Numbers 15:22-36 reads,
15:22
When you shall err, and not observe all these commandments, which Yahweh has spoken to Moses, 15:23even all that Yahweh has commanded you by Moses, from the day that Yahweh gave commandment, and onward throughout your generations; 15:24then it shall be, if it be done unwittingly, without the knowledge of the congregation, that all the congregation shall offer one young bull for a burnt offering, for a sweet savor to Yahweh, with the meal-offering of it, and the drink-offering of it, according to the ordinance, and one male goat for a sin-offering. 15:25The priest shall make atonement for all the congregation of the children of Israel, and they shall be forgiven; for it was an error, and they have brought their offering, an offering made by fire to Yahweh, and their sin-offering before Yahweh, for their error: 15:26and all the congregation of the children of Israel shall be forgiven, and the stranger who sojourns among them; for in respect of all the people it was done unwittingly. 15:27If one person sin unwittingly, then he shall offer a female goat a year old for a sin-offering. 15:28The priest shall make atonement for the soul who errs, when he sins unwittingly, before Yahweh, to make atonement for him; and he shall be forgiven. 15:29You shall have one law for him who does anything unwittingly, for him who is home-born among the children of Israel, and for the stranger who sojourns among them.15:30
But the soul who does anything with a high hand, whether he be home-born or a sojourner, the same blasphemes Yahweh; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people. 15:31Because he has despised the word of Yahweh, and has broken his commandment, that soul shall utterly be cut off; his iniquity shall be on him. 15:32While the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man gathering sticks on the Sabbath day. 15:33Those who found him gathering sticks brought him to Moses and Aaron, and to all the congregation. 15:34They put him in custody, because it had not been declared what should be done to him. 15:35Yahweh said to Moses, The man shall surely be put to death: all the congregation shall stone him with stones outside of the camp. 15:36All the congregation brought him outside of the camp, and stoned him to death with stones; as Yahweh commanded Moses.When a person sins unwittingly, and comes to realise his unwitting sin, and confesses it, and seeks forgiveness for his sin, having repented of it, Yahweh forgives him his sin. But the person who sins wittingly blasphemes Yahweh, by despising the word of Yahweh and breaking his commandment. The person who sins wittingly is NOT forgiven his sin, for those who blaspheme Yahweh, those who despise Yahweh's word, are NOT FORGIVEN their sin! They pay the consequences of their sin, whatever their sin is. And this consequence or penalty is DEATH!
Separate Yourself From Sinners When Yahweh Punishes Them
Numbers 16:20-27 reads,
16:20
Yahweh spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, 16:21Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment. 16:22They fell on their faces, and said, God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and will you be angry with all the congregation? 16:23Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 16:24Speak to the congregation, saying, Get away from around the tent of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.16:25
Moses rose up and went to Dathan and Abiram; and the elders of Israel followed him. 16:26He spoke to the congregation, saying, Depart, I pray you, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest you be consumed in all their sins. 16:27So they got them up from the tent of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, on every side: and Dathan and Abiram came out, and stood at the door of their tents, and their wives, and their sons, and their little ones.When Yahweh is executing his punishment upon sinners those who are righteous should separate themselves from the sinners in order not to be caught up in the punishment upon sinners. But if they do not they will indeed be caught up in their punishment. Righteous people should therefore avoid dwelling with sinners at the time Yahweh executes his judgements on the sinners, lest those judgements also afflict them.
Yahweh Kills Those Who Blaspheme Him
Numbers 16:35-40 reads,
16:35
Fire came forth from Yahweh, and devoured the two hundred fifty men who offered the incense. 16:36Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 16:37Speak to Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, that he take up the censers out of the burning, and scatter you the fire yonder; for they are holy, 16:38even the censers of these sinners against their own lives; and let them be made beaten plates for a covering of the altar: for they offered them before Yahweh; therefore they are holy; and they shall be a sign to the children of Israel. 16:39Eleazar the priest took the brazen censers, which those who were burnt had offered; and they beat them out for a covering of the altar, 16:40to be a memorial to the children of Israel, to the end that no stranger, who isn’t of the seed of Aaron, comes near to burn incense before Yahweh; that he not be as Korah, and as his company: as Yahweh spoke to him by Moses.Those who despise Yahweh's word blaspheme Yahweh. Yahweh executes his penalty of DEATH upon these who blaspheme him, these who despise his word.
