I had to change the title of this series. I did not mean to draw anyone looking for the Bible in 90 days website or their affiliates.

Judges
– A small repeat of Joshua – Caleb offering his daughter and her asking for springs (land).

– The Kenites, with whom Moses had dwelt, dwelt with Judah. These are the people Jael, who killed Sisera, came from.

– Judah took Gaza (the Gaza strip today) and its territory.

– They put the Canaanites under tribute, but could not drive them out. I will wager they were inconsistent with seeking after the Lord (sometimes they did, most times not). Are we guilty of this today?

– Isn’t putting people under tribute a type of treaty?

– Dan did not get their land.

– The Angel of the Lord “You failed to tear down these foreign altar as instructed. Therefore, I will nor drive these foreign out and they will be thorns in your sides.” Paul talked about a thorn in his flesh (2 Corinthians 12:7) as well—people under the influence of the adversary. These people would be a snare to Israel. We have to fight the snare all around us daily, but we have help, the Spirit of the Most High Who can tolerate our corrupt flesh.

– The Lord “I will test the children of Israel to see if they keep the way (will) of the Lord their God,” a constant theme throughout Scripture.

– A second name for the book of Judges → Israel Gone Wild.

– Gideon said the Lord was to rule over them. Right afterwards, he collected gold earrings that were war spoils and made an ephod, a garment worn by the priests. It became an image for worship, then Israel was led astray again!

– the diviner’s terebinth tree?

– Good grief, this is a frustrating book, but it demonstrates our need for the blood and the Spirit to dwell within us.

– The Lord “I will deliver you no more. Go, cry out to the gods whom you have chosen; let them save you in the time of your trouble.” LOL!

– Samson’s behavior was of the Lord to judge the Philistines.

– Bee hive in a dead lion? Samson did his parents dirty. They did not know they were unclean.

– The Lord encouraged Samson’s temper tantrums to judge the Philistines.

– When Samson complained about needing water, he declared he was a servant of the Lord.

– The Philistines declared victory through their gods by Samson’s capture. They forgot hair grows back and did not realize it was a trap set up by the Lord. I want to be used of the Lord, but not through my sins.

– Samson’s womb mates or family members?

– The story of Micah the idolater and the strong men of Dan is crazy.

– Lots of symbolism in the man with the concubine. First, he is call husband, then master.

– Went against Benjamin twice, succeeded the third time. I get the feeling God did not want this.

– Wife stealing was not ordained by Yah, all power and glory to His name. Places like Kyrgyzstan and Kenya still practice it, although it is illegal. A tribe in Niger has a wife swapping party.

Ruth
– Judah and Tamar was the levirate vow done wrong; Ruth and Boaz was the levirate vow done right. https://www.gotquestions.org/levirate-marriage.html

1 Samuel
– Elkanan was of Ephraim, not Levi. Therefore Samuel was not a Levite, but served in the Tabernacle.

– Hannah’s humility with Eli reminds me of the Syro-Phoenician woman’s response to Jesus’ mild insult (called her a little dog or puppy).

– Elkanah understood the situation and did not counter her as he could have (Numbers 30), admirable. He had plenty of other children, so Samuel was not his firstborn son.

– Hannah’s prayer/psalm reminds me of Mary’s in Luke.

– Eli knew the Lord, but his sons didn’t. What does it really mean to “know the Lord?”

– Hannah bore 5 more children; 5 is the number of grace.

– “…and the Lord desired to kill them.” LOL! Dark humor in Scripture…

– Eli got judged by “a man of God” first, and then through the child Samuel.

– The city where the Ark was taken to and the Israelites had set up camp was called Ebenezer – stone of help.

– The Ark (God) defeated Dagon (the Philistines’ god) in Dagon’s temple, then the people suffered from a rat infestation and hemorrhoids on their private parts. LOL!

– Samuel marked a victory with a stone he called Ebenezer, saying, “The Lord has helped us so far.”

– Ramah, his home’s location, Samuel built an altar to the Lord. What happened to only sacrificing at the Tabernacle?

– Samuel blessing the sacrifice at the high place? I’m confused.

– Saul anointed king over the Lord’s inheritance—the people called the “upright of God.” Feel kind of distant verses a covenant.

– Saul cut up oxen and sent the pieces all over Israel as a warning. It reminds me of the concubine whose body was cut into 12 pieces and scattered.

