March 31, 2010 1Samuel 25:32-30:10

David blessed Abigail and thanked her and accepted all that she had brought for him and his men. She went back home to find her husband having a big party and very drunk. She didn't tell him anything until morning when she told him everything. The news freaked him out so badly that he became catatonic. Ten days later he died. David heard that Nabal had died and thanked God for saving him from doing the wrong thing by killing them all as he had planned. Then David asked Abigail to marry him, my guess is that she was ready to have an honorable husband. She got right on her donkey and went to David and became his wife. David also married another woman named Ahinoam she was from Jezreel. Saul had given David's wife Michal to another man.

Saul was trying to track down David again. David went to where Saul was and waited till dark when they were all asleep. He snuck into the camp with another guy and found where Saul was sleeping. The other guy (Abishai) told him to kill Saul, but David would not because Saul was God's anointed. So instead they took the spear which was stuck in the ground at Saul's head and his water jug and left. No one heard anything because God had caused them all to sleep deeply. David crossed the valley to a hill on the other side and yelled that the men guarding the king did not deserve to live because they did not do their job, that someone had come into the camp and could have killed him. Saul recognized David's voice and yelled back to ask if it was David. David said he was right and asked him why he was pursuing him again. Had the Lord told him to do this? Then Saul apologized and told David that he wouldn't try to hurt him again, and he'd made a mistake and acted like a fool. Then they went home.

David did not trust Saul. He figured the safest place for him to stay was with the Philistines! Saul wouldn't find him there. David and his 600 soldiers and all their families went to Achish the king of Gath. When Saul heard where David was he stopped searching for him. David asked Achish for some land and he gave him a place called Ziklag where they settled with their families. They lived there for 16 months. While they were there David and his men raided different places leaving nothing alive. Achish trusted David and thought he would be there forever since he was attacking the Israelites, that they would hate him.

The Philistines gathered to fight against Israel. Achish told David to go too and be his bodyguard. Saul gathered his army nearby and was terrified. He tried prayer but the Lord didn't answer, so Saul asked his servants to find him a medium so he could find out what was going to happen. Now Saul had killed all the mediums and sorcerers, so they had to go to a place where they were still alive. They found a woman who didn't want to admit she was able to consult spirits. But Saul promised he would not hurt her and asked her to bring up Samuel. She told him she saw a spirit coming up out of the ground. Saul asked what he looked like. She said it was an old man in a robe, Saul knew it was Samuel. Samuel asked why Saul had disturbed him. Saul whined about his distress and Samuel reminded him that what was happening was exactly what he had said would happen and that tomorrow he and his sons would die and be with Samuel. Saul passed out. He hadn't eaten all day and the woman made him and his men eat. Then they left.

When the Philistine commanders found out that David and his fighters were in their ranks they wouldn't trust him and told Achish to make him leave. So David and his 600 men went back home.

The Amalekites raided and burned Ziklag while David and his men were away. Their wives and children had been carried off with the Amalekites. They cried until they couldn't cry anymore and then they got mad and wanted to stone David. They were bitter in spirit, but David found strength in God. David had Abiathar the priest bring the ephod so he could inquire of the Lord whether he should pursue the raiding party. The Lord replied that they should go and that they would be successful. So they left to rescue their families.

Tomorrow finish 1Samuel & read 2Samuel ch1-2

March 30, 2010 1Samuel 23-25:31

David found out that a town called Keilah was being looted by the Philistines and asked God whether He wanted him to attack. God told him to save the town. The men were afraid, so David asked the Lord again and was assured of victory. Abiathar the son of the slain priest came along and brought the ephod with him.

Saul pursued David and his fighters (about 600) and sought to kill them all. He thought David would be trapped in Keilah. When David found out that Saul wanted to kill him he asked Abiathar to bring the ephod and he prayed to know what would happen and find out what he should do. God answered that he would be given over to Saul by the people he had just saved. So they left the town and stayed on the move. Jonathan came to where David was and they made a covenant that Saul would not lay a hand on him and that David would be king over Israel. Then Jonathan went home. Saul heard from the locals that David was hiding nearby and he told them to let him know when they knew exactly where he was. As Saul was pursuing David a messenger came to him to tell him that the Philistines were up to no good in his land. So Saul turned around to protect his kingdom.

After Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines he found out where David was. David and his men were hiding in a cave and Saul went in to that very same cave to relieve himself. David sneaked up behind Saul while he was doing his business, and cut off the corner of Saul's robe and crept away. Saul finished and went on his way. David felt guilty for treating his master so disrespectfully. He forbade his men from attacking Saul. Shortly after, David followed Saul out of the cave and called to him. Saul turned around to see David bow down low as he asked Saul why he believed the bad things people said about him. David told him that the Lord had delivered him into his hands, and that he could have killed him, as he showed him the corner of his robe that David had been close enough to cut off. Then Saul realized how wrong he'd been. "From evildoers come evil deeds." David swore that he would not kill Saul's descendants. Saul went home, David stayed in the desert.

Samuel died and all Israel assembled and mourned and buried him.

There was a very rich man in the Paran desert named Nabal (this name means Fool) and his wife Abigail. Nabal lived up to his name, the bible describes him as surly and mean in his dealings with other men. His wife is described as intelligent and beautiful. David heard about Nabal shearing his sheep and ordered a contingent of 10men to go to Nabal and greet him and introduce David and his fighters and let Nabal know that his shepherds were well treated and protected by David and his men. In exchange would he be able to spare any supplies for them? So when the rest of them arrived they sent word to Nabal, but he ignored them as if they weren't anyone important. When the messengers returned with the news that they had been shunned David was close to opening a can of whoop-ass on them. Meanwhile, one of the servants went and told Abigail everything. Immediately, Abigail gathered bread, cakes, wine, roasted grain, well, a feast fit for a king, and loaded it onto donkeys and took it to where David was. When Abigail saw David she got off the donkey and bowed down to David and told him to pay no heed to that idiot Nabal. She told him that she would be pleased if he would accept her gift by way of apology and asked for his forgiveness. Then she asked him to remember her when he became king.

Tomorrow read 1Samuel 25:32-30:10

March 29, 2010 1Samuel 20-22

David left Samuel to go find Jonathan. He wanted to know if Jonathan knew why Saul wanted him dead. They were good friends and they made a promise to each other to protect one another. Jonathan vowed to find out what was going on and help David escape if his life was in danger. They worked out a signal that would allow them to communicate without being seen. David didn't want Jonathan in harm's way either. So Jonathan found out that his father was unreasonably angry at David and did want him dead. He went back to the place where David was hiding and gave him the signal. David came out of his hiding place and bowed down low 3 times to Jonathan and then they cried and said goodbye.

David went to Ahimalech the priest at Nob and asked for food. The priest gave him some of the consecrated bread because that was all he had. One of Saul's servants was there having been detained by the Lord, he was Doeg the Edomite, Saul's head shepherd. David asked the priest if he had a spear. Ahimalech answered that the only one was Goliath's and he gave it to David. David then went to Gath. He acted like he was crazy, drooling and scratching the gate in front of the king so could get out of there asap.

David escaped Gath and went to a cave where everyone who was in distress or in debt or discontented gathered. From there he went to the king of Moab to ask them if he could give David's parents safe haven, so his parents stayed there. Then the prophet Gad told him to go to the land of Judah. Meanwhile Saul was on the hunt for David. While he was sitting under a tree complaining Doeg the Edomite told him that he saw David with Ahimalech and that he got provisions there. Saul sent for the priest and his whole family and asked why he had helped the man who rebelled against him? Ahimalech answered Saul by asking who was more loyal to him than David? He told him that it wasn't the first time he inquired of God on his behalf either. Then Saul ordered his guards and officials to kill the priest and his whole family. But none of them would raise a hand to them. Then Saul ordered Doeg the Edomite to kill them all. When he was done with the priest and his whole family, he went to the town of Nob and killed all the people and animals there too. The son of the priest named Abiathar escaped and ran to join David and told him everything. David said it was his fault because he knew that Doeg was there and heard everything and told Saul. David told Abiathar that he would be safe with him.

Tomorrow read 1Samuel 23-25:31

March 28, 2010 1Samuel 17:26-19:24

David asks the soldiers next to him what will be given to the one who kills the Philistine, and he told him. David's older brother overheard his question and scolded him for being there, and told him that he thought he was wicked and conceited. David asked his brother what he done now that he couldn't speak. Someone overheard David and told Saul. Saul sent for David. David told Saul that he would go up against the Philistine, but Saul told him that he was just a boy. David told him about the lion and the bear that he killed while protecting his father's sheep. He told him that the Lord would protect him from the Philistine as he had protected him from the lion and bear. So Saul gave him permission and armor to protect him. David tried everything on and decided that he couldn't use it because he wasn't used to it. He collected 5 smooth stones from the stream and put them in his pouch. He took his sling and spear and went to meet Goliath. As David approached, Goliath and his shield bearer thought he was not a worthy opponent. David wasn't worried and told Goliath that the Lord would hand him over, and everyone would know that the Lord had done it. As they ran toward each other to fight, David reached into his pouch, got a stone and slung it at Goliath. The stone sank into the Philistines skull and he fell on his face. David ran over to the Philistine's body, grabbed his sword and stabbed him through killing him, then he
chopped off his head. When the Philistines saw this they all ran. The Israelites chased them and killed them. Afterward, Saul wanted to know who David's father was and he told him he was Jesse's son.

