Through 2 Samuel 22 (p. 450 in my Bible)

I thought this an interesting page.  I am reading Scripture and finding things I never knew...but how many of these sayings do people think to be "Biblical Truth" when they're not even in there?

Sayings Not Found in Scripture (Click on the link to find the interactive page where you can click and see each saying separately) http://www.blueletterbible.org/faq/sayings.cfm

 Moderation in all things.
 Once saved, always saved.
 Better to cast your seed....
 Spare the rod, spoil the child.
 To thine ownself be true.
 Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
 God helps those who help themselves.
 Money is the root of all evil.
 Cleanliness is next to godliness.
 This too shall pass.
 God works in mysterious ways.
 The eye is the window to the soul.
 The lion shall lay down with the lamb.
 Pride comes before the fall.
Miscellaneous
 The Three Wisemen
 The Sinner's Prayer
 Wedding Vows
 The Seven Deadly Sins


Holy Ghost teach TRUTH to me as I read!


2 Samuel 3
Abner = my father is a lamp  http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H74&t=KJV
:35 - David fasts because of Abner's death

2 Samuel 4
:4 - Mephibosheth, Jonathan's son, became lame when his nurse dropped him at 5 years old
:12 - Ishbosheth, Saul's son who took by force the throne over 11 of the 12 tribes of Israel, dies


2 Samuel 5
:6 - Jebusites (in Jerusalem) demand that David cannot come in with the blind and the lame
:17 - Philistines were not happy that David was now king
:19 - Is it me or does David always seem to ask God's permission to fight these battles?  And God always tells him (so far) yes and that he will have success.
:23-24 - God even tells him this time the plan of attack from behind the mulberry trees!

2 Samuel 6
:2-3 - What an honor that must have been for Abinadab to store the ark in his house!
:7 - I have always felt sorry for Uzzah.  The ark wasn't supposed to be carried on a cart, either, but the oxen weren't killed!  I guess the oxen weren't given the commandment not to touch it.  People were.

:10 - ark went back into storage
:14 - David is wearing an ephod, which usually priests wore.
:16 - Michal, Saul's daughter and David's first wife, is back and for the first time disapproving of this husband she loved because of his public dance for God.
:18 - I think it is so interesting that David has so many priestly tendancies, even though he was anointed as king, not priest.  But as soon as that prophecy was delivered to him from Samuel, he moved to Samuel's city and probably learned all that from Samuel, the priest.
:20 -  Too often I have heard preachers talk about that David removed his kingly garments to dance before the Lord about the ark being moved without anyone dying.  We don't see Scripture saying that he took anything off to dance.  And if he did take it off, it would have been a priestly garment he removed, not a kings' garment, because it says he wore an ephod.  Perhaps here when Michal accuses him of uncovering himself, it was more figurative in the sense that he did not maintain the culturally correct kingly behavior.  How can you be politically correct in praising God with shouting?  Trumpets?  Dancing?  When is this ever acceptable?  It still isn't today.

Picture of David dancing.

2 Samuel 7
Nathan, the prophet, is introduced.
God actually says no to David for a change.  He tells him that not he, but his son will build a house for God.

2 Samuel 8
:13 - David makes a name for himself when he smites 18K men in the valley of salt
:6 and :14 - David puts up garrisons = set over, something placed, pillar, prefect, garrison, post http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H5333&t=KJV

2 Samuel 9
David finds Mephibosheth when he searches for someone out of Saul's house to honor.  This is Jonathan's son, which is even sweeter since David and Jonathan were like brothers.  Something has changed since chapter 5 when David wasn't allowed to bring lame or blind people into the city...and now he invites one to sit at his table continually. (:7)


2 Samuel 10
Ammon's sons aren't so smart when he dies.  David tries to show them kindness and honor their house, but they shave his (David's) servants beards and cuts their clothes. (:4)  So David is forced again into battle.  He sends Joab (:7), who recruits his brother Abishai (:10) to help him since he hast to fight the Syrians and the sons of Ammon at the same time. (:11)

2 Samuel 11
:1 - There was actually a time of year that kings always went out to battle.
This is a Bible story I have heard more than others...David taking ANOTHER wife...this time from another man...and sent him to the front lines of battle to make sure he died so David could have him to himself.  Instead of my usual reactions to this story, I have to wonder, did women just have to always go when men called for them?  Even when married?
:27 - God was displeased = trembling/quivering eye (from 2 Hebrew words: Strongs numbers - H5869 and H3415) WOW!  The only time I can think of that my eye quivers is when I am about to cry.

2 Samuel 12
The Lord uses a parable when reprimanding to David. How interesting is it that God is speaking to Old Testament people before Jesus or the Holy Ghost.  And without a priest.  Or a prophet.

Nathan rebuking David for Bathsheba situation.

:20 - Instead of fasting at a death, now David ends a fast when his own son dies.
:24 - Solomon is born
:25 - Nathan gives Solomon the name Jedidiah=beloved of Jehovah http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H5333&t=KJV
:28 - David goes back to battle, where he's supposed to be, when Joab says if you don't take this city, I will!  And it will have my name!

2 Samuel 13
:4 - my brother Absalom's sister - Okay, this is where it gets weird having multiple wives and one daddy.  Your sibling count multiplies exponentially.

