A BIBLE COMPANION, VOLUME 4
by Richard Burkard
For an introduction and explanation of this series, see Volume 1.
JUDGES
JUDGES 1
The Bible Reading Program says concerning 1:17-23, "many of the tribes allowed Canaanites to continue to dwell in the land...." Is it fair to say several tribes "allowed Canaanites to continue to dwell," since Exodus 23:29-30 plainly says God would move them out in His time?
B.R.P. takes the tribe of Benjamin to task in 1:21for being "halfhearted" with the Jebusites, because "They did not seek assistance from their brother tribes...." Might Benjamin have resisted seeking help because the other tribes had their own fights going on? Isn't it judgmental, in light of Exodus 23:29-30, to declare the efforts of Israelite tribes "half-hearted?"
B.R.P. warns in this chapter that even fellowshipping with "spiritual Canaanites.... only means eventual expulsion from your inheritance...." Why should we fear fellowshipping with them, in light of I John 4:4?
Was Othniel a wimpy husband for having Acsah ask father Caleb for springs of water (1:14-15; see also Joshua 15)
JUDGES 2
B.R.P. claims God refused to drive out the Canaanites because of "halfhearted efforts of the Israelite tribes...." Was that the reason for God's complaint, or do 2:1-3, 11-13 reveal other reasons?
B.R.P. states Israel's people were unable to "rededicate themselves to the prompt fulfilling of God's command if He would grant them forgiveness." How could the people of Israel presume any forgiveness from God when Joshua said He would not forgive them (Josh. 24:19)?
Does "knowing the Lord" today require study of the Old Testament (2:10) -- or is the New Testament Jesus the "Lord" to know now?
JUDGES 3
Doesn't 3:1-2 show God left some non-Israelite peoples in the promised land on purpose? Does this passage show God really wants His people to learn war-like skills?
JUDGES 4
Where was Lappidoth, Deborah's husband, as all the action occurred in this chapter? Was he a prophet, since he was married to a prophetess?
Does Deborah's example show women can lead congregations -- and God can put them in that role, as He chooses?
JUDGES 5
Was Deborah a bit too self-praising in 5:7?
Why would Meroz be cursed (5:23), while several tribes which did not join in the battle (v. 15-17) seemingly were not?
JUDGES 6
Does the reference in 6:25 to a seven-year-old bull show how God knows the animal kingdom, as well as the human one?
JUDGES 8
B.R.P. claims Gideon was "whipping the elders of Succoth with thorns...." How do we know Succoth's elders were whipped in 8:16, if KJV and NIV don't really say?
Did Gideon show weakness by asking his son to kill the Midianite leaders in 8:19-21 -- or was this a teaching moment for father and son?
JUDGES 9
B.R.P. claims King Abimelech's name means "My Father is King." Yet Strong's Exhaustive Concordance translates Abimelech as "father of the king...." Which is accurate?
What was the significance of scattering salt over a beaten city (9:45)?
JUDGES 10
Did God make a misleading (at least) statement when he said he would "no longer save" Israel -- only to turn around and do it (10:13, 16)?
JUDGES 11
B.R.P. accuses Jephthah of seeming to ignore in 11:30-35 "the blaring prohibition against child sacrifice contained in the books of Moses...." How did Jephthah "ignore" the prohibition on child sacrifice, if he apparently didn't expect his child to come out? (Especially since B.R.P. admits his vow "contained a choice to be made by God....")
B.R.P. concludes Jephthah did not sacrifice his daughter after all, but devoted her to God's service. How can we be sure Jephthah did NOT sacrifice his daughter as a "burnt offering" (11:31)? Why else would heathens begin a "weeping of Tammuz" commemoration every year?
B.R.P. cites Lk. 2:36-37 is evidence that Jephthah's daughter she served as a "dedicated woman." Doesn't Luke 2:36-37 show "seven-day worship" is acceptable to God?
Judges 11:1-3 shows God can use people from broken, semi-godly homes to His glory!
JUDGES 13
B.R.P. refers in this chapter to "Christ, the "Sun of Righteousness" (Malachi 4:2), a "sun and shield" (Psalm 84:11)...." Do those passages show "sunrise services" can honor Jesus?
Was 13:22 a sign Manoah didn't quite understand what God was doing?
JUDGES 14
Did the Holy Spirit "come and go" from Samson, if it seemingly "came upon him in power" more than once in 14:6, 19? Why would it leave -- based on unclean acts by Samson, perhaps? Further, does the Holy Spirit inspire some people to kill?
