General Comments on Judges Concerning the title "Judges", the JPS translation states, "This is the traditional rendering of shophetim, which, however, in the text is rendered "chieftains." The corresponding verb shaphat is usually translated not "judged" but "ruled" or "led." Thus the "judges" are not judges in the legalistic sense we would use the term in contemporary English, but rather political and/or spiritual leaders among Israel. Comments on Judges 2 v1-5 recounts an incident where Israel was beginning to stray, and when rebuked by an angel they repent. This is a generation which was acquainted with Joshua and saw the many miracles wrought under his leadership firsthand. v6-10 All of the elders, meaning the senior generation, have passed away. In other words, all of Joshua's generation are no longer alive. Thus, this parenthesis serves to indicate there was a generation gap between the older and younger generations. Verses 1-5 characterize the older generation as repentant when verbally reprimanded, but we see otherwise with this new generation which does not know the Lord (v. 10). That the uprising generation does not know the Lord implies the older generation did not take the admonition to teach their children the Law seriously enough. This matter was addressed emphatically at the close of both Moses' and Joshua's ministry (as was discussed in the previous two volumes of LDSS), yet it obviously wasn't heeded. Thus we see the importance of parents teaching their children. v11-23 serves as a summary of the rest of the book of Judges. It is a tightly knit piece of commentary arranged chiastically, as follows: A - (v. 11-13) They forsook the Lord God of their fathers B - (v. 14-15) The anger of the Lord was hot against Israel C - (v. 16) Nevertheless, the Lord raised up judges which delivered them D - (v. 17a-c) They went whoring after other gods D - (v. 17d-f) Did not keep commandments as fathers did C - (v. 18-19) And when the Lord raised them up judges which delivered them B - (v. 20) And the anger of the Lord burned hot against them A - (v. 21-23) Wether they keep the way of the Lord as their fathers did This chiasm summarizes the classical apostasy cycle, which is seen repeatedly throughout the book of Judges and throughout all of Israel's history from its very inception. The same kind of cycle is manifest anciently through the Book of Mormon peoples as well as presently in the contemporary LDS Church. v15 "as the Lord had sworn unto them", cp. Josh. 23:14-16. v17 in the KJV is obscure. Here is the JPS: But they did not heed their chieftains either; they went astray after other gods and bowed down to them. They were quick to turn aside from the way their fathers had followed in obedience to the commandments of the Lord; they did not do right. "they went a whoring after other gods", the NAS renders this "they played the harlot", the JPS is a paraphrase which does not well reflect the force of the Hebrew, but rather the intent of the writer to indicate Israel had abandoned the Lord. The entry from Strong's follows: 02181 zanah {zaw-naw'} a primitive root [highly-fed and therefore wanton]; TWOT - 563; v AV - ...harlot 36, go a whoring 19, ...whoredom 15, whore 11, commit fornication 3, whorish 3, harlot + 0802 2, commit 1, continually 1, great 1, whore's + 0802 1; 93 1) to commit fornication, be a harlot, play the harlot 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to be a harlot, act as a harlot, commit fornication 1a2) to commit adultery 1a3) to be a cult prostitute 1a4) to be unfaithful (to God) (fig.) 1b) (Pual) to play the harlot 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to cause to commit adultery 1c2) to force into prostitution 1c3) to commit fornication The usage in this case is that of definition 1a4, a figurative usage, hence the JPS's willingness to paraphrase. But note the term is much more often used in a literal setting than not. The background of the figurative imagery is that of the Lord as the husband of Israel, and when Israel abandoned the Lord for other false gods she was being an adulterous wife (cp. Isa. 57, Ezek. 23, Hosea 1-3). While this is obviously figurative, the figure has its roots in the literal. The various means of idolatrous worship of the Canaanites are presented as involving every manner of sexual immorality possible (cp. Lev. 18). So while the imagery is figurative, there is the accusation of literal sexual immorality. The implication is that Israel had abandoned the Lord so they might commit sexual immorality like and with the local Gentiles, something prohibited them by the Lord. Thus, the Hebrew term employed here is one carrying a great deal of weight in its accusation. It also finds a great deal of weight in its present day application. We consider ourselves too sophisticated to bow down to literal idols or worship the stars. However, as a society and as individuals, how often do we abandon the teachings of the Lord in order to follow the world's view on sexual behavior? If we do follow the world's views and practices, then according to the formula above we are idolaters because we have chosen something other than the Lord's way. v23 "neither delivered he them into the hands of Joshua", i.e., historically they were not given into the hands of Joshua, and as the lines preceding this one indicate, they were not presently delivered into the hands of Israel either. Thus, these foreign nations were left in place to vex Israel as a means of getting them to repent. Which vexation forms the substance of the rest of the book of Judges as we travel repeatedly through the apostasy cycle. Copyright © 2002 by S. Kurt Neumiller . All rights reserved. No part of this text may be reproduced in any form or by any means for commercial gain without the express written consent of the author. 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