Judges 10:6 – 12:7. 

 

 

vv.6-9 Israel Pursues Idolatry, Oppressed by Ammon. The reigns of Tola and Jair were peaceful, but that did not prevent Israel’s slide into idolatry. This was the greatest departure yet: a seven-fold pursuit of the idols of the nations around. Such a diverse pantheon of false gods was never listed before in Scripture as pursued by Israel! It was total departure. As we might expect, such idolatry is incompatible with the worship of the true God, and therefore “they forsook Jehovah, and served him not”. This forsaking God was actually the root, although by outward appearance it may have disappeared later. The result, as before, was brutal oppression from the Philistines and especially the Ammonites. The oppression lasted eighteen years before Israel cried to the Lord. The focus of it was Gilead, the land to the east of Jordan where Reuben, Gad and especially the prosperous half-tribe of Manasseh dwelt. Notice that scripture calls this land, as it was, “the land of the Amorites”. It was not the portion initially set before Israel, but chosen by the two and a half tribes for its rich cattle-lands. Eventually, the oppressors invaded the western part of Israel, attacking Judah and Ephraim, and “Israel was greatly distressed”. 

 

Ammon. The children of Ammon in the Old Testament represent sin as the believer’s enemy: near, subtle, and cruel. Descended from Lot through Ben-Ammi (Genesis 19:36-38), the Ammonites were relatives of Israel and Moab, just as sin arises from within rather than from a distant source. Ammon early proved themselves hostile to the people of God. Their history is marked by oppression and harshness, as seen in the days of the judges when they afflicted Israel (Judges 10-11). Their brutality is seen again in Nahash, who would have gouged out the right eyes of the men of Jabesh-Gilead (1 Samuel 11), a vivid picture of sin’s aim to rob us of spiritual discernment. They also brought cruel humiliation in the time of David (2 Samuel 10-12), picturing how sin not only enslaves but dishonors. The prophets foretell that Ammon will come under judgment for its pride and cruelty; “Because thou hast clapped thine hands, and stamped with the feet, and rejoiced in heart with all thy despite against the land of Israel; Behold, therefore I will stretch out mine hand upon thee…” (Ezekiel 25:1-7; see also Jeremiah 49:1-6; Zephaniah 2:8-11).

 

vv.10-14 Israel’s Cry, and Jehovah’s Response. At last, under the pressure of trial, the work of grace reached the consciences of the people, and they cried to Jehovah. They judged themselves, and confessed their sin: “we have forsaken our God, and also served the Baals.” Notice the order: the root was their turning away from God, although they may have continued with forms for a time. Jehovah did not respond to assure them of deliverance. Instead, He reminded them of past deliverances, but that, after all that, they had forsaken Him (repeating their words) and served other gods (not limited to the Baals). He closes with these solemn words, “I will save you no more. Go and cry to the gods that ye have chosen: let them save you in the time of your trouble.” Israel could not expect another chance. They must be made to feel the awfulness of their position, the impotence of the gods they had chosen.

 

 

vv.14-18 Israel’s Repentance. Jehovah’s rebuke served to deepen the work of grace in the hearts of Israel. They say, “We have sinned. Do thou unto us according to all that is good in thy sight; only deliver us, we pray thee, this day.” They cast themselves upon the mercy of God, and went into action, “they put away the strange gods from among them, and served Jehovah”. These were “fruits, meet for repentance” (Matt. 3:8). We then have a further revelation of the heart of God. Though His words were harsh and stern, His “soul was grieved for the misery of Israel”. He could not turn a deaf ear to their cry. His pity was only declared after repentance was deep. It is always wise to cast ourselves upon the character of God, because His character is unchanging. If we take the ground of human responsibility, it will always end it ruin. But we can always cast ourselves upon God, to do as seems good to Him, and take our proper place of humiliation and repentance. The enemy gathered his forces together, and Israel was faced with an existential crisis. They felt their need of a deliverer, and began to ask, “Who is the man that will begin to fight against the children of Ammon? he shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.” We see too areas of lack: first, they were not acting as one nation, but as Gilead separately; and second, they had not learned the lesson of letting Jehovah choose for them, as He had with Gideon. In spite of this lack, God would graciously act to deliver them.

 

 

vv.4-11 Jephthah Made Captain by the Elders of Gilead. When Ammon made war with Israel, they felt keenly the need for a deliverer, and went to fetch Jephthah from the land of Tob. Those who had driven Jephthah away were forces to beg for his help. They said, “Come, and be our captain”. However, Jephthah goes to great length to establish that he would indeed be made head. There seems to be a mixture in Jephthah of insisting of righteous reward as well as some self-aggrandizement. Yet, Jephthah does not accept the title before the victory. In this way there is a dim picture (I do not say a type) of Christ in Jephthah, as One who is rejected by His brethren and the world, yet the deliverer of Israel without their recognition of Him as head. He called on Jehovah as his witness in Mizpah.