Alphabetical Index to Bible Timeline – Page 76 – Amazing Bible Timeline with World History

Posted on May 16, 2012December 19, 2018 by Margaret Hunter — 5 Comments

David Subdues Edomites

One of the enemies of Israel that David subdued during his wars were the Edomites. This event is found on the Biblical Timeline Chart around 1040 BC King David is considered the greatest king in all of Israel. His life was very dynamic and compelling. He killed a giant as a boy, eluded a mad monarch as a young man and by the time he was 30 he was king of God’s chosen people. David’s life was filled with many blessings and with curses. In 2 Samuel 7 David wanted to build a permanent home for the Ark of the Covenant and God said that he could gather resources for the project, but he wasn’t allowed to build the temple.

Chapter 7 of Samuel also states that God made a covenant with David so that his lineage would forever remain on the throne of Israel. Shortly after the events of chapter 7, David began to go forth and conquer many enemies in chapter 8. Israel was surrounded by hostile nations on all sides and David’s forces defeated them all. The Edomites were descendants of Esau who was the brother of Jacob. Esau was the firstborn son of Isaac and then Jacob. In Genesis 25:23 God revealed to Rebekah that there were two nations in her womb and that the older would serve this younger. This wasn’t just a personal rivalry between the two brothers, but also affected their two lineages.

David_Defeats_Edomites — Edom’s Location

Jacob represents Israel and Esau the Edomites. The promises that God made to Israel was going to come through Jacob and not Esau. When the Israelites had left out of Egypt and headed toward Canaan they wanted to pass through the Edomites land to arrive at their destination. The Edomites refused them entry and many of the Israelis became discouraged and upset. God told them to honor their request and not to make war against them because the Edomites are their brothers. This is in reference to Esau and Jacob.

Even though the Edomites were considered brothers the Edomites were not a godly people. At various different times throughout their history with Israel, they attacked and harassed them. They also sided with the enemies of Israel at different points in time in their history. When King David went out and subdued Isreal’s enemies, God directed his forces toward the Edomites. In the book of 2 Samuel, verses 8:14 King David defeated them and then set up garrisons at strategic points within the land of Edom. He also made the Edomites the servants to Israel.

Once again this coincides with the prophecy that God made about Jacob and Esau in Genesis 25:23. God said that the older brother (Esau) would be the servant of the younger brother Jacob. This is one time that this prophecy was fulfilled. The Israelites held control over the Edomites for many years following their defeat under the dominance of King David. In time, the Edomites eventually regained their freedom but they still were subject to Israel at various other points in history. King David’s defeat of the Edomites was just one way that God was fulfilling his plan for his people to reclaim all of the lands that he promised them.

Biblical References to David and the Edomites

Genesis 25:23 God judges Esau and Jacob before they were born. He declares that they will have descendants that will be rivals and that the older brother would be a servant to the younger brother.
Numbers 20:21 explains how the Edomites refused to allow the Israelites to go through their territory.
2 Samuel 8:6 God was with David as he conquered his enemies including the Edomites.
2 Samuel 8:14 David set up garrisons at strategic points in the land of Edom. The Edomites now have to serve the Israelites.

References:
http://jimbomkamp.com/2Samuel/2Sam8p1.htm
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Samuel+8%3A14%2C2+Samuel+8%3A15&version=KJV
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Kingdoms_around_Israel_830_map.svg