It Is Sin To Speak Against Yahweh And Without Cause Against Those He Places In Authority
Numbers 21:4-9 reads,
21:4
They journeyed from Mount Hor by the way to the Red Sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way. 21:5The people spoke against God, and against Moses, Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no bread, and there is no water; and our soul loathes this light bread. 21:6Yahweh sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died. 21:7The people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, because we have spoken against Yahweh, and against you; pray to Yahweh, that he take away the serpents from us. Moses prayed for the people. 21:8Yahweh said to Moses, Make you a fiery serpent, and set it on a standard: and it shall happen, that everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live. 21:9Moses made a serpent of brass, and set it on the standard: and it happened, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he looked to the serpent of brass, he lived.It should again be noted that it is sin for one to speak against one's superior without cause. In this case the people of Israel spoke against Yahweh and against Moses without cause. And for so speaking Yahweh punished them by killing them with serpents! It should therefore be clear that we should indeed show due honour and respect to those who are our superiors.
Discouraging Circumstances Insufficient Cause In Sinning Against Yahweh
It should be noted that being discouraged by circumstances we face is no valid excuse for sinning against Yahweh. Implying that we should obey Yahweh irrespective of the circumstances around us.
It should also be noted that Yahweh is indeed VERY MERCIFUL! For he could easily have destroyed all who spoke out against him, seeing that they disregarded his word. Nevertheless, he again forgave their sin, showing the abundance of his mercy.
How To Avoid Having An Evil Eye
Deuteronomy 15:4-11 reads,
15:4
However there shall be no poor with you; (for Yahweh will surely bless you in the land which Yahweh your God gives you for an inheritance to possess it;) 15:5if only you diligently listen to the voice of Yahweh your God, to observe to do all this commandment which I command you this day. 15:6For Yahweh your God will bless you, as he promised you: and you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow; and you shall rule over many nations, but they shall not rule over you. 15:7If there be with you a poor man, one of your brothers, within any of your gates in your land which Yahweh your God gives you, you shall not harden your heart, nor shut your hand from your poor brother; 15:8but you shall surely open your hand to him, and shall surely lend him sufficient for his need in that which he wants. 15:9Beware that there not be a base thought in your heart, saying, The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand; and your eye be evil against your poor brother, and you give him nothing; and he cry to Yahweh against you, and it be sin to you. 15:10You shall surely give him, and your heart shall not be grieved when you give to him; because that for this thing Yahweh your God will bless you in all your work, and in all that you put your hand to. 15:11For the poor will never cease out of the land: therefore I command you, saying, You shall surely open your hand to your brother, to your needy, and to your poor, in your land.Sin Is Committed From The Heart
Again Yahweh shows that sin is indeed committed from the HEART! For when one hardens his heart, and does not seek to help his needy brother, yet he is able to do so, he sins against Yahweh. In this action he does not manifest love for his brother, and therefore sins against Yahweh word that he loves his brother.
Lend Your Brother Sufficient For His Need
Yahweh shows that a way of helping a needy brother is to LEND him sufficient for his need. Seeing that there is an obligation on the needy brother repaying what has been lent to him there is an implied requirement on him to work to repay what he has borrowed. One should therefore work, not only to provide for oneself, but also to repay whatever it is that one has borrowed.
Yahweh Predicted That The Children Of Israel Would Sin Against Him
It should be noted that Yahweh predicted that the children of Israel would sin against him. For 15:4-5 shows that Yahweh promised them that they would have no poor among them if they listened to his words and did them all. But that 15:11 shows that the poor would never cease out of the land shows that Yahweh had foreseen that the children of Israel would not listen to him but would indeed sin against him.
