WEBVTT NOTE This file was generated by Descript 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.140 Ethan: Welcome to Immerse: the daily bible reading experience. 00:00:03.257 --> 00:00:04.827 Day 100 and 76 00:00:05.215 --> 00:00:09.985 Gideon then crossed the Jordan River with his 300 men, and though exhausted, 00:00:10.225 --> 00:00:11.785 they continued to chase the enemy. 00:00:12.685 --> 00:00:15.835 When they reached eth Gideon asked the leaders of the town, 00:00:16.615 --> 00:00:18.535 please give my warriors some food. 00:00:18.775 --> 00:00:19.915 They are very tired. 00:00:20.665 --> 00:00:24.085 I am chasing Zeba and Alana, the kings of Midian. 00:00:25.255 --> 00:00:29.395 The officials of ETH replied, catch zeba and salana first, 00:00:29.845 --> 00:00:31.495 and then we will feed your army. 00:00:32.455 --> 00:00:37.915 So Gideon said, after the Lord gives me victory over Zeba and salana, I will 00:00:37.915 --> 00:00:42.445 return and tear your flesh with the thorns and briars from the wilderness. 00:00:42.755 --> 00:00:47.755 From there, Gideon went up to penal and again asked for food, 00:00:48.175 --> 00:00:49.435 but he got the same answer. 00:00:50.065 --> 00:00:54.070 So he said to the people of penal, After I return in victory, 00:00:54.370 --> 00:00:56.320 I will tear down this tower. 00:00:57.790 --> 00:01:03.040 By this time, Zeba and Alana were in car Core with about 15,000 warriors. 00:01:03.520 --> 00:01:08.110 All that remained of the Allied Armies of the East for 120,000 00:01:08.115 --> 00:01:09.310 had already been killed. 00:01:10.390 --> 00:01:15.370 Gideon circled around by the caravan route east of Nova and Jaha taking 00:01:15.370 --> 00:01:17.260 the Midianite army by surprise. 00:01:17.830 --> 00:01:21.550 Zeba and Alana, the two Midianite Kings fled. 00:01:22.330 --> 00:01:25.510 Gideon chased them down and captured all their warriors. 00:01:26.530 --> 00:01:29.410 After this, Gideon returned from the battle by way of here. 00:01:29.410 --> 00:01:34.030 As pass there, he captured a young man from ETH and demanded that he 00:01:34.030 --> 00:01:38.260 write down the names of all the 77 officials and elders in the town. 00:01:39.220 --> 00:01:44.710 Gideon then returned to ETH and said to the leaders, here are Zeba and Al Mana. 00:01:45.490 --> 00:01:50.980 When we were here before, you taunted me saying, catch Zeba and Alana first, and 00:01:50.980 --> 00:01:53.140 then we will feed your exhausted army. 00:01:54.130 --> 00:01:57.250 Then Gideon took the elders of the town and taught them a lesson, 00:01:57.970 --> 00:02:00.940 punishing them with thorns and briars from the wilderness. 00:02:01.660 --> 00:02:06.430 He also tore down the tower of penile and killed all the men in the town. 00:02:08.140 --> 00:02:12.400 Then Gideon asked Zeba and Salana, the men you killed at Tabor. 00:02:12.670 --> 00:02:13.390 What were they like? 00:02:14.515 --> 00:02:15.895 Like you, they replied. 00:02:16.525 --> 00:02:18.775 They all had the look of a King's son. 00:02:19.795 --> 00:02:25.105 They were my brothers, the sons of my own mother, Gideon Exclaimed. 00:02:25.765 --> 00:02:30.505 As surely as the Lord lives, I wouldn't kill you if you hadn't killed them. 00:02:31.915 --> 00:02:32.935 Turning tother. 00:02:32.965 --> 00:02:37.915 His oldest son, he said kill them, but G Ether did not draw his sword 00:02:38.395 --> 00:02:40.255 for he was only a boy and was afraid. 00:02:41.335 --> 00:02:43.555 Then Zeba and Sal Gideon. 00:02:44.260 --> 00:02:46.450 Be a man, kill us yourself. 00:02:47.350 --> 00:02:50.980 So Gideon killed them both and took the royal ornaments from 00:02:50.980 --> 00:02:52.390 the necks of their camels. 