Posted on May 15, 2012May 10, 2016 by Margaret Hunter — Leave a comment

Edom, Kings of

Esau is considered the father of the people of Edom. In the Bible, Esau is mentioned as Jacob’s brother. After departing from Jacob, Esau settled into the land south of Judea. This area became known as Edom. The reference to the Kings of Edom is found on the Bible Timeline Chart about 1290 BC. When the people of Israel left Egypt they thought they could head through the land of Edom into the Promise Land which was Canaan. The Edomite rulers didn’t want the Israelites to pass through their territory and they made preperations to go to war with them if they didn’t listen to their demand. The Israelites became very discouraged. God told the Israelites not to fight against Edom. God called the people of Edom brothers to the Israelites. He then told them to go around their territory to reach the land of Canaan. When the Israelites were refused entrance into the land of Edom this decree was given by their king. The Bible doesn’t go into detial about who this king was but it does list the kings of Edom on two separate accounts. Genesis 36 lists the kings of Edom and 1 Chronicles 1:43-54 mirrors this particular passage. According to 1 Chronicles 1:43-54 the Edomites had kings long before Israel. This fact also probably played a role with the Israelites wanting a king after Samuel completed his term as the last Judge of Israel. The first king of Edom was Belen the son of Beor. The Bible doesn’t go into detail about how long the kings of Edom reigned. The next king on the list was Jobab and then there was Husham, Hadad, Samlah, Shaul and Baal-Hanan. After Baal-Hanan died another ruler by the name of Hadad became king.

Most of the kings of Edom had names and characters that seemed to reflect the ungoldy nature of the people. God said that he “hated” Esau before he was born. Apparently God saw how Esau was going to be long before he was born out of Rebecca‘s womb. The Edomites worshipped the many different gods in the region where they dwelt. Baal-Hanan was a king whose name was directly linked to the pagan deity Baal. There were also clans mentioned in 1 Chronicles 1: 43-55 and these clans represented ungodly characters as well. The clan of Alvah meant “wicked” and there was the clan of Iram whose name meant “mountain goat”.

Even though many of the Edomites had later converted to Judiasm they seemed to be still considered a wicked people according to scripture. Herod the Great was an Edomite and during his reign he played a role trying to kill Jesus as a child and with his persecution by Rome. Both Jeremiah and Ezekiel condemned Edom in prophecies. Israel ruled over Edom at various times in its history and they also placed appointed kings to power over the land when they did. Edom had constantly resisted and attacked Israel all throughout its history. The prophet Obadiah also condemns Edom for being too proud and not relying on God. In Genesis 25:23 God tells Rebekah that her sons (Jacob and Esau) will be rivals from the time they’re born. He also said that the older brother will serve the younger one. Ultimately the strife between Israel and Edom is the result of God’s judgment on the land before Esau was born. The kings of Edom were just fulfilling the judgment that God placed on Esau and his descendants.

Biblical References to Kings Of Edom

Genesis 25:23 God judges Esau and Jacob before they were born. He states that they will have descendants that will be rivals.
Genesis 36: 1-5, 6-8 Esau is called Edom. Jacob and Esau have to split apart because of their great wealth. The first list of kings form Edom is also mentioned in this chapter of the Bible.
Numbers 20:21 The Edomites refuse to allow Israel to pass through their land.

References:
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Chronicles+1%3A43-54&version=NIV http://www.enduringword.com/commentaries/0136.htm http://gracestories.wordpress.com/2011/03/13/does-god-make-some-people-bad-like-esau-or-judas/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edom http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Edom.PNG

Posted on May 14, 2012October 4, 2017 by Margaret Hunter — Leave a comment

Jair a Judge In Israel

Jair the Gileadite was judged over Israel for twenty-two years. He is found on the Biblical Timeline around 1200 BC. His rule over Israel was fairly a long one. The Scripture doesn’t state that Jair did anything wrong while he was in office. The unique quality of the life of Jair was the fact that he had 30 sons that had 30 cities. According to the book of Judges, the cities were named Havothjair. In the Bible Havothjair was a group of villages that consisted of at least 30 different units. They were previously owned by various Israeli rulers in the past starting with Jair, the son of Manasseh. Hezron was the father of Caleb, and he had a son named Segub who had 23 towns in Gilead. He eventually lost some of these territories to Geshur and Aram. These two men were descendants of Machir, the father of Gilead. Jair’s sons had come to control the various towns and settlements of Havothjair. Jair, the judge, was connected to the line of Machir through his father, Segub. His sons held had probably inherited one of the many different cities of Havothjair from him.

Most people in ancient Israel did not ride donkeys or horses as a form of transportation. Owning a donkey or a horse in ancient Israel was the same as a person having a vehicle for personal transportation today. The fact that Jair’s sons had 30 donkeys was also an indication of his wealth and status. Since his sons held thirty cities, they apparently had servants and were men of means and status. Jair being their father must have been a well-respected city member that was chosen by the elders to become a judge. The history of Havothjair is usually ascribed to the various Israelites who ruled the area at the time of Manasseh. The name Jair also appears all throughout the Old Testament, and it was all connected to various events that happened in or near Havothjair during its time of importance. Jair was also used sometimes to describe Havothjair.