Jonathan and David hit it off and became good friends. As they were returning from the battle, people had heard what David had done and credited him with more than Saul. Saul became very jealous of David. The next day as David was playing his harp and Saul was prophesying, an evil spirit came over Saul and he tried to pin David to the wall with his spear. David eluded him twice. Saul was afraid of David because the Spirit of the Lord was with him and he sent him away to be commander of 1000 men. David was successful in everything he did and all the people loved him which made Saul even more jealous. Saul offered the hand of his oldest daughter in marriage to David while hoping that he would be killed in battle. But David replied that he wasn't worthy. Then Saul found out that his other daughter was in love with David, so he offered her to him. But David still didn't feel worthy, so Saul told him that he could pay her bride price with more than 100 Philistine foreskins (yup...eeeewwwww.) David was pleased to become the king's son-in-law and collected 200 foreskins from the Philistines he killed. So David married Michal.

Saul told Jonathan to kill David, but he warned David about it instead. Jonathan convinced Saul that he didn't want to kill David and he promised he wouldn't. So Jonathan told David everything and they went to see Saul. The Philistines attacked and David fought them successfully again. Once again while David was playing the harp in Saul's house an evil spirit came over him and he tried to pin David to the wall with a spear. That night David escaped with the help of his wife. David went to Samuel and told him everything. Samuel was with a group of men prophesying and as Saul's men came to capture David, they began prophesying too. This happened 3 times and finally Saul himself went to where they were staying. Then Saul started prophesying too.

Tomorrow read 1Samuel 20-22

March 27, 2010 1Samuel 14:43-17:25

Saul was trying to find out what sin had been committed. Finally it was Jonathan's turn to confess. He admitted that he had tasted a little honey with the end of his staff, but that he didn't think it was worth dying over. Saul believed the Lord would deal with him severely if Jonathan didn't die. But the men wouldn't let Saul harm a hair on his head, since Jonathan was the one who had saved the day with the Philistines. So Jonathan was not put to death.

They went back to their own land. During his rule, Saul fought Israel's enemies on all sides. He fought valiantly and conquered many foes. Saul's family including his wife and mother-in-law are mentioned.

Samuel went to Saul and told him what the Lord wanted him to do next. God wanted the Amalekites and all their animals completely destroyed. So Saul gathered an army and did as he was commanded, except that he left the king and some of the animals alive. Then the Lord told Samuel he was grieved because Saul had not obeyed him. Samuel was troubled and prayed all night. In the morning Samuel went to find Saul, but he had gone to Carmel to set up a monument to himself. When Samuel found Saul, he was none the wiser, because he thought he'd done a great job. Samuel asked why he could hear sheep and cattle. Saul said the soldiers had brought them. Samuel told him that he needed to tell him what the Lord told him the night before. Of course, Saul wanted to hear since he still thought what he'd done was so great. Samuel told him that he'd had very specific instructions and he'd blown it. Saul argued that he'd done everything the Lord asked, that he'd even had the bright idea to bring the best of the livestock for offerings! But Samuel told him that the Lord doesn't want offerings, he wants obedience. Doing what he asks is better than sacrifice. Samuel also said that rebellion is like witchcraft, and arrogance is like worshiping idols. Then he told Saul he couldn't be king anymore. Saul admitted he had been afraid to tell the men not to bring the animals. Saul begged Samuel to come back with him to worship God. Then Samuel had Agag the king executed. Saul went home and never saw Samuel again. Samuel was sorry about Saul. The Lord was sorry he made Saul king over Israel.

The Lord told Samuel to go to Jesse with oil because he had chosen one of his sons to be king. Samuel sacrificed a heiffer with Jesse and met all of the sons of Jesse. God told him David was the one, so Samuel anointed him with oil. The spirit of the Lord came to David powerfully and stayed with him. Samuel went back home.

The Spirit of the Lord left Saul and an evil spirit from the Lord tormented him. I thought this seemed very strange, since all 5 versions I refer to said the same thing. But my son reminds me that God controls everything! Anyway, to soothe the savage breast, music was needed and who played the lovely soothing harp? David. Saul liked David and made him one of his armor bearers.

The Philistines were camped nearby to fight the Israelites. Everyday for 40 days a nine foot tall guy named Goliath stepped out and challenged the Israelites to send out someone to fight him. That whoever won would control the other. David split his time between the army and tending his sheep. His father sent him back to the army with some food. When he got there the armies were lining up against each other and he heard Goliath for the first time. He overheard the men saying that the king would reward the man who could defeat Goliath with his daughter in marriage and never having to pay taxes.

Tomorrow read 1Samuel 17:26-ch19

March 26, 2010 1Samuel 12:19-14:42

After the storm when Samuel finished speaking, the people asked him to pray for them because of their sins. Samuel told them not to worry if they did not turn away from the Lord, but served him with all their hearts. He reminded them not to turn to false idols because they could not help them. Then he said he would pray for them so he didn't sin. Samuel told them that God wanted them to be His and that He wouldn't reject them if they feared and served Him. If not, they would be swept away.

Saul was king over Israel for 42 years. The Philistines were at it again, attacking the Israelites. Saul had 3000 soldiers. 2000 were with him and 1000 were with his son Jonathan. Jonathan attacked an outpost and riled up the Philistines. The Philistines had an army much larger than the Israelites. The few Israelites that were there hid in caves and behind bushes and rocks. The soldiers were "quaking with fear" and after the seven day waiting period (1Samuel 10:8) which Samuel had specified had passed Saul went ahead and did the sacrifices without Samuel. He arrived right when Saul was finished making the offerings. He scolded Saul for not following the commandments of the Lord that he had been given earlier.

The Philistines had prevented the Israelites from having blacksmiths. Consequently, they had to go the the Philistine towns to get their farm equipment sharpened. Also, they had no swords or spears. The only swords in the camp belonged to Saul and Jonathan. (This explains their extreme fear!)

Jonathan and his armor bearer went to check out the Philistines without telling his dad what they were up to. Jonathan believed he had the Lord with him and his armor bearer believed in him. They came out so the Philistines could see them and the Philistines told them to come over to them so they could teach them a lesson. This was the sign that the Lord was indeed with them. So they climbed up to where the Philistines were and killed about 20 of them. This, and an earthquake, sent the Philistines into a panic so that they were killing each other.

Saul noticed the number of fighters melting away and told some of his men to find out who had left. When they returned they told him that Jonathan and his armor bearer were missing. Saul asked Ahijah the priest to bring the ark of God, but while he was speaking to the priest, the confusion of the Philistines increased even more so that they were defeated by God.

I'm not sure what Saul was thinking, but he cursed his soldiers by refusing them permission to eat until sundown when he had avenged himself on his enemies. Jonathan did not hear this curse. The army marched through a forest where there was honey. Even though they were all weak from lack of nutrition, no one tasted the honey except for Jonathan because he didn't know about the curse. When he tasted the honey he felt better. Another soldier told him about the curse. Jonathan said that his father had forced hardship on Israel because they could have freely eaten of the plunder from the battle and been strengthened. That night the soldiers were so hungry that they began to kill and eat animals with the blood still in them. So Saul set up a rock and told them to bring their animals to be slaughtered properly so they didn't eat the blood. Saul wanted them to go down to the Philistines that night, but the priest said they should ask God. God didn't answer them. Saul figured that someone had sinned since God wasn't answering them. So he got everyone together to find out what had been done.

Tomorrow read 1Samuel 14:43-17:25

March 25, 2010 1Samuel 9:11-12:18

On his way to find Samuel, Saul and his servant met some girls and asked them for information about Samuel. They went on up to the town and when they got there who was coming towards them? Samuel. What Saul didn't know was that God had told Samuel all about him and what he wanted him to do. Saul didn't know what Samuel looked like so he went up to him and asked him where he could find Samuel. Samuel told him that he was the seer and to go ahead of him and wait for him, and also that the donkeys were safe too. Saul was surprised as he realized that he was recieving special treatment from Samuel. Samuel took Saul into his home and fed him a special piece of meat he had his cook set aside. They had a long talk on the roof and the next morning Samuel gave Saul a message from God. Samuel anointed Saul with oil, to be leader. Saul, a Benjamite was to meet two men near Rachel's tomb (the mother of Benjamin, his ancestor) and they would tell him where to find the donkeys. He would continue his journey and find three men, one with 3 goats, one with 3 loaves of bread, and one with a wineskin. They would offer him 2 loaves of bread which he would accept. Then he would meet a procession of prophets and prophesy to them becuase the Holy Spirit would come over him so powerfully that he would be changed into a different person. He was to wait 7 days for Samuel to come to tell him what to do. Everything was fulfilled that day because God changed Saul's heart.

