Juízes 13

G. Campbell Morgan · Citado em PreceptAustin

Juízes 13

Morgan- This answer of the heavenly Visitor to Manoah is very interesting. Whereas the answer was in itself in the form of a question, it was nevertheless a declaration. He told him that His name was Wonderful. All this opens out a line of study which may be followed with profit. The reading of this reply almost inevitably calls to mind two other passages of Scripture, far apart in the books of the Bible. The first is in Genesis 32.29, "Wherefore it is that thou dost ask after My name?" The other is in Isaiah 9.6, "His name shall be called Wonderful." The question was addressed to Jacob by one who was described as "A man"; (Ge 32.24), and concerning Whom Jacob said in the morning. "I have seen God face to face" (Ge 32.30). The prophecy was concerned with the Child, the Son upon Whose shoulder government is to rest, and Whose name is also "Mighty God." The visitor to Manoah is described as "The Angel of Jehovah," and Manoah's wife described Him as "A Man of God." A careful study of the Old Testament Scriptures will show that there is a distinction between the phrases, "an angel" and "the Angel of Jehovah." "The Man of God," Whose name was "Wonderful," was none other than the Son of God. Here then we have a Christophany, and so wherever this august title "the Angel of Jehovah" appears. I repeat: all this opens out a profitable line of study. This note is only intended to suggest it. (Borrow Life applications from every chapter of the Bible). Wonderful (06383) (peliy from pala = to do something wonderful or extraordinary) is the Hebrew adjective meaning incomprehensible, extraordinary, surpassing, ineffable. Peliy is a masculine adjective meaning wonderful, incomprehensible (suggesting a mysterious hiddenness). The feminine form of this adjective is peliʾāyh or pilʾiyyāh. It refers to something so awesome it is beyond human capability or comprehension (see God's attribute Incomprehensible). The basic verb (pala) means to be wonderful or cause something wonderful to happen, and generally used to refer to acts of God, describing things considered beyond human capabilities (e.g., in Dt 17:8 the idea is "too difficult" or beyond your capability). Wonderful (peliy) in this verse is translated in the Septuagint with the adjective thaumastos which pertains to being a cause of wonder or worthy of amazement, which speaks of things relating to God and beyond human comprehension wonderful, marvelous, remarkable (n wonderful, marvelous, remarkable (Mt 21:42; Mk 12:11; Jn 9:30; 1 Pt 2:9 ; Rev 15:1, 3) Thaumastos speaks of what is unexpected and worthy of notice the amazing thing (Jn 9.30) Gilbrant - The adjective peliʾy is related to pālāʾ which means "to be extraordinary," and is translated "wondrous," "wonderful." In Jdg. 13:18, it describes the name of the Lord. The Lord's nature, his character and attributes, are incomprehensible; they are too marvelous and difficult for man to understand. The same is true with respect to the knowledge He possesses (Ps. 139:6). In Isaiah 9:6 the closely related noun pele’ is translated “Wonderful, a title for Christ Himself… For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. (Play the music video Indescribable) The only other use is by the psalmist who records that… Psalm 139:6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it.