Biblical References to Jair

Judges 10:3 Jair the Gileadite becomes the next judge of Israel after Abimelech. He judged Israel for 22 years before he died
Judges 10:4 He had 30 sons who rode on thirty donkeys and held 30 cities.
Judges 10:5 Jair died and was buried in Camon.

References:
http://www.studylight.org/dic/hbd/view.cgi?number=T2616 http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Judges&c=10&t=YNG http://www.blueletterbible.org/search/translationResults.cfm?Criteria=jair&t=KJV http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Havoth-Jair http://bible.cc/numbers/32-41.htm http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1979_Lake_Turkana_(27115984).jpg

Posted on May 11, 2012March 29, 2016 by Margaret Hunter — 3 Comments

Eli A Judge In Israel

Eli is found on the Bible Timeline beginning at 1252 BC Eli was a priest in Israel, and when he is introduced into the Bible, he assures a childless woman named Hannah that she will have a baby. Hannah is one of two wives of Elkanah, and she is not able to bear children. Elkanah’s other wife Peninnah constantly harasses Hannah about not being able to have children. Hannah goes to the temple to pray about this dilemma, and Eli assures her that God will grant her request.

Hannah Giving Her Son Samuel to the Priest

After Hannah has her firstborn child, she names him Samuel and leaves him to the care of Eli. Samuel is raised up by Eli and becomes a prophet and a judge of Israel. During Eli’s lifetime, he judged Israel for forty years. Before he died, he had two sons named Hophni and Phinehas. The Bible states that these two sons didn’t know God, but they were the sons of Belial. In other words, Eli son’s worshipped the devil while serving as God’s priests in God’s temple. They had sex with the servant girls of the temple, and they took meat from the people that was meant to be used for sacrifice. They also forced the people to give them good meat for the sacrifices and if the people didn’t listen they threatened to hurt them. Many people didn’t want to go to the temple to make offerings to the Lord because of their deeds. God was mad at Eli for not stopping his sons from doing this wicked behavior.

Apparently Eli could have stopped his boys but he did nothing to keep them from sinning. God also claims that Eli allowed his sons to take the best meat for all of their benefits. God was angry with him. God then judges Eli by not allowing any of his male offspring to grow old, and they will be placed in subservient positions to priests from other lines. God’s judgment is severe because the duties of the priests are extremely important with helping to keep the people free from sin and for living a holy life. The time has passed, and the Philistines have attacked the land of Israel and during the battle Phinehas and Hophni are killed. When Eli hears this news, he falls back on his neck and is killed. The Bible states that Eli had become a very large man over the years, and when he fell back he broke his neck. This seems to be a bit of an irony from the Lord about Eli and his over-indulgence of the meat that he had taken from the temple. Eli’s rule over Israel wasn’t the best, but he wasn’t discredited as a bad judge either.

Bible References to Eli

Exodus 28 and 29 The tribe of Levi is chosen by God to become a priest for all of Israel. (28:1) Aaron receives his anointing to become the first high priest of Israel.
1 Samuel 1, 2: 1-11 tells the story of Hannah and how Eli assures her that God will fulfill her request.
1 Samuel 1:25 Eli receives Samuel from Hannah so he could raise him up for God’s service.
1 Samuel 2:12-17 tells about Eli’s wicked sons Hophni and Phinehas.
1 Samuel 2:27-36 Elis and his family are Judged by God.
1 Samuel 4:16-18 Eli hears about the death of his sons and falls over backwards and dies. He judges Israel for forty years.