2 Samuel 14
:25 - Absalom, who killed his brother for raping his sister, was physically beautiful.
:28 - When Absalom got to return to his family, he didn't get to see his dad's face for 2 years.  And when he asked Joab to arrange a meeting, Joab wouldn't come.  So, Absalom had Joab's field set on fire! (:30)  That will get someones' attention...and will really preach***

2 Samuel 15
Absalom steals the hearts of the people and tries to take over his father's kingdom.
:14 - David actually flees out of Jerusalem away from his son.
:21 - And Ittai answered the king, and said, [As] the LORD liveth, and [as] my lord the king liveth, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also will thy servant be. - Such a beautifully poetic and heartfelt expression I've never heard quoted or preached on. ***
:27 - David asks Zadok, the priest, to remain in Jerusalem to be his eyes in the land.
:30 - Mt. Olivet = Mount of Olives - On David's ascent up the mountain, we wept and grieved.  At the top, he worshipped God.  This is also the same mountain Jesus had many discussions with his disciples.  
Here is a pic of Mount of Olives today.  

And one of the olive trees on it.

2 Samuel 16
:22 - A tent on top of the house!  And mass fornication was committed publicly!  And it is in the BIBLE!!!

2 Samuel 17
:13 - How do you draw a city into the river with ropes?
:15 - Thank God for wise counsel.  And thank God for trusted messengers and ministers.
:17 - wench = girl slave http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H8198&t=KJV
:27 - Mahanaim = "two camps"

1) a place east of the Jordan, named from Jacob's encounter with angels

2) a Levitical city in Gad

*Interesting that David rested where Jacob had earlier encountered the angels (Genesis 32:1-2)

Picture from bibleatlas.org

2 Samuel 18
:5 - David commands his 3 army captains to deal gently with Absalom (who had tried to battle him out of the thrown and caused him to flee out of the city).  Ok.
:8 - and the wood devoured more people that day than the sword devoured. If God has to use trees to vindicate you, he will.
:33 - David never stopped loving Absalom even through all that fighting and betrayal.

2 Samuel 19
:2 - victory that day was turned into mourning - How quickly can things change at the kings' response.
:8 - gate = public meeting place http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H8179&t=KJV David coming there drew the people out from their tents where they hid in sorrow from David's sorrow over the death of his son.  Ironically, the gate was also where Absalom sat and stole the hearts of the people.

2 Samuel 20
:24 - Mephibosheth didn't dress his feet, trim his beard, or wash his clothes since David left until his return.
:27 - Mephibosheth calls David an angel of God.  His name means exterminating the idol. http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H4648&t=KJV

2 Samuel 21
:1 - 3 Year famine
This chapter has a different feel than the rest of the book so far...almost like a summation chapter...except we are introduced to the giants.

2 Samuel 22
The first song (psalm) of David!
Here is a cute, lively version of a modern song with some of these verses. And it has printed lyrics!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=je2Vk83kuzg

Through 2 Samuel 2 (p. 420 in my Bible)

Holy Ghost teach me as I read...(1John 2:27)


1 Samuel 14
:1 - garrison = 1) station, garrison, standing-place a) standing-place (of feet)

b) station, office, position

c) garrison, post, outpost

http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H4673&t=KJV

:4 - Why did these sharp rocks have names?

:25 - An earthquake happens and causes Saul to wonder where his son is all of the sudden.  Perhaps out of 600 people and so much responsibility it makes sense that he wouldn't know his son wasn't there.  But he didn't even realize it until after the headcount in vs. 17.

:27 - Jonathan finds himself enlightened after tasting of the honey no one else would eat.  Sometimes it's good to not hear all mans' rules so you don't have to be afraid to break them!

:52 - Saul recruited any strong men he saw to help him fight the Philistines.

1 Samuel 15
:4 - Numbering the men is practiced often.
:11 - Samuel was so upset about what God said about Saul he cried all night

1 Samuel 16
Samuel has to prophesy in the new king.  The first son of Jesse, Eliab, seemed to be "the one" to Samuel.  And Samuel had to be rebuked by God for looking at the outside appearance.  It does say that he said Eliab surely was the one, but we don't know if he said it out loud.

So after David, the youngest, is chosen and moves to Samuel's city (:13). And then he gets to be around the one he is replacing (Saul) when they ask for a harp player!  Saul loves him!

1 Samuel 17
David and Goliath.

:5 - It says Goliath had brass armor, but the word brass actually translates to copper .http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H5178&t=KJV
:8 - Most likely being a "man of Saul" was supposed to mean big and tough after reading that Saul recruited all the strong men to fight with him.  Not tough enough to take on this guy.
:22 - Bible-day valet parking
:38 - Saul gave David a coat of mail = body armor http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H8302&t=KJV
which he ended up refusing because he hadn't tried them out.  No armor fighting against the copper giant.  That's faith.

I have to wonder if Goliath's soft spot ever went away in his skull.  He was a giant, which meant he continued to grow beyond normal size of a man.  So perhaps his skull retained the soft spot of a child so his brain could keep growing.  That would explain the smooth river stone from David's sling shot sinking into his skull. (Just a thought.)  No matter how you cut the cake, it's a flat miracle.  

