We discussed where I was in my Bible reading campaign the other day. I told my youngest daughter I was in Judges. She gave us a quizzical look, and my husband answered, “It’s quite literally about all the judges.” She waited a beat and looked at us earnestly, saying: “I thought God was the ultimate judge?”. She’s 12, and I am still blown away by her insightfulness and the pureness of her soul. Our simple answer to her was that sometimes people’s minds are closed to the judgment of God, and they need earthly reminders. She seemed somewhat satisfied with that answer, and I went on to dive into the Book of Judges.
I am happy to read accounts that are more storylike, but I still find myself perplexed trying to figure out where these places are, who owns which lands, etc. Part of this is using the native language for people’s names and locations. I feel ashamed. Would I be better equipped to fully comprehend the accounts if all the names, like Samson and Benjamin, rolled off my tongue? I understand why reading the Bible is not a one-time act; there is no way to absorb all the intricacies and lessons in just a one-time read-through. I am approaching this full-time read-through book by book to capture my reactions and relation to the material.
I’ve heard the story of Samson and Goliath. Will it be expanded upon in future books? Because it is such a small piece of the Book of Judges to have garnered such an impression upon me that I remember it from childhood. I knew Samson slayed a lion, but I didn’t remember the other pieces of the story. That Samson tore that lion apart and then watched as bees swarmed and made honey in its carcass is an image I had never carried before. Given my Disney-cultured upbringing and the teachings of mythology I’ve encountered, I immediately picture Hercules while reading Samson—a man who is so strong that you have to find his one weakness to bring him down. With Hercules, it was his heel; with Samson, his hair. But I think Delilah played the more significant part in Samson’s eventual demise. A woman who asked multiple times how to kill him, but he still wanted to be with her. Did he think it was all a game? Usually, when people say something out loud, you should take their words seriously. If they say it repeatedly, they mean it. It’s not a joke.
Beyond Samson, we see a troubling pattern of behaviors in Judges. Consistently, the Israelites misbehave in the sight of God. They recognize false idols, and they break commandments. Each time, God seems to shake the disappointing head of a disappointed parent and sends a judge to rule over the Israelites. The judges pass away once the Israelites improve their behavior and remember that God is their Father and Lord. Repeat, repeat, and repeat! God may seem more vengeful in these early books of the Old Testament, but he increasingly allows more forgiveness and leniency at the same time.
I will need to reread Judges someday and map out the timeline, the various judges, and the locations. For today, I will move on to the Book of Ruth.
Amanda Renz