Punishment Against False Witnesses
Deuteronomy 19:15-20 reads,
19:15
One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sins: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall a matter be established. 19:16If an unrighteous witness rise up against any man to testify against him of wrong-doing, 19:17then both the men, between whom the controversy is, shall stand before Yahweh, before the priests and the judges who shall be in those days; 19:18and the judges shall make diligent inquisition: and, behold, if the witness is a false witness, and has testified falsely against his brother; 19:19then shall you do to him, as he had thought to do to his brother: so shall you put away the evil from the midst of you. 19:20Those who remain shall hear, and fear, and shall henceforth commit no more any such evil in the midst of you. 19:21Your eyes shall not pity; life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.Do Not Keep Company With Those Who Teach How To Sin Against Yahweh
Deuteronomy 20:16-18 reads,
20:16
But of the cities of these peoples, that Yahweh your God gives you for an inheritance, you shall save alive nothing that breathes; 20:17but you shall utterly destroy them: the Hittite, and the Amorite, the Canaanite, and the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite; as Yahweh your God has commanded you; 20:18that they not teach you to do after all their abominations, which they have done to their gods; so would you sin against Yahweh your God.We should not keep company with people who teach us to sin against Yahweh, especially when their conduct is against Yahweh's word.
It Is Sin For A Woman To Sexually Lie With A Man Not Her Husband
Deuteronomy 22:22-30 reads,
22:22
If a man be found lying with a woman married to a husband, then they shall both of them die, the man who lay with the woman, and the woman: so shall you put away the evil from Israel. 22:23If there be a young lady who is a virgin pledged to be married to a husband, and a man find her in the city, and lie with her; 22:24then you shall bring them both out to the gate of that city, and you shall stone them to death with stones; the lady, because she didn’t cry, being in the city; and the man, because he has humbled his neighbor’s wife: so you shall put away the evil from the midst of you. 22:25But if the man find the lady who is pledged to be married in the field, and the man force her, and lie with her; then the man only who lay with her shall die: 22:26but to the lady you shall do nothing; there is in the lady no sin worthy of death: for as when a man rises against his neighbor, and kills him, even so is this matter; 22:27for he found her in the field, the pledged to be married lady cried, and there was none to save her. 22:28If a man find a lady who is a virgin, who is not pledged to be married, and lay hold on her, and lie with her, and they be found; 22:29then the man who lay with her shall give to the lady’s father fifty shekels of silver, and she shall be his wife, because he has humbled her; he may not put her away all his days. 22:30A man shall not take his father’s wife, and shall not uncover his father’s skirt.Adultery Is Sin Worthy Of Death
Adultery is a sin worthy of death. Anyone who commits adultery commits a sin worthy of death.
A Betrothed Woman Commits Adultery By Having Sex With A Man Not Her Husband
22:22-24 notes that a betrothed woman is already the wife of a man, even though that man has yet to marry her or have sex with her. Therefore if a betrothed but unmarried woman willingly has sex with a man not her husband she commits adultery and sin worthy of death.
A Wife Who Is Raped Does Not Commit Adultery
22:25-27 notes that a wife who is raped by a man not her husband does not commit a sin worthy of death, implying that she does not commit adultery by the rape. For she is the victim of the sexual offence, rather than a willing participant in the offence. Victims of sin are therefore not sinners and should not be treated as those who commit sin.
It Is Sin To Be Slack To Pay One's Vows
Deuteronomy 23:21-23 reads,
23:21
When you shall vow a vow to Yahweh your God, you shall not be slack to pay it: for Yahweh your God will surely require it of you; and it would be sin in you. 23:22But if you shall forbear to vow, it shall be no sin in you. 23:23That which is gone out of your lips you shall observe and do; according as you have vowed to Yahweh your God, a freewill-offering, which you have promised with your mouth.Do Not Vow To Avoid Breaking It
It therefore appears that to avoid sin on account of vows one should not vow! For once one vows one risks committing sin on account of the vow. Therefore, to avoid putting oneself in a position whereby one may sin on account of vows one should not vow.
