A SECOND BOOK OF JUDGES?
As people have scrambled to follow all the fast breaking developments in recent diplomacy here - I've been asked, as an Israeli if I can share some insights on the matter. Everyone seems to think that the recent signing of agreements with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and the USA are ushering in an actual, "NEW Middle East." So, let's look behind the headlines - but first, let's frame it in a Biblical sense.
As I have been studying Sefer Shofetim (Book of Judges) I began to notice a pattern which I see playing out before our eyes with these recent 'breakthroughs.' You don't see the correlation? Hang in there with me...
The entire book of Judges tell of a time when the Children of Israel ignored the directives to both conquer the Land of Israel and expel the inhabitants - Canaanite idol worshipers. Why the second part? The fear was that if we allowed these idol worshippers to stay within our midst, we would be seduced by them and their culture into following their Gods. And, that is exactly what happened repeatedly. The sanctity of Eretz Yisrael (Land of Israel) required us to insure that there was NO idol worship; NO worship of false gods. But, we ignored it...and were lax in the liberation of our Land - our inheritance from HaShem (God).
For this, we found ourselves (again, repeatedly) being oppressed by a variety of rulers - only to then cry out to HaShem for relief, to save us. HaShem would send a 'Judge' to deliver the people from their oppressors - and it would work; but only for a time. Time would pass, and in another part of the Land, it would all play out again and again. Notice that I said, "in another part of the Land?" Well, one of the most overlooked elements in the narratives in the Book of Judges is that it is about different Tribes of Israel, suffering localized oppression against them. There was NO unity among the Tribes of Israel...when Judah had to battle against their enemies - no one from Menashe, Ephraim, Dan or any of the other Tribes came to their aid.
So, what's THE pattern?
1. Ignoring the sanctity of the Land of Israel by chasing after false gods.
2. Total lack of unity among the people of Israel - 12 separate Tribes were more like 12 mini-states.
3. PUNISHMENT from HaShem...
4. HaShem forgives us, sends someone to lead us
And now, we come to 'current events' - IMPLICIT in the agreements with the USA ("Deal of the Century") and the agreements with both the UAE and Bahrain is the impending division of the Land of Israel. Since June, 1967, when Israel liberated Yehuda (Judea) and Shomron (Samaria) the various governments of Israel have not declared soverignty over these areas - the Biblical heartland/backbone of Biblical Israel. The Oslo Accords divided those areas between Israel and the 'PA' (so-called, 'Palestinian Authority'). But, their final status was still to be determined.
The government of Israel has chosen to ignore declaring soverignty over even PART of Yehuda/Shomron even though the Trump plan (which Netanyahu eagerly embraced) called for it to occur. Now, it was problematic - because for some reason, the US believed it could set Israel's borders and create a "Palestinian State" - for the first time in the history of the world. But, at least it brought the issue of soverignty up.
The agreements which were signed - (which have still not been made public) imply, if not actually mandate the 'Two-State' Solution. Creating a PA country in OUR heartland. So why are we turning our back on an essential part of OUR Land? Money and recognition...
We are allowing the modern equivalent of the enemies in our midst not so we can chase after their God. But so we can follow the God of the modern world - money... The UAE and Bahrain will be pumping BIG bucks into some of Israel's high tech, cyber security, defense and research industries. And once we begin milking these golden calves...we will not be able to detach ourselves from them. And when we are told to create a PA state...we will...And the government of Israel CRAVES international recognition. It is a real weak spot in the modern Jewish psyche.
Against the best judgement of our Defense Ministry - it appears that Netanyahu has given his blessing for the US to sell the F-35 stealth fighters to the UAE...am I crazy to be able to imagine ALL the ways THAT is going to go wrong?
Netanyahu can 'promise' that soverignty (no clue why people keep calling it, 'annexation' - how can you annex part of your own country?) is only delayed, but why on earth would we/could we believe him? Once again, we are back to the 'Two-State' Solution and the Saudi Arabia plan of a PA state in ALL of Yehuda/Shomron.
There is NO unity among the people of Israel today...not IN the Land and certainly not outside of it...we have turned our backs on the importance and holiness of OUR Land. And we are about to pay a frightful price for it...
May HaShem send a 'Judge' to deliver us....a leader....before it is too late....
Hanoch....Elul 28, 5780 Modi'in (home of the Maccabees)
A breath of fresh air! A courageous declaration! I wholeheartedly agree with you, and was wondering, “Why doesn’t anyone else see this, or if they do, why don’t they speak out?” You are so right!
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. G-d is not surprised by this and He will use it. He always knew it would happen and He will still work His Divine PLAN.
ReplyDeleteSomeone said to me, "this does not sound like a good report." I say, "the good report is declaring that the Land is good and that we should trust the Almighty and fight those 'giants in the Land.' Chanoch, you have a different spirit like Calev.
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