NBBC, Judges: A Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition

by Robert Branson

Overview

Engaging, perceptive, and academically thorough, the New Beacon Bible Commentary will expand your understanding and deepen your appreciation for the meaning and message of each book of the Bible.

Written from the Wesleyan theological perspective, this indispensable commentary provides pastors, professional scholars, teachers, and Bible students with a critical, relevant, and inspiring interpretation of the Word of God in the 21st century.

Each Volume Features

Contemporary Scholarship from notable experts in the Wesleyan theological tradition

Convenient Introductory Material, including information on authorship, date, history, audience, sociological/cultural issues, purpose, literary features, theological themes, and hermeneutical issues

Clear Verse-By-Verse Explanations, which offer a contemporary, Wesleyan-based understanding derived from the biblical text in its original language

Comprehensive Annotation divided into three sections, which cover background elements behind the text; verse-by-verse details and meanings found in the text; and significance, relevance, intertextuality, and application from the text

Helpful Sidebars, which provide deeper insight into theological issues, word meanings, archeological connections, historical relevance, and cultural customs

An Expanded Bibliography for further study of historical elements, additional interpretations, and theological themes

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780834124073
Publisher:	Beacon Hill Press of Kansas City
Publication date:	06/01/2009
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	192
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.60(d)

Table of Contents

General Editors' Preface 11

Acknowledgments 13

Abbreviations 15

Bibliography 17

Introduction 21

A The Title 22

B The Historical Setting 23

C Chronology of the Book of Judges 25

D The Deuteronomic History 26

1 Modern Theories 27

2 Themes 30

3 Supporting Themes That Flow Out of the Concept of Covenant 32

E Writing and Compilation of the Book of Judges 33

F Judges and the Inspiration of Scripture 35

G Methodology 36

H Theological Themes 37

1 Human Freedom 37

2 Sovereignty of God 38

3 Call for Total Loyalty 38

Commentary 41

I Overview (1:1-3:6) 41

A A Geography of Failure (1:1-2:5) 43

1 Judah Goes Up (1:1-7) 44

2 Taking Jerusalem and Hebron (1:8-10) 46

3 Taking Debir (1:11-15) 47

4 Judah's Successes and Inadequacies (1:16-21) 48

5 Taking Bethel (1:22-26) 49

6 Living Among the Canaanites (1:27-36) 50

7 End of the Conquest (2:1-5) 51

B Testing of Israel (2:6-3:6) 54

1 Death of Joshua (2:6-10) 55

2 The Next Generation (2:11-19) 56

3 Yahweh's Decision (2:20-23) 59

4 Reasons for the Nations to Remain (3:1-6) 60

II Military Triumph: Spiritual Degeneration (3:7-16:31) 63

A Othniel, Ehud, and Shamgar (3:7-31) 64

1 Othniel (3:7-11) 64

2 Ehud (3:12-30) 67

3 Shamgar (3:31) 70

B Deborah, Barak, and Jael (4:1-5:31) 71

1 The Prose Story (4:1-24) 72

a Sisera the Oppressor (4:1-3) 74

b Deborah and Barak (4:4-10) 75

c Heber the Kenite (4:11) 76

d The Battle with Sisera (4:12-16) 77

e Sisera and Jael (4:17-22) 77

f Destruction of Jabin (4:23-24) 79

2 The Poem (5:1-31) 83

aIntroduction (5:1-11) 84

b The Mustering of the Tribes (5:12-18) 85

c The Battle (5:19-22) 86

d Jael's Victory (5:23-27) 86

e Sisera's Mother (5:28-31) 87

C Gideon, Abimelech, Tola, and Jair (6:1-10:18) 89

1 Gideon, the Reluctant Judge (6:1-8:35) 89

a Oppression of the Midianites (6:1-10) 89

b The Call of Gideon (6:11-40) 91

c God's Victory (7:1-23) 96

d Gideon's Victory and Vengeance (7:24-8:21) 100

e Gideon and Israel's Idolatry (8:22-35) 103

2 Abimelech's Failed Monarchy (9:1-57) 105

a Abimelech as King (9:1-6) 106

b Jotham's Parable of the Trees (9:7-21) 107

c Plots Against Abimelech (9:22-33) 108

d Abimelech's Battles (9:34-57) 109

3 Tola and Jair (10:1-5) 112

4 God's Rejection of Israel's Cry (10:6-18) 113

D Jephthah, Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon (11:1-12:15) 116

1 Jephthah and the Ammonites (11:1-40) 117

2 The War with Ephraim (12:1-7) 122

3 Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon (12:8-15) 124

E Samson (13:1-16:31) 126

1 The Birth of Samson (13:1-25) 128

2 Samson's Conflict with the Philistines (14:1-15:20) 133

3 Samson's Final Exploits (16:1-31) 140

III Failure Complete (17:1-21:25) 149

A Relocation of Dan (17:1-18:31) 151

1 Micah and the Levite (17:1-13) 151

2 New Home for the Tribe of Dan (18:1-31) 154

B War Within Israel (19:1-21:25) 161

1 The Levite and His Concubine (19:1-30) 162

2 War Between the Tribes (20:1-48) 171

3 Wives for the Men of Benjamin (21:1-25) 182