1 Samuel 18
Jonathan (Saul's son, the rebel who ate the honey) and David (the shepherd with a fierce fastball arm) become bosom buddies.
:12 - Even strong kings who are surrounded by strong military men are afraid of youngest born shepherd boys who have God with them.
:15 - The same kings can be afraid of the same shepherd boy just for acting wisely.  So we go from being a blessed harp player to a fearful force.
:27 - Battle sure was different back then...bringing back body parts from battle like trophies.


1 Samuel 19
:1 - Death threat to David from his beloved father in law.
:9 - And the evil spirit from the LORD was upon Saul, How interesting that this could be true.  Not all evil spirits are sent by the evil one.
:17 - How sad that Michal, David's wife, 1) had to say goodbye to her husband not knowing when/if they would even see each other again 2) had to defend her husband from being killed by her own father!!!
:20 - What did it look like for the messengers to see David prophesying?  What did it look like when they joined in with the prophesying?  3 groups of Saul's messengers he sent to get David were enticed to begin prophesying.
:22 - Gossiping by the water fountain...just like in offices of today.

1 Samuel 20
Now Jonathan has to defend David from his own father!  Can you imagine your dad wanting to kill your best friend?  Your husband?
:19 - Another rock with a name.  Ezel = departure http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H237&t=KJV  Very fitting because that's exactly what David ended up having here.  A departure.
:30 - Saul blames Jonathan's mother when he is disappointed with his son's behavior.  Some things never change with time.
:34 - Jonathan fasted because he was so upset about David being shamed by Saul.

1 Samuel 21
:11 - Servants of Achish must have been part of that prophesying group.  They called David the king of the land before it was so.  And David heard them say it.  Must have refreshed his spirit since he had to go on the run, leave everything he knew, and be in fear about Saul finding him wherever he went.
:12 - Oh, nevermind.  Nope, he wasn't encouraged.  He was afraid and pretended to be crazy so they'd let him go.

1 Samuel 22
:1-2 - David hides in a cave with a name.  Adullam = justice of the people http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H5725&t=KJV   And those that were in trouble flocked to him, and he received his first kingdom.  400 people!
But guess what.  How can you hide when there are 400 people with you.  And Saul finds out through the priest that gave David back the sword he cut off Goliath's head with.  So Saul angrily kills all those priests of the land for not handing over David to him to begin with.
:23 - And yet David has confidence that those with him will be safe.

1 Samuel 23
Those pesky Philistines loved to fight!
:11-12 - David asks God 2 direct questions.  God gives David 2 direct answers.  Both yes.
:17 - Why is David before Jonathan in line to be king?  Maybe since David married Saul's daughter...who must have been older than Jonathan?

1 Samuel 24
Cat and mouse continues as David runs from Saul.  And David even gets the chance to kill Saul and doesn't do it because Saul is God's anointed.  Saul must have had the Spirit of the LORD that day and not that evil spirit because he was nice to David.

1 Samuel 25
An encounter with shepherds that didn't know anything about David.
Abigail saves the day.
:34 - any that pisseth against the wall Wow, that word is in the Bible, too! Apparently it denotes people who are shameful, as it wasn't custom to pee in public or standing up...even for a man. (See Gesenius Lexicon on this page:  http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?strongs=H8366)
:43 - David gets Abigail as a wife after her husband dies of shock after hearing the David situation.  And he has another lady that becomes his wife.
:44 - Michal, wife #1, is given a new husband.  My, my my.  I will never cease to be bewildered by these marriage practices!  And by God's chosen ones, no less!

1 Samuel 26
Saul begins chasing David again.
:12 - a deep sleep from the Lord was fallen upon them Amazing how many things are from the Lord.
:25 - Saul repents to David yet again.

1 Samuel 27
David is tired of being chased by Saul.  Achish notices the reproach that seems to be with David and contemplates having him as a servant.

1 Samuel 28
The Philistines get ready to fight Israel...AGAIN.
:3 - One thing Saul did right was getting rid of the familiar spirits and wizards out of the land.
:6 - Saul questions the Lord and gets no answer.  How many times I have felt that way.  I think he just didn't wait long enough.  With time usually comes my answer, or at least the new mind I need to not have the question anymore.
:8 - familiar spirit = one who envokes the dead.  It also means water skin bottle. http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?strongs=H8366

1 Samuel 29
David tries to fight on the Philistines side, but the king won't let him.

1 Samuel 30
:7 - I notice that David requests the ephod often when he is asking God something.  Sure enough, God always answers him.

1 Samuel 31
Saul's downfall.
:10 - What a weird and horrific thought--your dead body being fastened to a wall.

II Samuel 1
Fasting on behalf of the dead.
 
II Samuel 2
:4 - Finally David is anointed king.
:8-9 - Not everyone accepted David as king and Israel was divided.
Everyone is now chasing Abner.

Through 1 Samuel 13 (p.390 in my Bible)

Judges 19
Another travelling Levite.
:18 - No place to lay his head on the way to the house of the Lord.
 :21 - Finally a "good samaritan" in an old man.  But the situation turns on him when criminals come that night!
Again, a very strange action by this older gentleman, in trying to protect the honor of his guest, he offers his daughter to these obviously not-well-intentioned men.  I don't understand why that would even come to his mind to do.  He needs that mind like Samson to light some foxes on fire or something!

