| Preface |
2 |
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| Table of Contents |
3 |
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| References |
5 |
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| Reprint Guidelines |
7 |
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| Introduction to Gideon and the Period of the Judges |
8 |
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| Cycles of Prosperity and Oppression |
8 |
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| Political Structure |
9 |
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| Judges |
9 |
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| Religious Situation |
11 |
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| The Purpose of Judges |
11 |
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| Author and Date of Judges |
11 |
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| 1. The Lord Is With You, Mighty Warrior (Judges 6:1-32) |
13 |
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| The Scourge of the Midianite Hordes (6:1-5) |
13 |
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| Prophet Explains the Oppression (6:6-10) |
14 |
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| An Angel Appears to Gideon (6:11) |
15 |
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| Mighty Warrior (6:12-13) |
16 |
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| Gideon's Call to Be a Deliverer (6:14-16) |
16 |
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| Gideon's Hospitality -- and Sacrifice (6:17-21) |
17 |
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| Building an Altar (6:22-24) |
18 |
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| Worship of Baal and Ashtoreth |
18 |
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| Gideon's First Assignment (6:25-27) |
18 |
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| Gideon's Father Defends Him (6:28-32) |
20 |
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| Lessons for Disciples |
21 |
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| 2. Gideon's Incredible Shrinking Army (Judges 6:33-7:15a) |
23 |
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| Gideon Summons the Tribes to War (6:33-35) |
23 |
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| Putting a Fleece before the Lord (6:36-39) |
24 |
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| Gideon's Army Encamps (7:1) |
26 |
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| Too Big an Army to Give God Glory (7:2-3) |
26 |
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| Still Too Many (7:4) |
27 |
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| Separate the Lappers for Battle (7:5-6) |
29 |
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| Nearly 10,000 Lappers Sent Home (7:7-8) |
30 |
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| With 300 I Will Deliver You (7:7) |
30 |
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| The Lord Encourages Gideon (7:8b-12) |
30 |
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| The Enemy's Barley Bread Dream (7:13-15a) |
31 |
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| Lessons for Disciples |
32 |
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| 3. The Sword of the Lord (Judges 7:15-8:21) |
34 |
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| 300 Men, Trumpets, Jars and Torches (7:15-20) |
34 |
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| A Rout of the Midianite Army (7:21-23) |
35 |
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| Calling upon Ephraim for Assistance (7:24-25) |
36 |
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| Dispute with the Ephraimites (8:1-3) |
37 |
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| Allies Refuse Aid (8:4-9) |
38 |
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| Capturing Zebah and Zalmunna, Kings of Midian (8:10-12) |
39 |
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| Punishing the Uncooperative Allies (8:13-17) |
40 |
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| Slaying Zebah and Zalmunna (8:18-21) |
40 |
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| Lessons for Disciples |
41 |
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| 4. Gideon's Tragic Mistake (Judges 8:22-35) |
43 |
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| The Lord Will Rule over You (8:22-23) |
43 |
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| Gideon the Savior (8:22-23) |
43 |
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| Gideon Refuses the Kingship (8:22-23) |
44 |
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| Suzerain-Vassal Treaty |
44 |
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| The Tabernacle Throneroom |
45 |
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| Gideon's Share of the Spoils (8:24-26) |
46 |
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| Gideon's Ephod (8:27) |
46 |
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| Spiritual Unfaithfulness (8:27) |
47 |
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| Spiritual Snares that Divert our Focus |
48 |
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| 40 Years of Peace (8:28-31) |
49 |
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| Return to Baal Worship (8:33-35) |
50 |
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| Lessons from Gideon's Later Years |
50 |
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| Appendix 1. Canaanite Religions and Baal Worship |
52 |
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| Baal and Ashtoreth |
53 |
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| Cult Prostitution |
53 |
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| Monotheism |
53 |
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| Idolatry |
54 |
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| Detestable |
55 |
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| Summary |
56 |
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| Appendix 2. Weapons in the Late Bronze Age |
57 |
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| Appendix 3. Handouts for Group Participants |
60 |
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