Saul's uncle was wondering where they had been. Saul told him the donkeys had been found, but he didn't tell him about the experience with Samuel. Samuel summoned all the Israelites to appoint Saul as king. He told them that the tribe of Benjamin had been chosen. Clan by clan they came forward, finally Saul was chosen. But he was nowhere to be found. They asked the Lord if the man was there and the Lord answered he was hidden with the baggage. So they brought out Saul who stood a head taller than everyone there. Samuel asked them if they could see someone unlike anyone else there and they said "Long live the king!" Samuel explained the rules of the king and wrote them down and left them there with the people. Then the people went home.

The Ammonites attacked the Israelites. The men of the town could not defeat them and they asked for terms of surrender. The terms were that they could pay for their lives by having their right eye gouged out. The elders of the town asked for 7 days to send messengers to all Israel to ask for help. The messengers came to the town where Saul was and the news made people sad. When Saul came in from the fields and saw what was going on he asked what was the matter. So they told him. Saul was filled with God's Spirit and cut up two oxen and sent their parts all over Israel, saying this is what happens to those who don't follow Saul and Samuel. This terrified everyone and they cmae out to fight as if they were one man. Saul and his men saved the people from the Ammonites. They confirmed Saul as their king.

Samuel delivered his farewell address to the people. They had been stubborn and insisted on a king in spite of Samuel's dire warnings about how that was a bad idea, because their king is God. Samuel told the history of the Israelites and how they had been wicked and after saying they were sorry people had come from God to save them. He told them that no matter who was in charge, if they didn't follow God's commandments nothing and no one could save them. Then, to show them the power of God, he told them that because they wanted a king instead of God, He would ruin their wheat, which was ready for harvest. Samuel prayed and He sent thunder and rain and all stood in awe of the Lord and Samuel.

Tomorrow read 1Samuel 12:19-14:42

March 24, 2010 1Samuel 5-9:10

I like the way God used the ark of the covenant to create fear in the Philistines. Everywhere it was taken, the people suffered health problems and life was not good. At one point, they even put it in the temple of their god, Dagon, the fish god, half man and half fish, and when they went back in the morning, the statue of Dagon was knocked over. Finally, they decided to return it and used two cows to do the job. Their soothsayers even told them that if the cows took the ark one way that it was of God. If the cows took it another way, it was not of God. Of course the cows didn't stop until they had gone the way of God.

Samuel ruled or judged Israel for 20 years. He never stopped talking and listening to God. The Philistines still provoked the Israelites, but the Lord kept them at bay. When Samuel was old, he appointed his sons as judges in Israel. (There is no mention of Saul's wife.) Unfortunately, they were not the best of people and the Israelites knew it. The told this to Samuel and asked him to appoint a king just like the other nations had. Samuel took it to God and God told him what He thought and Samuel passed on the information. It wasn't good. Their lives would become base and sinful. The people refused to listen to Samuel, they wanted to be just like the other nations! Again Samuel took it to God and God said to give them what they asked for. Be careful what you ask for...

A Benjamite named Saul was a strapping and impressive young lad. Saul's father lost his donkeys and wanted Saul to find them. He told him to take a servant with him to look for the donkeys. They looked and looked and looked. Finally they came to a town where there was a seer or prophet and decided to ask him where the donkeys could be found. Saul was concerned that they didn't have an offering to give the seer. The servant had some silver which he said they could give the man of God. Saul thought that was good enough so they set out to find the seer.

Tomorrow read 1Samuel 9:11-12:18

March 23, 2010 1Samuel 2-4

Hannah sang her praises to God for giving her such joy. Then she returned home and Samuel stayed behind and ministered to the Lord before Eli.

Eli's sons were wicked men. They treated the Israelites who brought their offerings unfairly and they slept with the women who served at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. God was very angry with them and wanted them dead. They wouldn't listen to Eli and change their ways. Meanwhile Samuel was growing in stature and the Lord favored him. A man spoke a prophecy against Eli saying that his family line was chosen by God for the temple work, but they had sinned and dishonored God and God would disdain them. He said Eli's two sons would die on the same day and God would raise up a faithful priest to do His will.

One night the Lord called Samuel three times. Each time the boy thought that the voice he heard was Eli calling him. He went to where Eli was sleeping and answered him only to be told that Eli hadn't called him. Eli finally realized that the Lord was talking to Samuel and he told him what to say. God told Eli His plans. Eli got up the next morning and opened the doors to the temple and was afraid to tell Eli the bad news about what God was going to do. But Eli asked him and he told him everything. Everyone recognized that the Lord had raised up Samuel as his prophet.

The Philistines attacked Israel. The Israelites kept losing battles and men. They decided to take the ark of the covenant before them in battle so they could win. Phinehas and Hophni went with the ark and were killed along with many others and they captured the ark of the covenant. When Eli heard the news he fell backward in his chair and broke his neck and died. The wife of Phinehas heard the terrible news that her husband and his father were dead and she went into labor. As she lay dying she named the boy Ichabod which means, no glory, because the glory had departed out of Israel since the ark of the covenant had been captured.

Tomorrow read 1Samuel 5-9:10

March 22, 2010 finish Ruth read 1Samuel ch1

Boaz seemed to take a fancy to Ruth. He took care of her needs and safety. When it got dark, Ruth retutned to Naomi and gave her the grain she had gleaned. When Naomi asked the name of their benefactor, she realized they were related. Ruth continued at Boaz's field until the harvest was over. Naomi wanted to secure a comfortable future for Ruth and thought that Boaz would do well for her. She had Ruth wash and perfume herself and go to the threshing floor, and wait unitl Boaz lay down to sleep and uncover his feet and lie at his feet. Naomi told Ruth that Boaz would tell her what to do. So Ruth did just as Naomi told her. When Boaz was startled awake he noticed her and asked who she was. She told him and he blessed her. He knew that he wanted to purchase Naomi's inheritance and marry Ruth, but a closer relative had first dibs. He was unable to take the property and Ruth, so he told Boaz he could make the transaction. With all the elders as witnesses Boaz and Ruth were married. She had a baby boy, named Obed, but everyone called him Naomi's boy. It becomes clear why in Genesis 28 (Jan 9) the history about Judah and Tamar was included, because we learn that their son Perez was the ancestor of an important line: Perez, Hezron, Ram, Amminadab, Nahshon, Salmon, Boaz, Obed, Jesse, David.

The First Book of Samuel begins by describing the story of his birth. His father, Elkanah had two wives, Peninnah and Hannah, Samuel's mother. Hannah was barren and Peninnah made life harder for Hannah by rubbing her face in the fact that she had many children. Sort of like Abraham, Hagar and Sarah... or Jacob, Leah and Rachel. Every year they went to Shiloh to the Lord's temple and brought burnt offerings and prayed. Hannah spent much of her time feeling depressed and in tears. Elkanah gave her double portions of food, becuase she was too sad to eat much and he loved her. When they were visiting the temple Hannah was praying without sound, but moving her mouth and Eli, the priest, thought she was drunk! She told him she was praying and how anguished she was. Eli told her that he was sure the Lord would bless her and answer her prayers. Then she felt better. They went back home and the Lord answered her prayer and she gave birth to Samuel. Hannah dedicated Samuel to the Lord and took him to Shiloh to Eli when he was weaned along with a burnt offering, a grain offering and a drink offering. So Samuel grew up in the Lord's house in Shiloh.

Tomorrow read 1Samuel 2-4

March 21, 2010 finish Judges read Ruth 1-2:13

The Israelites fought against the Benjamites, because they would not hold the men accountable for their sins. The Israelites went to Bethel where the tabernacle was at that time to ask God what He wanted them to do. God told them to fight against the Benjamites and they were subdued. The Israelites were concerned that because so many Benjamites were killed, the tribe would die out. They wanted to provide wives for the remaining Benjamites. They had made an oath that none of their daughters would be given to a Benjamite, so they couldn't give them their daughters. After a while they realized that no one from Jabesh Gilead had come to the battle, and they decided what to do. They sent 12,000 fighting men to Jabesh Gilead to kill every man and woman who was not a virgin. That left 400 female virgins which were not enough for all the remaining Benjamites. So the assembly instructed the remaining wifeless Benjamite men to steal wives from among the dancing girls during the annual festival to the Lord in Shiloh. That is what they did. Everyone returned to their homes and the remaining Benjamites and their new wives returned to the land of their inheritance and rebuilt the towns and settled there.

In those days there was no king and everyone did as they saw fit. Since Joshua it seems that the Israelites lost their way. In Judges 20:28-29, it tells us that Phinehas the son of Eleazar and grandson of Aaron ministered before the ark of the covenant. Even so, I was happy when they remembered to ask God what HE wanted them to do, and even happier to know that He answered them.

