Judges, 1
18. And Judah seized Gaza, with its parts, and Ashkelon as well as Ekron, with their borders.
18. And Judah seized Gaza, with its parts, and Ashkelon as well as Ekron, with their borders.
Chapter 1 of the book of Judges describes the conquest of several cities by the tribes of Israel after the death of Joshua. However, the chapter also highlights some flaws of the people of Israel, such as the lack of complete destruction of the Canaanites and the covenant with some of them. Following are five verses related to these themes:
Numbers 33:55: "But if you do not expel the inhabitants of the earth from before you, it will happen that those you let will be like sting in your eyes and as thorns in your ishals, and shall tighten you into the earth in which you have dwelling." This verse highlights the importance of the complete expulsion of the pagan peoples of the promised land, something Israel failed to do completely.
Joshua 23:12-13: "For if you break, and cling to the rest of these nations that have stayed between you, and mingle with them, and you unite with them, and they with you, know for sure that the Lord, yours God, will not continue to expel these nations from before you; rather, they will be by loop and by net, and to whip to your dock and thorns to your eyes, until you perish from this good land that gave you the Lord, yours, God." This verse warns against the association with pagan peoples, a practice that Israel failed to avoid completely.
Numbers 32:23: "But if you do not do so, behold, you sinned against the Lord; and know that your sin will find you." This verse highlights the importance of obedience to God and the consequences of disobedience.
Exodus 23:32-33: "Thou shalt not make a covenant with them, nor with their gods. They shall not dwell in thy land, that they do not sin against me; for thou shalt serve their gods, which shall be a bond for you." This verse warns against the covenant with pagan peoples, a practice that Israel failed to avoid completely.
Joshua 23:16: "When you violate the covenant of the Lord, your God, whom he ordered you, and forgate and serve other gods, and lean to them, then the wrath of the Lord will light up against you, and then perish from good land that he gave you. " This verse highlights the consequences of infidelity to God, something that the people of Israel experienced on several occasions.
“Não se desencoraje, pois, se na alma existe o contínuo esforço de melhorar, no final o Senhor a premia fazendo nela florir, de repente, todas as virtudes como num jardim florido.” São Padre Pio de Pietrelcina