Judges 20
:18 - Judah is whom God says will go first to battle.  This is the tribe Jesus came out of.  I am really realizing the significance of God doing battle.  It is hard to really imagine the God of love being involved in all these battles.  I keep reading more and more of them.

Judges 21
Tribe of Benjamin is outcast from the other tribes of Israel.

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I am reminding myself that the purpose of this blog is to keep myself accountable and involved, not to summarize what I've read.
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Ruth 1
Ruth's name means friendship. http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H7327&t=KJV Very neat that her name goes so well with the thing that gave her a book in the Bible...strong relationship.
:22 - Root for Moabitess in the Hebrew sounds very similar to the place I spent the last couple years in CA, the Mohave Desert.  Moabitess =  from father: what father? http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H4125&t=KJV


Ruth 2
:11 - a mighty man of wealth (:1) has heard of Ruth's story and is impressed with her.  He takes care of her.

Ruth 3
Explanation of custom of uncovering the feet of a kinsman redeemer.
:10 - I have the impression that Boaz is significantly older than Ruth because he praises her with these words: thou followedst not young men, whether poor or rich.
How gentlemanly that Boaz protects her honor by being discreet and sending home barley for her and Naomi.


Ruth 4
:7 - To seal a deal they gave their shoe to the person back then.
:17 - Neighbors named Ruth's baby.  And that baby, Obed, was King David's grandaddy.

1 Samuel 1
Don't know that I will ever understand how they could biblically have more than one wife and that was somehow not wrong before God.
:24 - Amazing how giving the child she had prayed for didn't seem enough to Hannah.  She brought all kinds of offerings and gifts in addition to her great gratitude and prayers before God for answering her.

1 Samuel 2
I love the lyrics that the thankful Bible people sung when they were so happy with God.
:10 - exalt the horn of his anointed. I believe this is comparing the horn to us as a vessel of oil like the horn that held the anointing oil.  horn=1) horn

a) horn

b) of strength (fig)

c) flask (container for oil)

d) horn (as musical instrument)

e) horn (of horn-like projections on the altar)

f) of rays of light

g) hill

:12 - Eli, the priest, had sons that did not know the Lord.  Preacher-kid syndrome even back then.  

:34-35 - God actually told Eli that He would kill both his sons in one day and raise up a faithful priest.  

1 Samuel 3
I know that Samuel knew Eli's voice because he grew up like a son to Eli in the temple...so it is very interesting that when the Lord calls Samuel, He calls in a voice that sounds like Eli.

1 Samuel 4
Eli was a priest and also judged Israel.  He died at 98 after falling down when he was told the ark was taken.

1 Samuel 5
Trouble with that Dagon god of the Philistines...again.  This is the same one Gideon had to replace the altar and cut down the groves.  This time the Dagon god was face down on the ground, headless, and handless in the morning...it appears to be a supernatural God thing--not one done by a person of God in the earth.
:9 - Hemorrhoids were their consequence for stealing the ark.

1 Samuel 6
Attempts in planning to return the cart respectfully.

1 Samuel 7
Samuel speaks and calls for repentance from Israel serving other gods.

1 Samuel 8
Samuel had sons, but where is his wife?
Samuel prophesies of what will happen when the king Israel has asked for comes.

1 Samuel 9
Saul seeks out Samuel to give him directions...and wants to bring a gift!  Doesn't seem to be one to be a bad king.

1 Samuel 10
:1 - Samuel anoints Saul captain over his [God's] inheritance
:9 - Everything changes when the prophecy comes to pass and Saul turns from Samuel.  People start to think Saul is also a prophet.  That Spirit of God was transferred to him!
:22 - Saul was hiding when it was time for him to become king!  And then when he was found, he was a head taller than everyone else!  That would make it extra hard to hide!

1 Samuel 11
:7 - cutting creatures into pieces and sending them out appears to be a frequent method of communicating in Scripture

1 Samuel 12
:10 - How often has this happened now?  Israel serves other gods and then confesses to God and asks to be delivered from their enemies...AGAIN
:17 - Harvest times are often pointed out

1 Samuel 13
:6 - When you can't fight, hide
:10 - Saul made a sacrifice instead of waiting for Samuel to come and do it.  He got in trouble for this.

I am enjoying reading Scripture without judgment, just absorbing what I read and what observations come to me.

Judges 1 - 18 (p. 360 in my Bible)

O Holy Ghost...teach me as I read!

Judges 1
How wonderful is it that the first thing Israel does after Joshua dies is ask God their question? 
:15 - The story of Caleb's wife asking for springs of water is repeated for some reason.
:19 - Chariots of iron are hard to beat.
Towns that were not driven out when Israel moved in are listed.

Judges 2
An angel rebukes Israel for not throwing down altars of lands they came into.
:8 - Joshua died at 110 years old
Well, now this chapter does not paint as pretty of a picture of Israel's behavior after Joshua's death.  After all that warning against serving other gods, they did it anyway.


