The troublesome apiru

Concerning Robert G. Boling's Anchor Bible commentary on the Book of Judges (Doubleday 1975).

In Judges 2:20, we have the word "violated" (or "transgressed" in the King James) as the translation of the Hebrew "aberu," meaning "passed by" but "with stealth."

That is, "aberu" means "sneak," "sneaky," or "sneak raiders," "sneak thief," and thus boundary crossers ("transgressors").

Ancient records tell of the troubles caused to the Egyptian vassal cities in Palestine by those termed "apiru," from whence "Hebrew"

So one wonders whether there was a generic semitic term for local "bedouins" that meant "the sneaky ones" (parallel to how American Indians were often viewed by white settlers).

These apiru tribes, whether El-ists or Yahwists, were known for their cunning, as, for example, Judges 1:22-26 makes clear. Curiously, Jews today are still known for their cunning.

We also have a parallel with the tradition that "Jacob" meant "guile" or "trickster." This tradition may have been an echo of the name Apiru, which perhaps was adopted by the "12 tribes" as a badge of honor in the way the american revolutionaries adopted the mocking British song "Yankee Doodle."

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Regarding the story of Deborah in Judges:

Barak expressed uncertainty about the prospects of battle when inquiring of the priest, who -- not having the direct word of God -- used divination to inquire of the Lord's will. as with urim and the thumim (equivalent to casting of lots).

Barak didn't see this method as being terribly reliable, one surmises. But deborah was a prophetess, someone who spoke the word of God when overcome by the Holy Spirit.

That this word was reliable is shown by the outcome: the foe's advantage was taken away by a cloudburst and flash flood, miring his iron chariots in water and mud and permitting Barak's troops rush downhill en masse and chew him up

Here we see a parallel with the appointment of Paul as an apostle. Judas's replacement was chosen by lot, a process God went along with. but he then appointed Paul directly as an apostle. God acted sovereignly and was "no respecter of persons." Similarly, though it was disgraceful for a woman to get the honor of battle, God's sovereign will put the real word of God in a "mere woman," showing that it is the Spirit that counts