00:02:53.920 --> 00:02:57.520 Then the Israelites said to Gideon, be our ruler. 00:02:57.940 --> 00:03:01.630 You and your son, and your grandson will be our rulers for 00:03:01.630 --> 00:03:03.190 you have rescued us from Midian. 00:03:03.570 --> 00:03:09.280 But Gideon replied, I will not rule over you, nor will my son. 00:03:09.940 --> 00:03:11.710 The Lord will rule over you. 00:03:12.445 --> 00:03:17.995 However, I do have one request that each of you give me an earring from the plunder 00:03:17.995 --> 00:03:19.855 you collected from your fallen enemies. 00:03:20.635 --> 00:03:25.945 The enemies being ishmaelite all wore gold earrings gladly. 00:03:25.975 --> 00:03:30.865 They replied, they spread out a cloak and each one threw in a gold earring 00:03:30.895 --> 00:03:32.245 he had gathered from the plunder. 00:03:33.055 --> 00:03:37.435 The weight of the gold earrings was 43 pounds, not including the 00:03:37.435 --> 00:03:39.175 royal ornaments and pendants. 00:03:39.715 --> 00:03:43.555 The purple clothing worn by the kings of Midian or the chains 00:03:43.615 --> 00:03:45.175 around the necks of their camels. 00:03:46.165 --> 00:03:52.555 Gideon made a sacred EOD from the gold and put it in opera, his hometown, but 00:03:52.555 --> 00:03:56.935 soon all the Israelites prostituted themselves by worshiping it, and it 00:03:56.935 --> 00:03:59.185 became a trap for Gideon and his family. 00:04:00.715 --> 00:04:03.625 That is the story of how the people of Israel defeated 00:04:03.625 --> 00:04:05.845 Midn, which never recovered. 00:04:06.625 --> 00:04:10.345 Throughout the rest of Gideon's lifetime, about 40 years, 00:04:10.615 --> 00:04:12.085 there was peace in the land. 00:04:13.675 --> 00:04:16.525 Then Gideon's son of Joe returned home. 00:04:17.245 --> 00:04:20.845 He had 70 sons born to him for, he had many wives. 00:04:21.745 --> 00:04:26.456 He also had a concubine in Chechem who gave birth to a son whom he named Ab. 00:04:28.435 --> 00:04:32.545 Gideon died when he was very old and he was buried in the grave of his father. 00:04:32.550 --> 00:04:34.225 Joe Ash at Opera. 00:04:34.705 --> 00:04:37.045 In the land of the clan of Abai Ezer, 00:04:39.115 --> 00:04:43.075 as soon as Gideon died, the Israelites prostituted themselves 00:04:43.075 --> 00:04:47.875 by worshiping the images of Baal, making Baal beith their God. 00:04:48.865 --> 00:04:52.285 They forgot the Lord their God, who had rescued them from all 00:04:52.285 --> 00:04:53.635 their enemies surrounding them. 00:04:54.475 --> 00:04:59.065 Nor did they show any loyalty to the family of Jira, Baal that is Gideon. 00:04:59.875 --> 00:05:02.305 Despite all the good he had done for Israel. 00:05:03.865 --> 00:05:07.105 One day, Gideon's son Alac went to Shechem to visit his 00:05:07.110 --> 00:05:09.235 uncles, his mother's brothers. 00:05:10.105 --> 00:05:14.575 He said to them and to the rest of his mother's family, ask the leading citizens 00:05:14.575 --> 00:05:20.065 of Shechem whether they want to be ruled by all 70 of Gideon's sons or by one man. 00:05:20.695 --> 00:05:24.115 And remember that I am your own flesh and blood. 00:05:25.495 --> 00:05:29.665 So AB Bialek uncles gave his message to all the citizens of Shechem on his behalf. 00:05:30.535 --> 00:05:34.915 And after listening to this proposal, the people of Shechem decided in favor of 00:05:34.920 --> 00:05:37.165 Ab Bialek because he was their relative. 00:05:38.125 --> 00:05:42.385 They gave him 70 silver coins from the Temple of Baal Beath, which 00:05:42.385 --> 00:05:45.865 he used to hire some reckless troublemakers who agreed to follow him. 00:05:46.215 --> 00:05:52.555 He went to his father's home at opera, and there on one stone, they killed all 70 00:05:52.675 --> 00:05:55.315 of his half brothers, the sons of Gideon. 