References:
http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/112391/jewish/Eli-The-High-Priest.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aaron http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ithamar http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eli_(Bible) http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Samuel%204&version=KJ21 http://www.prca.org/sermons/1samuel2.27-36.html http://www.blueletterbible.org/search/translationResults.cfm?criteria=eli&page=1&t=KJV http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Hannah_VICTORS,_Jan.jpg

Posted on May 10, 2012March 28, 2016 by Margaret Hunter — 2 Comments

Abdon A Judge In Israel

Abdon was a judge and one great thing that was mentioned about him was the fact that he had 40 sons and 30 nephews. Bible scholars theorize that he was a man of wealth and means because his sons and grandsons were known to ride around on 70 donkeys.

Abdon had judged Israel for eight years and apparently during his rule the people didn’t rebel against God. He is found on the Biblical Timeline Poster around 1130 BC.

Shortly after Abdon’s death the people of Israel turned against God once again. This means that Abdon must have had a strong influence on the people during this reign. He must have been wise as well as rich. Nothing in scripture indicates that his rule was disappointing God.

The Bible also mentions that Abdon was the son of Hillel and he was also from Pirathon a city in Ephraim. Joseph was the father of Ephraim and the people that descended from him became Ephraimites. This is one of the two tribes that came from Joseph.

Abdon,_A_Judge_in_Isreal — Abdon had possession of many donkeys, a sign of wealth.

Abdon had possession of many donkeys, a sign of wealth.

He also must have had many wives in order to have so many sons or his one wife must have been a fertile woman capable of bearing so many children within her lifetime. He also could have had more than one wife throughout the course of his lifetime and has his children spread out between them.

The fact that he had so many nephews would indicate that his family was large and that they were probably just as wealthy as he was. He came from a large family of brothers and sisters himself and might have been one of the eldest sons of his clan. This probably wasn’t that uncommon since a few of the previous judges also had large families. Keep in mind that most people could not adequately support a large family of this size unless they had enough resources.

Abdon’s wealth must have been something of note since he had so many donkeys for his sons. The families in ancient Israel were close knit and it wouldn’t have been uncommon for them to work together in some sort of enterprise. Herding was a popular line of work and so was farming large fields. Each of these enterprises could have made Abdon a rich man if they were, in fact, his trade. His wealth, wisdom and influence helped him to be selected by the elders of his people as a leader.

References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tribe_of_Ephraim
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Judges+12&version=KJV
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdon_(Judges)

Posted on May 9, 2012December 4, 2017 by Margaret Hunter — 2 Comments

Jephthah, A Judge in Israel

The time period that God used the judges to lead Israel was instituted by God to test the people of Israel. It was also a time where God wanted to instruct his people how to live and govern their lives according to his purposes. The Israelites often strayed from the Lord during this era and worshipped other Gods. The story of Jephthah is another chapter in the history of Israel where God uses a judge to free his people from the tyranny of a foreign oppressor. He appears on the Biblical Timeline Poster around 1150 BC

Jeptha,A_Judge_in_Isreal — Jephthah didn’t realize that he would have to sacrifice his daughter.

Jephthah didn’t realize that he would have to sacrifice his daughter.

Jephthah was born of a prostitute from a man named Gilead. This man also had a wife who bore him children. When Gilead’s sons were born and grew up, they separated themselves from Jephthah. They didn’t want Jephthah to claim their father’s inheritance because he was born from an illegitimate union. Jephthah then left his home and had to live in a place called Tob. Once Jephthah was in Tob, he found other men of valour and war who gathered around him. Now Jephthah had a small force, and they apparently were known for their feats of battle and bravery.

Years later the people of Ammon made war against the Israelites, and they didn’t have anyone strong enough to repel them. So the elders went to Jephthah and asked him to defend the nation. Jephthah was angry with them and questioned them about their decision to seek his help after they forced him to leave his home.

Jephthah then told the people of Israel that he would fight for them, and if he were to win the battle, he would be their new leader. Since the people of Ammon were severely oppressing the Israelites, they agreed to his terms. Jephthah was given authority by the elders of Israel to lead the people into battle. After Jephthah was in power, he then sent messengers to the king of Ammon informing him to stop harassing the Israelites. The king of Ammon claimed that the Israelites had stolen their lands from them when they left out of Egypt. Jephthah replied that the Israelites didn’t steal anything from them. The people of Ammon didn’t listen and kept up their campaign against the Israelites.

