Jo’s Place

  The Lord Rescues His People The Lord raised up judges to rescue the Israelites from their attackers.  Yet, Israel did not listen to the judges, but prostituted themselves, by worshiping other gods.  How quickly they turned away, from the path of their ancestors, who had walked in obedience, to the Lord’s commands.  Whenever the Lord raised up a judge, over Israel, He was with that judge and rescued the people from their enemies, throughout the judge’s lifetime.  For the Lord took pity on His people, who were burdened, by oppression and suffering.  But, when the judge died, the people returned to their corrupt ways, behaving worse than those who had lived before them.  They pursued other gods, serving and worshiping them.  And they refused to give up their evil practices and stubborn ways.  So, the Lord burned with anger against Israel.  He said, “Because these people have violated My covenant, which I made with their ancestors, …and th...

The Lord’s Messenger Comes to Bokim The angel of the Lord went up, from Gilgal to Bokim, and said to the Israelites,  “I brought you out of Egypt, into this land, that I swore to give your ancestors, …and I said, I would never break My covenant with you.  For your part, you were not to make any covenants with the people living in this land; instead, you were to destroy their altars.  But you disobeyed My command.  Why did you do this?  So now, I declare that I will no longer drive out the people living in your land.  They will be thorns in your sides, and their gods will be a constant temptation to you.”  When the angel of the Lord finished speaking, to all the Israelites, the people wept loudly.  So, they called the place, Bokim (which means “weeping”), and they offered sacrifices there, to the Lord.    After Joshua sent the people away, each of the tribes left to take possession of the land allotted to them.  And the Israelites se...

  Israel Fails to Conquer the Land The Lord was with the people of Judah, and they took possession of the hill country.  But, they failed to drive out the people living in the plains, who had iron chariots.  The town of Hebron was given to Caleb, as Moses had promised.  And Caleb drove out the people living there, who were descendants of the three sons of Anak.  The tribe of Benjamin, however, failed to drive out the Jebusites, who were living in Jerusalem.  So, to this day the Jebusites live in Jerusalem among the people of Benjamin.  The descendants of Joseph attacked the town of Bethel, and the Lord was with them.  They sent men, to scout out Bethel (formerly known as Luz).  They confronted a man, coming out of the town, and said to him,  “Show us a way into the town, and we will have mercy on you.”  So, he showed them a way in, and they killed everyone in the town, except that man and his family.  Later, the man moved to th...

Judah and Simeon Conquer Their Lands After the death of Joshua, the Israelites asked the Lord,  “Which tribe should go first to attack the Canaanites?”  The Lord answered,  “Judah, for I have given them victory over the land.”  The men of Judah said to their relatives, from the tribe of Simeon,  “Join with us, to fight against the Canaanite, who are living in the territory …allotted to us.  Then, we will help you conquer your territory.”  So the men of Simeon went with Judah.  When the men of Judah attacked, the Lord gave them victory, over the Canaanites and Perizzites, and they killed 10,000 enemy warriors, at the town of Bezek.  While at Bezek, they encountered King Adoni-bezek …and fought against him, and the Canaanites and Perizzites were defeated.  Adoni-bezek escaped, but the Israelites soon captured him, and cut off his thumbs and big toes.  Adoni-bezek said,  “I once had seventy kings, with their thumbs and big toes cu...