a great multitude of the people.

33. Considering the case of Ephraim in dealing with Joshua, Gideon, and Jephthah, what the description of that tribe by a later prophet, and what the meaning of the metaphor?

Ans. – Hosea 7:8 : “Ephraim is a cake not turned.” You read those three passages about Ephraim and you will think of that prophets metaphor. He was just cooked on one side. Did you ever eat a piece of bread that was cooked on one side and raw on the other? That is the description of Ephraim.

34. What kings commanded the Midianites, and their fate?

Ans. – Zabah and Zaimunna, who were slain by Gideon.

35. State the case of the cities of Succoth and Penuel and give your judgment of Gideon’s punishment of them.

Ans. – When Gideon’s men came with their tongues out from thirst, having come all the way from the battlefield east of the Jordan, they said, “We are soldiers of Gideon and dying of hunger and thirst; feed us,” and those cities from financial and prudential reasons thought maybe the other side was going to capture them, so they went against the starving army and refused them bread and drink. Gideon said that when he came back he was going to make scourges out of the bushes with thorns and punish them and plough up their foundation. Later he did exactly what he said he was going to do.

36. What great sin did Gideon commit?

Ans. – I wish that he had stopped without committing that sin. He commanded that the earrings, raiment, and the chains that were about their camels’ necks (as is characteristic of desert people) should all be poured into a sack and out of that he would make an ephod. What is an ephod? It is a garment like a Mexican blanket with a hole in it to put down over the head. The one for the high priest, on the breast, had a plate and two jewels, one on each side, and it was worn when the priest went to consult the oracles; whenever a question came up the high priest put on this robe and the oracle would answer. And the record says, “All Israel went a whoring after the ephod of Gideon.”

37. How long did peace last from this deliverance?

Ans. – Forty years; it was just a day or two that that fight lasted and forty years of peace followed one brief fight.