Israel's civil war

Following a horror Bible story of the levels of 'Friday the 13th' published here yesterday, here is a sequel of events that ended in a rather interesting way. As for today, ignore the gruelling act of brutality against women, though we are led through a cruel civil war of ancient times. At the end, somehow women were involved.

Israel took to arms against the Benjamites. Benjamites chose 700 left-handed soldiers, ‘every one could sling stones at an hair breadth, and not miss' according to the Holy Bible. But, however, they eventually lost the war. All women and children were killed and all of Israel was reconciled. However, they had vowed and sworn that no one would marry their daughters to Benjamites, but the Benjamites had to propagate somehow.

It was decided to attack and kill all Jabesh-gilead citizens and save the virgins only for Benjamites. The operation was successful but the numbers could not tally. Shiloh, north of Bethel and south of Lebanon had an annual virgin feast, probably like the South African or Swaziland Reed dances of virgins.

Judges 21 v 20: ‘Therefore they commanded the children of Benjamin, saying, Go and lie in wait in the vineyards; v 21: And see, and, behold, if the daughters of Shiloh come out to dance in dances, then come ye out of the vineyards, and catch you every man his wife of the daughters of Shiloh, and go to the land of Benjamin.’

Sounds like proper hunting tactics, but I guess these things work sometimes. God had compassion for the land despite all the sins and appalling acts. He can forgive you all your sins if you sincerely repent and call upon him and never going back that old life.

A woman can kill you

Gideon had 70 sons besides Abimelech, born of a concubine and of corrupt nature. He went to his maternal uncles and with the help of his mother, convinced them to have him as King rather than the 70 sons of Gideon. He killed all but one of them escaped and Abimelech was made King. Israel had gone back to their corrupt ways. Abimellech’s brother, Jotham who survived the slaughter, was informed of these things and in his disgust and anger told this parable;

Judges 9:8: ‘The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us. v9: But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honour God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees? v10: And the trees said to the fig tree, Come thou, and reign over us. v11: But the fig tree said unto them, Should I forsake my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to be promoted over the trees?’

‘v12: Then said the trees unto the vine, Come thou, and reign over us. v13: And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees? v14: Then said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, and reign over us. v15: And the bramble said unto the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over you, then come and put your trust in my shadow: and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon.’

Jotham was disturbed and questioned if Israel had ‘done truly and sincerely, in that ye have made Abimelech king’ saying ‘For my father fought for you, and adventured his life far, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian.’

Abimelech ruled for three years and killed many people of Shechem. In one of the wars, he pursued his enemies, coming to a high tower, and a woman saw him, dropped a grinding stone that broke his skull and he fell. Judges 9v54: ‘Then he called hastily unto the young man his armour bearer, and said unto him, Draw thy sword, and slay me, that men say not of me, A woman slew him. And his young man thrust him through, and he died.’

After him ruled Tola for 20 years and then Jahir 22 years who had 30 sons. Any problems can kill you, including women. Pray.