Juízes 13

Morgan - We have one of the strangest stories of the Old Testament, the story of Samson. It is the story of a great opportunity and a disastrous failure in the case of a man who might have wrought a great deliverance but failed.” Arthur Cundall helps us set the historical context for Judges 13-16 - The Samson narratives have as their background the earlier part of the Philistine oppression. The editor introduced the Ammonite and Philistine threats to Israel’s existence at the same point (read Jdg 10:7+); now, having dealt with the lesser threat of shorter duration (AMMONITES), he turns to the greater threat (PHILISTINES) that was to overshadow the remainder of the period of the judges and the early monarchy up to the opening years of David’s reign (2Sa 5:17-25). The Philistines had settled in large numbers on the coastal plain about a generation after the Israelites had entered the land (c. 1200 b.c.), although the possibility of earlier, smaller settlements of ethnically related groups is not excluded (Ge 21:32, 34; Ge 26:1ff.; see Jdg 1:18, 19+). When they had established themselves in their pentapolis (Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod, Ekron and Gath) they began to penetrate the hinterland. At some point they were momentarily repulsed by Shamgar, thus affording temporary respite to the Israelites (Jdg 3:31+). The Philistine pressure on the Amorites led to a corresponding pressure on the Israelites (Jdg 1:34-36+) and this led in turn to the migration of a portion of the Danites to the extreme north of the land (Jdg 18:1ff.+). It is likely that this took place before the time of Samson, who would then be one of the remnant of the Danites in what remained their original tribal portion. The Philistine menace was the greater because it was so insidious in some of its phases. The direct and cruel aggression of the Moabites, Canaanites, Midianites and Ammonites, etc. was missing, to be replaced by infiltration through intermarriage and trade. Their rule over the peoples they dominated does not appear at all onerous at this early stage and the men of Judah, who like the Danites were affected by these encroachments, seem to have resented the exploits of Samson and to have accepted the Philistine yoke with docility (Jdg 15:11+). There was the possibility that the Philistines might have continued this movement and eventually have taken over the whole land. (Borrow Judges & Ruth: Tyndale Old Testament Commentary) Now the sons of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD - Again introduces the cycle of sin, bondage, repentance, deliverance, blessing, and sin again! The part of the cycle that causes the LORD to cause enslavement is described in this passage. Did evil - a repeated phrase in Judges and the seventh occurrence - Jdg 2:11+, Jdg 3:7+, Jdg 3:12+ (2x), Jdg 4:1+, Jdg 6:1+, Jdg 10:6+, Jdg 13:1+. This is the last mention of did evil in the sight of the LORD in Judges but sadly is hardly the end of the evil committed by Israel as Judges 17-21 vividly attest! It is also worthy noting that Jdg 13:1 is the seventh recorded apostasy in the book of Judges. The phrase did evil is common in is also common in 1 & 2 Kings (24 times), increasing in frequency in second Kings. Note that the uses begin in the book of Judges and continue through the period of monarchy. It would seem that a common thread is that there was "no Divine King in Israel!" They forgot Jehovah and forsook Jehovah (not all of course but certainly most of the nation! The writer does not give detail on the nature of the evil in this passage but in Jdg 10:6 he had recorded that "the sons of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD, served....the gods of the Philistines; thus they forsook the LORD and did not serve Him." So clearly Israel once again was enslaved in pagan idolatry and the abominable, immoral practices associated with this godless "worship." Bush on did evil again (Heb yosiphu laaseth = literally "added to commit") by apostatizing from God’s pure worship and falling into idolatry. See Jdg 3:7, 6:11, 10:6.