Judges 3
Proving time.  Will Israel remember God's ways with lands that don't remember the wars of taking over their lands?
:9 - Another deliverer for Israel is named. He is Caleb's nephew.  Othniel=lion of God http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H6274&t=KJV
:15 - Another deliverer God raises up.  He is left handed.  Ehud=I will give thanks:  I will be praised http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H164&t=KJV
:22 - Explicit details of how Ehud saves Israel is amazing.  He stabs the king who is against Israel.  The king was so fat the whole dagger went into his body and the contents of his bowels came out.
:31 - Another deliverer, Shamgar, slew 600 Philistines with an ox goad, which is an instrument used to spur or guide oxen for ploughing  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goad
Judges over Israel instead of Kings, like other lands.  Judges bring deliverance.

Judges 4
:4 - Deborah, the prophetess, is the judge of Israel!
An incredible story here.  Deborah is asked to acompany King Barak on a crusade to conquer Sisera.  He wins because where Sisera hid when he ran was in the tent of another king's wife...and she nailed a tent stake into his head!

Judges 5
:4 - heavens dropped
:5 - mountains melted
An interesting song by Deborah.
:31 - 40 years of rest in the land.'

Judges 6
Midianites were so strong against Israel that Israel built dens and caves in the mountains.
When they finally cried to God about their trouble, he sent them a prophet this time instead of a judge.
:11 - Gideon is introduced and visited by an angel sitting under an oak tree.  There's the oak tree again.  The conversation continues between Gideon and the Lord.  When the angel spoke, the Bible quotes it as the Lord speaking.
:18 - Gideon actually asks the angel not to leave until he prepares the sign he wants God to give him.
:24 - Jehovahshalom = Jehovah is peace 1) the name of a sacred altar built by Gideon in Ophrah http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H3073&t=KJV
*When you delete the 'h' in the middle of this word, Ophrah, you get...Oprah.
:25-27 - The first thing God tells Gideon to do (that same night that the angel came) is to tear down the Baal altar, cut down the groves (trees) that went with it, build an altar unto the Lord, and offer upon it a burnt sacrifice with the wood they cut down.  Gideon and his 10 men do all this in one night.  This reminds me of the work it takes us to put up a tent for a revival!

Here is a picture I like because it specifically says the angel appeared SITTING under an oak.  And here he is after he waited for Gideon to come back with the sign he wanted....setting fire to the sacrifices, before they had lighters.

:36-40 - Gideon asks for 2 more signs with the fleece.  One night for it to be wet with dew, the next for it to be dry.  Maybe he was making sure it was a sign and not just nature having her way.  And this meant that his hand would save Israel since the sign he asked for was fulfilled.  I notice he isn't asking for the sign for if he is supposed to do it (usually why people ask for a sign), but will the result be in his favor.

Judges 7
:3 - Gideon has to downsize to make it obvious that the Lord is the deliverer.
Started out with 32,000.  22,000 departed for being afraid.  Then out of the 10,000 remaining, only 300 drank from the water the way God said to pick the keepers.  Then someone tells Gideon about their dream of a rolling barley cake that somehow means to Gideon that he will defeat Mideon.  So he is not afraid anymore (God gave him the option of going to listen with Phurah if he was afraid...so he did and that's when he heard about this dream.)
:16 - All 300 got a trumpet and empty pitchers with lamps inside them.

Judges 8
:5 - Even with supernatural, holy assistance, God's people of faith and power get tired.
:26-27 - Gideon made a priestly garment (ephod) out of the massive amount of gold he got from the earrings of the Midianites.  1,700 shekels.  That would be 3.400 British pounds, or about (3,400 x .638325035 = $2,170) a little over $2,000 USD.
When it became a coined piece of money, the shekel of gold was equivalent to about 2 pound of our money.[From an English website, I assume, since they say that pounds are their money.  I like this reference.  Will have to use it to look more things up.] http://devel.searchgodsword.org/dic/ebd/view.cgi?action=Lookup&word=shekel&search.x=0&search.y=0&search=Lookup
1 U.S. dollar = 0.638325035 British pounds http://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C1GPEA_enUS314US314&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=how+many+pounds+are+in+a+dollar
:30 - GIDEON HAD 70 SONS!  
:33 - Israel doesn't do well without authority.

Judges 9
The number 70 has shown up already 3 times by verse 5.
:8 - A tree parable.  The trees are trying to decide who will reign over themselves.
:21 - A city named Beer


Judges 10
:1 - The next ruler after Abimelech arises to defend Israel. Tola.  Not much is said of him here.
:3 - Next is Jair =he enlightens.  http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H2971&t=KJV
:7 - God sold the Israelites to their enemies for their disobedience.
:16 - God's soul was grieved.  ***God has a soul! soul =1) soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion

a) that which breathes, the breathing substance or being, soul, the inner being of man

b) living being

c) living being (with life in the blood)

d) the man himself, self, person or individual

e) seat of the appetites

f) seat of emotions and passions

g) activity of mind

1) dubious

h) activity of the will

1) dubious

i) activity of the character

1) dubious

Judges 11
A beautiful story of one who was rejected being chosen and redeemed to be the leader to bring victory to those that had brought forth rejection.  Jephthah, who is one of the "Gideonites," as we have now...not to be mistaken for Gilead.  Gideon.  Gilead.  Very closely lettered.  Tragic ending, however.  This was a child sacrifice for which the Lord did not provide a ram in the bushes.

