Norwegian 2018 (Bibelen - Guds Ord Hverdagsbibelen (Hermon Forlag))
I Penuel rev han ned tårnet deres og drepte mennene i byen. Han sa til Sebah og Salmunna: «Hvordan var de mennene dere drepte ved Tabor?» Da svarte de: «De lignet på deg. De så alle ut som kongesønner med sine rake skikkelser.» Da sa Gideon: «De var mine brødre, for de var sønner av min mor. Så sant Herren lever, hadde dere latt dem leve, skulle jeg ikke ha drept dere.» Han sa til Jeter, sin eldste sønn: «Stå opp og drep dem!» Men den unge mannen ville ikke dra sverdet sitt for å drepe dem, for han var redd. Han var jo bare en ungdom. Da sa Sebah og Salmunna: «Du får stå opp selv og gå løs på oss! En mann viser hvem han er ved sin styrke.» Gideon reiste seg opp og drepte dem. Så tok han halvmånepynten som kamelene deres hadde rundt halsen.
What Does This Mean?
In this verse, Gideon destroys the tower of Penuel and kills the men of the city. Gideon is taking revenge for the city's refusal to help him earlier. The key message is about the consequences of refusing to help those in need.
Explained for Children
Imagine you're playing a game and a friend refuses to share their toys. Later, when that friend needs help, you might feel sad about not sharing before. This story is like that but much more serious. Gideon is very upset and takes a harsh action because the people of Penuel didn't help him.
Historical Background
The Book of Judges was written around 1050-1000 BCE by an unknown author. It is part of the Hebrew Bible and tells the story of Israel's judges who led the people between the conquest of Canaan and the establishment of the monarchy. This particular verse describes Gideon's actions against the city of Penuel.
Living It Out Today
Today, if a colleague refuses to help you with a project, you might find it harder to trust them in the future. This verse teaches about the importance of mutual support and the potential consequences of refusing help.
Gideon beat down the tower of Penuel as a form of punishment and revenge for the city's refusal to aid him in his previous mission.
What does this verse teach us about loyalty?
This verse highlights the importance of loyalty and mutual support. Lack of loyalty can lead to severe consequences, as seen in the fate of the city of Penuel.
How does this relate to leadership?
Leadership involves making tough decisions, and Gideon’s actions show the consequences leaders may face when their allies do not support them.
Is there a modern example of this principle?
Yes, in business, if a partner refuses to help during a crisis, the other party may face difficulties and might not trust or work with that partner again.