I'm glad The Book of Ruth is in the Bible. A man and his family left Bethlehem becuase of a famine, and went to Moab. His name was Elimelech and his wife's name was Naomi. They had two sons named Mahlon and Kilion. After Elimelech died Naomi's two sons married Moabite women. The Moabites did not worship God. The two wives were named Orpah and Ruth. After 10 years the two sons died. Naomi urged her two daughters-in-law to return to their parents homes since she couldn't imagine a happy future for herself let alone theirs. They cried together and mourned. Orpah decided to go back to her parents, but Ruth wanted to stay with Naomi. It seems that Ruth had converted from god to God and wanted to live with God's people. They returned to Bethlehem and the whole town came out to greet them.

During the barley harvest, a relative of Elimelech, named Boaz had grain in his fields being harvested. Ruth asked Naomi if she could go and glean the lefotver grain and Naomi let her. Just then Boaz arrived from Bethlehem, greeted the harvesters and asked his foreman who Ruth was. The foreman told him who she was and how she'd asked for permission to glean the grain, and what a good worker she was. Boaz spoke to Ruth and asked her to stay in his field, that she would be safe and cared for. Ruth bowed down with her face to the ground and expressed her gratitude to Boaz for his kindness to a foreigner. He told her how impressed he was at her generosity with Naomi, after their husbands died, to leave her family and take up this new life with Naomi in Bethlehem. She thanked him for his kindness to her even though she didn't have the standing of one of his servant girls.

Tomorrow finish Ruth & read 1Samuel ch1

March 20, 2010 Judges 17-20:11

After Samson, Israel had no king and the people did as they saw fit. A man named Micah had taken silver from his mother and returned it to her, which she then had made into an idol. Then Micah took a young Levite into his home to be a priest for him.

The Danites still had not been able to conquer the people possessing the lands of their inheritance. (Joshua 19:40-48 Mar 12) The Danites sent 5 warriors to find a place to take. They came to Micah's town and stayed with Micah. They recognized his priest and asked him to ask God whether their journey would be successful. They went to a Laish, a town that seemed to have it all. They returned to report this and gathered an army and went to possess the new town. On the way they persuaded the priest in Micah's house to come with them and be their priest, suggesting that it would be better to be priest over a tribe rather than just one household. Micah was mad, but he couldn't win against them. The Danites attacked the unsuspecting people in Laish, killed them and rebuilt the city which they named Dan. The priest's name was Jonathan, son of Gershom, the son of Moses. They continued to use the idols that Micah had made and continued as priests for the Danites. The house of God (tabernacle) was in Shiloh. I wondered where it was and why it hasn't been mentioned in a while.

I was surprised to learn that some concubines were wives of a lower stature than a full-on wife. I thought they were just women the men fancied and kept - like property (some of them were.) It had something to do with the bride-price or dowry not being exchanged, sort of a low-cost wife. They were not accorded the same preferential treatment that wives enjoyed, but their children, born on the wife's lap were considered legitimate. Anyway, 'twas the Levite and his concubine that stirred up the Israelites. The Levite and his wife (concubine) went to Gibeah in Benjamin and waited in the town square to be invited to stay with someone as was the custom. Finally, in the evening an old man found them there without a place to stay and invited them to his house. Just like in Genesis 19:1-8 (Jan 6), some men of the town came and pounded on the old man's door to let them have sex with the Levite. He said he had a virgin daughter or the man had a concubine they could have, but not to do such a disgraceful thing to the man. So the man gave them his concubine and they raped her and abused her all night. At dawn they let her go. She made it to the door and collapsed. In the morning when the Levite was ready to be on his way he opened the door, found her there and realized she was dead. He put her body on his donkey and went home to Bethlehem. When he got home he cut her body into 12 parts and sent the parts all over Israel. Whoever saw it was horrified that such a terrible sin was committed in Israel.

All Israel, except Benjamin, rose up as if they were one man and assembled before the Lord. All the leaders took their places with 400,000 soldiers armed with swords. They came to Bethlehem to the home of the Levite and wanted an explanation. He related the events as they happened and why he divided his concubine into 12 pieces and sent them all over Israel. Everyone knew they had to take a stand against this sin occuring in Gibeah, and they planned what to do.

Tomorrow finish Judges and read Ruth 1-2:13

March 19, 2010 Judges 14-16

The history of Samson reminds me that God's ways are mysterious! As a Nazirite, Samson was set apart (consecrated) to be used by God for His purposes. God wanted to confront the Philisitnes directly, so He used Samson to do this work.

God instilled the idea in Samson's head that he should marry a young Philistine woman he had seen. When Samson told his parents that she was the one he wanted they tried to talk him out of it, but he would not be swayed. As they travelled to where she lived, a lion charged Samson and he tore it apart with his bare hands because he was filled with the Spirit of the Lord. The bible doesn't really explain how Samson was separated from his parents, but they didn't see this happen and Samson didn't tell them about it. They got to Timnah where Samson talked with the woman and he liked her.

When the period of engagement was over Samson returned to Timnah for the wedding. On the way, he decided to check out the lion carcass. Inside the carcass bees had built a hive and he found honey there. He scooped it out of the body with his hands and began to eat it, and he shared some with his parents too (without telling them where he got it.) Nazirites aren't supposed to touch dead bodies. Samson's father went to make the final arrangements for the wedding and Samson threw a big party as was the custom of bridegrooms.

The Philistines saw Samson and he was given 30 companions. Samson told them a riddle with 30 sets of clothes at stake if they could solve it within 7 days. "Once so strong and mighty--now so sweet and tasty!" These 30 companions were some pretty rough chaps because when they couldn't figure out the answer, they went to the bride and threatened to burn her and her family. They made her an offer she couldn't refuse... Anyway, she wheedled it out of Samson, told them, and cheated Samson out of the prize. He was filled with the Spirit of the Lord and went to Ashkelon, killed 30 men, took their clothes, returned to Timnah and gave the clothes to the 30 thugs, and went back home. The bride's father gave his daughter to one of the 30 thugs.

Samson thought she was his wife. So when he went to visit her and wanted to sleep with her, her father told him she wasn't his wife. He was very angry and went out and caught 300 foxes, tied them together in pairs by their tails, attached torches to them and let them loose in the grain and burned it all up. When the Philistines figured out who did it, they burned the bride and her family anyway. This made Samson even more angry. 3000 men from the tribe of Judah went to subdue Samson, and
tied him up to deliver him to the Philistines since they were the rulers. Again the Spirit of the Lord came upon him and the ropes fell off him and he found a fresh jawbone of a donkey and killed 1000 Philistines with it. Then he cried out to God because he was so thirsty and God opened a spring, Samson drank and was revived. Samson ruled for 20 years.

Samson went to Gaza and decided to spend the night with a prostitute. The men plotted to kill him at dawn by the city gate. During the night Samson got up and ripped the closed city gate right off the ground and carried it on his shoulders to the top of a hill where he set it down. Later, he fell in love with Delilah. The rulers of the Philistines wanted her to find out how they could defeat Samson and they offered to pay her for the information. He told her several ways that didn't work. Finally, he told her everything, that his hair was his strength. She lulled him to sleep and cut off his hair. It must have been pretty long since it had never been cut. The Philistines captured him and gouged out his eyes and put him in jail. The Philistines were celebrating and gathered in a temple of their god. They decided to make Samson entertain them. They brought him out, blind, but strong with his hair growing back. Samson prayed and asked God to help him destroy them. He braced himself between the two pillars of the temple and brought the whole thing down killing everyone inside. His parents came and got his body and buried him back at home.

Tomorrow read Judges 17-20:11

March 18, 2010 Judges 10-13

There is A LOT going on in today's passage, so let's dive right on in!

There were more leaders of Israel after Abimelech. There was Tola who led for 23 years then he died. Then Jair who led for 22 years. He was known for having 30 sons, each with their own donkey to ride. Today that would be like each son having a mustang to drive. Each son controlled a town in Gilead. After Jair died the Israelites did evil things and for 18 years they were oppressed by the Philistines. When they cried to God he was angry and told them to cry to Baal for help, that every time he had saved them they returned the favor by betraying Him. They put away their idols and kept praying and finally God relented. They needed a leader but they didn't know who it should be.

Then they remembered Jephthah. It's a sad tale really. His mother was a prostitute and the rest of the family never let him forget it. They refused him an inheritance. He became a mighty warrior, so they went to him to ask him to fight for them. He reminded them that they had rejected him, but that didn't seem to matter to them because they needed his help! He asked them if they would put him in charge if he won and they said they would. Apparently there was some dispute over real estate which the Ammonite king accused Jephthah's people of stealing. Long story short, Jephthah promised God that if He helped him conquer the Ammonites, he would sacrifice the first thing to come out the door of his house when he returned home. Ammon was conquered, Jephthah went home and the first thing to come out the door of his house upon his return was his only child, a daughter. So he told her the promise he had made to God. She asked him if she could go roam the hills with her friends to mourn never being married. He let her go for two months. When she came back he fulfilled his promise to God. I have to interject here... there is much disagreement among scholars about the assumptions one must make about what actually happened, about the intelligence of Jephthah, and why they mourn her virtue and never marrying, but not her death. I wonder why he didn't pray and ask what God wanted since sacrificing children is an abomination? Whatever really happened, it was sad.

