In the book of Judges we learned how, “Judah said unto Simeon his brother, Come up with me into my lot, that we may fight against the Canaanites; and I likewise will go with you into your lot. So Simeon went with him. And Judah went up; and the LORD delivered the Canaanites and the Perizzites into their hand: and they slew of them in Bezek ten thousand men. And they found Adonibezek in Bezek: and they fought against him, and they slew the Canaanites and the Perizzites”, and in chapter one and verse six of Judges, we learn how “Adonibezek fled; and they pursued after him” where we read,
But Adonibezek fled; and they pursued after him, and caught him,
and cut off his thumbs and his great toes.
The verse reads, “But Adonibezek fled; and they pursued after him, and caught him, …” The writer began with the words, “but Adonibezek fled” which means “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover Adonibezek whose name means ‘my lord is Besek’ and was the king of the Canaanite city of Bezek, killed by Israelites” took flight, departed, disappeared and escaped; “and they pursued after him” or “and they, the people of Judah, followed after, chased and aimed eagerly to secure”, “and caught him” which means “and grasped, took possession of and seized, him, Adonibezek”. The writer shared how king “Adonibezek” ran away and escaped the people of “Judah”, however, they chased after “Adonibezek” and seized him.
The verse continues, “… and cut off his thumbs and his great toes.” The writer added the words, “and cut off his thumbs” which means “and hewed in half and severed his, Adonibezek’s thumbs on his hands” “and his great toes” or “and his, Adonibezek’s, big or largest toes on his foot”. The writer shared how the people of “Judah” severed the “thumbs and big toes” of “Adonibezek”.
When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn how the “king” of “Bezek” responded when the tribe of “Judah” attacked the “Canaanites”. He ran away, however, the people of “Judah” chased after him, seized him and severed his “thumbs” which were used for holding swords and “big toes” which helped in running. We shall see why they did this in our next verse, but for now let us be reminded when God goes after someone, they shall not escape. God loves people, and He wants everyone to be in a personal relationship with Him through His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was resurrected from the dead after three days. When we surrender to Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put His Holy Spirit in us to guide us into all truth and give us the ability to live according to that truth so all enemies flee and are never able to fight against or outrun him. (See John 3:16; 16:13; Acts 1:8)
Next time we learn how, “Adonibezek said, Threescore and ten kings, having their thumbs and their great toes cut off”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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