Category Archives: Judges

Samson: Good or Bad?

Posted on July 27, 2008 by jamesbradfordpate

For my weekly quiet time, I studied Judges 14. In this chapter, Samson goes into a vineyard and encounters a ferocious lion, which he kills through the spirit of the LORD. When he returns to see the lion’s corpse, he … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Judges, Rabbinics, Religion, Weekly Quiet Time | 6 Comments

Manoah the Dunce

Posted on July 27, 2008 by jamesbradfordpate

In Judges 13, Samson’s father Manoah comes across as a complete dunce. His wife tells him that she saw a man of God who resembled an angel, and Manoah wants to feed him and find out his name. The angel … Continue reading →

Posted in Alcoholism, Bible, Judges, Life, Religion, Weekly Quiet Time | 4 Comments

Me on Universalism: "Forever"

Posted on July 19, 2008 by jamesbradfordpate

Opponents of universalism often cite specific proof-texts, for the New Testament is clear that there are people who will go to hell. Jesus says in Matthew 25:46, “And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Judges, Religion, Weekly Quiet Time | 1 Comment

Jephthah Didn’t Have to Do It!

Posted on July 12, 2008 by jamesbradfordpate

For my weekly quiet time last night, I was listening to a good sermon by Steve Mays entitled Ephraim’s Obnoxious Attitude. It was on Judges 11-12, the story of Jephthah. What was good about it was that Mays didn’t try … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Judges, Rabbinics, Religion, Weekly Quiet Time | 5 Comments

When Did These Characters Live?

Posted on July 6, 2008 by jamesbradfordpate

The Book of Judges has a strange phenomenon: there are characters who crop up, and they share the same names with their places of residence and people from the Book of Numbers. First of all, there’s Jair. In Judges 10:3-4, … Continue reading →

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Are God’s Words Absolute?

Posted on June 28, 2008 by jamesbradfordpate

Many fundamentalists, evangelicals, and conservative Christians act like the Bible’s words are absolute, with no flexibility whatsoever. When they read that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, they take that to mean that it will never be … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Books, Judges, Religion, Weekly Quiet Time | 5 Comments

Another View on Judges 8

Posted on June 15, 2008 by jamesbradfordpate

I often submit my blog posts to Helium, a web site for wannabe writers (like yours truly). You can write an article under a topic that’s already on the Helium site, and that will get it published immediately. Well, I … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Judges, Religion, Weekly Quiet Time | 7 Comments

Gideon, Dr. Dobson, and Darth Vader

Posted on June 15, 2008 by jamesbradfordpate

Gideon’s name means “hacker.” And that’s what Gideon did–he hacked at idolatry in Israel. Maybe he got that name after he tore down the altar of Baal (Judges 6:25-27). Or perhaps his name is a literary device, in that the … Continue reading →

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Pentecost 2008

Posted on June 8, 2008 by jamesbradfordpate

Today is the day of Pentecost, at least for a lot of Armstrongites. Most Jews celebrate it on another day. Here’s the deal: Leviticus 23:11-16 tells the Israelites to present a wave sheaf offering to God on the day after … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Church, Holidays, Judges, Leviticus, Religion, Resurrection, Weekly Quiet Time | 6 Comments

Shamgar vs. Deborah

Posted on May 24, 2008 by jamesbradfordpate

Shamgar is a Samson-like character who appears in the Book of Judges. In Judges 3:31, we read that he “killed six hundred of the Philistines with an oxgoad [and] delivered Israel” (NRSV). Because Shamgar is not a Hebrew name, he … Continue reading →

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