Ephraim was angry, again, because they weren't asked to help, again. So Jephthah fought against Ephraim. The Ephraimites could not pronounce SHibboleth, they said it Sibboleth, the Gileadites killed all of them who couldn't pronounce the word, 42,000 in all. After 6 years, Jephthah died.

Chapter 13 gives the details of the birth of Samson. He was from the tribe of Dan. The angel of the Lord appeared to his mother and told her that Samson was God's from before he was born, a Nazirite. (Nazirite-Numbers 6-Feb 12) She was to drink nothing fermented, or eat anything unclean, nor was she to cut his hair, ever. Manoah, Samson's father wanted to see the angel too, so he prayed and asked God and God answered his prayer. The angel told them to make a burnt offering to the Lord. They did and the angel ascended to heaven in the fire. Then they both knew something special was about to happen. Then Samson was born.

Tomorrow read Judges 14-16

March 17, 2010 Judges 8-9

Happy St.Patrick's Day! Today I'm thinking green and the bible passage refers to trees, these are 300 years old.

The Ephraimites were angry with Gideon because he didn't ask for their help. He paid them complements which appeased them somewhat. Gideon's army was hungry and exhausted and kept going to find and kill the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna. The crossed the Jordan and in Succoth he asked the people for food for his troops, but they wouldn't give it to them. He said they would regret that. They went on to Peniel and made the same request and got the same answer. Gideon told them that they too would be sorry. They caught the two kings and on the way back ran into a guy from Succoth. Gideon had him write down the names of the 70 men in charge who had refused to help Gideon. When they got back to Succoth, Gideon had the 70 men rounded up and whipped with thorny briars. After that he tore down the tower of the town and killed the men. At Peniel he tore down the tower and killed the men. Gideon told his young son to kill the two kings of Midian, but he couldn't so Gideon did. The Israelites asked Gideon to rule over them, but Gideon told them that God would rule over them. Gideon asked the people to give him an earring each from their plunder. He made an ephod (the square chest plate like the priest wore in the tabernace) from the gold and put it in his home town Ophrah and everyone started to worship that (not good.) With Midian subdued forty years of peace were enjoyed.

Gideon had 70 sons - he had many wives. One of them was named Abimalech. Gideon died at a ripe old age and was buried in his fathers tomb. When Gideon died the people forgot God and worshiped Baal, and they weren't grateful to Gideon's family to honor all he had done for them.

Abimalech asked his family to ask the people whether they wanted 70 rulers (all Gideon's sons) or just him? Everyone (even his brothers) said he should be in charge. Abimalech killed his brothers and the people crowned him king. Jotham, one of the brothers escaped, ran up the hill and shouted to the people a parable of trees. Jotham told them that they had betrayed his family and Gideon and if they had acted honorably they would be happy, if not they would burn. Then he ran to Beer for safety.

After 3 years God intervened and made the people of Shechem rise up to destroy Abimalech to avenge the murder of the 70 sons of his servant Gideon. Abimalech fought the people of Shechem in the fields outside the city. When the people inside the tower in the city heard of this, they retreated into the temple stronghold. When Abimalech heard this he had his men light a fire to burn the people. He did the same thing at a city called Thebez, this time the people were in the tower and when Abimalech came forward to light the fire a woman dropped a rock on his head and cracked his skull. He asked his servant to kill him because he didn't want a woman to kill him so the servant killed him. When the Israelites saw that Abimalech was dead they went home. Jotham's curse had come true.

Tomorrow read Judges 10-13

March 16, 2010 Judges 6-7

The history of Gideon is rather exciting! Once again the Israelites did evil things. God was not happy with their lifestyle choices. They were oppressed by the Midianites this time. It's sad reading about the way the Midianites moved in like locusts and stripped the land bare. God sent the Israelites a prophet who told them that they had not done what God had asked of them.

One day a man named Gideon was busy threshing wheat in a winepress to hide it from the Midianites. He was on his father's (Joash) land under an oak tree. An angel of the Lord came to where Gideon was and sat down under the tree and told him that the Lord was with him. Gideon replied that he couldn't understand why God had abandoned them to the Midianites. In the next part, the Lord is present with Gideon and the angel. Depending on the translation of the bible you read, it implies that the Lord is physically there. Some versions say that the Lord turned to him, others say that the Lord looked at him, and spoke to him. The Lord told him to go in strength and save Israel, wasn't He sending him? Gideon didn't understand how he could make a difference. But God told him that He would be with him and give him strength. So Gideon asked God for a sign that He really was God. Gideon asked the Lord to wait for him to bring an offering. God said He would wait. Gideon prepared the offering and brought it back to the oak tree where God waited. The angel told Gideon to put the meat and bread on the rock and pour the broth over it. Then the angel touched the offering with the tip of the staff in his hand and the offering was burned up! Then the angel disappeared. Gideon was afraid he would die because he had seen the angel face to face, but God told him not to fear, he would not die. Gideon built an altar in that place.

Later that night God told Gideon to take the 7 year old bull, and offer it to Him on an altar he was to make out of his father's altar and use the wood from the Asherah pole to burn the offering. So he got 10 of his servants and went right out during that night and did what God had told him. (He was afraid of his father and the men of the town which is why he used the cover of darkness.) In the morning when the men saw what was done they were angry and wanted to kill Gideon when they found out he was responsible. They went to Gideon's father who defended his son and told them that if Baal was really a god then he could defend himself. So they named Gideon Jerub-Baal which meant, let Baal fight for himself.

The Midianites and Amalekites were gathering close by and Gideon blew the trumpet to signal the Israelites to gather. He sent messengers to Manasseh, his own tribe, and also to Asher, Zebulun and Naphtali calling them to battle.

Gideon asked God for another sign. He put a piece of wool on the floor and asked God to make it wet in the morning but the ground under it to be completely dry. God did it. Gideon asked for another sign, this time using the same materials to have the opposite result. Again God did it. To me this proves God loves those of us who aren't too sure of ourselves.

32,000 men showed up to fight. God told Gideon that there were too many because they would believe they had won because of themselves, not God. So Gideon told all the men who were scared to go home and 22,000 left. But 10,000 was still too many so God told Gideon to take them to the water to drink. The men who drank from their hands were to stay while the ones who drank directly from the stream were to leave. 300 men remained and Gideon told the others to leave their trumpets and food with the 300. God told Gideon that if he was afraid he could take his servant and go into the Midian camp and eavesdrop on them. So they did and found out how scared the Midianites were. Later that night Gideon roused his men and told them to do exactly what he did. He gave each of them a trumpet and an empty jar with a torch. They circled the Midian camp and blew the trumpets and broke the jars. In their left hands they held the torches and in the right the trumpet and together they all shouted "A sword for the Lord and for Gideon!" As they blew the trumpets, all the Midianites ran and began to fight each other. The Midianites kept running and were subdued by the other tribes which Gideon had sent messages to come and fight. They killed two Midianite leaders named Oreb and Zeeb and brought their heads to Gideon.

Tomorrow read Judges 8-9

March 15, 2010 Judges 3-5

God wanted the Israelites to learn how to fight for their lives. The Philistines, Canaanites, Sidonians, and the Hivites were left alive to help make this possible. The Israelites lived among these people and intermarried and worshiped their gods. They forgot God which caused Him to be very angry with them. The Israelites were sold into slavery to Cushan-Rishathaim for eight years and cried to God to save them. Othniel was filled with the Spirit of the Lord and rose up to become their deliverer. After Cushan-R was defeated 40 years of peace prevailed until Othniel died.

Again the Israelites did evil things, so God gave Eglon king of Moab power over them. He attacked the City of Palms (Jericho) and overtook it and controlled the Israelites for 18 years. One day a man named Ehud, a southpaw, made a long dagger which he strapped to his thigh under his clothing and went to visit Eglon. Eglon was a very fat man - he was so fat that when Ehud plunged the dagger into him the entire thing was swallowed up inside him. Ehud went out the back and left Eglon with the door closed so the servants thought that Eglon was using the bathroom. The servants waited outside the door so long they were embarassed and finally went in to find the king dead. Ehud blew the trumpets calling the Israelites out to fight and they killed all the Moabites, about 10,000 in all. Moab was made subject to Israel and they had peace for 80 years.

After Ehud a man named Shamgar struck down 600 Philistines and saved Israel.