– Why did Israel outsource blacksmith/blade sharpening work to their enemies, the Philistines? This is happening today, relying on cheap labor from those who do not have our best interests at heart.

– I love Johnathon.

– Saul “Bring the Ark of the Covenant.” Uh, not a good idea.

– Because the people saved Johnathon, they were cursed with continuous war. Johnathon would fulfill the oath later during battle.

– Don’t make stupid oaths; seek the Lord first and trust His leading.

– Do we take the time to look at someone’s heart. Do we ask the Lord to reveal the person’s heart to us?

– The Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, but Saul’s anointing remained.

– Saul’s servants knew it was an evil spirit from the Lord. Does anyone have that type of awareness today?

– How did Saul’s servant know about David? Besides, David was too young for war. I believe that was of God.

– David has two/three jobs – shepherd, armor-bearer of Saul, and musician against an evil spirit.

– Was his brother jealous of David’s favor with Saul? Did David tell him about the lion and bear?

– David received the day-old showbread (12 or less loaves of flatbread) to feed him and his 200 men; the group swelled to 400, and then 600 later.

– Did giving David the showbread cost Ahimelech, the high priest, his life? Was that why his son, Abiathar, betrayed David later? Or, was the betrayal due to sharing the high priestly role with Zadok?

– Saul declared David was delivered into his hand. Nope, just a vessel used by the Lord to refine David.

– David speaking to the Lord by holding a sleeveless linen robe. The ephod had “holiness” residue on it. This demonstrates why the priests had to change out of their priestly garment before leaving the sanctuary of the Lord (Leviticus 6:11), reinforced by Ezekiel 42, 44, and 46.

– David prophesied how Saul (and by default Johnathon) would die.

– Did David know he wasn’t supposed to collect wives? Was there an exception made because they were Israelites? Why not retrieve Michal sooner?

2 Samuel
– Dude died over a lie. Hoping for glory, a reward?

– 24 young men, 12 each for David and Saul (Abner), killed each other at once and they named the place the Hill of the Sharp Swords. Ridiculous…

– Abner killed Joab’s brother; he paid for that later. David cursed Joab’s family as a result.

– People continued to misjudge David, thinking he operated as other men. Two more men, who had killed Saul’s sons, were executed.

– When Uzzah touched the Ark and died, David was mad at first, despaired at how to transfer the Ark, and then feared the Lord (for the first time ever? He had respect/fear of Saul’s anointing, even after Saul’s death). He had gotten too comfortable with the Lord’s presence in his life.

– “If [your son] commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rods of men and with the blows of the sons of men.” Is this true today?

– David humbled himself and Israel on their behalf before the Lord.

– David did not inquire of the Lord about avoiding going to battle with his men.

– David announced fasted for the living, not the dead, is proper.

– David handled the rape badly. I assume he didn’t want to kill his son?

– Absalom broke Torah by setting Joab’s field on fire.

– (David said “Remember…”) People still gave credit to a woman throwing a millstone on Abimelek to kill him.

– Absalom had 3 sons and a daughter, Tamar, after he had set up a monument declaring he had no sons to carry on his name.

– Joab had no heart, no chill about him.

– After Absalom’s defeat until his full reinstatement as king, David was called “the king” more than any other part of 2 Samuel.

– The Gibeonites were the remnant of Ammon, descendants of Lot.

– A repeat of Psalm 18 in 2 Samuel 22.

– Uriah the Hittite listed last as one of the might men in 2 Samuel 23.

– Joab, of all people, advised against numbering the people, which was wise, unless God asked for it.

– David “…nor will I offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God with that that costs me nothing.” Ooo… He is right, though. A real sacrifice has to cost us something. For believers, we (ideally) sacrifice our entire being to the Father so the Son and Spirit can operate on and through us to get the Father’s Will and Purpose done.

1 Kings
– Bathsheba and Nathan the Prophet scheming for Solomon (his name means peaceable, wise), fulfilling the prophecy that a man of peace would build the Temple.

– David declared Joab had shed blood in peacetime for he had bound himself with blood on his waist and belt (determined to do so) and his sandals (motions toward doing so). Proverbs 1:16 “For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood.” Proverbs 6:18 “A heart that devises wicked imaginations, feet that are swift in running to evil…” Romans 3:15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood.” Isaiah 59:7 “Their feet run to evil; they are swift to shed innocent blood. Their thoughts are sinful thoughts; ruin and destruction lie in their wake.”