Here is a picture that shows what emotion must have been felt when Jephthah realized to fulfill his vow to God, he would have to sacrifice his daughter, since she was the first one that peacefully approached him upon his return of victory in the battle.  Don't promise something to God you might not want to fulfill!

Judges 12
:5-6 - A lisp is key to knowing who is a native and who isn't.  If they couldn't say this certain word, they were killed!

Judges 13
Manoah's wife, who was barren, was visited of the Lord by an angel who prophesied to her of her son, who would be a Nazarite...hello Samson!
Manoah comes from the same primitive root as Noah = 1) to rest

a) (Qal)

1) to rest, settle down and remain

2) to repose, have rest, be quiet

b) (Hiph)

1) to cause to rest, give rest to, make quiet

2) to cause to rest, cause to alight, set down

3) to lay or set down, deposit, let lie, place

4) to let remain, leave

5) to leave, depart from

6) to abandon

7) to permit

c) (Hoph)

1) to obtain rest, be granted rest

2) to be left, be placed

3) open space (subst)

http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/Lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H5117&t=KJV

:11 - Manoah had to go to where the angel came for his visitation.

Again a kid (goat) burnt offering happens with an angelic visitation.  Gideon and Manoah.

Judges 14
:15 - Philistines take riddles very seriously.  Life or death.

Judges 15
Samson burns the Philistines cornfields by lighting 300 foxes on fire by their tails and letting them run into the fields.  This causes them to burn his wife and her father.  That was a strange father for keeping his daughter from her husband and then trying to offer his other daughter instead.  I know marriage was a lot different then.  Not always one woman for every man.  Thank God for 2010!

Judges 16
:1-22 - The great story of Samson and Delilah.  I have yet to understand why after 3 times actually following through with doing whatever Samson said took away his strength that he would tell Delilah the truth...KNOWING she would do it.  Did he think it was a game to her?  Surely not.  Or his soul would not have been vexed to death (:16).  Also, how did he not wake up when his head was being shaved?

Judges 17
:6 - In those days [there was] no king in Israel, [but] every man did [that which was] right in his own eyes.
Micah's mom makes an idol and Micah hires a travelling Levite to be his personal priest.

Judges 18
:19 - A group of people lure this priest away from Micah.  They tell him to be quiet and go with them.  Looks like congregations have tried (and sometimes succeeded) to control the priesthood since Bible days.

Thank you God for the driving power I feel to keep moving forward!

Joshua 6 - Joshua 24 (p.330 in my Bible)

Holy Ghost..O how I need you to teach me..........

Joshua 6

Hear the song "Joshua Fought the Battle of Jericho" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4znSPpeAjM

There is a misconception that the Jericho march was a total of 7 times around the city.  However, it was once a day for 6 days, and then 7 times on the 7th day. 6 + 7 = 13. 

So I asked the question, "How long would it have taken them to march around Jericho?"  Mostly what I found was copywrited material and sites saying there couldn't have been a wall during that time.  That just tells me that when God does away with something, He can totally disintegrate it with nothing left!

From this great page on Jericho:  http://www.biblearchaeology.org/post/2008/06/The-Walls-of-Jericho.aspx

Within the upper wall was an area of approximately 6 acres, while the total area of the upper city and fortification system together was half again as large, or about 9 acres. Based on the archaeologist’s rule of thumb of 100 persons per acre, the population of the upper city would have been about 600.

:22 - Poor Rahab.  Everyone knew her as "the harlot."  And yet, not poor Rahab because she and her house were the only survivors!  It's amazing to me how explicit God was to them about killing everyone in the cities they took over.  And yet God in the Great 10 (commandments) says Thou shalt not kill.  So this means, you have to do what God tells you NOW, not what he said then.
Joshua 7
Cursed or blessed.  There was no middle ground.  One would think that would be easy to remember.  Not Achan.  He had a place named after him...Achor which means trouble, disturbance. http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?strongs=H5911

Joshua 8
God assures Joshua that they will win against Ai...that Achan's disobedience would not ruin it for them.
Joshua 9
:5 - clouted=1) to patch, spot, be spotted, be coloured

a) (Qal)
1) to spot
2) spotted (participle)
b) (Pual) to be patched
Interesting that these kings would pretend to be from afar by patching up their clothes.  Israel knew that you could be from afar and have your clothes in tact by the grace of God.  All that time in the wilderness and they never had to get new shoes or clothes.
:7 - league = alliance http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?strongs=H1285
:23 - Ok.  So even princes have consequences for lying.  Why would they need to be from far away to get mercy from Joshua?  Anyway, here comes their curse. They had to be servants to Israel.
Joshua 10
Word is getting around to all the kings!
:10 - discomfit - 1) to move noisily, confuse, make a noise, discomfit, break, consume, crush, destroy, trouble, vex

a) (Qal)
1) to move noisily
2) to confuse, discomfit, vex
:12 - Joshua tells the sun and moon to stand still.  He commanded time to be still and it obeyed.
:39-40 - utterly destroyed all the souls that were therein by the commandment of God
 
Joshua 11
:6 - hough = to pluck or root up (what God said He would do to the enemies' horses)http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H6131&t=KJV
I am really feeling the character of God being a warrior.  Many peace people of this generation maybe would not follow God if we were with Joshua.