After Ehud died the pattern repeated and Israel did bad things. So the Lord let them be taken over by Jabin a king of Canaan. The commander of Jabin's army was named Sisera, who was well outfitted for battle with 900 iron chariots. The Israelites had been subject to Jabin for 20 years and cried to the Lord for help. A woman named Deborah, wife of Lappidoth, was a prophetess who was leading Israel at that time. She held court and settled disputes. She sent for Barak and told him that God had commanded him to lead 10,000 men to go to battle against Sisera, and Barak would defeat him. Barak told her that he would go only if she went too. So she went, but she said that the honor would not be his since he insisted she go too and that the Lord would hand Sisera over to a woman. Barak was up on Mount Tabor and Deboran told Barak to go down because the Lord had delivered Sisera into his hands for defeat. Sisera left his chariot and fled on foot to the tent of Jael the wife of Heber, who he thought of as friendly since they had ties to Jabin, his king. He told Jael he was thirsty and she gave him some milk and tucked him into bed. He told her to lie about his being there and he passed out from exhaustion. Jael got a tent peg and a mallet and pounded the tent peg through Sisera's temple into the ground and he died. Barak came to the tent because he was chasing Sisera and Jael went out to meet him. She told Barak to come in the tent to see the man he was searching for. The Israelites persisted against Jabin and eventually destroyed him.

Chapter 5 is the Song of Deborah. They sang the song to God. It told the details of the successes of the battle against the enemies of God. Deborah expressed her gratitude to all the volunteers who made the victory possible. I like the last line that says "...may they who love you be like the sun when it rises in its strength." Then there was peace for 40 years. This song reminds me of the song of Moses in Deuteronomy ch32, which evidently, the Israelites had forgotten. Moses said, "Take to heart all the words I have somemnly declared to you this day, so that you may command your children to obey carefully all the words of this law. They are not just idle words for you--they are your life. By them you will live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess." The Israelites did not seem to have a good way to teach their children to follow God.

Tomorrow read Judges 6-7

March 14, 2010 finish Joshua and Judges 1-2

Joshua assembled everyone at Schechem. God had Joshua tell the story of Abraham and God's promise to him. It is interesting to note that Abraham's father, Terah did not know God. The history of Isaac, Jacob and Esau and how Jacob went to Egypt, and Moses and Aaron was told. Jacob had witnessed the exodus from Egypt, and the 40 year long 11 day journey himself. Joshua reminded them to follow God and throw away all their idols. (Idols are anything that takes up room in our hearts where God is supposed to be.) The people promised Joshua they would serve the Lord. Joshua wrote all the laws in the Book of the Law of God. He set up a large stone as a reminder to follow God. It would be a witness if they were untrue to God. Joshua died at 110 years old, they buried him at Timnath Serah. They buried Joseph's bones, which they had brought with them out of Egypt in Shechem. Eleazar, son of Aaron died and was buried at Gibeah.

Judges begins with the Israelites asking God who would be first to go fight the Canaanites. His answer was Judah, that he had given them the land already. They struck down 10,000 men. The king tried to run, but they caught up to him and cut off his thumbs and big toes. He died later at Jerusalem. They took Jerusalem, they killed the people and burned the city. Caleb's daughter is mentioned again as in Joshua 15:18-19 (March 12). Many of the inhabitants remained in the land and became laborers for the Israelites.

The angel of the Lord appeared and told them that the people they did not drive out of the land would be thorns in their sides just as God had told them they would be. When the people heard this they were upset and wept aloud. Soon the entire generation who had known Joshua died and a new generation grew up. They did not know God. They worshiped idols and Baal. God was angry with them. The Lord raised up judges who tried to save them, but they would not listen. If the people listened to a judge then God was compassionate to them. When the judge died they went back to their wicked ways and angered God. The people didn't want God, so God didn't protect them, instead He tested them.

Tomorrow read Judges 3-5

March 13, 2010 Joshua 21:13-ch23

In all, the Levites were given 48 towns, each with pastureland surrounding them. So the Lord gave the Israelites all he had promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

The Reubenites, Gadites and half of the tribe of Manasseh returned to the other side of the Jordan to their homes. When they came to Gelioth they built a large altar. When the rest of the Israelites heard about it they gathered at Shiloh to attack them. Before they attacked, they sent an envoy to talk to them, because they thought they had broken faith with them and rebelled against God and built an altar to another god. They explained that they didn't intend to offer sacrifices, but the altar was to stand as a statement that they were part of the Israelite nation. They weren't intending to rebel against the Lord, rather, they were trying to make it clear to everyone that they were God's people. They dedicated the altar to God.

By now Joshua was very old. He called the elders, leaders, judges and officials to talk to them. Joshua told them to remember all that the Lord had done for them. He told them to stay strong and obey all God's commandments. He told them not to mingle with the other nations to avoid being tempted to follow other ways. He told them if they remembered God, He would remember them. He urged them to remember that everything God said He would do, He did. Joshua reminded them not to serve other gods or they would quickly perish.

Tomorrow finish Joshua! Read Judges 1-2

March 12, 2010 Joshua 18-21:12

The tent of meeting was set up at Shiloh where the Israelites were assembled. Seven of the tribes still had not taken possession of their land and Joshua asked them about it. Joshua told them to send out a search party to take a look at the real estate and figure out where they wanted to settle. They were to return and cast lots at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting and determine who would live where. They did what they were commanded. Benjamin's lot came up first, second was Simeon, followed by Zebulun, Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and Dan. Joshua was also given an allotment, a town in Ephraim called Timnath Serah.

The Lord told Joshua to have the Israelites designate cities of refuge as described in Numbers 35:6-34 (Feb 23). The 6 cities they set apart as refuge were, Kedesh, Schechem, Kiriath Arba (Hebron), Bezer, Ramoth, and Golan. On the map these are designated by a large black dot.

The Levites came forward and asked for their inheritance. They were given land from the portions of each of the other tribes so that they lived all throughout the Israelite nation.

Tomorrow read Joshua 21:13-ch23

March 11, 2010 Joshua 15-17

The land allotments continue with Judah's portion. Caleb recieved his portion as God commanded. We don't hear as much about the daughters as sons, but Caleb's daughter asks him for some springs of water along with the land he gave her. He seems like a generous and kind father, because he grants her request.

The allotments for Ephraim and Manasseh are described. Again my eyes fail to locate on the map exactly where all these places are. At least the borders of each portion are reasonably clear. The 5 sisters described in Numbers 36 are given their inheritance in Manasseh as God had commanded them. Joseph received a double allotment (I make up in my mind that is because of his good life and his righteousness.) The people of Joseph went to Joshua to ask for more land because they were getting too crowded. So they were given the forested hill country and urged to clear it and use it.

Canaanites are mentioned several times as still living in the region. In ch 17:13 we learn that eventually the Israelites grew stronger and forced them into labor, but did not drive them out completely.

Tomorrow read Joshua 18-21:12

March 10, 2010 Joshua 11:10- ch14

This passage of scripture is an accounting of the kings and kingdoms which God had commanded Joshua to destroy. All I can say is that God must have been really angry about the things the people from those places were doing to tell His army to destroy everything that breathes. This is biblical capital punishment! God is the judge sentencing these people to death and Joshua and the Israelites are the executioner. So God's will was done. As God commanded Moses and Moses commanded Joshua, Joshua did everything the Lord had commanded, leaving nothing undone.

I'm posting the same map as before because if you can enlarge it you can find some of these places listed on it to see what the bible is talking about. (Without a picture I am lost!)

Chapter 12 lists the 31 kings and the cities destroyed.

In ch 13 God tells Joshua there is still land He wants taken. Many of the places the bible describes are on the map. Some I can't find. I have looked for a map which is easy to read and lists all these places which tend to swirl endlessly in my mind and find no resting place because they have no real meaning for me, but alas, I have not as yet found such a document. So I'm making due with the one here...

Chapter 14 offers some relief from mysterious geography, with Caleb coming forward to claim his reward. Back in Numbers 13 he was the other guy besides Joshua from the scouting expedition who didn't shrink back in fear about going into Canaan and possessing the land that God had promised to give them. He and Joshua stood against the rest of the mob and believed in the power of God. Moses had promised him that he would inherit the land on which he had walked, because he followed God wholeheartedly. Caleb described himself as 85 years old and still strong enough to go out to battle as he did when he was young. I'm trying to imagine this. Then I realize they didn't have tv and junk food, air and water pollution, but most importantly, I believe he was strenghtened by God. So Joshua blessed him and gave him Hebron, which, on the map is shown as a city of refuge.

Tomorrow read Joshua 15-17

March 9, 2010 Joshua 8:24-11:9

Israel did as they were commanded by God and killed all the people from Ai, 12,000 in all. Israel did carry off the livestock and plunder as the Lord had told them to. Joshua hung the king of Ai until evening when he gave orders to bring him down and throw his body in the entrance to the city. They covered his body with rocks.

Joshua built an altar on Mt. Ebal according to instructions written in the Book of the Law of Moses. They offered burnt offerings and sacrificed fellowship offerings. Joshua copied the law on stones in front of all the people, so everyone saw it. Joshua then read every law to everyone.

The Gibeonites heard about the destruction of their neighbors and decided to try a trick to save their lives. They put on old clothes and sandals, carried old broken and patched wineskins, and carried moldy bread and went to the Israelites and offered to become their servants. Joshua and the Israelites listened to their story and believed them because they didn't pray about it! But it worked out because God backed them. When the Israelites figured out the truth, they asked the Gibeonites why they lied and they told them that it was because they didn't want to die. They became woodcutters and water carriers for all Israel.