Deuteronomy 24:1-4 reads,
24:1
When a man takes a wife, and marries her, then it shall be, if she find no favor in his eyes, because he has found some unseemly thing in her, that he shall write her a bill of divorce, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house. 24:2When she is departed out of his house, she may go and be another man’s wife. 24:3If the latter husband hate her, and write her a bill of divorce, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house; or if the latter husband die, who took her to be his wife; 24:4her former husband, who sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled; for that is abomination before Yahweh: and you shall not cause the land to sin, which Yahweh your God gives you for an inheritance.Do Not Oppress A Hired Servant Who Is Poor And Needy
Deuteronomy 24:14-16 reads,
24:14
You shall not oppress a hired servant who is poor and needy, whether he be of your brothers, or of your sojourners who are in your land within your gates: 24:15in his day you shall give him his hire, neither shall the sun go down on it; for he is poor, and sets his heart on it: lest he cry against you to Yahweh, and it be sin to you. 24:16The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers: every man shall be put to death for his own sin.Yahweh's Anger Is Kindled Against Sinners
Joshua 7 reads,
7:1
But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the devoted thing; for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the devoted thing: and the anger of Yahweh was kindled against the children of Israel.7:2
Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Beth-aven, on the east side of Bethel, and spoke to them, saying, Go up and spy out the land. The men went up and spied out Ai. 7:3They returned to Joshua, and said to him, Don’t let all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and strike Ai; don’t make all the people to toil there; for they are but few. 7:4So there went up there of the people about three thousand men: and they fled before the men of Ai. 7:5The men of Ai struck of them about thirty-six men; and they chased them from before the gate even to Shebarim, and struck them at the descent; and the hearts of the people melted, and became as water.7:6
Joshua tore his clothes, and fell to the earth on his face before the ark of Yahweh until the evening, he and the elders of Israel; and they put dust on their heads. 7:7Joshua said, Alas, Lord Yahweh, why have you at all brought this people over the Jordan, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to cause us to perish? Would that we had been content and lived beyond the Jordan! 7:8Oh, Lord, what shall I say, after that Israel has turned their backs before their enemies! 7:9For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear of it, and will compass us round, and cut off our name from the earth: and what will you do for your great name?Yahweh Does Not Dwell With Those Who Are Accursed - Sinners
7:10
Yahweh said to Joshua, Get you up; why are you thus fallen on your face? 7:11Israel has sinned; yes, they have even transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: yes, they have even taken of the devoted thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also; and they have even put it among their own stuff. 7:12Therefore the children of Israel can’t stand before their enemies; they turn their backs before their enemies, because they are become accursed: I will not be with you any more, except you destroy the devoted thing from among you. 7:13Up, sanctify the people, and say, Sanctify yourselves against tomorrow: for thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel, There is a devoted thing in the midst of you, Israel; you can not stand before your enemies, until you take away the devoted thing from among you. 7:14In the morning therefore you shall be brought near by your tribes: and it shall be, that the tribe which Yahweh takes shall come near by families; and the family which Yahweh shall take shall come near by households; and the household which Yahweh shall take shall come near man by man. 7:15It shall be, that he who is taken with the devoted thing shall be burnt with fire, he and all that he has; because he has transgressed the covenant of Yahweh, and because he has done folly in Israel.Sin Is Transgressing Yahweh's Word
7:16
So Joshua rose up early in the morning, and brought Israel near by their tribes; and the tribe of Judah was taken: 7:17and he brought near the family of Judah; and he took the family of the Zerahites: and he brought near the family of the Zerahites man by man; and Zabdi was taken: 7:18and he brought near his household man by man; and Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was taken. 7:19Joshua said to Achan, My son, please give glory to Yahweh, the God of Israel, and make confession to him; and tell me now what you have done; don’t hide it from me. 7:20Achan answered Joshua, and said, Of a truth I have sinned against Yahweh, the God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done: 7:21when I saw among the spoil a goodly Babylonian mantle, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it. 7:22So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran to the tent; and, behold, it was hid in his tent, and the silver under it. 7:23They took them from the midst of the tent, and brought them to Joshua, and to all the children of Israel; and they laid them down before Yahweh.Yahweh's Fierce Anger Abates When Sin Is Atoned For
7:24
Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver, and the mantle, and the wedge of gold, and his sons, and his daughters, and his oxen, and his donkeys, and his sheep, and his tent, and all that he had: and they brought them up to the valley of Achor. 7:25Joshua said, Why have you troubled us? Yahweh shall trouble you this day. All Israel stoned him with stones; and they burned them with fire, and stoned them with stones. 7:26They raised over him a great heap of stones, to this day; and Yahweh turned from the fierceness of his anger. Therefore the name of that place was called "The valley of Achor" to this day.7:11 shows that sin is trespass against Yahweh's word.