(resource) THOUGHT - This shows what happens to a nation when it forgets God! Think about America in 2022 with liberals and secularists and the ACLU and agnostics (et al) trying to do everything they possibly can to remove every last vestige of God from America. O Lord send a revival lest we end up just like the nation of Israel! In Jesus' Name. Amen EXAMPLE OF A POLITIFACT" COMMENT - A Facebook post says that "Dems have removed any mention of ‘God’ from their Platform." (ED: IN CONTRAST TO 16 MENTIONS OF GOD IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY PLATFORM!) That’s not true, as the party’s 2020 platform includes a reference to "God-given potential." It also makes numerous references to faith, including a section that outlines its intent to protect religious freedom and uphold "separation of church and state enshrined in our Constitution." The Democratic Party in 2012 introduced a platform that did not mention God, only to quickly re-insert the reference. The party’s platforms in recent years have had fewer mentions of the word God than in the past. But the assertion that the Democratic Party platform doesn’t include a reference to God is wrong. We rate it False. ED COMMENT ON THE "POLITIFACT" COMMENT - WELL "YES" AND "NO" - YES THERE IS A SINGLE -- ONE SOLITARY -- MENTION OF GOD BUT THE FACT CHECKERS ARE "CHECKERED" BECAUSE THE REFERENCES TO FAITH, ETC, ARE SIMPLY A "SMOKESCREEN!" GOD IS BEING SYSTEMATICALLY REMOVED FROM THE NATION THAT ONCE HAD THE MOTTO "IN GOD WE TRUST." SADLY GOD WILL ALLOW THIS TRAGIC EXTIRPATION OF HIS NAME, BUT HE WILL NOT REMAIN SILENT AND EVEN NOW IS JUDGING THE NATION THAT ONCE HELD HIS NAME AS HALLOWED! WOE TO AMERICA. WE WILL REAP WHAT WE SOW. WATCH THE WEATHER, THE ECONOMY, THE CRIME, THE DRUG USE, ETC OVER THE NEXT DECADE. AND THEN IMPLORE YOUR PASTOR TO LEAD YOUR CHURCH IN FERVENT PRAYERS FOR REVIVAL. GOD IS MERCIFUL AND HE WILL HEAR THE CRIES OF HIS PEOPLE JUST AS HE HEARD THE CRIES OF ISRAEL IN THE BOOK OF JUDGES WHEN HE HIMSELF DELIVERED THEM TO OPPRESSION AND AFFLICTION! ) Here are all 41 occurrences (ESV) of did what was evil in the Old Testament - Jdg. 2:11; 3:7, 12; 4:1; 6:1; 10:6; 13:1; 1Ki. 11:6; 14:22; 15:26, 34; 16:25; 22:52; 2Ki. 3:2; 8:18, 27; 13:2, 11; 14:24; 15:9, 18, 24, 28; 17:2; 21:2, 16, 20; 23:32, 37; 24:9, 19; 2Chr. 21:6; 22:4; 33:2, 22; 36:5, 9, 12; Isa 65:12; 66:4; Jer. 52:2). It is as if the closer they got to judgment, the more evil they became or the more certain the judgment had to be. Just a thought to ponder. Note it is also interesting that this phrase did evil is not found in 1 & 2 Samuel. Could it be that the reason is that the leaders were godly men like Samuel and David? Note also that the evil began with Baalim (plural - see ba'al for detailed discussion of baal and related words) but progressed to the point documented in Jdg 10:6+ where we see a list of seven idols (seven = completion/perfection)! So that (term of purpose) the LORD gave them into the hands of the Philistines forty years - Notice the cause-effect dynamic that introduces this next section which covers Judges 13-16. The Cause = Israel did evil. The Effect = God delivers to evil! Forty years (See Bush and Fausset below) is the longest record of oppression of Israel in Judges (See chart summarizing Judges & lengths of oppression & rest!) The length of Israel's affliction surely has something to do with the fact that there is no record that Israel cried out to God for deliverance during the forty years of Philistine domination (see related another comment below)! While Samson did make a beginning, it would not be until the times of Samuel and David that Israel would ultimately be delivered from the hands of the Philistines (see discussion of this final deliverance in notes below). So forty years is the only time of oppression in Judges which did not end with a complete deliverance. Some writers therefore feel that this forty years includes the events that took place in Judges 17-21. It is also notable that there is no mention of Israel crying out for deliverance during this time but Jdg 10:10 might allude to a cry during this 40 years! Forty years being the longest period also speaks to the depths of depravity to which Israel had fallen and probably also to the strength of the Philistines. Gave them into the hands - In the OT hands often symbolized one's power and giving one into another's "hand" was giving them over to the power of the other party (cp Ge 32:11, Ex 2:19, 3:8, 14:30, 18:9, 10, 1Sa 12:9). Thus the picture here is that of Jehovah recompensing Israel her "wages" (bondage) for her evil deeds (cp the reaping and sowing principle - Gal 6:7, 8, Ho 8:7). Remembering that God is not impartial (see study of this attribute) and shows no favoritism, the message for NT believers is to take heed, for we will be given over to the power of Sin (the "flesh") if we persist in committing evil sinful deeds. For example, we see so many Christian men today (2022) who are in bondage to the power of internet pornography. The wages of sin is always death, and for believers it is manifest by a quenching of the Holy Spirit (1Th 5:19), a loss of fellowship with the Father (1Jn 1:6-7) and a leeching of the supernatural power of Christ within our soul. This "giving over" is described by Solomon in the context of sexual sins (he should know - cp 1Ki 11:1-11 - note Solomon's "wages"!) where God's clear warning is… His own iniquities will capture the wicked, and he will be held with the cords of his sin. (Pr 5:22 - see note, cp Pr 1:30, 31, 32, Jer 2:19, Isa 3:9) Gave them - Jehovah repeatedly gave Israel into the hands of their enemies. Jdg 2:14, 6;1, 11:32, 13:1 (See notes Jdg 2:14; 6:1; 11:32; 13:1). This picture of God giving His people over to the power of the godless pagans is a key thought (key words and phrases are an important concept in inductive Bible study) in the book of the Judges (cf Jdg 2:14, 15, 16, 18, 23; 3:8; 4:2, 6:1, 2, 9, 13, 14; 8:22, 34; 9:17; 10:7; 13:1, 5; 15:18). It is interesting that Samson used this same phrase in what amounts to a personal prophecy, the text recording that "Thou hast given this great deliverance by the hand of Thy servant, and now shall I die of thirst and fall into the hands of the uncircumcised?" (Jdg 15:18+) The Hebrew verb for gave is nathan is translated in the Septuagint with the Greek verb paradidomi from para = alongside, beside, to the side of, over to + didomi = to give) conveys the basic meaning of to give over from one's hand to someone or something, especially to give over to the power of another! It is the same verb used in in the Septuagint translation of Psalm 106:41 where we read "Then He gave them into (Lxx = paradidomi) the hand of the nations; And those who hated them ruled over them (His people Israel who played the harlot with the pagan nations so that God abhorred His inheritance)." It is also used in Isaiah 64:7 which says "There is no one who calls on Your name, Who arouses himself to take hold of You; For You have hidden Your face from us And have delivered {Lxx = paradidomi} us into the power of our iniquities]." Beloved if that last phrase does not put the fear to the LORD in you, I don't know what will! If you are "toying" with a pet sin, be very careful, lest God gives you over to that sin and you end up in the power of the sin. THOUGHT - God is sovereign and while He does not cause evil, He will give us over to evil if we repeatedly refuse to obey His Word of grace! Do not be deceived (present imperative with a negative) beloved! God is not mocked (see Gal 6:7-8-note). God revealed to Daniel a prophecy regarding His people Israel that would befall them in the last days writing "And he (Antichrist = Little Horn) will speak out against the Most High and wear down the saints (Jews) of the Highest One, and he (Antichrist = the little horn) will intend to make alterations in times and in law; and they (the Jews, Israel) will be given into (Lxx = paradidomi) his (Antichrist's) hand for a time, times, and half a time (3.5 years = Great Tribulation). So in a sense these times in Judges where God repeatedly gave His people over to the enemy were just a foreshadowing of a greater and final giving over that will occur in the last days! The words of John Owen's famous admonition resonate with those of Solomon "the choicest believers, who are assuredly freed from the condemning power of sin, ought yet to make it their business all their days to mortify the indwelling power of sin… Do you mortify; do you make it your daily work; be always at it while you live; cease not a day from this work; be killing sin or it will be killing you. Your being dead with Christ virtually (Ro 6:3+; Ro 6:11+), your being quickened with him (Ro 6:4+; Ro 6:5+; Ro 6:6+; Ro 6:7+, Ro 6:8+, Ro 6:9+, Ro 6:10+, will not excuse you from this work." (From John Owen's treatise - Of the Mortification of Sin or see the modernized version) Using a different metaphor for giving one into another's power, the prophet Isaiah warned Israel "So now let Me tell you what I am going to do to My vineyard (Israel - Isa 5:1, 2, 3, 4): I will remove its hedge and it will be consumed. I will break down its wall and it will become trampled ground. (Isa 5:5) The primary introduction to this cycle was in Jdg 10:6-16. Sadly each new generation seemed to have to learn the lesson of the price to be paid for sinful indulgence. There is also a sad "omission" in this text as alluded to above. Every other time they reached a time of desperation they would cry out to God for a deliverer (Jdg 3:9, 15, 4:3, 6:7, 10:10) but that did not happen in this case--even though it was the longest recorded oppression! What is the take home message? We need to CRY OUT FOR DELIVERANCE! We need to do this every single day! We need to pray " do not lead us into temptation, but deliver (in the form of a command - Do it now, Lord! Please do not delay!) us from evil." (Mt 6:13+) Preacher's Commentary offers a thought provoking comment on Israel's failure to cry out for