Notes for Friday 10/11/02

Canaanites:
-Worshipped fertility gods
-Seasons as procreation;Rain from storm god Baal is seed to earth mother Ashteroth who gives birth to plants in spring.

Israel forgets Yahweh & worship false gods b/c of benefits to praying for a good harvest or rain.
-God punishes them with foreign oppressors
-People repent, cry out to God for help
-God sends judge who delivers them
-Judge rules for a time then dies
-cycle starts again and they forget about God
No strong centralized government as w/ Moses or Joshua (strong, military, god worshipping leaders).

Judges:loose federation of tribes. Military, political, spiritual leaders chosen by God. Rise out of military necessity. No plans for succession.
-Judge dies, no united front, invasion
-Reason for wanting a king

Samson: renound strength, long hair.
-Nazarite vow;specially devote, no haircuts, no wine, can't touch corpses including animals
-Story message;don't marry foreign women
-Woman of Timnah (Philistine);God uses attempted marriage as a tool to have war w/ Philistines b/c they worship false idols.