– At first, David let Shimei live and even defended the Benjamite’s actions. Now, David wants him dead? OK…

– Abiathar exiled, fulfilling the prophecy of Eli’s bloodline removed from the line of the High Priest. Zadok takes over.

– Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada (one of David’s officers), hitman for Solomon.

– He made a treaty with Egypt and married Pharoah’s daughter—two strikes against Torah.

– God to Solomon “…and have not ask for the life of your enemies…” LOL! I don’t know why I find that funny, dark humor?

– Lifestyle of the Rich and Famous, Ancient Middle East.

– Another treaty with Hiram, king of Tyre—strike 3

– What happened to the pot of manna and Aaron’s rod that was in the Ark? Did they disintegrate? Reminds me of the dust in the Ark from Raiders of the Lost Ark.

– Solomon prayed for the Temple to be also for foreigners who worship the One True God, a truly progressive step. I love that.

– Solomon made the foreigners, whom they could not expel from the land, forced slaves.

– 666 talents of gold—that number represents the best man can do.

– Kings paid Solomon for his wisdom/advice.

– He collected horses and chariots, which was against the rules for the king. He was in peacetime so what was the point?

– “Also Solomon had horses imported from Egypt and Keveh…” another requirement broken.

– Solomon was not only collecting women, but cultures and knowledge, instead of developing his own with the Father of All. Therefore, like most, wealth dulled his mind, despite his wisdom. Thankfully, he figured it out before he had died (Ecclesiastes).

– The prophet Ahijah, the Shilonite, tore his new garment into twelve pieces and handed 2 to Jeroboam. Was this the start of the “one-acts plays,” as one theologian put it, to symbolize what would soon take place? I have noticed the Lord tends to make announcements of either His Will or Desire at least twice. In this case, Solomon and Ahijah were the vessels.

– “…the turn of events was from the Lord, that He might fulfill His word…” Sounds similar to Samson’s behavior being used by Yah. How much control does the Father have? As much as we give Him by our behavior, both good and bad.

– “King Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was in charge of the revenue; but all Israel stoned him with stones, and he died.” LOL! Poor man…

– Judah and Benjamin actually obeyed the Word of the Lord from a prophet. Amazing…

– Rehoboam, like Aaron wanting to get the people under control, made two golden calves and told the people not to go to Jerusalem, here is your god who led your fathers out of Egypt. *sigh*

– That whole story about the disobedient prophet trips me out. The lesson: Stay on course, and seek God whenever you desire to deviate.

– Jeroboam’s wife receiving prophecy from Alijah reminds me of Saul and his servant going to a medium to talk to Samuel and the actress Joab used to confront David about Absalom, combined.

– “[Rehoboam’s] mother’s name was Naamah, an Ammonitess.” His mother was a descendant of Lot and his younger daughter.

– It mentioned Asa’s grandmother instead of his mother. Was she the one who had raised him in the ways of God?

– Jezebel was a Sidonian, and Elijah was sent to a widow in Sidon.

– It amazes me when heathens give respect to God, yet will not serve Him (Namaan being the exception).

– The widow “Are you here to bring my sin to remembrance?” Err, what sin? Was that child of her deceased husband’s?

– Obadiah had the first mentioning of translation travel in reference to Elijah.

– Elijah “How long will you waver between two opinions?” Israel, as usual, was worshiping God and everybody’s else gods, always looking for an advantage, hedging their bets.

– “I have reserved 7000 who have not bowed the knee to Ba’al and every mouth that has not kissed him.” What? Kiss? They kissed statues? Ew…

– They mustered 7000 to go against Ben-Hadad.

– The Ahab, Jehoshaphat, and the prophets section is hilarious.

2 Kings
– Elisha fed 100 people on a small amount of food. “And the Lord said they shall eat and have some left over.” Jesus fed a multitude of 5000 men (not counting women and children) twice, once on the Jewish side and the second in Gentile territory.

– “And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, but not like his father and mother.” Well, that is a relief, *snort*

– Jezebel’s leftover body parts remind me of the broken head and arms of the Philistines’ Dagon statue (Dagon was a merman, no feet).

– I just now noticed the name of Jezebel’s god (Bel or Ba’al) is in her name.

– All this killing and conspiring makes listening to this tough.

– These stupid high places were working my nerves. Thank God Josiah and Hezekiah wrecked them.