God sent his spirit over Jephthah who then made a vow to conquer the people of Ammon, and the Lord confirmed this vow. Jephthah then conquered the people of Ammon and became the leader or judge of Israel.

This part of Jephthah’s story is similar to many of the other judges of Israel but where it differs is the vow that Jephthah made to God. Jephthah told God he would give him the first thing that came out of his house to greet him. Jephthah didn’t realize that he would have to sacrifice his daughter.

He realized the foolishness of his vow when his daughter was the first to greet him. Even though he was reluctant about offering his daughter as a sacrifice, he knew that he had to make good on his word. Jephthah sacrificed his daughter and the virgins in the land of Israel to pay homage to her memory by mourning her loss every year. Jephthah also had to fight against the Ephraimites during a later period of his reign. The Ephraimites didn’t help the Israelites against Ammon, and they ended up wanting to fight them instead. After defeating the Ephraimites, Jephthah judged the Israelites for six more years and then passed away.

Biblical References to Jephthah

Judges 11:2 Jephthah is thrown out of his home by his brothers.
Judges 11:6-7 the people ask Jephthah to lead them into battle against the people of Ammon.
Judges 11:9 Jephthah agrees to their request and becomes the leader of Israel.
Judges 11:31 Jephthah vows to sacrifice the first thing that comes out of his house to greet him if God gives him the victory against Ammon.
Judges 11: 39 Jephthah makes good on his vow and sacrifices his virgin daughter to God.

References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jephthah
http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Jdg&c=11&t=KJV#29
http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Jdg&c=12&v=1&t=KJV#1
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Giovanni_Antonio_Pellegrini_001.jpg

Posted on May 8, 2012September 30, 2015 by Margaret Hunter — 10 Comments

Trojan War Myths and Facts

According to the Greek Myth, the famous Trojan War took place in Troy. So, what sparked the war? It was caused by the Greeks or the Achaeans when Paris who lived in Troy had taken Helen away from Menelaus who was her husband and also Sparta’s King. The Trojan War is probably the most significant event that ever occurred in Greek Myth. Its story has been narrated in various ways in a lot of Greek literary works such as “Iliad and Odyssey” by Homer, which contained fragments of the actual war. It is placed on the Biblical Timeline with World History at 1184 BC

Trojan War Around 1184 BC: Truth or Legend?

1184 BC sparked the beginning of the Trojan War. During this phase, the Greeks departed in various ships and left behind an enormous wooden horse that was a form of victory offering. The truth is that it was actually heaved within Troy’s walls, and the Greek soldiers would then come down from the belly of the horse after dark just to slay each and every guard. That way, they were able to successfully destroy the city.

Throughout the generations, a lot of questions about the war have been commonly asked. Did it really happen? Was it really during the 1184 BC? The answer to the first question would be a yes based on various archaeological evidence. According to studies, it didn’t really happen during the traditional date that’s told, but rather just around the 1200 BC. Where? The answer would be Asia Minor.
So, there is actually a conflict of info between the works of Homer about the Trojan War legends and the various archaeological studies conducted. However, it can’t just be a truly made up story. The said war and the folklores it comes with are firm parts of the Western Culture, especially in language enrichment.

Significant Details about the Trojan War

The war lasted for over 10 consecutive years until such time that the Greeks were able to send the wooden horse loaded with soldiers who were aimed to bring destruction to the city of Troy. Achilles, who was one of the major characters to have fought in the said war, was speared through his heel to death. Due to the invasion of the Greek soldiers, all the major structures within Troy were totally burnt. In the end, Troy lost the battle that seems to be pretty tragic if you really think about it.
Now, why did Paris have to take away Helen from Menelaus, the King of Sparta? As you may know, Paris is actually one of the gods in the said legend. The main reason Helen had been such a big interest to him was the goddess beauty that she had possessed. Aphrodite whom Paris sent along with the soldiers was actually the one who did the abduction for him.

Menelaus’s Broken Vow

Due to Menelaus’s love for Helen, he had made a vow to do whatever it took to rescue Helen. With the help of his brother, Agamemnon, he was able to win the companionship of the Achaean soldiers towards the retrieval of Helen. There are actually different versions about how it ended. There’s one where Menelaus ended it all by killing Helen. On the other hand, there was a version where he dies and reunites with his beloved Helen in a so-called “Island of the Blessed.”