00:05:56.110 --> 00:06:02.380 The youngest brother Jotham, escaped and hid then all the leading citizens 00:06:02.380 --> 00:06:06.460 of Shechem and Beth Milow called a meeting under the yo beside the pillar 00:06:06.460 --> 00:06:09.100 at Shechem and made ab bialek their king. 00:06:10.420 --> 00:06:13.930 When Jotham heard about this, he climbed the top of Mount GM 00:06:14.380 --> 00:06:16.990 and shouted, listened to me. 00:06:17.170 --> 00:06:18.490 Citizens of Shechem. 00:06:19.300 --> 00:06:21.790 Listen to me, if you want God to listen to you. 00:06:23.305 --> 00:06:26.515 Once upon a time, the trees decided to choose a king. 00:06:27.025 --> 00:06:29.785 First they said to the olive tree, be our king. 00:06:30.715 --> 00:06:35.125 But the olive tree refused saying, should I quit producing the olive oil? 00:06:35.125 --> 00:06:39.985 That blesses both God and people just to wave back and forth over the trees. 00:06:40.765 --> 00:06:43.675 Then they said to the fig tree, you be our king. 00:06:44.665 --> 00:06:48.640 But the fig tree also refused saying, Should I quit producing 00:06:48.640 --> 00:06:52.960 my sweet fruit just to wave back and forth over the trees. 00:06:53.860 --> 00:06:56.710 Then they said to the grapevine, you be our king. 00:06:57.670 --> 00:07:02.080 But the grapevine also refused saying, should I quit producing the wine? 00:07:02.080 --> 00:07:06.700 That cheers both God and people just to wave back and forth over the trees. 00:07:08.080 --> 00:07:10.540 Then all the trees finally turned to the thorn bush and 00:07:10.540 --> 00:07:13.210 said, come, you be our king. 00:07:14.200 --> 00:07:16.120 And the thorn bush replied to the trees. 00:07:16.660 --> 00:07:21.520 If you truly want to make me your king, come and take shelter in my shade. 00:07:22.210 --> 00:07:28.960 If not, let fire come out from me and devour the cedars of Lebanon Jotham. 00:07:28.965 --> 00:07:35.110 Continued now, make sure you have acted honorably and in good faith by making ab 00:07:35.110 --> 00:07:39.850 bialek your king and that you have done right by Gideon in all of his descendants. 00:07:40.780 --> 00:07:44.410 Have you treated him with the honor he deserves for all he accomplished. 00:07:45.550 --> 00:07:49.930 For, he fought for you and risked his life when he rescued you from the Midianites, 00:07:51.010 --> 00:07:55.960 but today you have revolted against my father and his descendants killing his 70 00:07:55.960 --> 00:08:02.770 sons on one stone, and you have chosen his slave woman's son, ab bialek to be your 00:08:02.775 --> 00:08:05.020 king just because he is your relative. 00:08:06.280 --> 00:08:10.240 If you have acted honorably and in good faith toward Gideon and his descendants 00:08:10.240 --> 00:08:13.270 today, then may you find joy in a bialek. 00:08:14.190 --> 00:08:16.120 And may he find joy in you. 00:08:17.290 --> 00:08:21.490 But if you have not acted in good faith, then may fire come out from ab 00:08:21.490 --> 00:08:27.370 bialek and devour the leading citizens of Shechem and Beth Milow and May Fire 00:08:27.370 --> 00:08:31.390 come out from the citizens of Shechem and Beth Milow and devour ab Bialek. 00:08:33.280 --> 00:08:37.720 Then Jotham escaped and lived in beer because he was afraid of his brother. 00:08:37.960 --> 00:08:43.180 Alek, after Alek had ruled over Israel for three years. 00:08:43.810 --> 00:08:47.800 God sent a spirit that stirred up trouble between Eek and the leading 00:08:47.800 --> 00:08:49.900 citizens of Shechem and they revolted. 00:08:50.980 --> 00:08:56.230 God was punishing aek for murdering Gideon's 70 sons and the citizens of 00:08:56.230 --> 00:08:59.470 Shechem for supporting him in this treachery of murdering his brothers. 