Good afternoon sisters and brothers,
Today's
reading continues the song of Deborah in praise to God after Israel's
victory over Sisera and the Canaanite army. I mentioned a few days ago
that Israel at this point was a fairly loose assembly of tribes rather
than a solid nation. Here we see discussion in the song about which
tribes came to fight and which ignored the call. We also see God's army
given credit for the victory.
May your friends always stand with you in trouble.
God bless,
Sam
Judges 5:12-23
12“Awake, awake, Deborah! Awake, awake, utter a song! Arise, Barak, lead away your captives, O son of Abinoam. 13Then down marched the remnant of the noble; the people of the Lord marched down for him against the mighty. 14From
Ephraim they set out into the valley, following you, Benjamin, with
your kin; from Machir marched down the commanders, and from Zebulun
those who bear the marshal’s staff; 15the chiefs of Issachar came with Deborah, and Issachar faithful to Barak; into the valley they rushed out at his heels.
Among the clans of Reuben there were great searchings of heart. 16Why
did you tarry among the sheepfolds, to hear the piping for the flocks?
Among the clans of Reuben there were great searchings of heart. 17Gilead
stayed beyond the Jordan; and Dan, why did he abide with the ships?
Asher sat still at the coast of the sea, settling down by his landings.
18Zebulun is a people that scorned death; Naphtali too, on the heights of the field. 19“The
kings came, they fought; then fought the kings of Canaan, at Taanach,
by the waters of Megiddo; they got no spoils of silver. 20The stars fought from heaven, from their courses they fought against Sisera. 21The torrent Kishon swept them away, the onrushing torrent, the torrent Kishon. March on, my soul, with might! 22“Then loud beat the horses’ hoofs with the galloping, galloping of his steeds. 23“Curse
Meroz, says the angel of the Lord, curse bitterly its inhabitants,
because they did not come to the help of the Lord, to the help of the
Lord against the mighty.
Showing posts with label tribes of Israel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tribes of Israel. Show all posts
Saturday, January 12, 2013
Monday, July 23, 2012
Saul's first test
Good morning brothers and sisters,
Yesterday we read how Saul became King of Israel. Today we read the story of his first leadership test, an attack on Jabesh Gilead. The people of Jabesh Gilead never forget Saul's rescue. At the end of 1 Samuel, when Saul is killed in battle and the Israelite army thoroughly beaten it is the men of Jabesh Gilead who take Saul's body back from the Philistines and bury it.
Under the Judges, Israel was a fairly loose association of tribes more than it was a nation. During Saul's reign they become more of a nation, though there is still a distinction between Israel and Judah, which we see here when the narrator tells us how many soldiers come from Israel and from Judah. That separation continues throughout the time that Israel is one nation, and after Solomon's reign the kingdom separates fully into Israel and Judah.
Blessings on your week,
Sam
Yesterday we read how Saul became King of Israel. Today we read the story of his first leadership test, an attack on Jabesh Gilead. The people of Jabesh Gilead never forget Saul's rescue. At the end of 1 Samuel, when Saul is killed in battle and the Israelite army thoroughly beaten it is the men of Jabesh Gilead who take Saul's body back from the Philistines and bury it.
Under the Judges, Israel was a fairly loose association of tribes more than it was a nation. During Saul's reign they become more of a nation, though there is still a distinction between Israel and Judah, which we see here when the narrator tells us how many soldiers come from Israel and from Judah. That separation continues throughout the time that Israel is one nation, and after Solomon's reign the kingdom separates fully into Israel and Judah.
Blessings on your week,
Sam
1 Samuel 11:1-11
About a month later, Nahash the Ammonite went up and besieged Jabesh-gilead; and all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, “Make a treaty with us, and we will serve you.” 2But Nahash the Ammonite said to them, “On this condition I will make a treaty with you, namely that I gouge out everyone’s right eye, and thus put disgrace upon all Israel.” 3The elders of Jabesh said to him, “Give us seven days’ respite that we may send messengers through all the territory of Israel. Then, if there is no one to save us, we will give ourselves up to you.” 4When the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul, they reported the matter in the hearing of the people; and all the people wept aloud.
5Now Saul was coming from the field behind the oxen; and Saul said, “What is the matter with the people, that they are weeping?” So they told him the message from the inhabitants of Jabesh. 6And the spirit of God came upon Saul in power when he heard these words, and his anger was greatly kindled. 7He took a yoke of oxen, and cut them in pieces and sent them throughout all the territory of Israel by messengers, saying, “Whoever does not come out after Saul and Samuel, so shall it be done to his oxen!” Then the dread of the Lord fell upon the people, and they came out as one. 8When he mustered them at Bezek, those from Israel were three hundred thousand, and those from Judah seventy thousand.