References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trojan_War
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Achaeans_(Homer)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Achilles

Posted on May 7, 2012October 4, 2017 by Margaret Hunter — 1 Comment

Rome With References, Founding of

Most of the more accurate information on the founding of Rome is based on archaeological findings along with recordings from writers of ancient times such as Herodotus and Livy. Myth, legend, established notions, and educational guesses dominate the information on the history of Rome. This creates a plethora of facts and fiction. The founding of Rome is placed on the Bible Timeline with it’s earliest settlements during the Bronze age and the formal founding of Rome at 753 BC

The Peoples of Early Rome

Archaeological findings indicate that there were two closely related inhabitants in the area during its earliest years of habitation. These were the tribal agrarian Italic peoples in the form of the Latins and the Sabines. Both tribes dominated the early Romanian form of government through a hierarchy that existed throughout the city’s rise to dominance in the region.

Facts and Fictions Surrounding the Founding of Rome

Evidence of an early settlement in the region of Latium (this includes Rome) dates back to the Bronze Age (1500 BC). But indications of these findings are that a more established and permanent type of settlement began in 8th century BC. Archaeological findings from the early settlements of Palatine Hill indicate there was a habitation of that place from as early as 750 BC. There is an established legend that Rome was founded on April 21 753 BC. There is an evidently close collaboration in the dateline between the archaeological findings and this established legend.

Rome,_Founding_of — Aeneas’ Flight from Troy

In 8th century BC, the two existing settlements of Palatine Hill and Quirinal came together to establish a single village. This move corresponds with the date of 753 BC given by the legend. Legend also has it that the Romans origins are linked to Aeneas the son of Venus, who was an escapee from the sacking of Troy during a war between that nation and the Greeks. Aeneas is said to have fled to Italy where he established a monarchy through his son lulus (otherwise known as Julius) after founding of Alba Longa. Roman legends tell tales of what ensued during the reign of Aeneas and other subsequent kings of Alba Longa leading up to the founding of Rome.

The Actual Founding of Rome

Rome was founded by twins Romulus and Remus, brothers who were direct descendants of the Kings of Alba Longa. The story surrounding these twins is told in the famous Roman myth of Romulus and Remus. Romulus became the first and sole King of Rome after a quarrel between the two brothers concerning on which hill the city was to be established, led to Remus’murder. Romulus’ rise to this status (King of Rome) and the founding of Rome was traditionally celebrated on April 21, 753 BC. This was celebrated as the festival of Parilia, the hill on which Romulus decided the city was to be established. That celebration continues today with an array of festivals and parades. The early Romans in the centuries before Christ are known to have referred to Rome as the City of Seven Hills. Rome takes its name from its first King, Romulus.

Rome’s rise to power was largely supported by their neighbors to the north, the Etruscans. These people assisted Romulus and Rome in their conquests as they were wary of a Latin city to their south that was growing in both power and influence. The Etruscans, with the passage of time, would come to strategically replace Romulus and the Latin Kings with their own Kings.

References:
http://www.roman-empire.net/founding/found-index.html
http://www.unrv.com/empire/founding.php
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Founding_of_Rome
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Aeneas%27_Flight_from_Troy_by_Federico_Barocci.jpg

Posted on May 4, 2012September 30, 2015 by Margaret Hunter — 1 Comment

Tola a Judge in Israel

Tola Biblical Judge

Tola, the son of Puah, was a judge of Israel whose reign spanned a total of twenty-three (23) years. His reign started after the death of Abimelech. This is supported by the Biblical Time Line Chart. Not much was recorded about the life and reign of Tola. This judge of Israel is the least spoken of or recorded judge. There are no recorded deeds of this Tola.

Tola, a_Judge_in_the_Bible — Image Description from historic lecture booklet: “From Mount Gilboa we turn to the south-west, and in what was once the tribe-land of Ephraim

Image Description from historic lecture booklet: “From Mount Gilboa we turn to the south-west, and in what was once the tribe-land of Ephraim

Tola was buried at Shamir located in Mount Ephraim where he resided until he died. Dodo of the tribe of Issachar was the grandfather of Tola. Tola is a Hebrew name that means worm, grub or scarlet.

