Jephthah Series

September 24, 2022

As noted last time, Gideon had 70 sons by various women. After Gideon died, his son Abimelech, whose mother was a concubine from Shechem, convinced the town to hire some assassins to help him “do away with” his brothers – only Jotham escaped.

All the citizens of Shechem and Beth-Millo made Abimelech king. He ruled Israel for 3 years.

After 3 years, Yahweh created division between Abimelech and the people of Shechem. A bloody war ensued, ending with the death of Abimelech – A woman dropped a millstone on his head from the top of a tower, cracking his skull. He did not want to be remembered for being killed by a woman – perhaps he was thinking of the story of Sisera and Jael – so he asked his armor-bearer to run him through.

– he did

– he died.

When the Israelites saw that Abimelech was dead, they went home.

After the time of Abimelech - Tola from the tribe of Issachar - rose to save Israel. He led Israel 23 years.

Tola was followed by Jair of Gilead. He led Israel 22 years.

• AGAIN the Israelites did evil in the eyes of Yahweh

o They served the Baals & Ashtoreths

o The gods of Aram

o The gods of Sidon

o The gods of Moab

o The gods of Ammon

o The gods of the Philistines

o They forsook God and did not serve Him

• Yahweh sold them into the hands of the Philistines and the sons of Ammon for 18 years.

• The sons of Israel cried to Yahweh: "We have sinned against you, forsaking our God and serving the Baals."

o Judges 10:11-16 - Yahweh replied, "When the Egyptians, the Amorites, the Ammonites, the Philistines, 12 the Sidonians, the Amalekites and the Maonites oppressed you and you cried to me for help, did I not save you from their hands? 13 But you have forsaken me and served other gods, so I will no longer save you. 14 Go and cry out to the gods you have chosen. Let them save you when you are in trouble!" 15 But the Israelites said to Yahweh, "We have sinned. Do with us whatever you think best, but please rescue us now." 16 Then they got rid of the foreign gods among them and served Yahweh. And he could bear Israel's misery no longer.

• Yahweh raised up a Jephthah to deliver them

The Story of Jephthah – Judges 11:1-12:32

Jephthah was a mighty warrior from Gilead.

His dad was a prominent member of society.

His mother was a prostitute.

After his father died, Jephthah’s brothers cut him out of the will and kicked him out of town.

Jephthah went to live in the land of Tob, where he became the leader of a band of outlaws.

Sometime later, the Ammonites made war in Israel. The elders of Gilead went to Jephthah….

Elders: Come and be our commander. We want to make war against the Ammonites.

Jephthah: You shunned me and drove me out from my father’s house. Yet, now that you’re in trouble you want my help?

Elders: All you have said is true, but let’s not dwell on the past ---- the point is we’ve come to you now. Help us fight the Ammonites and become our leader.

Jephthah: Let me get this straight…. If I fight the Ammonites, and Yahweh gives me the victory, you’ll make me your leader?

Elders: Correct.

After Jephthah was made Commander, his first course of action was to try diplomacy – he was the ONLY judge to do so. He sent a message to the king of the Ammonites: “What issue do you have with me that would cause you to make war against my land?”

The Ammonite king replied: “Israel took my land when they came up from Egypt. I want it back. Restore it peacefully & nobody gets hurt.”

After a significant history lesson, Jephthah concluded the diplomacy phase of this story with these words: “I have not sinned against you. You are the one who is doing wrong by making war against me. Let Yahweh judge between the Israelites and the Ammonites.”

The Ammonite king paid no attention to Jephthah’s message.

This can only mean one thing ---- WAR!

Before engaging the Ammonites, Jephthah made a vow to God:

• Judges 11:30-35 - …. “If indeed you will give the Ammonites into my hand, whatever comes out from the doors of my house to meet me when I return safely from the Ammonites will be Yahweh’s, and I will offer it as a burnt offering.”

Jephthah was victorious and the Ammonites were subdued before Israel.

We now come to the “Elephant in the Room.” That part of Jephthah’s story that makes us exceedingly uncomfortable. It is something that, if truth be told, we would rather just skip over and pretend never happened. Yet, it did happen and we cannot ignore it. We must deal with it.