“They found Adoni-Bezek in Bezek; and they fought against him. They killed the Kena‘ani and the P’rizi, but Adoni-Bezek fled. They pursued him, caught him, and cut off his thumbs and big toes. Adoni-Bezek said: “Seventy kings, with their thumbs and their big toes cut off, gathered food under my table; God has paid me back in accordance with what I did.” They brought him to Yerushalayim, and he died there.”-Judges 1:5-7
Why did the Israelite army cut off the thumbs and big toes of the enemy kings they captured?
The answer is a very practical reason actually.
Without one’s thumbs, it was impossible to wield any sort of weapon.
One couldn’t grasp a sword or shoot arrows.
Hand-to-hand combat was also rendered impossible.
And without one’s toes, one’s ability to move quickly and with nimbleness was gone forever.
It was also very humiliating.
Everyone knew if they encountered a king who didn’t have his thumbs and big toes that his days of leadership were finished.
Interestingly, we’re not told this Adoni-bezek was put to death.
The Scripture simply says “he died in Jerusalem”.
This probably meant he died due to natural causes.
And again, given his now incapacitated condition, it wasn’t like he was going anywhere.
Next, let’s take a look at verse 8.
“Then the people of Y’hudah fought against Yerushalayim, captured it, overpowered it with the sword, and set the city on fire.”
We’re told the tribes of Judah and Simeon fought against the Jebusites and captured Jerusalem from them.
And then we’re told the city was set aflame.
For those who possess zero Torah knowledge, that sentence will just fly over most people’s heads.
However, those who have been diligent and approved by studying God’s Word will instantly recognize this verse is referring to the Law of HEREM or the ban.
In other words, because this is a holy war, the spoils of war go to the Lord.
The soldiers are NOT allowed to keep anything back for themselves.
It must all be given back to God.
And since God is a spirit being, the only way He can receive war booty is to have it sent up to him in the form of smoke by burning up the enemy property (just like what’s done with animal sacrifices).
It’s nice to read that Israel captured Jerusalem here but unfortunately we’re gonna later find out this possession of God’s holy city will be lost yet again.
Finally, a reminder that the number 70 is NOT to be taken literally.
In Scripture, the number 70 is simply symbolic for a large but undefined number.
It just means a great number.
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