So the Israelites did evil in the sight of the LORD; they forgot the LORD their God and served the Baals and the Asherahs. The Israelites did evil in the sight of the LORDThis phrase sets the stage for the recurring cycle of sin, oppression, repentance, and deliverance that characterizes the Book of Judges. The Hebrew word for "evil" is "ra," which encompasses not only moral wickedness but also actions that are harmful or destructive. The phrase "in the sight of the LORD" underscores the omniscience of God, who sees all actions and judges them according to His holy standards. This highlights the seriousness of Israel's sin, as it is not merely a societal or cultural failing but a direct affront to God's holiness. They forgot the LORD their God
The Hebrew word for "forgot" is "shakach," which implies more than a mere lapse of memory; it suggests a willful neglect or disregard. This forgetting is not intellectual but relational, indicating a breakdown in the covenant relationship between Israel and God. The phrase "the LORD their God" emphasizes the personal and covenantal nature of Israel's relationship with Yahweh. It is a reminder that God is not a distant deity but their personal God who has delivered them and established a covenant with them. and served the Baals and the Asherahs
The term "served" comes from the Hebrew "avad," which means to work or worship. This indicates that Israel's idolatry was not passive but involved active participation and devotion. "The Baals" refers to the Canaanite storm and fertility gods, with "Baal" meaning "lord" or "master." The worship of Baal was often associated with immoral practices and rituals. "The Asherahs" refers to the Canaanite goddess Asherah, often represented by wooden poles or trees. Her worship was linked to fertility rites and was a direct violation of the first commandment. This phrase highlights the syncretism that plagued Israel, as they adopted the religious practices of the surrounding nations, forsaking their unique identity as God's chosen people. Persons / Places / Events 1. The IsraelitesThe chosen people of God, who repeatedly fall into cycles of sin, oppression, repentance, and deliverance throughout the Book of Judges. 2. The LORDThe covenant God of Israel, who is holy and just, and who desires faithfulness from His people. 3. BaalsCanaanite deities associated with fertility and weather, often worshiped through idolatrous practices. 4. AsherahsCanaanite goddesses, often represented by wooden poles or trees, associated with fertility and motherhood. 5. The Cycle of SinA recurring theme in Judges where Israel falls into sin, faces oppression, cries out to God, and is delivered by a judge. Teaching Points The Danger of ForgetfulnessForgetting God leads to spiritual decline and idolatry. We must actively remember and honor God in our daily lives. The Consequences of IdolatryServing other gods brings about God's displeasure and judgment. We must guard our hearts against modern forms of idolatry. The Importance of Covenant FaithfulnessGod desires a faithful relationship with His people. We are called to be loyal and obedient to His commands. The Cycle of Sin and RedemptionRecognize the patterns of sin in our lives and seek God's deliverance through repentance and faith. The Role of Spiritual LeadershipGod raises leaders to guide His people back to Him. We should pray for and support godly leaders in our communities. Bible Study Questions 1. What are some modern "Baals and Asherahs" that can distract us from our relationship with God? 2. How can we actively remember the LORD in our daily routines to prevent spiritual forgetfulness? 3. In what ways does the cycle of sin in Judges reflect our own spiritual struggles, and how can we break free from it? 4. How does the commandment against idolatry in Exodus 20 relate to the events in Judges 3:7? 5. What role do spiritual leaders play in helping us remain faithful to God, and how can we support them in their ministry? Connections to Other Scriptures Exodus 20:3-5The commandment against idolatry, which the Israelites violated by serving Baals and Asherahs. Deuteronomy 6:12A warning to remember the LORD and not forget His commandments, which the Israelites failed to heed. 1 Kings 18:21Elijah's challenge to Israel to choose between the LORD and Baal, highlighting the ongoing struggle with idolatry. People Amalek, Amalekites, Ammonites, Amorites, Anath, Aram, Canaanites, Chushanrishathaim, Chushan-rishathaim, Eglon, Ehud, Gera, Hittites, Hivite, Hivites, Israelites, Jebusites, Kenaz, Moabites, Othniel, Perizzites, Shamgar, Sidonians, ZidoniansPlaces Canaan, Gilgal, Jordan River, Lebanon, Lebo-hamath, Mesopotamia, Moab, Mount Baal-hermon, SeirahTopics Asherahs, Asheroth, Ashe'roth, Astartes, Baalim, Baals, Ba'als, Evil, Forgat, Forget, Forgetting, Forgot, Groves, Minds, Servants, Serve, Served, Serving, Shrines, Sight, SonsDictionary of Bible Themes Judges 3:7 5960 success
7312 Baal
8739 evil, examples of
8741 failure
8763 forgetting Judges 3:5-8 6218 provoking God Judges 3:7-8 5607 warfare, examples
6659 freedom, acts in OT Library Use what You Have
Few people really are and do their best. Nature has blessed a few with great talents and abilities. These persons often become proud, self-centered, and feel themselves to be superior, and for that reason many times they fail to make the proper use of their abilities. How often are they used in a bad or foolish way, so that what might be a blessing to the world fails to be such! There are many others who realize they do not possess these natural gifts. They look upon those who have them, and envy …
Charles Wesley Naylor—Heart TalksGifts and Talents.
