Let the Prophets Speak

We read of the downfall of Eli's family due to corruption and abuse. The abuse of power leads to the necessity of another source of power, the political power of the King. The religious leadership of Eli's family has utterly failed.

We read of the despicable abuse of the young priests of the pilgrims to Shiloh, and the growth of the young man Samuel as he learned the ways of God.

We read the beautiful song of Hannah which she sang upon bringing her young som Samuel to the Tabernacle.

We read the story of Hannah, the childless wife of Elkanah. She is tormented by her co-wife Peninah, and she presents herself at the tabernacle to pray. God hears her prayer, and she devotes her son Samuel to a life of holiness.

The Book of Judges concludes with another example of the skewed sense of justice and unity among the people of Israel. Somehow, the tragedy of the loss of the tribe of Benjamin sets in, but the people "solve" the problem by slaughtering another town and having the Bejaminites steal women as wives.

The civil war rages on, and the people of Israel deploy an old strategy of feigned retreat. This exposes the Benjaminites to an attack from the rear, and eventually utter defeat.

The people of Israel gather to attack Benjamin to avenge the death of the concubine at the hands of the people of Givon.

We read the horrific episode of the Concubine of Givah, and get a sense of the terrible moral decline of the people of Israel.

We read of the sorry tale of a young thief named Micah. After confessing his thievery from his own mother, he decides to build an idol and set up a house of worship.

We read the very unfortunate tale of the Danites and how the idol of Micah led to the destruction of a peaceful town.

No matter how much Samson tries to avoid his destiny, destiny catches upo to him. Samson ends his life by destroying his oppressors and the oppressors of Israel.

Samson strays with a prostitute, and then finally meets the woman who will be his ultimate downfall. He betrays his mission to save the people of Israel and is taken captive by the Phillistines.

We read of Samson's next attempt to escape his destiny and go back to his Phillistine wife. When that is unsuccessful, the angry young man takes out his anger on the Phillistines and he becomes a fugitive. When his people hand him over to the Phillistines to escape punishment, he uses a strange weapon to rescue himself. Despite his best efforts to avoid his destiny, God makes sure he fulfills it.

In the first of Samson's expolits, we read of his falling in love with a Phillistine woman. On his way to his engagement he encounters a lion which he kills with his bare hands. Eventually he tests his new wife's loyalty with a riddle with which he challenges his new Phillistine "friends". He quickly finds out that his Phillistine wife is more loyal to her people than to her new husband.

We read of the unusual circumstances surrounding the birth of Samson, the final Judge we will read about in the Book of Judges.

Yiftach's reign descends into civil war and chaos. We read of three more obscure judges, and the quality of leadership of Israel continues it's decline.

In one of the most painful and tragic chapters in the entire Tanach, we read of Yiftach's vow, his victory in battle, and his fulfillment of this terrible deed.

We are introduced to Israel's next judge, an outcast and child of a prostitute. When Israel needs a fighter to lead them. they turn to the leader of a band of thieves, Yiftach. We read of Yiftach's failed attempt at a diplomatic solution to the crisis.

After Avimelech is gone, the people are led by two judges about whom there isn't much to be said. Without guidance they find themselves falling back into their old patterns of idol worship, and under the oppression of a new set of tormentors.

The reign of Avimelech turns into chaos as he takes revenge against his own people. His life is finally ended by a heroic woman with a millstone. Violence begets violence is the lesson we must learn.

Avimelech becomes appointed as King after a violent and murderous rampage. The sole remaining survivor of Gideon's family, his youngest son Yotam teaches a lesson that the people would do well to heed. To seek leadership from a "King" who gives nothing but violence, is like trying to seek shade underneath a thornbush. All you will get is pain.

We conclude the saga of Gideon with his sad failure and his golden Ephod.

Gideon defeats the remnant of the Kedemite army, punishes the townspeople who didn't help his soldiers, and executes the remaining Kings of the Kedemites.

We read of three challenges to Gideon's leadership in the wake of his victory over the Midianites, and his responses to the challenges.

Gideon defeats the Midianites with 300 men, some horns, torches and jars.