Book of Judges

Let's go to our fourth one, which is shakat.

Shakar, okay? Shakar is found here in the book of Judges 3 verse 11.

So the land had rest for 40 years.

Then Othniel, the son of Kenaz, died.

Now when we read the book of Judges, we know what it's all about, right? It's about Yahuwah punishing Israel.

and then they repent and they cry out to Yahuwah, and Yahuwah, God sends a hero, a judge, and Yahuwah delivers them.

And after deliverance, the people of God enjoy rest.

That's important to note because we're going to look into what refers to an internal REST more in the latter parts of our study but what the word shakat refers to is the outer kind of like political peace the peace between nations right rather than an internal or spiritual state of rest that's shakat so the concept of shakat signifies that a conflict is ended for example there are two two nations fighting in war like ukraine and russia and so when it comes to one end you have shakat So invaders depart, there's no immediate danger present.

And even if it was tough on them, what? What more shall I say? He continues to say, for time will fail me if I recount of Gideon." Now notice, I'm not gonna even explore this because the writer himself didn't explore it, but he assumes that the readers have knowledge of these individuals and these actions that he's gonna talk about.

And notice he comes from the book of Judges.

He moves from, because the periods in Israel's history is from the time, once they get into the promised land, and the death of Joshua and the elders that survived him, we move to the next period, which is Judges.

And that is literally the book of Judges.

Once we continue with the book, we move from the book of Judges, the next period starts with Samuel, that is Samuel, because Samuel was like the link between the judges.

Samuel was the last judge.

He was the link between the judges and the times of the Kings.

That was Genesis 21, verse 5 through 21.

Our next portion, which is from the prophets, is Judges chapter 1.

Now it came to pass, after the death of Joshua, that the children of Israel inquired of the Lord, saying, The Lord said, Judah will go up.

Behold, I have given the land into his hand.

But when the hand of the house of Joseph prevailed, they became forced labor for them.

So the territory of the Amorites ran from the ascent of Akrabim, from the rock, and upward.

That was Judges chapter 1.

Our next portion is from the writings, and it is Psalm 24.

So, we are back in Shoftim, and we are in the throes of a drama.

I don't know if it's the most dramatic, I don't remember the rest of Shoftim.

There are other dramatic things, especially when we get to Shimshon.

But here we're talking about the story of Devorah, Barak, and then ultimately Yael and Sisra.

We've seen much worse.

I go back to the Bible and the Old Testament in the book of Judges, right? That guy goes into the town.

And I forgot what town it is, and I forgot the guy's name.

But he goes in.

We've seen much worse.

I go back to the Bible and the Old Testament in the book of Judges, right? That guy goes into the town.

And I forgot what town it is, and I forgot the guy's name.

But he goes in.

And the Bible says they both sang together.

So they composed this song and sang it together, and it became institutionalized, if you will, in Scripture in this book of Judges.

So Judges chapter 5.

On that day, Deborah and Barak, son of Abinoam, sang this song.

This is all Hashem manipulating things behind the scenes.

Megillus Esther is unlike, let's say, I think I've said before, Sefer Shoftim, everything that happens is explicitly Hashem's hand.

This one attacks.

Why did they attack? Hashem, you know, told them to come attack.