"And the Spirit of the Lord came upon him."--Judges iii. 10. We now consider the Holy Spirit's work in bestowing gifts, talents, and abilities upon artisans and professional men. Scripture declares that the special animation and qualification of persons for work assigned to them by God proceed from the Holy Spirit. The construction of the tabernacle required capable workmen, skilful carpenters, goldsmiths, and silversmiths, and masters in the arts of weaving and embroidering. Who will furnish Moses …
Abraham Kuyper—The Work of the Holy Spirit Whether Baptism Should Take Away the Penalties of Sin that Belong to this Life?
Objection 1: It seems that Baptism should take away the penalties of sin that belong to this life. For as the Apostle says (Rom. 5:15), the gift of Christ is farther-reaching than the sin of Adam. But through Adam's sin, as the Apostle says (Rom. 5:12), "death entered into this world," and, consequently, all the other penalties of the present life. Much more, therefore, should man be freed from the penalties of the present life, by the gift of Christ which is received in Baptism. Objection 2: Further, …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica "This Then is the Message which we have Heard of Him, and Declare unto You, that God is Light,"
1 John i. 5.--"This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light," &c. The great design of the gospel is to make up the breach of man's joy, and open up the way to the fulness of it, and therefore it is the good news and glad tidings of great joy, the only best message that ever came to the world. Now it shows unto us the channel that this river of gladness and joy runs into, it discovers what is the way of the conveyance of it to the soul, and what are …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning Whether the Old Law Enjoined Fitting Precepts Concerning Rulers?
Objection 1: It would seem that the Old Law made unfitting precepts concerning rulers. Because, as the Philosopher says (Polit. iii, 4), "the ordering of the people depends mostly on the chief ruler." But the Law contains no precept relating to the institution of the chief ruler; and yet we find therein prescriptions concerning the inferior rulers: firstly (Ex. 18:21): "Provide out of all the people wise [Vulg.: 'able'] men," etc.; again (Num. 11:16): "Gather unto Me seventy men of the ancients of …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica The Country of Jericho, and the Situation of the City.
Here we will borrow Josephus' pencil, "Jericho is seated in a plain, yet a certain barren mountain hangs over it, narrow, indeed, but long; for it runs out northward to the country of Scythopolis,--and southward, to the country of Sodom, and the utmost coast of the Asphaltites." Of this mountain mention is made, Joshua 2:22, where the two spies, sent by Joshua, and received by Rahab, are said to "conceal themselves." "Opposite against this, lies a mountain on the other side Jordan, beginning from …
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica The Prophecy of Obadiah.
We need not enter into details regarding the question as to the time when the prophet wrote. By a thorough argumentation, Caspari has proved, that he occupies his right position in the Canon, and hence belongs to the earliest age of written prophecy, i.e., to the time of Jeroboam II. and Uzziah. As bearing conclusively against those who would assign to him a far later date, viz., the time of the exile, there is not only the indirect testimony borne by the place which this prophecy occupies in …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament The Doctrine of Angels.
I. THEIR EXISTENCE. 1. THE TEACHING OF JESUS. 2. THE TEACHING OF THE APOSTLES. II. THEIR NATURE. 1. CREATED BEINGS. 2. SPIRITUAL BEINGS. 3. GREAT POWER AND MIGHT. 4. VARIOUS GRADES. 5. THE NUMBER OF ANGELS. III. THE FALL OF ANGELS. 1. TIME AND CAUSE. 2. THE WORK OF FALLEN ANGELS. 3. THE JUDGMENT OF FALLEN ANGELS. IV. THE WORK OF ANGELS. 1. THEIR HEAVENLY MINISTRY. 2. THEIR EARTHLY MINISTRY. a) In Relation to the Believer. b) In Relation to Christ's Second Coming. THE DOCTRINE OF ANGELS. We are not …
Rev. William Evans—The Great Doctrines of the Bible Judges
For the understanding of the early history and religion of Israel, the book of Judges, which covers the period from the death of Joshua to the beginning of the struggle with the Philistines, is of inestimable importance; and it is very fortunate that the elements contributed by the later editors are so easily separated from the ancient stories whose moral they seek to point. That moral is most elaborately stated in ii. 6-iii. 6, which is a sort of programme or preface to iii. 7-xvi. 31, which constitutes …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Judges 3:7 NIVJudges 3:7 NLTJudges 3:7 ESVJudges 3:7 NASBJudges 3:7 KJV
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