00:08:59.900 --> 00:09:04.960 The citizens of Shechem said an ambush for Eek and the hilltops and 00:09:04.960 --> 00:09:06.670 robbed everyone who passed that way. 00:09:07.480 --> 00:09:09.730 But someone warned Ab Bialek about their plot. 00:09:11.230 --> 00:09:14.620 One day, Gail's son of Eid moved to Shechem with his brothers 00:09:14.860 --> 00:09:17.560 and gained the confidence of the leading citizens of Shechem. 00:09:18.490 --> 00:09:22.000 During the Annual Harvest Festival at Shechem, held in the temple 00:09:22.000 --> 00:09:26.740 of the local God, the wine flowed freely and everyone began cursing. 00:09:26.770 --> 00:09:30.670 Ab Bialek, who is a bialek, Gail shouted. 00:09:31.240 --> 00:09:35.500 He's not a true son of Shechem, so why should we be his servants? 00:09:36.220 --> 00:09:41.680 He's merely the son of Gideon, and this zeal is merely his deputy serve. 00:09:41.680 --> 00:09:44.680 The true sons of Haymore, the founder of Shechem. 00:09:45.610 --> 00:09:47.350 Why should we serve a Bialek? 00:09:48.370 --> 00:09:51.730 If I were in charge here, I would get rid of a bialek. 00:09:52.120 --> 00:09:55.720 I would say to him, get some soldiers and come out and fight. 00:09:57.100 --> 00:09:59.650 But when Zebo, the leader of the city, heard what Gail 00:09:59.650 --> 00:10:01.780 was saying, he was furious. 00:10:02.785 --> 00:10:07.825 He sent messengers to Abak and Oma telling him, Gail's son of e b I and 00:10:07.825 --> 00:10:11.905 his brothers have come to live and check him, and now they're inciting 00:10:11.905 --> 00:10:13.675 the city to rebel against you. 00:10:14.425 --> 00:10:18.685 Come by night with an army and hide out in the fields in the morning. 00:10:18.685 --> 00:10:19.795 As soon as that it's daylight. 00:10:20.095 --> 00:10:24.415 Attack the city when Gail and those who are with him come out against you. 00:10:24.835 --> 00:10:26.515 You can do with them as you wish. 00:10:27.715 --> 00:10:32.095 So Abian, all his men went by night and split into four groups, 00:10:32.425 --> 00:10:34.285 stationing themselves around Shechem. 00:10:35.365 --> 00:10:39.355 Gail was standing at the city gates when Abbe Lakin, his army, came out of hiding. 00:10:40.045 --> 00:10:43.735 When Gail saw them, he said to zeal, look, there are people 00:10:43.735 --> 00:10:44.965 coming down from the hilltop. 00:10:45.985 --> 00:10:50.095 Zeal replied, it's just the shadows on the hills that look like men. 00:10:51.055 --> 00:10:55.495 But again, Gail said, no, people are coming down from the hills. 00:10:55.930 --> 00:10:59.050 And another group is coming down the road past the Diviner Oak. 00:11:00.520 --> 00:11:05.410 Then Zebo turned on him and asked, now, where is that big mouth of yours? 00:11:06.250 --> 00:11:11.590 Wasn't it you that said, who is a Bialek and why should we be his servants? 00:11:12.310 --> 00:11:14.920 The men you mocked are right outside the city. 00:11:15.250 --> 00:11:16.330 Go out and fight them. 00:11:17.950 --> 00:11:21.730 So Gail led the leading citizens of Shaka into battle against Ab Bialek. 00:11:22.375 --> 00:11:25.855 But AB Bialek chased him, and many of Shechem's men were wounded 00:11:26.245 --> 00:11:29.005 and fell along the road as they retreated to the city gate. 00:11:30.295 --> 00:11:35.335 Ab Bialek returned to Arua, and Zebo drove Gail and his brothers out of Shechem. 00:11:36.805 --> 00:11:39.835 The next day, the people of Shechem went out into the fields to battle. 00:11:40.465 --> 00:11:43.855 When Ab Bialek heard about it, he divided his man into three groups 00:11:44.035 --> 00:11:45.805 and set an ambush in the fields. 