The king of Jerusalem became alarmed as he learned about Ai and Gibeon. He appealed to 4 other kings of neighboring cities to join with him and attack the Israelites. They all got together (the 5 kings of the Amorites) and attacked Gibeon. Joshua marched all night to reach them and took them by surprise. The Lord confused them and they were defeated. Some of the fighters ran and the Israelites chased after them and killed them. God sent giant hail and more soldiers were killed by hail than by the sword. On the day the Lord gave the Amorites over to Israel, Joshua asked the Lord in front of everyone to make the sun stand still. So the sun didn't set for a day.

Joshua found out that the 5 kings had hidden in a cave. Joshua ordered the entrance blocked and guarded while they finished killing the enemies of God. Then Joshua had the kings brought out and had all the men of Israel put their feet on the necks of the 5 kings, and he told them that this was what the Lord would do to all their enemies and not to be afraid. Then he struck and killed the 5 kings and hung them on trees until evening. He had them taken down and thrown into the cave and the entrance closed. Joshua also took Makkedah and killed its king and everyone in the city. Soon the entire territory was defeated in the same way.

Tomorrow read Joshua 11:10-ch14

March 8, 2010 Joshua 5-8:23

News travels fast. When the kings of the neighboring cities heard about the Israelites crossing the Jordan on dry ground their courage melted. God told Joshua to circumcise the Israelites, since none of them in this new generation had been circumcised. They camped where they were until they were healed. Then the celebrated the Passover, the day after that, the manna stopped.

Joshua was near Jericho and saw a man standing with his sword drawn. Joshua asked him which side he was on. The man told him that he was commander of the Lord's army. Joshua fell on his face and asked his what message he had for him. The commander of God's army told him to take off his sandals, that he was standing was holy ground.

The Lord told Joshua to march around Jericho once each day for six days and 7 times on the final day. First 7 priests sounded rams' horns trumpets in front of the ark, followed by the army. For six days they circled the city as directed once each day. The 7th day they marched around Jericho six times sounding the trumpets as they were told to. On the final time around Joshua told them to shout. When they did the walls of the city crumbled. The Lord told them not to keep anything from the city - even the gold and silver. Every living thing in the city was not to be spared except for Rahab and all the people in her house. They took Rahab and all the people in her house and gave them room outside the camp. Then they burned down Jericho. Joshua's fame spread throughout the land.

A man named Achan couldn't help himself and took some goodies from Jericho and hid them in the dirt under his tent. Joshua sent some men to a place called Ai to conquer it, but they were unsuccessful. Joshua fell facedown and prayed. God told him that Israel had sinned against Him and that was the reason they did not succeed. So, tribe by tribe they questioned the people until they came to Achan and he told them where his loot was hidden. They found it and took him and his entire family to a place outside the camp and stoned and burned them. They covered the burned body of Achan with a pile of rocks.

God told them to attack Ai, that He had delivered the city to them. He also said that this time they could take plunder from Ai. Joshua sent 30,000 of his men out at night with orders to run from the fighters from Ai when they attacked as if they were scared of them. Then the city would be empty and other soldiers could go in and burn Ai down. In the morning the men of Ai and the king went out to attack the Israelites. Joshua and his fighters ran from them as planned. So when the soldiers from Ai saw their city burning, they ran back to it and were ambushed by the fighters from Israel waiting for them. They were caught in the middle of the Israelites. The only survivor was the king who they brought to Joshua.

Tomorrow read Joshua 8:24-11:9

Mar 7 2010 Joshua 1:10-4

Joshua ordered the people to get ready to move into the promised land. He reminded the Reubenites, the Gadites and the 1/2 tribe of Manasseh that they promised to fight for the land across the Jordan. They were obedient and agreed to do as they had vowed to do.

Joshua sent two spies to look over Jericho. So they went to Jericho and entered the house of Rahab, a prostitute. Somehow the king of Jericho found out about them being at Rahab's and he sent a message to her to bring the two spies out of her house. But because she believed that the army of the two spies would prevail over them, she hid them on the roof, and then lied about their whereabouts. She talked to the two men and told them about her belief in their success and they promised her that as long as a red cord hung from her window, she and all who were inside her house would be safe. (Once again we see a red marker on the outside of a house to keep the inhabitants safe from harm.) The two spies went back to report everything to Joshua, including how everyone was melting in fear because of them.

So early in the morning the Israelites went to the Jordan and camped there for three days. The officers went throughout the camp instructing the soldiers to begin their advance when they saw the ark of the covenant pass by. Joshua told them that the ark would enter the Jordan first and they would follow. The Levite priests who carried the ark set foot in the Jordan and it stopped as if there was an invisible dam preventing its flow. It is described as a "heap". So all Israel passed through on dry ground.

After everyone had crossed the Jordan river bed, God told Joshua to have one man from each tribe bring a stone from the river bed to the place where they camped for the night. So after they did this Joshua told them that these stones would serve as a memorial to the people of Israel forever. After all the people were across, the priests carrying the ark came out of the river and the water flowed in the river once again. This impressed the Israelites and they revered Joshua as they had Moses. He told them that the stones were to remind them that God dried up the Jordan just as he dried up the Red Sea, so that everyone on earth would know that he is God.

I like it that God recreated the miracle of the people crossing a body of water on dry ground for this new generation of Israelites, so that they could witness God's awesome power for themselves.

Tomorrow read Joshua 5-8:23

Mar 6, 2010 Deuteronomy 32:15-end Joshua 1:9

Moses finished his song to help the Israelites remember God and to obey Him. Moses told the people these were not just idle words - they were life!

God told Moses to go up to the top of Mount Nebo to see the land that He would give to the Israelites. Just as Aaron had died on Mount Hor, so Moses would die on Mount Nebo. It was because Moses and Aaron had broken faith with God in front of the Israelites and struck the rock instead of talking to it as they had been commanded that they did not enter the promised land. (Numbers 20:1-13 Feb 17)

Before he climbed the mountain, Moses blessed all the tribes of Israel. What I notice is that he doesn't name Simeon, but he does name Joseph. Also, in Genesis 49 when Jacob blessed his sons, he put Levi and Simeon together. Not much is said about Reuben, because he defiled his father's bed by sleeping with his stepmother, so he was not blessed with abundance. (Gen 49:4 Jan 17)

So Moses climbed the mountain and God showed him the promised land. I wonder about the visibility Moses enjoyed (his eyesight was good) without all the air pollution we have now. Moses was still in pretty good shape for a 120 year old. Joshua was filled with the spirit because Moses had laid his hands on him and conferred his authority to him, so the Israelites listened to him.

The final verses (10-12) of Deuteronomy offer a short eulogy of sorts for Moses and remind us that God did great things through him.

Joshua took over as leader. God told him that they all needed to prepare to cross the Jordan River to the promised land. God promised Joshua that just as he was with Moses, He would be with Joshua and never leave him. God told Joshua to be strong and have courage and obey all the commandments without wavering, that God would be with him wherever he went.

Tomorrow read Joshua 1:10-ch 4

March 5 2010 Deuteronomy 29-32:14

Moses began his third speech in chapter 29. Moses carefully laid out all the amazing works God had performed for the Israelites in their journey from Egypt all the way to the place where they were. He admonished them to carefully follow all the terms of the covenant. Including the first and second commandment to worship no other gods or make any images or idols. Moses warned them about feeling smug and safe because of this covenant and their natural tendency to indulge in the very things which had gotten them in so much trouble before. Bad things would happen if they abandoned the covenant. If they did leave the way of the Lord and they repented and obeyed His commandments, their fortunes would be restored by God. Even if they had been scattered throughout all the earth, God would bring them back to this land of their inheritance, and gather them in it, if they returned to God and obeyed Him. Moses set before them, in the plainest terms, the choice to choose God and live or choose other gods and die. Moses urged them to choose life!

Moses tells them that he is 120 years old and unable to lead them anymore. Moses said God would go into the land first and conquer it with Joshua and their enemies would be delivered to them, and not to be terrified or afraid. In the presence of the Israelites Moses confers his power to Joshua along with some beautiful sentiments of strength and faith. This ended the third speech.

Moses wrote down the law into a book and told the Levites in charge of the ark to place it in there beside the testimony (stone tablets). At the end of every 7 years during the Feast of the Tabernacles, they were to read the law to everyone.

God told Moses to go to the Tent of Meeting with Joshua. Then God appeared in the cloud and told Moses he would soon rest with his fathers. Then God described how the Israelites would fall away from Him and turn to other gods. He gave them a song to sing that the Israelites would remember. So even when they had turned away from God, they would remember the song. Then God blessed Joshua. Then Moses told the Levites that they would become evil soon after Moses was dead and that disaster would follow.

Moses sang the song so that all the Israelites could hear him. The words tell the story of their journey and relationship with God. It told them of Jacob and how God guarded him, hovering over him like an eagle guarding the nest. And how God gave them everything they needed to live abundantly even in the desert.

