Who Wants to Be a Footnote?
By Raymond Harris
Regarding Scripture: Judges 10.1-2, 3-5; 12.11-12, 13-15
Note to the Reader – I encourage you to invest additional time reading the book of Judges in conjunction with this article.
Who Wants to Be a Footnote?
Many affirmatively answer “Who wants to be a millionaire?” but hesitantly and, more likely, negatively the title’s question. Really, who wants to be a footnote? It is probably safe to say that many seek legacy; importance; prominence. Those are the things for posterity. But, I dare say that it is not a common desire to be a footnote in the annals, whether the archived chronicles are cultural history or spiritual history. One could spend time arguing that these things are not something the disciple should pursue, but that is not the topic for this lesson. Instead, this lesson is aimed for those who want to make an impact. You too, as one person, can have a lasting impression on the direction of Jehovah’s influence upon humanity.
Judge Tola
Our first footnoted judge has only two verses – Judges 10.1-2 reads:
“And after Abimelech there arose to defend [or save] Israel Tola the son of Puah, the son of Dodo, a man of Issachar; and he dwelt in Shamir in mount Ephraim. And he judged Israel twenty and three years, and died, and was buried in Shamir.”
These verses provide scant information, answering only: when he lived, what he did, who he was (including family), where he lived, his tenure, and burial location. Even a Bible Dictionary1 gives very little additional help by saying, “Judge who governed Israel for 23 years from Shamir, likely at or near Samaria.” Only biographical information is mentioned; any spirituality (achievement, doubt, failure) is conspicuously absent.
Judge Jair
Our second footnoted judge immediately follows Tola having only three verses – Judges 10.3-5 reads:
“And after him arose Jair, a Gileadite, and judged Israel twenty and two years. And he had thirty sons that rode on thirty [donkey] colts, and they had thirty cities, which are called Havothjair unto this day, which are in the land of Gilead. And Jair died, and was buried in Camon.”
While a reference is made to the number of his children, how they moved about, and that they had cities, the Bible Dictionary provides little aid, “A Gileadite who judged Israel for 22 years. He was one of the so-called minor judges. His function probably was primarily judicial rather than military. He is described as having 30 sons and 30 cities. At his death, he was buried in Camon.”2 Even the dictionary has to make some assumptions, and I find the reference to be a “minor judge” interesting. One wants to answer questions like: What is Jair’s significance? How did he father so many children? And why is it noteworthy that they rode a specified animal and seemed to have controlled cities? Again, we are primarily given biographical information; no spiritual aspects are mentioned.
Judge Elon
It is 29 years after Jair that Elon appears, who is spoken about in two verses – Judges 12.11-12:
“And after [Ibzan cf.12.9-10] Elon, a Zebulonite, judged Israel; and he judged Israel ten years. And Elon the Zebulonite died, and was buried in Aijalon in the country of Zebulun.”
Of the biographical information given his ancestry is referenced thrice, aside from that, it is almost standard format: when he judged, tenure length and burial location. There are eight entries in the Bible Dictionary, but item seven is the one we need, “Judge from the tribe of Zebulun”3 again, not much help is offered. Biographical information only; spiritual life is absent.
Judge Abdon
Abdon, our final judge, immediately follows Elon and is referenced in three verses – Judges 12.13-15:
“And after him Abdon the son of Hillel, a Pirathonite, judged Israel. And he had forty sons and thirty nephews, that rode on threescore and ten [donkey] colts: and he judged Israel eight years. And Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite died, and was buried in Pirathon in the land of Ephraim, in the mount of the Amalekites.”
At first read, it appears that we are given more information, but it is standard biographical info: when he judged, his father’s name, number of sons and nephews, their mode of transportation, tenure length, he death and burial location. We want to answer questions like: Why are his nephews are listed? But daughters, if any, are not? Why are donkeys so important? Do they represent wealth? Status? Turning one last time to the Bible Dictionary, little else is offered, “Judge of Israel from the town of Pirathon in the tribe of Ephraim. He had a large family (40 sons, 30 grandsons) and personal wealth (70 donkeys).”4 However, the Dictionary seems to contradict the KJV: grandsons verses nephews, but when one looks at other translations it appears that “grandsons” is more appropriate. Again, only biographical information; the biblical text offers no spiritual component.
Judge Appreciation
Judges Tola, Jair, Elon and Abdon are seemingly innocuous. They can be easily read over and relegated into nothingness. Yet, they had lasting affects on Israel. It could be argued that the four judges of this article represent Israel’s best. Contrast these four judges against Ibzan, Gideon, Jephthah and Samson. Judge Ibzan, a fifth footnoted judge,5 had a flaw: his children intermarried among the nations (a forbidden practice).6 Gideon had a gold ephod7 that Israel worshipped. Jephthah vowed a burnt offering to Jehovah (which was his daughter).8 And Samson had a weakness for the ladies. While nothing spiritually significant is stated about the lives of Tola, Jair, Elon or Abdon, the absence of those events is itself significant. In other words, it appears that they had no spiritual flaws worthy of Scripture. Consequently, it seems the absence of spiritual problems may indicate that these four judges were among the few doing more of what they were supposed to do. If so, then that speaks volumes about their character and influence.
Conclusion
The book of Judges has 21 chapters totaling 618 verses. However, the four judges we examined occupy only ten verses (less than 2%)9 of written record, but actively influenced 63 years of Israelite history. Yet their influence has not completely vanished, it continues to this day – thousands of years following their death; influencing and speaking from the grave. The Scriptures are filled with single individuals influencing human events. We may be tempted to think that our one solitary, seemingly insignificant, life may not mean much, but time and again Jehovah permits the individual to indelibly alter, change, and influence the course of human events and human devotion to Jehovah. Do not sell yourself short! You too can be a “footnote” to the course of human events. So here’s encouragement: go for the gold, the crown of life, and make an impact.
Endnotes
1. “Tola”, Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, ISBN 080542836-4, page 1603.
2. “Jair”, Holman, pages 865-866.
3. “Elon”, Holman, page 484.
4. “Abdon”, Holman, page 4.
5. “Ibzan”, Judges 12.8-10
6. Israelite Covenant marriage parameters, Deuteronomy 7.3-4.
7. Gideon Golden Ephod, Judges 8.24-27.
8. Jephthah’s Rash Vow, Judges 11.30-31, 34-35, 39.
9. Calculations: 10 / 618 = 0.01618; Percentage: 0.01618 * 100 = 1.618%
Comments or Questions?
