Today's Favorite Verse: Judges 1:1-2

Today's Favorite Verse: Judges 1:1-2

"Now after the death of Joshua it came to pass, that the children of Israel asked the LORD, saying, Who shall go up for us against the Canaanites first, to fight against them?2 And the LORD said, Judah shall go up: behold, I have delivered the land into his hand."

I'm starting the book of Judges and wondered who was the Lord speaking to? It was clear when it was Moses, and then Joshua but who is their prophet or leader now? I did read ahead and found that Othniel that is first mentioned in this chapter is the first judge.

"And Caleb said, He that smiteth Kirjath-sepher, and taketh it, to him will I give Achsah my daughter to wife.

And Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother, took it: and he gave him Achsah his daughter to wife."

(Judges 1:12-13)

I read a little more on what the book Judges is and found this.

"This book and Ruth contain all the Jewish history that has been preserved to us of the times between the death of Joshua and the birth of Samuel. Judges consists of three parts: (1) an introduction (Judg. 1:1–3:6); (2) the history of the Twelve Judges, which falls into a succession of periods of rebellion against God, and the oppressions and deliverances by which they were followed (3:7–16:31); (3) two narratives, which specially show the tendency to idolatry and lawlessness (Judg. 17–21).

...In some cases the influence of a judge only extended over part of the land, so that two judges might hold office at the same time.

...The lack of unity is vividly called to the reader’s attention in the closing sentence of the book (Judg. 21:25): “In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.”

(Bible Dictionary)

Now I have things that I will watch for as I read this chapter. I also pondered on how not having a clear leader over all the children of Israel, and the lack of unity that came from it, could be a cause of so many issues ahead. When there isn't unity in people there can be chaos and rebellion. Then again you can have a prophet and people don't always listen or follow him either.

Day 2371