Joshua 12
A list of kings defeated by Israel!  Really strange names.
Joshua 13
God tells Joshua he is getting old.  Ha!  Sounds funny from an eternal God.  Then He specifically lists all the land yet to be taken over.
:29 - half tribe of Manasseh - I am wondering why only half received this inheritance.  Perhaps because they had grown to be so large?  Is it because both of Joseph's sons (Ephraim & Manasseh) (Joshua 14:4) became a tribe and so Ephraim is the other half?  If you know, please tell me.
Joshua 14
:4 - Children of Joseph were 2 tribes instead of one.
Joshua 15
Border details.
:19 - Caleb's wife has a request for their inheritance.  A woman's request is granted.  She wanted springs of water.  Who could blame her?
Cities in villages listed. 
*It might be interesting to look up all these names in the Hebrew sometime.
:63 - A people that could not be driven out were allowed to stay and dwell with children of Judah.  Very interesting.

Joshua 16
Continued border definitions.  This is one of those moments a map of that day would be helpful.


Joshua 17
Son of...son of....son of....son of...and then the daughters of Manasseh had to ask for their inheritance since they were promised that previously by God.  Maybe that is the other half of Manasseh's tribe.
:12 - Israelites again let another people group dwell with them...and it is noted that they could not drive them out, for whatever reason.  The Caananites.  And then the make them to be servants.
:18 - God promises Ephraim & Manasseh a whole mountain...and tells them they will "cut it down".  There's more than one way around a mountain!  And more than one way to move it!

Joshua 18
7 tribes still had not received their inheritanced...so they were scolded by Joshua for being lazy.  They had to work to get that inheritance.  Imagine that. 
Joshua 19
More inheritance descriptions.
:38 - Someone's name was "Iron"= "fearing" http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H3375&t=KJV
:49 - Joshua received an inheritance after everyone else was finished receiving theirs.

Joshua 20
Cities of refuge reviewed and appointed.
Joshua 21
Levites ask for land.  Each tribe gives unto them some cities ..."with her suburbs." 
:41 - They got 48 cities total.


Joshua 22
:6 - Joshua blesses everyone and they go to their tents.
:12 - Civil war almost breaks out over an altar that is built.
:29 - Peaceful plea that it is not an offering altar, but a witness of the Jordan being a division from the Lord for their tribes.

Joshua 23
Rest comes from all their enemies...finally.
:14 - I am going the way of all the earth
Joshua 24
:2 - Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood in old time
A review of all the amazing things God had done for Israel.
:15 - The ever famous verse is quoted only in part.  The whole verse blesses me:

And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that [were] on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

:26 - Joshua memorializes the words the Lord had spoken by placing a large stone under an oak.  A rock and an oak tree.  Strength.

O God I thank you for Your word!  Like a rock under an oak!  Immovable...unshakable!  Strong and mighty!

Deuteronomy 19 - Joshua 5 (p.300 in my Bible)

Holy Ghost Teach me....

Deuteronomy 19
Accidental murderers guidelines...cities of refuge.
:21 - Famous Instructions eye for an eye...and the Lord even gives note that they should not have pity, but this was the justice of the day.

Deuteronomy 20
Battle guidelines.  Priests were to give words of encouragement before battles were fought.  They were to proclaim peace before fighting.  If the city answered in peace, they could enslave those people.  If they didn't answer in peace, they spared the women and children but killed all the men.


Deuteronomy 21
What to do with people they find in the cities they take over.

Deuteronomy 22
What to do with animals they find in the new cities.
Building instructions for new houses, vineyards, and even marriages.


Deuteronomy 23
Who can enter the congregation of the Lord, and who can't.
No usury allowed within the bretheren!  (No interest.)


Deuteronomy 24
Divorce.
:5 - No business or war allowed for newlywed men.  They were instructed to "cheer up" their new wife!
:16 - Every man shall be put to death for his own sin.  One could not die for another's sin.  Hmmm.
Stranger, fatherless, and widow.


Deuteronomy 25
:2 - 40 stripes allowed when beating someone wicked.
:10 - Duty of a husband's brother.  If this was not performed by a man, he was known as "The house of him that hath his shoe loosed."
:19 - Forget Amalek.


Deuteronomy 26
:10 - firstfruits - 1) fruithttp://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H6529&t=KJV

                                a) fruit, produce (of the ground)
                                b) fruit, offspring, children, progeny (of the womb)
                                c) fruit (of actions) (fig.)
                     AND
                                1) first, beginning, best, chief
Deuteronomy 27

    a) beginning
    b) first
    c) chief
    d) choice part
http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H7225&t=KJV
:15 - Look down from thy holy habitation, from heaven, and bless thy people Israel... Beautiful words.  Bless us still, O God.