– “You shall not fear other gods.” The war of the gods through people.

– “At least there will be peace in my day.” Hezekiah is like a typical decent human with slip-ups. Nice way to care about your legacy.

– Hillkiah, the high priest, is believed to be Jeremiah’s dad.

– They lost and then found the Book of the Law centuries later? Sad…

1 Chronicles
– 5:20 “And they were helped against them, and the Hagrites were delivered into their hand, and all who were with them, for they cried out to God in the battle. He heeded their prayer, because they put their trust in Him.”

– 7:24 “Now [Ephraim’s] daughter was Sheerah, who built Lower and Upper Beth Horon and Uzzen Sheerah.” A woman had areas built? In that age?

– 9:20 “And Phinehas the son of Eleazar had been the officer over them in time past; the Lord was with him.” Prophetic, no?

– 9:22 “David and Samuel the seer had appointed [the Korahite gatekeepers] to their trusted office.”

– 10:13-14 “So Saul died for his unfaithfulness which he had committed against the Lord, because he did not keep the word of the Lord, and also because he consulted a medium for guidance. But he did not inquire of the Lord; therefore He killed him and turned the kingdom over to David, the son of Jesse.” Saul did inquire of the Lord, but he did not do it consistently or persistently, which is a requirement of faith.

– “Then the Spirit came upon Amasai, chief of the captains, and he said:

‘We are yours, O David;

We are on your side, O son of Jesse!

Peace, peace to you,

And peace to your helpers!

For your God helps you.’

So David received them, and made them captains of the troop.”

This means through the anointing of Christ’s Spirit upon us, we should be able to recognize the Spirit upon others. Why aren’t we?

– Did somebody corrected David on how to move the Ark? God?

– Were the priests reading the Law to the people? I am going to say no.

– David’s psalm in 16 has been used in a lot of songs.

– 16:36b “And all the people said, ‘Amen!’ and praised the Lord.” So that is where that practice came from.

– 2 Samuel 24 said that God moved David to number the people; 1 Chronicles 21:1 said the adversary did.

– Onan the Jebusite was not an Israelite. I saw this as more evidence of Israel sacrificing on behalf of the Gentiles.

– Onan and his sons saw the Angel of the Lord. The sons hid, while Onan kept threshing until David had arrived. LOL!

– “You have shed much blood and have made great wars; you shall not build a house for My name, because you have shed much blood on the earth in My sight.” How important is blood and its shedding, regardless of its container (Israel, Gentiles, or animals).

– I want scribes and performers following me around, waiting to put God’s revelation to music, LOL!

– The descendants of the two sons of Moses were the treasurers over the dedicated things for the Tabernacle.

– 28:10 “As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever.” No wonder Solomon asked for wisdom. Seek Him, and you will find Him. His Will becomes Our desire.

2 Chronicles
– Solomon counted the aliens and made half of them burden bearers (and forced laborers). I take it then it was a menial task?

– Why did they name the pillars at the entrance Jachim and Boaz?

– “…from City of David, which is Zion.” Therefore, Zion symbolizes the gov’t, not Jerusalem, the worship center. Notice Jesus never uses the term Zion in the Gospels.

– Solomon’s wife, the Princess of Egypt, was not qualified to live in the City of David. She was decoration.

– “Rehoboam did evil in the sight of the Lord because he did not prepare his heart to seek the Lord.”

– “Is there a prophet of the Lord?” I like Jehoshaphat, despite him dealing with two kings of Northern Israel. Two prophets agreed.

– Jehoshaphat’s prayer, full of praise, pleading, and reasoning with the past promises.

– I love when the Lord uses random people to speak on His behalf, this time a Levite within the assembly.

– Two women, daughters of Lot, conspired to have Joash killed. That is a new one to me.

– Judah and Israel worshiped together under Hezekiah’s rule.

– They did the Passover on the second month because the priests hadn’t cleansed themselves.

– God blessed and healed them because of Hezekiah’s prayer and the people’s submission.

– They gave God presents.

– Should we keep count of the kings who got “lifted up” (prideful)?

– “…and did not heed the words of [Pharaoh] Necho from the mouth of God.” Josiah got puffed up, too. It is like we humans cannot handle having peace.

– I think they burnt up the land, no crop rotation or Sabbaths to revitalize the soil, so the Lord had to get them out of there.