With Part I of Micah’s saga, thanks to his mother, he came to possess a graven image of the Lord. Judges’ Chapter 17, continues Micah’s tale. Micah was reported to have a house of idolatry. There, he made ephods [religious garments] and icons. He even installed one of his sons to be his priest. [note: Micah, in Judges, wasContinue reading “A Book of Judges Ten Commandments’ Moment: Micah Part II”
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A Book of Judges Ten Commandments’ Moment: Micah’s Graven Image Part I
While reading the Book of Judges, one will pull their hair out. The scripture’s outrageousness never disappoints. Even one brief passage is sufficient to make one go bald. Micah’s Graven Image Tale is an overflowing fountain of meshugas. Micah and his mother are barely digestible in one sitting. Accordingly, Micah’s tales are the subject of two posts.Continue reading “A Book of Judges Ten Commandments’ Moment: Micah’s Graven Image Part I”
A Book of Judges Ten Commandments’ Moment: Jephthah
Of all the Book of Judges’ gut wrenching episodes. Jephthah’s is one of the most problematic. He is a mighty warrior of valor who has acceptance issues. Judges, in providing his background story, alludes that he most likely carried with him emotional insecurity; The tale unfolds with his estrangement from his father’s family. The story takes off with theContinue reading “A Book of Judges Ten Commandments’ Moment: Jephthah”
A Book of Judges Ten Commandments’ Moment: Samson
Samson’s tale of martyrdom has a few Ten Commandments’ moments. While his beginnings are quite promising, his life devolves into an endless cycle of suffering and vengeance. At the beginning, his barren mother encounters an angel who promises her a special son. She is instructed that the child would be raised as a Nazarite and thatContinue reading “A Book of Judges Ten Commandments’ Moment: Samson”
A Book of Judges Ten Commandments’ Moment: Succession
The Book of Judges is not for the faint hearted. While Gideon’s leadership as a Judge sparked a thirst for Israelite monarchical rule, his post-mortem was sobering to that national ambition. Succession, in antiquity, was heavily nepotism. Gideon, not be outshined by the Elon Musk’s or Nick Cannon’s of the world, amassed seventy sons and hadContinue reading “A Book of Judges Ten Commandments’ Moment: Succession”
A Book of Judges Ten Commandments’ Moment: Gideon
Readers can cheat. They can jump to the back of the book to get that sweet ending. ” Who done it?” is solved. With the Book of Judges, however, while the last line sums up most everything, the reader would be cheated. The journey through Judges is as rewarding as the ending. The tale of Gideon- planted in the middleContinue reading “A Book of Judges Ten Commandments’ Moment: Gideon”
A Book of Judges Ten Commandments’ Moment: Deborah
In the Book of Judges, the Prophetess and Judge Deborah is one of the most important figures. Her military conquest of Hazor and her Song are essential moments in Israelite history. Her song is worthy of discussion within a Ten Commandments’ context. Deborah, in partnership with Barak, conquer Hazor, and, per Dr. Richard Elliott Friedman, create IsraeliteContinue reading “A Book of Judges Ten Commandments’ Moment: Deborah”