Biblical Recordings of Tola

Judges 10:1-2. Tola takes over and leads the charge to defend Israel after the death of Abimelech. These two verses are the only biblical recordings of Tola.

References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tola_(Bible)
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Samaria_from_the_Southeast_(4879748112).jpg

Posted on May 3, 2012October 4, 2017 by Margaret Hunter — 7 Comments

Gideon Judge In Israel

Gideon was a former judge of Israel who ruled the people after he led a small army to defeat the Midianites. He is placed on the Biblical Timeline Chart at around 1179 – 1154 BC. Gideon’s story begins with the Israelites not obeying God. The Israelites were not perfect people, and they constantly wandered away from God, and he punished them when they departed from him. In this particular instance, he allowed the Midianites to become so strong that the Hebrews lived in fear of them.

According to the book of Judges, the Israelites were living in the caves and cliffs of their country since God had made the Midianites so strong. They and their allies would come to Israel and take the people’s crops at harvest time. They would camp out within the land, kill all the livestock and harass the people before taking their crops. To make matters worse, the Midians would ravage and destroy the land. Many people in Israel at the time found the situation to be unbearable, but according to scripture God had a plan to free them from this type of tyranny.

An angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon while he was threshing wheat. (Keep in mind that Gideon was a wealthy man in Israel, but his wealth and power didn’t mean anything under these type of circumstances.) Gideon had servants, but he still had to thresh out his own wheat. When an angel of the Lord contacted Gideon, he told him about God’s plan to use him to free his people from the tyranny of the Gideonites.

Gideon didn’t believe the angel and claimed that his clan was the least among his people and that he was the weakest member of his clan. God assured him that he was stronger than what he believed. Gideon still wasn’t convinced and wanted a sign, so he placed meat and bread on a rock, and the angel touched it with a rod. The fire then consumed the food. Gideon built an altar after this happened.

God instructed Gideon to tear down his father’s altar to Baal and to construct one in his honor. Then Gideon still wanted proof that God was with him. So he placed a wool fleece on the threshing floor. He told the Lord if there is dew only on the fleece and not the ground, and then he would believe him. God did as he requested. He then asked God to make the ground wet while leaving the fleece dry and God fulfilled this request. Once this happened Gideon was finally convinced.

Gideon gathered a bunch of men, but God ended up reducing their numbers down to 300. He then sent the 300 soldiers into battle. The Israelites snuck up on the Midianites in the darkness. In the confusion of the night, the Midianites began to slay one another. The next day many of them had fled, and they never harassed Israel again. The people wanted to make Gideon a king, but he refused. He judged Israel for 40 years, and there was peace in the land. After Gideon passed away the people of Israel turned after other Gods once again.

Gideon in the Bible

Judges 6: 1-5 the people of Israel worship other gods and God becomes angry. He decides to send the Midianites out against them.
Judges 6: 6-10 the people are frustrated and cry out to God. He sends a prophet who tells them why they’re being oppressed. He wants them to repent.
Judges 6: 11-13 an angel of the Lord appears to Gideon and tells him that he has been chosen by God to free his people.
Judges 6: 14-16 Gideon questions God’s decision for choosing him. He claims to be too weak to accomplish this feat.
Judges 6: 17-40 Gideon questions God again and makes special requests to validate his choice. Gideon finally believes the Lord.
Judges 7:2 Gideon had selected many warriors, but God wanted their numbers reduced so that they would not claim that the victory came from them.
Judges 7: 18-25 Gideon and his forces defeat the Midianites.
Judges 8: 28 Gideon ruled the Israelites for 40 years before he died.
Judges 8:33 after Gideon had died, the people of Israel started to worship foreign gods once again.

References:
http://www.jesusplusnothing.com/studies/online/judges7.htm
http://www.blueletterbible.org/search/translationResults.cfm?criteria=gideon&page=1&t=KJV
http://www.blueletterbible.org/search/translationResults.cfm?criteria=gideon&page=2&t=KJV
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gideon
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gideon-judge.jpg