Reading
After him came Shamgar son of Anath, who killed six hundred of the Philistines with an ox-goad. He too delivered Israel. The Israelites again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, after Ehud died. So the Lord sold them into the hand of King Jabin of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor; the commander of his army was Sisera, who lived in Harosheth-ha-goiim. Then the Israelites cried out to the Lord for help; for he had nine hundred chariots of iron, and had oppressed the Israelites cruelly for twenty years.
Reflection
The story of Shamgar is small scale in all respects, being narrated in a single verse. It doesn’t fit the paradigm but he is recorded as a deliverer. It has clearly been inserted at a later date because it disturbs the link between chapter 3 and 4:1, where Ehud’s death is recorded. Shamgar is mentioned again in Judges 5:6 which probably explains the positioning of this story.
The origins or purpose of this story are unknown and God isn’t mentioned. Scholars suggest it could be a variation of Judges 15:14-15 (Samson kills Philistines with the jawbone of a donkey at Lehi) or of 2 Samuel 23:11-12 (Shammah, one of David’s warriors, kills Philistines at Lehi). The Philistines lived in the western coastal area of the land, far away from Jericho and Moab in the east; and from the northern territory of Zebulun and Naphtali around Galilee where the next story is set.
Another paradigmatic story begins in 4:1. Israel does evil, God sells them into the power of a Canaanite King, whose army commander, Sisera, oppresses them for 20 years. Israel cries out for help. We expect God to raise up a deliverer; but we wait until tomorrow to find out.
The stories are presented as sequential but there are no links between any of them as they move from one part of the land to another without any schematic connection. They portray the kind of tribal skirmishes that arise when peoples seek a permanent homeland for themselves and come into contact with others who are already resident, or have aspirations to control the same territory themselves.
These are stories from ancient times; but similar situations face migrant communities today and sadly some still erupt into violent conflict. Nearer home, hostility towards new housing developments from villagers who react as though they’re being invaded, expresses the same defence of one’s territory.
Will we ever learn that it is God’s land and to become a welcoming people content to share its blessings with others?
Prayer
Bountiful God, thank you for our homes,
for the land where we live,
for the security we enjoy;
and for the abundant resources that you provide for our needs.
We pray for all people who feel threatened by oppressors,
or forced to flee their homes for diverse reasons.
Give them courage to resist and guide them to safe havens.
Help all who feel overwhelmed by incomers
to look upon them through Christ’s eyes. Amen.