Plundering

Let me remind you that we are specifically looking at some occasions of plundering in the Bible, because of what has been told to us in Exodus 12: 36b, of the Hebrew children. Thus they plundered the Egyptians.

The Bible speaks of people being plundered by others and people plundering other people. We remember Israel, under the kingship of Saul. After David defeated Goliath, the Philistine giant, and the once scared Israelite army grew courage to go against the Philistines, we are told that on their return, they plundered them. Then the children of Israel returned from chasing the Philistines, and they plundered their tents. 1 Samuel 17: 53. Does this not depict a picture of people raiding houses or tents, taking all of the spoil they can find?

This is the occasion when the children of God became most wicked and disobedient to God. They forsook the LORD and served Baal and the Ashtoreths. And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel. So He delivered them into the hands of plunderers who despoiled them; and He sold them into the hands of their enemies all around, so that they could no longer stand before their enemies. Judges 2: 13 – 14. God Himself, set His people up to be plundered by their enemies, due to their persistent idolatry and adultery.

Do you know that one who led Israel was once a plunderer? Do you remember Gilead the Israelite, who had a son with a woman of ill-repute? His son’s name was Jephthah. Gilead’s wife then bore him sons and when they grew up they chased Jephthah away. Then Jephthah fled from his brothers and dwelt in the land of Tob; and worthless men banded together with Jephthah and went out raiding with him. Judges 11: 3. Indeed, for a while Jephthah was the leader of a notorious band of renegades who raided, pillaged and plundered, places.

However, in the land of his father Gilead, the home from which he was banished, the mighty Ammonite army came up against his father’s people and his people, the Israelites, and they had no one to lead them into battle. They remembered Jephthah, the mighty warrior, and sent for him. This once banished son, returned, and the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah. Judges 11: 29a. Of course, God gave him a mighty victory over Israel’s enemies. God used him to defeat the enemy. The point here is that when this plunderer of innocent places returned home, God used him to bring victory for the very people who discriminated against him and cast him out.

Let’s have one other look at plundering, which is even more of an eye-opener to me.

In Ezekiel’s time, in Israel’s history, God has told prophet Ezekiel, these words to tell the people. Then those who dwell in the cities of Israel will go out and set on fire and burn the weapons, both the shields and bucklers, the bows and arrows, the javelins and spears; and they will make fires with them for seven years. They will not take wood from the field nor cut down any from the forests, because they will make fires with the weapons; and they will plunder those who plundered them, and pillage those who pillaged them, says the Lord GOD. Ezekiel 39: 9 – 10. Note! God is able to cause the ones who were plundered to become the ones who are plundering. 

Whatever plunder meant in those times, of this we are certain. Plunder had to do with receiving the spoils, the riches, and the substance of the people.

Tomorrow, we shall return to the Hebrew children and these most explosive words, Thus they plundered the Egyptians.