Judges 9 Virtually every account in the book of Judges paints this formative period in Israel’s history as a very dark, brutal time when everyone did what was right in their own eyes (Judges 17:6; 21:25). The story of Abimelech’s rise to power is no exception. Judges 6-8 recounts the heroic deeds of Gideon, a […]
Category Archives: Old Testament
Jeremiah Prophesies of a Restored Jerusalem
Jeremiah 31:38-40 Jeremiah 30-31, often referred to as the Book of Consolation, is ultimately a message of hope after a time of judgment and exile. Though Israel and Judah have suffered devastation for abandoning the Lord, one day the Lord himself would restore them. It is not clear whether these chapters were written after the […]
Judah and Tamar
Genesis 38 The story of Judah and Tamar is likely set in the foothills (often called the Shephelah) of Judah around the general area of Adullam. The story opens by noting that Judah went “down” from his brothers, though it does not mention where his brothers were living. The last mention of their location, however, […]
Shishak Attacks Israel and Judah
1 Kings 14:21-31; 2 Chronicles 11-12 At the start of his long and prosperous reign, King Solomon formed an alliance with Egypt and sealed their treaty by marrying Pharaoh’s daughter (1 Kings 3:1). While this ensured no overt military conflict between Israel and Egypt, behind the scenes Egypt was no doubt working to subtly undermine […]
David Flees as Absalom Approaches Jerusalem
2 Samuel 15-16 Several years after killing his half brother Amnon and his brothers, Absalom was reconciled to his father David (2 Samuel 13-14). Then Absalom spent the next four years grooming the people of Israel to favor him over his father, all in preparation to eventually rebel against his father’s rule. When it appeared […]