1-6 Remember Abimelech?
The following is the reason none of Gideon's sons is named in the previous chapter, but the son of his concubine is.
- Abimelech gains a following among his mother's relatives, who give him 70 pieces of silver from a pagan temple, with which he hires "worthless and reckless fellows."
- They kill all of Gideon's 70 legitimate sons, except Jotham, the youngest, who successfully hides from them.
- Then the lords of Shechem make Abimelech king, by the oak of the pillar at Shechem.
- Spoken by Jotham on top of Mount Gerizim to the "lords of Shechem"
- He compares Abimelech as a leader to a bramble, as opposed to an olive tree, fig tree, or a vine
- Then plainly: You have betrayed my father, who rescued you from Midian. If you have acted in good faith with Jerubbaal (Gideon), then rejoice in Abimelech.
- If not, may you burn one another with fire.
- Then out of fear, Jotham flees to Beer.
- He rules only 3 years.
- God sends an evil spirit between Abimelech and the lords of Shechem, to avenge the deaths of Jerubbaal's 70 sons.
- The lords "deal treacherously" with Abimelech, begin robbing travelers in the mountain passes.
- A newcomer to Shechem, Gaal son of Ebed, proposes to overthrow Abimelech.
- Zebul, ruler of the city, tells Abimelech of the plot and tells him to attach Gaal and his family early the next morning, and they drive them out.
- The next day, he attacks the people in the fields around Shechem, also razing the city and "sowing it with salt."
- The lords hide in the temple of El-berith.
- Abimelech and his troops light brushwood and carry it to the stronghold and set it on fire.
- He tries the same thing at a stronghold in Thebez, but before he can set it on fire, a woman throws a millstone down on him, crushing his skull.
- He asks his armor-bearer to kill him, so it would not be said that a woman killed him.
- Israel goes home, and the deaths of Jerubbaal's sons are avenged.
1-5 Tola and Jair
- Tola, a man of Issachar, judges Israel 23 years.
- Jair the Gileadite, judges Israel 22 years - 30 sons who rode 30 donkeys and had 30 towns in Gilead.
- Israel returns to worshiping the Baals and the Astartes, gods of Aram, Sidon, Moab, Ammon, and Philistia.
- God delivers them to the Ammonites, who oppress them for 18 years in Gilead.
- They cry to God, confessing their sins.
- God: Did I not deliver you from the Egyptians, Amorites, Ammonites, Philistines, and also the Sidonians, Amalekites, and the Maonites? Go - cry to the gods you have chosen.
- They begin worshiping him, and he can "no longer see Israel suffer."
- The Ammonites gather against them, so Israel looks for a leader to fight for them.
9 - "Those of low estate are but a breath, those of high estate are a delusion; in the balances they go up; they are together lighter than a breath."
11 - "...power belongs to God, and steadfast love belongs to you, O Lord."
1 Corinthians 16
1-4 Collections for the Christians.
As I told the Galatians, so I tell you: every first day of the week, lay something aside to give to saints in need, so it will all be gathered when I get there. You'll choose the one who takes it to Jerusalem. They will go with me, if it's fitting.
5-12 Plans for Travel
- Paul plans to visit Corinth for a good visit after passing through Macedonia, but for now he has a challenging work in Ephesus.
- If Timothy comes your way, treat him as you would treat me.
- I urged Apollos to come see you, but it's not convenient for him now.
- Be alert, firm in your faith, courageous, strong. Do all things in love.
- Recognize the servants of the saints, like Stephanatus, Fortunatus and Achaicus
- Greetings from the churches in Asia, Aquila and Prisca and the church in their house, all the brothers and sisters.
- Let those who do not love the Lord be accursed. Grace and love be with you all.
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