SEARCHING OUR MEMORY:

1. Quickly contrast the personalities of the father and son from our last lesson.

2. Discuss what you chose to do from Searching our Lives from last week.

SEARCHING THE SCRIPTURE: Read Judges 10-12

Little is said about the next six judges. Only Jephthah is considered a "major" judge, though his term was shorter than the others.

3. TOLA:
   1. What was his tribe?

   2. Who were his father and grandfather?

   3. Where did he live?

   4. How long did he lead Israel?

   5. Where was he buried?

4. JAIR:
   1. How long did he lead?

   2. How many sons and donkeys did he have?

   3. They controlled _____ cities which were called Havvoth Jair (or settlements of Jair).

   4. Where was he buried?

5. What seven gods are mentioned that Israel served? (10:6)

6. What God did they not serve?

7. God sold them into the hand of the Ammonites and the Philistines to oppress them for _____ years.

8. The Israelites cried out to the Lord.
   1. What did they say?

   2. What was God's answer?

   3. Where did God tell them to seek help from?

9. What phrase in 10:16 shows God's compassion?

10. What were the leaders of the people looking for in a leader?

11. JEPHTHAH: (Judges 11)
    1. He was described as a ______________   _______________.

    2. He was the son of __________________.

    3. His mother was a ____________________.

12. Why and by whom was he driven away from home?

13. Where did he go?

14. Why did the elders of Gilead decide to go get Jephthah?

15. What was Jephthah's reaction to the request?

16. What was Jephthah's fear in 11:9?

17. Jephthah tried to settle the problems with the Ammonites through diplomacy but the King of Ammon would not listen (11:28). What vow did Jephthah make (vs. 30-31)?

18. Who won the battle?
    How many towns were destroyed?

19. Who met Jephthah on his return?

20. Why was he disturbed by this?

21. What shows the bravery of the daughter?

22. What was her request?

23. Did he sacrifice her? (v. 39)

24. The men of Ephraim again feel slighted as in the day of Gideon. Jephthah and the men of Gilead fought Ephraim. How were they able to spot an Ephraimite survivor? (12:5-6)

25. How many Ephraimites died?

26. How long did Jephthah lead?

    Where was he buried?

27. IBZAN:
    1. What was his home?

    2. How many sons and daughters did he have?

    3. What unusual thing did he do with his children?

    4. How long did he rule?

    5. Where was he buried?

28. ELON:
    1. How long did he lead?

    2. What was his tribe?

    3. Where was he buried?

29. ABDON:
    1. Who was his father?

    2. He had ____ sons and ____ grandsons who rode on _____ donkeys.

    3. How long did he rule?

    4. Where was he buried?

SEARCHING OUR HEARTS:

30. Read Judges 10:15-16. Discuss Israel's confession, repentance, and faith and God's response.

31. Israel left the Lord for other gods but in times of trouble wanted God's help. Have you ever had friends or fellow Christians who have done you the same way? What are you tempted to say when they come asking for your help?

32. Jephthah and Gideon both show us God can use "outcasts" to serve him. How can we be more accepting of people different from us? Gideon had low self esteem because of his circumstances and his "unimportant" family. Jephthah was an outcast from his family because of the cirumstances of his birth. Have you ever had a problem with low self esteem or feeling left out? Did it keep you from using your life to the fullest for God? How did you get help? Did someone encourage you?

33. What lesson can you learn from Jephthah's vow?

SEARCHING OUR LIVES: (choose one to discuss next week)

1. This week find a way you can help someone who may be considered an "outcast" to society or someone less fortunate than you. This week find a way to help someone who has low self esteem or seems to be left out of the work to be done for God. Share how you tried to help. Did you share with them how God could use them?

2. Make a list of at least 7 "gods" that Americans are tempted to follow.

3. Pretend you are one of the following and write a paragraph about your feelings when Jephthah returned from battle:
   1. Jephthah
   2. Jephthah's daughter
   3. Jephthah's wife