Judges Part 12

I. Here is some additional information about LEV 27:29, mentioned above. 1. This chapter deals with things that were ostensibly for God, some of which could be redeemed (the sanctified things) and some which could not (the devoted things). 2. A sanctified thing, person or beast had an appraised value and could be redeemed by paying that value plus twenty percent (the fifth part). vs. 13, 15, 19. 3. There are two classes of devoted things: a. those which were consecrated to God for the maintenance of the priests. v. 21 c/w NUM 18:14. b. those devoted to God’s justice which were to be utterly destroyed and nothing even of the residue claimed for personal reasons, as was the case with Jericho or a murderer. JOS 6:17-19; NUM 35:31. 4. Whatever God commanded was to be used only for His appointed purposes forbade any person from pretending a personal claim contrariwise. 5. devoted: Vowed; appropriated or set apart by a vow or formally; under a vow; dedicated, consecrated. 3. Formally or surely consigned to evil or destruction; doomed. a. Oxford English Dictionary cites DEU 13:17 relative to the latter definition, where the marginal reference says “devoted” for “cursed thing.” b. The Hebrew word for “the cursed thing” is cherem (SRN 2764) and is the same word underlying “devoted” in LEV 27:21, 28-29. c. Thus, a person could be devoted to God for holy use in His service by a personal vow (as was Samuel, 1SAM 1:11), or devoted by God Himself to a curse and death, as were the seven nations of Canaan, Jericho, Amalek, or a murderer. d. NUM 21:1-3 was a case where Israel vowed the utter destruction of some Canaanites before they even entered Canaan if God would help them, and He did, so they were obliged to take no prizes of men. e. Since the Law of God forbade slaying the innocent and human sacrifice, LEV 27:29 must refer to whom God Himself had appointed to a curse and death. Note that the phrase “unto the LORD” in v. 28 is not in v. 29. 6. The devotion of a man/men by God unto a curse and death which could not be Judges 6-26-25 Page 21  altered, retracted or redeemed should remind us of the awful gravity of Jesus Christ being made a curse for us, devoted to utter destruction without a chance of redemption that He might redeem us from our sins. GAL 3:13 c/w ROM 8:32. 7. Our conversion and submission to Jesus Christ is essentially a vow of devotion unto dying daily to sin, self and the world, and even physical death. ROM 8:36; 2CO 4:10-11; REV 2:10; 12:11. XII. Judges 12. A. vs. 1-4. 1. Jephthah, having just wrought a great victory for Israel, might have expected to be received with thanks and praise but instead was berated by his own countrymen, men of Ephraim, a peevish attitude they had also shown to Gideon. JDG 8:1. 2. Their anger was ridiculous and fierce, as if everything that was deemed an offense should be met with heated fury. ct/w JAM 1:19-20. 3. It is a sad observation that leaders who have the church’s best interests at heart and who, in the way of duty, exercise themselves nobly for it, are sometimes unloved or even despised of their beneficiaries. PSA 109:4; 2CO 12:14-15. 4. Our Lord Jesus Christ could not do enough good to pacify His haters. JOH 10:32. 5. One could wonder which of the basest motivations, or combination of them, was making them so ridiculous: greed (they didn’t get any spoils of battle), pride (should a bastard like Jephthah show us up?) or envy, before which no man can stand? PRO 27:3-4; ECC 4:4. 6. “Those resentments that have the least reason for them have commonly the most rage in them.” (Matthew Henry) 7. Also, Ephraim had not made Jephthah their captain: Gilead had (JDG 11:4-11). Jephthah had no such support and grant of authority from Ephraim: they were of the kind who like the benefits of another’s courage and labor without any of the cost. Further, Jephthah had called them! v. 2. 8. Ephraim also overlooked that the victory was of the LORD (JDG 11:32); their real gripe was against God Himself. 9. Though it was through some sketchy decision-making and compliance to an unjust expectation, Jephthah had just suffered the loss of his only child. Where was Ephraim’s mercy and compassion, or even their loving exhortation that could have helped him understand the error of his ways? Instead, they piled on. PSA 109:16; 69:26. 10. They had even railed on him and reviled him. v. 4. a. rail: To utter abusive language. b. revile: To subject to contumely or abuse, to assail with opprobrious or abusive language. c. contumely: Insolent reproach or abuse; insulting or offensively contemptuous language or treatment; despite; scornful rudeness: now esp. such contemptuous treatment as tends to inflict dishonor and humiliation. d. This can cost one his inheritance in Christ’s kingdom. 1CO 5:11; 6:9-10. e. Unbridled tongues set on fire the course of nature. JAM 3:6. f. “It is no new thing for those that are most culpable to be most clamourous in accusing the innocent.” (Matthew Henry) 11. Having to go it of his own accord, Jephthah put his own life at risk for the great cause. We do well to respect those who hazard their lives for godly endeavors more than those who ride on their coat-tails. ACT 15:25-26 ct/w 3JO 1:9-10. Judges 6-26-25 Page 22 B. vs. 5-6. 1. Ephraim poked the bear and the bear woke up angry and tare 42,000 Ephraimites. 2. The Gileadites capitalized on a foible of human nature, and sometimes a man’s speech betrays his origin. MAT 26:73. 3. Freemasonry seizes upon this story and makes Shibboleth the secret password for the ritual of the Second or Fellow Craft degree of the lodge. C. v. 7. 1. Jephthah, the bastard who judged Israel, died after a short six years of judgeship. 2. Though this world placed ill marks on him, the Holy Spirit’s mark is the one that counts. HEB 11:32-33. D. vs. 8-15. 1. Following Jephthah was a series of relatively short-term judges, which may be a statement of the condition of the people. PRO 28:2. 2. Two of them produced large families. 3. It is probably not true that Elon signed his name with “X.” Judges 6-26-25 Page 23