JUDGES 15
Wasn't Samson a bit arrogant toward God in how he asked for water in 15:18 after killnig 1,000 Philistines?
JUDGES 16
B.R.P. says in this chapter Samson failed to use "his faith-guided intellect to control his behavior." Is faith always simply a matter of the head - and not also of "desire" or heart?
Did God leave Samson in 16:20 because God was tired of Samson tempting Him? Or was the hair really the reason -- and did Samson realize it?
B.R.P. suggests in 16:22, "Samson finally 'saw the light' and reconsecrated himself to God." Are we reading too much into that verse -- forgetting the simple fact that hair grows back?
JUDGES 17
B.R.P. says in this chapter: "If the story of the war against Benjamin is correctly placed in the chronology of the book of Judges, that would mean that in a period of 120 years (the time from Saul to Rehoboam) the Benjamites recovered their numbers. This is extremely unlikely." If God can open wombs fruitfully (e.g. Israel in Egypt), why couldn't Benjamin recover its losses in 120 years?
How far did Micah go to be guilty of syncretism (17:5-6)? Were the "household idols" the only offense? Were small-scale arks and "imitation" priestly garments OK?
JUDGES 18
B.R.P. says the Danites taking "what Micah had made, and his priest" (18:27) probably was "in imitation of the Israelite practice of having a priest head their fighting forces (compare Deuteronomy 20)." Does the practice of coming forward to speak necessarily mean a priest "headed" the fighters?
JUDGES 19
Could Israel's tribes have waited for GOD to take action and vengeance, instead of doing it themselves (19:29-30)?
JUDGES 20
B.R.P. notes the King James Version of 20:13 refers to "the "sons of Belial" (a term denoting wicked, worthless, perverse individuals)." So why does NIV use "wicked men of Gibeah" instead?
B.R.P. calls the slaughter of Benjaminite families in 20:48 "an unjustified atrocity." How can this claim be made, when God required it of Israel years before and after (e.g. Num. 21:2-3; I Sam 15:3)?
JUDGES 21
B.R.P. says concerning 21:1:"the keeping of oaths is commanded by God." Is UCG saying God expects us to make oaths -- or simply keep whatever oaths we make? (Compare Num. 30:2 -- "If" KJV vs. "When" NIV.)
B.R.P. continues along this line: "God's direct commands always override any vow.... God could certainly void the vows of Israel.... no vow is binding if it obligates one to violate commands God has already given." Does God reserve the right to hold people to vows they make which violate His commands (see note on chapter 11)?
What was the "annual festival of the Lord" in Shiloh (21:19)? Was this the Feast of Tabernacles? (New Bible Commentary: Revised says it was a local version.)
RUTH
RUTH 1
In its introduction, B.R.P. notes Jewish tradition considers Samuel the author of Ruth. But does the presence of a genealogical line to David indicate someone else did (4:18-21)?
B.R.P. admits in this chapter, "generations may have been skipped in the genealogy-between Salmon and Boaz or between Obed and Jesse or both." Why would genealogical generations be skipped, in a Bible we're supposed to consider an accurate record?
RUTH 2
B.R.P. quotes the Bible Reader's Companion (no relation to this project) in 2:2, claiming Ruth's reference to whoever is kind enough to let her glean (the meaning of 'in whose eyes I find favor') reminds us that not everyone followed the Law!" Couldn't "in whose eyes I find favor" also refer to the fact that Ruth didn't know whose field she'd be in?
Could Naomi have been referring to God in 2:19, not a man, based on the KJV translation?
Why are Churches of God and their members afraid to greet each other with "The Lord be with you" or "The Lord bless you," if Boaz did it in 2:4?
RUTH 3
B.R.P. explains 3:7-9: "With most of the harvest at the threshing floor, it was not uncommon for the owner or a trusted servant to sleep near the pile of grain to guard against theft." But might Boaz have slept near the grain because he was drunk -- "in good spirits?" After all, he didn't recognize Ruth right next to him.
B.R.P. adds in this chapter: "Boaz had already taken a keen interest in her and had shown obvious favor toward her." Was Boaz's "keen interest" merely from mercy on Ruth's situation -- or because of her degree of godliness, more than romance?
VOLUME 3: Deuteronomy-Joshua
VOLUME 5: I and II Samuel
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© 2006 Richard Burkard, All Rights Reserved.