7:12 shows that one who sins becomes accursed! And Yahweh does not stand together with one who is accursed!
7:26 shows that Yahweh's fierce anger, on account of sin, is turned from one when the penalty for that one's sin is paid.
Yahweh Punishes The Disobedient Even After Having Done Good To Them When They Were Obedient
Joshua 24:19-21 reads,
24:19
Joshua said to the people, You can’t serve Yahweh; for he is a holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your disobedience nor your sins. 24:20If you forsake Yahweh, and serve foreign gods, then he will turn and do you evil, and consume you, after that he has done you good. 24:21The people said to Joshua, No; but we will serve Yahweh.Yahweh's Anger Is Kindled Against Idolaters - Those Who Do Not Serve Yahweh
Judges 10:6-16 reads,
10:6
The children of Israel again did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, and served the Baals, and the Ashtaroth, and the gods of Syria, and the gods of Sidon, and the gods of Moab, and the gods of the children of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines; and they forsook Yahweh, and didn’t serve him. 10:7The anger of Yahweh was kindled against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the children of Ammon. 10:8They vexed and oppressed the children of Israel that year: eighteen years oppressed they all the children of Israel that were beyond the Jordan in the land of the Amorites, which is in Gilead. 10:9The children of Ammon passed over the Jordan to fight also against Judah, and against Benjamin, and against the house of Ephraim; so that Israel was sore distressed. 10:10The children of Israel cried to Yahweh, saying, We have sinned against you, even because we have forsaken our God, and have served the Baals.Yahweh Forsakes Those Who Forsake Him
10:11
Yahweh said to the children of Israel, Didn’t I save you from the Egyptians, and from the Amorites, from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines? 10:12The Sidonians also, and the Amalekites, and the Maonites, did oppress you; and you cried to me, and I saved you out of their hand. 10:13Yet you have forsaken me, and served other gods: therefore I will save you no more. 10:14Go and cry to the gods which you have chosen; let them save you in the time of your distress. 10:15The children of Israel said to Yahweh, We have sinned: do you to us whatever seems good to you; only deliver us, we pray you, this day. 10:16They put away the foreign gods from among them, and served Yahweh; and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel.10:6-7 shows that when one forsakes Yahweh the anger of Yahweh is kindled against that one!
10:7-9 shows that when the anger of Yahweh is kindled against one, that one undergoes severe suffering and calamities.
True Repentance Involves Both Confession Of Sin And Resumption Of Righteous Living
10:10 shows that the children of Israel, after suffering greatly at the hand of the anger of Yahweh, repented of their sin, in that they acknowledged their sin of forsaking Yahweh serving the Baals.
10:13-14 shows that when we forsake Yahweh he also forsakes us!
10:15-16 shows that true repentance does not end merely with confession of sin. One must also stop committing the sin that one confesses. Therefore he who has forsaken Yahweh must not only confess his sin of having forsaken Yahweh, but must also resume to serve Yahweh as before.
Despising Yahweh's Word Is A Very Great Sin
1 Samuel 2:12-17 reads,
2:12
Now the sons of Eli were base men; they didn’t know Yahweh. 2:13The custom of the priests with the people was that when any man offered sacrifice, the priest’s servant came, while the flesh was boiling, with a flesh-hook of three teeth in his hand; 2:14and he struck it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; all that the flesh-hook brought up the priest took therewith. So they did in Shiloh to all the Israelites who came there. 2:15Yes, before they burnt the fat, the priest’s servant came, and said to the man who sacrificed, Give flesh to roast for the priest; for he will not have boiled flesh of you, but raw. 2:16If the man said to him, They will surely burn the fat first, and then take as much as your soul desires; then he would say, No, but you shall give it me now: and if not, I will take it by force. 2:17The sin of the young men was very great before Yahweh; for the men despised the offering of Yahweh.It is a very great sin to despise the word of Yahweh. In fact this sin is blasphemy against Yahweh, and is sin deserving of death!
