This passage looks at three leaders of ancient Israel: Tola, Yair (Jair), and Yeftah (Jephthah). After 45 years under the guidance of the first two, Israel then slid into devotion to the gods of surrounding nations. Israel finally realized the oppression under Philistia and Ammon was to turn them back to the LORD, Who led the nation out of bondage in Egypt.
God’s blessings for the tribes of Israel reach down through time, though apostasy and repentance. These are blessings for all Israel, all those who put their trust in the LORD God, the Creator.
Moses, “the man of God,” passes along cryptic blessings to each tribe of Israel — well, almost all of them. These blessings reach down through time to be still in our future and not possible to be fulfilled without all the tribes united, including Yehudah (Judah, a.k.a. the Jews).
Moshe (Moses) predicts Israel’s idolatry and apostasy. He also writes a song to remind Israel of what the LORD has done for them, what they did against Him, what happened to them as a result and how the LORD will reconcile them back to Himself.
The Law of the LORD, or Torah, is as difficult to follow and indecipherable as we make it — simply, choose the lifestyle that leads to life. The LORD over time aligns our emotions, desires and reason in that direction.
The account of Gideon’s son Avimelech (Abimelech) in this chapter is a good illustration of what the oft-misinterpreted Torah phrase, “eye for eye, tooth for tooth,” really means. What Avimelech sowed in grasping for power came down on him like a millstone.
This chapter points out that the “New Covenant,” or “New Testament,” isn’t so new and doesn’t replace deals cut between God and Adam, Noach (Noah), Abraham, Moshe (Moses), David, etc. The LORD intended the Torah from the very beginning to be “written” on the hearts (emotions) and minds (reason) of His people.