00:11:46.765 --> 00:11:50.905 When Abex saw the people coming out of the city, he and his men jumped up from 00:11:50.905 --> 00:11:53.185 their hiding places and attacked them. 00:11:54.045 --> 00:11:57.445 Ab Bialek and his group stormed the city gate to keep the men 00:11:57.445 --> 00:11:58.885 of Shechem from getting back in. 00:11:59.455 --> 00:12:02.755 While Abex other two groups cut them down in the fields. 00:12:03.125 --> 00:12:08.515 The battle went on all day before AB Abimelech finally captured the city. 00:12:09.355 --> 00:12:14.575 He killed the people level, the city, and scattered salt all over the ground. 00:12:15.685 --> 00:12:18.595 When the leading citizens who lived in the Tower of Shechem heard 00:12:18.595 --> 00:12:22.555 what had happened, they ran and hid in the temple of Baal Beith. 00:12:23.605 --> 00:12:27.055 Someone reported to ab Bilac that the citizens had gathered in the temple, 00:12:27.715 --> 00:12:29.725 so he led his forces to Mount Salman. 00:12:30.325 --> 00:12:33.505 He took an axe and chopped some branches from a tree, then 00:12:33.510 --> 00:12:35.455 put them on a shoulder quick. 00:12:35.635 --> 00:12:38.065 Do as I have done, he told his men. 00:12:38.875 --> 00:12:42.505 So each of them cut down some branches following a Bimal X example. 00:12:43.195 --> 00:12:47.605 They piled the branches against the walls of the temple and set them on fire. 00:12:48.775 --> 00:12:51.685 So all the people who had lived in the Tower of Shechem 00:12:51.685 --> 00:12:55.405 died about 1000 men and women. 00:12:57.025 --> 00:13:01.875 Then AB Bialek attacked the town of thi and captured it, but there was a strong 00:13:02.155 --> 00:13:07.615 tower inside the town, and all the men and women, the entire population fled to it. 00:13:08.575 --> 00:13:11.905 They barricaded themselves in and climbed up to the roof of the tower. 00:13:12.740 --> 00:13:14.890 AB Bialek followed them to attack the tower. 00:13:16.000 --> 00:13:19.390 But as he prepared to set fire to the entrance, a woman on the roof 00:13:19.420 --> 00:13:24.310 dropped a millstone that landed on Abimelech's head and crushed his skull. 00:13:25.240 --> 00:13:29.650 He quickly said to his young armor bearer, draw your sword and kill me. 00:13:30.190 --> 00:13:32.800 Don't let it be said that a woman killed ab bialek. 00:13:33.700 --> 00:13:37.390 So the young man ran him through with a sword and he died. 00:13:38.455 --> 00:13:41.665 When a Bialek man saw that he was dead, they disbanded 00:13:41.665 --> 00:13:42.985 and returned to their homes. 00:13:44.095 --> 00:13:48.475 In this way, God punished ab bialek for the evil he had done against his father. 00:13:48.475 --> 00:13:52.765 By murdering his 70 brothers, God also punished the men of 00:13:52.765 --> 00:13:54.295 Shechem for all their evil. 00:13:55.255 --> 00:13:59.185 So the curse of Jotham, son of Gideon was fulfilled. 00:14:01.330 --> 00:14:04.390 After Alek died, Tola son of Pira. 00:14:04.570 --> 00:14:07.990 Son of Dodo, was the next person to rescue Israel. 00:14:08.830 --> 00:14:12.520 He was from the tribe of Issachar, but lived in the town of Shamer 00:14:12.525 --> 00:14:13.900 in the hill country of Ira. 00:14:15.040 --> 00:14:17.260 He judged Israel for 23 years. 00:14:17.260 --> 00:14:20.380 When he died, he was buried in shamer 00:14:22.510 --> 00:14:27.640 After Tola died, Jayer from Gilead judged Israel for 22 years. 00:14:28.540 --> 00:14:34.000 His 30 sons rode around on 30 donkeys, and they owned 30 towns in the land of Gilead, 00:14:34.570 --> 00:14:36.340 which are still called the towns of Jer. 00:14:37.510 --> 00:14:39.850 When Jer died, he was buried in Cayman. 00:14:41.950 --> 00:14:44.830 This concludes today's immerse reading experience. 00:14:44.950 --> 00:14:45.850 Thank you for joining us.