9They said to the messengers who had come, “Thus shall you say to the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead: ‘Tomorrow, by the time the sun is hot, you shall have deliverance.’” When the messengers came and told the inhabitants of Jabesh, they rejoiced. 10So the inhabitants of Jabesh said, “Tomorrow we will give ourselves up to you, and you may do to us whatever seems good to you.” 11The next day Saul put the people in three companies. At the morning watch they came into the camp and cut down the Ammonites until the heat of the day; and those who survived were scattered, so that no two of them were left together.
Friday, August 19, 2011
into Egypt
Good morning friends,
Pharaoh joins with Joseph in welcoming Joseph's brothers and extended family to Egypt, showing how honored Joseph really is. I have a hard time imagining how his brothers must have felt as they returned home to get their father to travel to Egypt. It must have been a strange mixture of guilt and joy and nervousness. No wonder Joseph tells them not to quarrel during their journey. The stage is set for Jacob (Israel) and his family to move to Egypt as favorite guests of Pharaoh himself.
Blessings,
Sam
Genesis: 45:16-28
16When the report was heard in Pharaoh’s house, “Joseph’s brothers have come,” Pharaoh and his servants were pleased. 17Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Say to your brothers, ‘Do this: load your animals and go back to the land of Canaan. 18Take your father and your households and come to me, so that I may give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you may enjoy the fat of the land.’ 19You are further charged to say, ‘Do this: take wagons from the land of Egypt for your little ones and for your wives, and bring your father, and come. 20Give no thought to your possessions, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.’“
21The sons of Israel did so. Joseph gave them wagons according to the instruction of Pharaoh, and he gave them provisions for the journey. 22To each one of them he gave a set of garments; but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver and five sets of garments. 23To his father he sent the following: ten donkeys loaded with the good things of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain, bread, and provision for his father on the journey. 24Then he sent his brothers on their way, and as they were leaving he said to them, “Do not quarrel along the way.”
25So they went up out of Egypt and came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan. 26And they told him, “Joseph is still alive! He is even ruler over all the land of Egypt.” He was stunned; he could not believe them. 27But when they told him all the words of Joseph that he had said to them, and when he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of their father Jacob revived. 28Israel said, “Enough! My son Joseph is still alive. I must go and see him before I die.”
Pharaoh joins with Joseph in welcoming Joseph's brothers and extended family to Egypt, showing how honored Joseph really is. I have a hard time imagining how his brothers must have felt as they returned home to get their father to travel to Egypt. It must have been a strange mixture of guilt and joy and nervousness. No wonder Joseph tells them not to quarrel during their journey. The stage is set for Jacob (Israel) and his family to move to Egypt as favorite guests of Pharaoh himself.
Blessings,
Sam
Genesis: 45:16-28
16When the report was heard in Pharaoh’s house, “Joseph’s brothers have come,” Pharaoh and his servants were pleased. 17Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Say to your brothers, ‘Do this: load your animals and go back to the land of Canaan. 18Take your father and your households and come to me, so that I may give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you may enjoy the fat of the land.’ 19You are further charged to say, ‘Do this: take wagons from the land of Egypt for your little ones and for your wives, and bring your father, and come. 20Give no thought to your possessions, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.’“
21The sons of Israel did so. Joseph gave them wagons according to the instruction of Pharaoh, and he gave them provisions for the journey. 22To each one of them he gave a set of garments; but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver and five sets of garments. 23To his father he sent the following: ten donkeys loaded with the good things of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain, bread, and provision for his father on the journey. 24Then he sent his brothers on their way, and as they were leaving he said to them, “Do not quarrel along the way.”
25So they went up out of Egypt and came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan. 26And they told him, “Joseph is still alive! He is even ruler over all the land of Egypt.” He was stunned; he could not believe them. 27But when they told him all the words of Joseph that he had said to them, and when he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of their father Jacob revived. 28Israel said, “Enough! My son Joseph is still alive. I must go and see him before I die.”
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
more sibling rivalry
Good morning or evening friends,
Today's reading continues our rivalry between Jacob's two wives, Leah and Rachel. Rachel is the favorite wife, but she hasn't been able to have any children. That puts her at a disadvantage and leaves her upset. She takes her maid servant, Bilhah, and encourages Jacob to sleep with her so that she can have children in that way. Jacob's grandmother, Sarah, tried a similar strategy but found herself weakened in comparison to her servant. That doesn't seem to be the case in this story. Rachel has children (Dan and Naphtali) through Bilhah and the competition continues.
