Read Judges 10 here (text coming …) or at Bible Gateway.
The Hebrew paragraphs:
10:1-2 {p} Tola of Issachar judged Israel 23 years
10:3-5 {p} Jair of Gilead judged Israel 22 years
10:6-10 {p} Israel forsook YHVH and were oppressed by the Philistines and Ammonites
10:11-16 {p} YHVH left Israel to the gods they have chosen to deliver them/ Israel put away other gods
10:17-18 {p} Ammon encamped against Israel in Gilead
Judges 10:1-18 Chiastic Structure:
“Yet you have forsaken Me, and served other gods. Therefore I will save you no more; go and cry to the gods which you have chosen, let them save you in the time of your distress.” Jud 10:13-14
The Hebrew verb “to save” is Strong’s H3467 ישע yasha, a primitive verb. The ancient pictographs are yud + shin + ayin:
yud י = the closed hand, thus work, throw, worship
shin ש = two front teeth, thus sharp, press, eat, two, again
ayin ע = the eye, thus watch, know, shade
The parable being told by the Hebrew Root Word is of actively (yud) and sharply, diligently (shin) watching out (ayin) for danger. We have carried over this same understanding in English from the Hebrew mother tongue, when we say, “Look sharp!” to mean, Look carefully without letting anything escape your notice. The concrete noun in between the verb “to save” and the abstract concept of “salvation,” is “shepherd,” one who rescues his flock.
The shepherd carefully watches over the flock and the surrounding area always on the lookout for danger. When a predator comes to attack, the shepherd destroys the enemy. – Ancient Hebrew Lexicon
This is the root for the personal name of Messiah Yeshua. And we Learn from the Narrative that God has mercy time and again, and delivers His people time and again, but when they continually returned to their sin, not exhibiting true repentance, the day came when He said, “You have made your choice; I will save you no more.”
Let us humble our hearts to wisdom, and not despise His great forbearance and mercy while the door to heaven is standing open!
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