So that He Sold Them

Judges 3:8 is a really strange verse, at least in NIV. The anger of the LORD burned against Israel so that he sold them into the hands of Cushan-Rishathaim king of Aram Naharaim, to whom the Israelites were subject for eight years." I am troubled by the phrase "he sold them..." "NLT says "turned them over...". CEV says "he let Israel be defeated...". NCV says "allowed ....to rule over Israel." Another says "he gave them over." The other 13 versions (plus NIV) say sold or selleth, or the like.

Now when I sell something, I get rid of the item AND get something in return. What did God get for selling them into the hands of their enemies? I looked this in my Bible dictionary, some commentaries, and other places. Finally, I found something in the VINE's dictionary. Well, actually I'm not completely satisfied but at least I know a little more than I did. According to this resource, the word is often used in a figurative sense to express various actions, such as betraying another (Nineveh betrayed other nations in Nahum 3:4 KJV). When used in a phrase similar to God sold Israel, it means that he gave them over entirely into the hands of their enemies. Or it could also mean that He gave them over to death.

I am still confused. When a person sells someone out, that usually means that they give up on them, maybe? Give up the relationship? What could God get from selling them out to their enemies? Maybe their attention? If He leaves them to fend for themselves with their enemies, they will eventually come back and ask for His help again.

Maybe that's the lesson. God will leave us to our own devices and schemes (freewill!). This might be translated into "selling" us into another hands, even into our own hands. Then when we can't take it anymore, we turn back to him and say BUY US BACK! BUY US BACK! Fortunately for us, Jesus did that so we don't have to bargain........only follow.

Okay, I feel better about this. God didn't abandon them. He sold them (like a person might sell himself to pay off a debt in Bible times) to their enemies with His reward being the knowledge that He granted them freewill to do it and that they'd be back. So He was prepared for eternal payment with the death and resurrection of Jesus.

Or, I may have it all wrong but at least I'm satisfied over my first impression. Thank you for helping me through that. This blog is so good for this type of analysis.

Thank You God for letting me do this. Amen.

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