God bless,
Sam
Genesis 30:1-13
When Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, she envied her sister; and she said to Jacob, “Give me children, or I shall die!” 2Jacob became very angry with Rachel and said, “Am I in the place of God, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?” 3Then she said, “Here is my maid Bilhah; go in to her, that she may bear upon my knees and that I too may have children through her.”
4So she gave him her maid Bilhah as a wife; and Jacob went in to her. 5And Bilhah conceived and bore Jacob a son. 6Then Rachel said, “God has judged me, and has also heard my voice and given me a son”; therefore she named him Dan. 7Rachel’s maid Bilhah conceived again and bore Jacob a second son. 8Then Rachel said, “With mighty wrestlings I have wrestled with my sister, and have prevailed”; so she named him Naphtali. 9When Leah saw that she had ceased bearing children, she took her maid Zilpah and gave her to Jacob as a wife. 10Then Leah’s maid Zilpah bore Jacob a son. 11And Leah said, “Good fortune!” so she named him Gad. 12Leah’s maid Zilpah bore Jacob a second son. 13And Leah said, “Happy am I! For the women will call me happy”; so she named him Asher.
Today's reading continues our rivalry between Jacob's two wives, Leah and Rachel. Rachel is the favorite wife, but she hasn't been able to have any children. That puts her at a disadvantage and leaves her upset. She takes her maid servant, Bilhah, and encourages Jacob to sleep with her so that she can have children in that way. Jacob's grandmother, Sarah, tried a similar strategy but found herself weakened in comparison to her servant. That doesn't seem to be the case in this story. Rachel has children (Dan and Naphtali) through Bilhah and the competition continues.
God bless,
Sam
Genesis 30:1-13
When Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, she envied her sister; and she said to Jacob, “Give me children, or I shall die!” 2Jacob became very angry with Rachel and said, “Am I in the place of God, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?” 3Then she said, “Here is my maid Bilhah; go in to her, that she may bear upon my knees and that I too may have children through her.”
4So she gave him her maid Bilhah as a wife; and Jacob went in to her. 5And Bilhah conceived and bore Jacob a son. 6Then Rachel said, “God has judged me, and has also heard my voice and given me a son”; therefore she named him Dan. 7Rachel’s maid Bilhah conceived again and bore Jacob a second son. 8Then Rachel said, “With mighty wrestlings I have wrestled with my sister, and have prevailed”; so she named him Naphtali. 9When Leah saw that she had ceased bearing children, she took her maid Zilpah and gave her to Jacob as a wife. 10Then Leah’s maid Zilpah bore Jacob a son. 11And Leah said, “Good fortune!” so she named him Gad. 12Leah’s maid Zilpah bore Jacob a second son. 13And Leah said, “Happy am I! For the women will call me happy”; so she named him Asher.
family drama
Good morning brothers and sisters,
Jacob is now married to both Leah and Rachel, but he prefers Rachel. God sees that preference and blesses Leah with kids. There's a fascinating and sad rivalry between Rachel and Leah for Jacob's attention.Difficulty having children continues to be an important theme in the story of our faith ancestors. Sarah, Rebekah and Rachel all have trouble conceiving children. These sons eventually become the 12 tribes of Israel.
Blessings on your day,
Sam
Genesis 29:31-35
31When the Lord saw that Leah was unloved, he opened her womb; but Rachel was barren. 32Leah conceived and bore a son, and she named him Reuben; for she said, “Because the Lord has looked on my affliction; surely now my husband will love me.” 33She conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Because the Lord has heard that I am hated, he has given me this son also”; and she named him Simeon. 34Again she conceived and bore a son, and said, “Now this time my husband will be joined to me, because I have borne him three sons”; therefore he was named Levi. 35She conceived again and bore a son, and said, “This time I will praise the Lord”; therefore she named him Judah; then she ceased bearing.
Jacob is now married to both Leah and Rachel, but he prefers Rachel. God sees that preference and blesses Leah with kids. There's a fascinating and sad rivalry between Rachel and Leah for Jacob's attention.Difficulty having children continues to be an important theme in the story of our faith ancestors. Sarah, Rebekah and Rachel all have trouble conceiving children. These sons eventually become the 12 tribes of Israel.
Blessings on your day,
Sam
Genesis 29:31-35
31When the Lord saw that Leah was unloved, he opened her womb; but Rachel was barren. 32Leah conceived and bore a son, and she named him Reuben; for she said, “Because the Lord has looked on my affliction; surely now my husband will love me.” 33She conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Because the Lord has heard that I am hated, he has given me this son also”; and she named him Simeon. 34Again she conceived and bore a son, and said, “Now this time my husband will be joined to me, because I have borne him three sons”; therefore he was named Levi. 35She conceived again and bore a son, and said, “This time I will praise the Lord”; therefore she named him Judah; then she ceased bearing.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