Yahweh Does Not Help Those Who Blaspheme Him
1 Samuel 2:22-25 reads,
2:22
Now Eli was very old; and he heard all that his sons did to all Israel, and how that they lay with the women who served at the door of the tent of meeting. 2:23He said to them, Why do you such things? For I hear of your evil dealings from all this people. 2:24No, my sons; for it is no good report that I hear: you make Yahweh’s people to disobey. 2:25If one man sin against another, God shall judge him; but if a man sin against Yahweh, who shall entreat for him? Notwithstanding, they didn’t listen to the voice of their father, because Yahweh was minded to kill them.It appears that when one blasphemes Yahweh, despising the word of Yahweh, Yahweh does not help that one to obey him, but leaves that one in his mode of disobeying Yahweh. Why? That Yahweh may execute upon him his death penalty, seeing that he has blasphemed Yahweh by despising his word!
How Israel Repented From Idolatry During The Days Of Samuel The Seer
1 Samuel 7 reads,
7:1
The men of Kiriath-jearim came, and fetched up the ark of Yahweh, and brought it into the house of Abinadab in the hill, and sanctified Eleazar his son to keep the ark of Yahweh. 7:2It happened, from the day that the ark abode in Kiriath-jearim, that the time was long; for it was twenty years: and all the house of Israel lamented after Yahweh. 7:3Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, If you do return to Yahweh with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you, and direct your hearts to Yahweh, and serve him only; and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines. 7:4Then the children of Israel did put away the Baals and the Ashtaroth, and served Yahweh only. 7:5Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray for you to Yahweh. 7:6They gathered together to Mizpah, and drew water, and poured it out before Yahweh, and fasted on that day, and said there, We have sinned against Yahweh. Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpah. 7:7When the Philistines heard that the children of Israel were gathered together at Mizpah, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. When the children of Israel heard it, they were afraid of the Philistines. 7:8The children of Israel said to Samuel, "Don’t cease to cry to Yahweh our God for us, that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines." 7:9Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered it for a whole burnt-offering to Yahweh: and Samuel cried to Yahweh for Israel; and Yahweh answered him. 7:10As Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel; but Yahweh thundered with a great thunder on that day on the Philistines, and confused them; and they were struck down before Israel. 7:11The men of Israel went out of Mizpah, and pursued the Philistines, and struck them, until they came under Beth-car. 7:12Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpah and Shen, and called the name of it Eben-ezer, saying, Hitherto has Yahweh helped us. 7:13So the Philistines were subdued, and they came no more within the border of Israel: and the hand of Yahweh was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel. 7:14The cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even to Gath; and the border of it did Israel deliver out of the hand of the Philistines. There was peace between Israel and the Amorites. 7:15Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. 7:16He went from year to year in circuit to Bethel and Gilgal, and Mizpah; and he judged Israel in all those places. 7:17His return was to Ramah, for there was his house; and there he judged Israel: and he built there an altar to Yahweh.7:3 shows that service to Yahweh entails serving him wholeheartedly, without splitting ourselves between serving him and serving another.
7:4 shows that the children of Israel repented of their unfaithfulness and resumed wholeheartedly serving Yahweh.
Confess Your Sin And Seek Forgiveness For It
7:5-6 shows that it is not enough to repent of one's sin. One must also confess the sin and seek forgiveness for the sin.
7:9 shows that after Samuel offered up the whole burnt offering to Yahweh, Yahweh answered him when he cried for Israel. Implying that this was the moment that Yahweh forgave Israel of its apostasy. Seeing that Joshua 7 shows that one becomes accursed when one sins against Yahweh, and Yahweh does not stand with an accursed person, it is evident that when Yahweh did not stand with Israel in Samuel's day it was because of Israel having been accursed before Yahweh. And when Israel repented, confessed her sin, and sought Yahweh's forgiveness, Yahweh removed the curse over Israel, and cleansed her of her sin. From then on he could stand together with Israel, and he did. For he routed the Philistines in their battle against Israel and restored to Israel the properties the Philistines previously took from them.
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