Deuteronomy 28
:8 - Command the blessing
Popular words people claim:
:3 - Blessed in the city; blessed in the field
:12 - Bless the work of thine hand, lend and not borrow
:13 - Make thee the head and not the tail; shalt be above and not beneath...IFF commandments are followed
-------
:27 - botch=1) boil, inflamed spot, inflammation, eruption  a) of man, leprosy, of man and beast

http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H7822&t=KJV

emerods=1) tumours, haemorrhoids, piles http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H2914&t=KJV
--Very explicit detail of curses that would occur for disobeying God's law--including going back to Egypt (:68) and mothers eating their own children (:57).


Deuteronomy 29
Reminder of all that God has supernaturally done releasing COI from Egypt...but more details about curses that disobedience will bring.
:19 - And it come to pass, when he heareth the words of this curse, that he bless himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of mine heart, to add drunkenness to thirst:
:20 - I am still working on comprehending God having jealousy.=1) ardour, zeal, jealousy

a) ardour, jealousy, jealous disposition (of husband)

1) sexual passion

b) ardour of zeal (of religious zeal)

1) of men for God

2) of men for the house of God

3) of God for his people

c) ardour of anger

1) of men against adversaries

2) of God against men

d) envy (of man)

e) jealousy (resulting in the wrath of God)

http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H7068&t=KJV
:23 - The common expression "fire & brimstone," according to this verse should rather be "brimstone and salt"...brimstone being akin to sulphur, associated with volcanic activity. http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H1614&t=KJV  Mix it with water and salt, and you have sulfuric acid...which is not fire,  but would feel like it if you touched it.  It burns worse than hydrochloric acid because of the severe dehydration it causes.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulfuric_acid Sulfer mixed with magnesium, another kind of salt, gives you a laxative (epsom salt)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulfur
:29 - The secret [things belong] unto the LORD our God: but those [things which are] revealed [belong] unto us and to our children for ever


Deuteronomy 30
Redemption in returning.
:6 - circumcision of heart
:15 - See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil; --reminds of 
:19 - I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, [that] I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:


Deuteronomy 31
Moses encourages Israel so mercifully and graciously, even though he will not enjoy the promised land with them.
:15 - God speaks out of the pillar of the cloud over the door of the tabernacle.  For some reason I always pictured a pillar of fire by night and a cloud by day...but the normal shape of a cloud, not in the form of a pillar.
:19 - The first prophetic song.  And the prophecy was not a happy one. 
:21 - Imagination is a problem.  Perhaps the "other gods" the Lord was constantly warning against included that of their own mind.  imagination = 1) form, framing, purpose, framework  a) form 1) pottery  2) graven image  3) man (as formed from the dust)

b) purpose, imagination, device (intellectual framework)

http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?strongs=H3336

Deuteronomy 32
:1 - The lyrics of the song begin by imploring heaven and earth to listen.
:18 - the Rock begat Israel
:30 - How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock had sold them, and the LORD had shut them up?  


Deuteronomy 33
Each tribe is spoken to by name.


Deuteronomy 34
Moses got to see the promised land, and then died.  This chapter is only 12 verses long!  Here is the kicker verse:  :12 - And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face


We are on the 6th book!!!


Joshua 1
Moses got to see it, Joshua got to feel it with his feet.
:13 - The LORD your God hath given you rest, and hath given you this land  Yes, it is rest after moving for many years to live in one place....but there is only rest if it is God that gave you that experience.
:14-15 - Had to keep armor on even after being in the promised land to help the brethren possess it fully 
:17 - Not sure how Joshua felt about this promise.  Israelites didn't listen to Moses that well and/or that often.


Joshua 2
If "son of Nun" were Joshua's last name, it would be Nunson.  Ha.
:1 - Shittim spies and Rahab
Rahab conveys to the spies she has heard of the stories of their travels, fears them, and knows the Lord has given them the land.

Joshua 3
Now they follow the ark instead of the cloud and fire.
It is interesting to me that the Jordan crossing is not glamorized as much as the Red Sea parting.  Just as huge of a miracle!  And it was overflowing because it was harvest season...so there was still a lot of water!  And the Jordan is a HUGE river!  Take a look at this pic of the Jordan from space:

Joshua 4
One person from each tribe had to keep one stone each - large enough to have to carry on their shoulder- as a memorial to future generations of the place where the priests' feet stood firm (:3)  They did, in fact, have to go in the river before it dried to cross...in other words the priests had to get their feet wet.  They had to keep standing there while the Israelites passed clean over (3:17)  Wonder how long that was?  Hundreds of thousands of people walking across that massive river?  Wow.  In fact, they had to be commanded to move (4:17)


Joshua 5
The second circumcision.  Wilderness children had not yet been circumcised.
:9 - God rolled away the reproach of Egypt from the Israelites in Gilgal = "a wheel, rolling"

1) the first site of an Israelite camp west of the Jordan, east of Jericho, here Samuel was judge, and Saul was made king; later used for illicit worship

2) dwelling place of prophets in northern Israel about four miles (7 km) from Shiloh and Bethel

3) a region conquered by Joshua, site unsure

:12 - Manna ends and fruit of the promised land begins.

:13 - The captain of the Lord's host appeared to Joshua with his sword drawn in his hand while he told him to take his shoes off on that holy ground.  Yes, God means business.