Analysis Of Elie Wiesel's Judges

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1. Throughout Judges, the recurring, downward spiral-like theme reappears with each Judge that is raised up by YHWH. While it begins with the depiction of the general people of Israel being disobedient, you begin to see that even the Judges, appointed by YHWH, were fallible. Whether it was Gideon’s lack of faith and continued distrust in YHWH, or Samson’s indiscretions and immense pride, the Judges proved that no leader was blameless in breaking the covenant with YHWH, it was not just the people, but those YHWH called Himself. So as Israel moves towards a monarch, how will these patterns continue? Will the fallibility of man, even in the ones that God calls to reign be a continued issue in the covenant with Israel? 1 Samuel uses fewer characters with a more in-depth look at each and the fallibility of man and the relationship with God.
We begin with the God appointed priest, Eli. God shows His power through the events surrounding Eli; He can exalt one to strength and power, He can also bring one down when His covenant is mistreated. While Eli is not directly disobedient to God, his two sons, Hophni and Phinehas are. God sees this and tells Eli he is going to cut off the strength of his family and raise up a faithful priest, one that will do according to what is in His heart (1 Sam. 2:34-36). God …show more content…

2:34-36, the Lord gives notice to Eli that He will be cutting him off due to the actions of his sons and Eli’s lack of obedience, and will be raising up a faithful priest, one that will do according to what is in His heart. The text is not apologetic towards Eli, it is clear it was Eli’s sons being disobedient, however, when the Lord speaks to Samuel about what is going to happen, He says, “For I have told him that I am about to punish his house forever, for the iniquity that he knew, because his sons were blaspheming God, and he did not restrain them” (1 Sam. 3:13). The Lord does not let Eli off the hook and holds him accountable for not dealing with his

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