Pastor Anthony McPeters Israel Baptist Church Bible Study Notes 1028020 Ibzan/Elon/Abdon I. Three minor judges Ibzam,Elon and Abdon. a. They weren’t minor in importance, but the Bible chooses not to say much about them. i. Ibzan- contrasts with Jephthah who had only one daughter. Whereas Jephthah sacrificed his daughter, Ibzan obtained husbands for his30 daughters. Apparently Ibzan was a polygamist, and Jephthah was not. His marriages probably cemented clan alliances and extended the scope of his political influence. He judged Israel 7 years ii. Elon-name means oak. He judged Israel for 10 years. iii. Abdon - means service or servant lived in the hill country of Ephraim. He too had many sons and daughters who rode on donkeys, reflecting Abdon"s prestige and the peace that prevailed when he judged (cf. Judges 10:4). The fact that several of the judges fathered extremely large families points to their living like the people of their day. This is further evidence that Canaanite culture was influencing the Israelites adversely Samson “Strength and Weakness” I. Samson birth was foretold by God. Samson was to be a Nazarite. a. A Nazarite vows were usually temporary, but Samson was to be a Nazarite for life. Pastor Anthony McPeters Israel Baptist Church Bible Study Notes 1028020 i. Nazirite- means devoted or consecrated. He had taken a vow or separation to God. 1. This included abstaining from alcohol. 2. Abstaining from cutting his hair 3. Avoiding contact with dead bodies. ii. Samson was also called to deliver Israel from the hands of the Philistines. 1. Samson name meant sunny, but his life was anything but sunny. 2. Samson had every opportunity to be great. II. Samsons weakness and his physical strength. a. He went to the enemy and desired to marry a Philistine woman b. Why did his parents object to this? c. God knew his weakness to woman and used this as opportunity for Samson to have an issue with the Philistines i. Satan used it to destroy him. ii. Samson was controlled by the lust of his eyes. iii. Samson was living by sight not by faith.(1 John 2:16) iv. Samson was more interested in pleasing himself instead of the Lord or his parents. 1. Samson riddle at the wedding feast. 2. Samsons wife betrays him. v. Samson anger and his need for revenge prompted his fight against the Pastor Anthony McPeters Israel Baptist Church Bible Study Notes 1028020 Philistines, not his love for God or Israel. (14-15) III. Samson lust for beautiful women finaly brings him down. ( ch 16) a. First he sleeps with a prostitute. b. Then he falls in love with Delilah, ( another woman who was for sale) c. Samson is finally captured by the Philistines. d. Samson killed more Philistines in the arena than he did in his lifetime. .