Tomorrow finish Deuteronomy! Then read Joshua 1:1-9

Mar 4, 2010 Deuteronomy 27:11-ch 28

Moses commanded that the people perform a ceremony after they crossed the Jordan and entered the promised land. Half the tribes were to go up to the top of one mountain and the other half to another mountain top. The Levites were to recite the law to the Israelites shouting. The Israelites were to respond, shouting "Amen!" Twelve curses were spoken. Four are about sex, two are repeats of the 10 commandments, two are about murder, three are about social responsibility, and the last one brings in all the others.

Abundance is the word I use to describe my take on what blessings await for following God's commandments and living a life reflecting His requests for us to love one another. God promises abundant blessings will flow to us if we follow the rules for living our lives as He gives them to us.

The curses for disobedience are severe and rather shocking! The detail given in chapter 28 is nothing but pain upon pain, and agony upon agony. Desolation and ruin awaited the Israelites if they would disobey God. God knew their tendency to be stubborn in their desires - to do things that would pull them away from Him. The descriptions of both the blessings and curses are very detailed. They offer a very clear image of the benefits from living in close relationship with God as well as the suffering from making choices that remove us from His presence!

This is the end of the second speech. It certainly gave them some spiritual homework to do!

Tomorrow read Deuteronomy 29-32:14

Mar 3 2010 Deuteronomy 23:15-27:10

Moses reviews more laws. I read somewhere that there are 613 laws in the bible.

They were supposed to be kind to slaves who settled with them.
Shrine or cult prostitutes (sodomites) were forbidden whether male of female. God detests them both.
Interest was not to be charged to Israelites, it was ok for foreigners.
If a person made a promise, they were to keep it.
If a person was hungry they could eat from a crop, but they couldn't take any with them.
If a man divorced a woman, and she married another man, and he divorced her too, she could not marry the first husband again.
A man was not to be sent to war during his first year of marriage.
Millstones were not to be used for pledges.
Kidnapping was an evil deserving of death. (Like what happened to Joseph)
Infectious skin diseases were dangerous and the instructions of the priests were to be followed accordingly.
A person who accepted a pledge from someone was to wait outside the house while they went in and got it. They were to return it at sunset.
A person who was poor and needy was not to be taken advantage of.
Fathers were not put to death for their children, or children put to death for their fathers. Each is responsible for their own sin.
Be kind to people less fortunate than you.
When two men had a dispute they were to take it to the judge who would decide the verdict. If the guilty man deserved to be beaten, they received no more that 40 lashes.
They were not to muzzle the ox while it was treading out grain.
If a brother died the remaining brother was to marry his widow and provide an heir. If he refused, she could take him to court and there she could shame him by slapping him with her sandal and spitting in his face.
A wife was not to stop a fight between her husband and another man by grabbing the hub's privates. If she did her hand was to be cut off.
They were to use honest weights and measures.
They were to be sure to blot out all signs of the Amalekites from the land.
They were given instructions for offering firstfruits from the land they were about to possess.
In the third year they were to set aside a tenth of all produce and give it to the Levite, the alien, the fatherless and the widow so they would be satisfied.
Moses told them of God's command to follow all His laws and walk in His ways. God would put them ahead of all other nations if they obeyed Him.
They were to set up some large stones, cover them with plaster and write the laws on them. After they crossed the Jordan into the promised land they were to set them up on Mount Ebal. There they were to build an altar, and make fellowship offerings to the Lord, eating them and rejoicing in the presence of God.
Moses told them again to obey God.

Tomorrow read Deuteronomy 27:11-ch28

March 2, 2010 Deuteronomy 20-23:14

Moses continued speaking to the Israelites about various laws and punishments.
They were not to be afraid of going into battle against an army larger or better equipped than theirs because the Lord would fight their enemies.
A soldier was excused from battle for the following reasons:
-If he had built a new house that wasn't dedicated
-If he had planted a new vineyard and not begun to enjoy it
-If he was engaged to be married
-If he was scared
-After marching to the city to attack, they were to make the people an offer of peace. If they accepted, they would be subject to forced labor. If they did not make peace then all the men were to be killed. The women, children and animals were to be plunder for the Israelites. God didn't want the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites civilizations to continue. They were to be completely destroyed because they did things that made God mad. God told them to destroy everything that breathes. They were told to save the trees which bore fruit for food. The trees that did not could be used to make tools for war.
-If there was an unsolved murder a heifer was to be taken to a valley that had not been plowed and by a flowing stream, her neck broken. They were to wash their hands over the heifer and declare that they did not shed the blood or see it done. This was to atone for the one who had been killed.
-If a man saw a captive woman he wanted as a wife he was to bring her to his house. She was to shave her head and trim her nails, and take off her prisoner's clothes and mourn her parents an entire month. Then he could be with her. If he didn't like her after all she was set free and allowed to go where she wanted.
-If a man had two wives and loved one and not the other and they each had a son, if the firstborn son belonged to the wife he didn't love then the birthright was to remain with the oldest son because that son is the first sign of his father's strength. (Not what happened with Jacob and Esau...)
-These laws were hard on anyone rebelling against their parents. Biblical tough love involves death! If your son was too rebellious and would not obey you then you could take him to the elders and report him and all the men of the town would stone him to death. The evil was to be purged from among them.
-Anyone hanged was not to be left hanging overnight.
-If someone found something that didn't belong to them, it was to be kept until it could be returned to it's rightful owner whether it was an animal or a coat, it wasn't to be ignored.
-If an animal had fallen on the road, they were to stop and help get it to it's feet.
-No cross-dressing. Men weren't to wear women's clothes and women weren't to wear men's clothes.
-Don't remove a mother bird sitting in a nest.
-Fence in the roof of a house so guests won't fall off and bring guilt.
-Plant only one kind of seed in fields.
-Don't plow with an ox and a donkey yoked together.
-Don't wear clothing woven with both linen and wool.
-Tassels were to be put on the four corners of coats.
-If a man marries a woman and doesn't like her and lies about her virtue he shall be punished. If she lies about her virtue she would be stoned to death.
-If a man rapes a girl, she is not at fault, as long as she screams for help.
-If a man rapes a girl he must marry her and cannot divorce her.
-A man was not to marry his father's wife, dishonoring his father's bed.
-A man missing his male anatomy was excluded from the assembly. Also Ammonites and Moabites were excluded. Edomites and Egyptians were ok.
-Camps were not to be defiled. Men having nocturnal emissions had to leave the camp until evening. The soldiers were to bury their excrement at the designated place outside the camp.

Tomorrow read Deuteronomy 23:15-27:10

March 1, 2010 Deuteronomy 16:9-19

Moses continues his second speech as he reviews the feast of weeks (Num 28:26-31 Feb 20) and the feast of the tabernacles (Num 29:12-38 Feb 21). The command to appoint judges and their conduct is covered. There were to be judges and officials in every town to mete out justice among the people. The Israelites were reminded never to worship other gods.

Chapter 17 continues with explanation of the laws. All animals which were to be sacrificed were to be perfect and flawless. Evil was not to be tolerated in their towns. This meant that if it was reported that someone was found worshiping other gods, bowing down to them, or the sun, moon or stars, and after investigation they were found guilty with the testimony of two or three witnesses, then they were to be stoned. The first stone was to be thrown by the first witness. If there was only one witness that wasn't enough to warrant death. The commandment not to bear false witness becomes extremely important here.

The Israelites were told that if they wanted a king to rule over them, they would need to be appointed by God. The king had to be an Israelite. He was not to obtain too much wealth, horses or wives. He was to make his own copy of the laws from the scrolls of the Levites. He was to learn the law and revere the Lord. If he was faithful in these things his descendants would reign over the kingdom for a long time.

They were reminded to include the Levites in their offerings to the Lord because they didn't have any other inheritance. Levites could move to a place they felt God had called them and continue their ministry there.

They were admonished to not follow the detestable practices of the people they would conquer. No sacrificing their children to the fire god, no sorcery, no divination, witchcraft, spellcasting, and no consulting with dead people! These practices were common in these nations. God would raise up a prophet from among them to speak for the Lord just as they had asked God to do in Exodus 20:19 (Jan 23). They would know if the prophet spoke the truth if what they said came true.

Cities of refuge are explained as in Numbers 35 (Feb 23). A person called the avenger of blood was to take the life of a murderer. I was curious about this person, what I found was a description in the New Living Translation of this person as the victim's nearest living relative. So if a person killed someone accidentally, they would run to their nearest city of refuge to await their trial. Once they had reached the city they were safe. If someone deliberately killed someone and ran to the city of refuge, the elders of the city they came from could call them back and hand them over to the avenger of blood to die. They were to show no pity to the guilty. Innocent blood was never to be deliberately shed.

A person was never to move his neighbor's boundary stone which marked his inheritance. (That would be stealing.)

A single witness was not enough to convict a man of a crime. The matter was to be decided with the testimony of two or three witnesses.

Again the law was very clear; life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.

Tomorrow read Deuteronomy 20-23:14