deliverance writing that "What is different now is that there is no record of repentance, no desperate calling on God, such as we have seen in earlier chapters. Israel’s heart has hardened that much. It is a peril that besets us all. We need often to be reminded that our relationship with God is not static. Every time we hear God’s Word, we either make ourselves more open and responsive by receiving and obeying it, or we harden our hearts in unbelief and disobedience. The danger which the writer to the Hebrews warns about in Hebrews 3:12, 13 is that of a hardened, or dried-out, heart. The unbelief which is endemic to our sinful human nature and the deceitfulness of sin (See Related Discussion: The Deceitfulness of Sin) combine to persuade us that we do not need to respond to God’s voice today. And the result is that the heart starts to dry out, as surely as apricots or raisins left in the sun. Successive acts of resistance to God make it increasingly difficult to respond positively. We can illustrate this biblically from the story of Pharaoh who hardened his heart until God confirmed that decision and there was no way out. Or we can think of Dr. Faustus, in Christopher Marlowe’s play of the same title, who is brought in the end to lament bitterly, “My heart’s so hardened I cannot repent.” “Will not” hardens into “cannot.” (See context in The Preacher's Commentary, Jackman, D., & Ogilvie, L. J. Volume 7: Judges, Ruth) THE PHILISTINES Philistines gives us our modern word Palestine. How interesting that the Palestinians are still in conflict with Israel! (See more resources on Philistines below) Philistines worshiped Dagon (see depictions), Ashtaroth (Astartes - see article) & Baal-zebub (Baal = "master, possessor, husband"). When the Israelites entered Canaan, they found that every piece of land had its own deity, its "owner". There were thus many "Baals" (plural = Baalim"). Yahweh was the "Master" and "Husband" of the Israelites (Jer 31:32-note), and therefore they called Him "Baal" (master, possessor, husband) in all innocence. But naturally this led to confusion of worship of Yahweh with the Baal rituals (syncretism). It appears also that the 40 year period of oppression did not end until the Battle of Mizpah (1Sa 3:20, 1Sa 7:7-13) when Samuel led Israel to victory over their Philistine foes. They were not finally defeated until the early years of David's reign (2Sa 5:17-25). The Philistine dominion began before the birth of Samson [Jdg 13:5], and was in force during Samson’s 20 years’ judgeship [Jdg 14:4; 15:20]. Duane Lindsey - When the Philistine aggression moved eastward into the land of Benjamin and Judah, the Israelites accepted that domination without resistance (cf. Jdg 14:4+; Jdg 15:11+) till the time of Samuel (cf. 1Sa 7:10-14). (See context The Bible Knowledge Commentary: Old Testament) Philistines (sea people) = non-Semitic people, sometimes = "the uncircumcised" (Jdg 14:3; 15:18; 1Sa 14:6; 31:4; 2Sa 1:20; 1Chr 10:4) who settled in the plain and low hill country of SW Palestine, being part of the great invasion of the sea peoples referred to by Rameses III of Egypt about 1200 BC. They organized a "pentapolis" or confederation of 5 cities (Gaza [map], Ashkelon [map], and Ashdod [map] on the coastal highway, with Gath [map] and Ekron [map] on the edge of the foothills of Judea). The Jews weren’t able to occupy that territory during their conquest of the land (Jos 13:1,2). The land between Israel’s hill country and the coastal plain was called the “Shephelah,” which means “low country”; and it separated Philistia from Israel. Their knowledge of metallurgy and access to sources of iron gave them a great advantage over other nations and enabled a comparatively small number to conquer far larger groups and to extend their sway for a time over most of Palestine. They were the leading enemy of Israel from the time of Samson to the middle of the reign of David (1Sa 13:19, 21). Eventually the Philistines gave their name to the whole land, in the form "Palestine." (Cp. Isa 14:29, 31; Ge 21:34,Jdg 10:7 The Philistines disarmed the Jews (1Sa 13:19-23) and therefore had little fear of a rebellion. Jdg 15:9-13 indicates that the Jews were apparently content with their lot and didn’t want Samson to “rock the boat.” It’s frightening how quickly we can get accustomed to bondage and learn to accept the status quo. Had the Philistines been more severe on the Jews, perhaps the Jews would have prayed to Jehovah for help. Samson would "begin to deliver Israel" (Jdg 15:5) but It would take the prayers of Samuel (1 Sa 7) and the conquests of David (2Sa 5:17-25) to finish the job that Samson started and give Israel complete victory over the Philistines. Warren