Upside Down or Right side Up?

Patterns, connections, types and shadows are most likely on every page of scripture.  I am consistently enthralled at the intricacies of God’s Holy Word.  Every new illumination the Holy Spirit so sweetly reveals as I study the Word feeds my faith.  

Recently reading events in the Bible that occurred during the month of Shevat, I found myself in the 19^th and 20^th chapters of the book of Judges.  This chapter unfolds the downfall of the tribe of Benjamin.  

While skimming over the battles in chapter 20, something caught my eye that led to a fascinating connection to the story of Joseph and his brothers from Genesis chapter 44.  

The story in Genesis 44 tells about Joseph filling his brothers’ sacks with food along with their money.  Joseph commanded his steward to place “my personal cup, the silver cup in the mouth of sack of the youngest”. (Gen. 44:2). The youngest he is describing is Benjamin.  After sending them on their way, Joseph sent his steward after them to portray Benjamin as a thief.  When confronted, the brothers say if the cup is found in their sacks, the one who has it can be put to death and the rest remain as slaves.  Of course, the cup is found in Benjamin’s possession. They all go back before Joseph where Judah, the oldest steps up to advocate for Benjamin by offering to take his place.  Joseph reveals his own identity, brotherly love comes in to play and all is well. 

Now let’s move onto our story in the book of Judges.  We read about a hideous, evil and wicked act that has taken place.  In fact, the tribes come together and declare it as the most evil event to take place since the 12 tribes came into the promise land. This act happened in the territory that belonged to the Benjamites.  It’s important to note when they inherited this land, they were commanded to wipe out the pagans who resided in it.  They chose to live alongside the pagans instead of conquering them.  Maybe this would be a good place to say, “What we refuse to conquer will one day conquer us”.   But, I digress…. 

So, the other tribes (excluding the tribe of Benjamin) come together and go try to seek out the evil men who committed the act.  The Benjamites refuse to hand over the perpetrators and then begins war.  When they inquired from God which tribe should “take the lead to battle against the tribe of Benjamin, The LORD said, “Judah shall go up first.””  (Judges 20:18)

Here's the fascinating connection.  Both the location of the wicked act and the battles take place in a town called Gibeah.  Why does that matter?  The Hebrew word for Gibeah literally means “hill”.  In the Hebrew culture, hills are used negatively.  They represent division and rivalry.  Gibeah also means something “concave” and the root word means “cup or bowl”.  

In fact, that root word, “gabia”  (H1375) is the same word used in Genesis 44 for Joseph’s personal cup that he uses in his plan to set up Benjamin.  

There are only two other places in the Old Testament this word is used.  I only mention this for those who also study the Hebrew months.  It’s the same word used to describe the bowls on the lampstand that are made of almond blossoms! HAHA, imagine that…. The other place is in the book of Jeremiah, and I haven’t had the time to dig into that one quite yet.  

Again, I digress.  Let’s look at the parallels.

Genesis 44	Judges 20
Benjamin in possession of a cup/bowl	Tribe of Benjamin in possession of a bowl/hill
Cup/bowl used to stir up division (by setting up Benjamin)	Bowl/hill used to stir up division (by the evil act done there)
Brings unity among the other 10 brothers (excluding Benjamin and Joseph)	Brings unity among the other 10 tribes (excluding Benjamin and Jabesh-Gilead/grandson of Joseph)
Identity of the perpetrator revealed (Joseph reveals himself, though not an evil person)	Identity of the perpetrators not revealed (Tribe of Benjamin refuses to hand over evil men)
Judah stepped up first to advocate for Benjamin	Tribe of Judah stepped up to lead the battle against the Tribe of Benjamin

I’m sure there’s more to this than what I’m initially seeing. 

Something I find quite intriguing is the concept of the cup/bowl/hill.  The cup in Jeremiah holds wine and the almond blossom bowls on the lampstand hold oil.  Cups and bowls are made to hold something of value.  A hill is basically an inverted bowl or cup.  It cannot hold anything.  

And if a hill is an inverted bowl or cup then one could say a right side up bowl/cup would be a valley or lake.  Ready and able to receive and hold what the LORD pours out.  

Furthermore, we can gather that Genesis 44 is an inverted story of the Judges 20.  The first concerning humbleness and repentance leading to family reconciliation when the youngest brother is threatened.  And the latter concerning a rejection of accountability and leading to the almost complete destruction of the youngest brother’s tribe. 

There seems to be some irony here as well.  Benjamin is portrayed as evil in the first story, although innocent.  Generations later, his descendants are literally displaying evilness without repentance. Hmmm There’s probably more to ponder here. The first story seeming to foreshadow the separation of Benjamin later down the road.

In regard to the month of Shevat- it having SO much to do with trees and pruning before spring, one can see the pruning that took place in Judges 20 (remembering this story actually happened in the month of Shevat).  Also, knowing that the almond tree, blossoms and almonds hold so much meaning in the month of Shevat I thought I’d toss in the tidbit I saw in the Genesis story.  Genesis 43:11 mentions that among the gifts sent with the brothers taken to Egypt were almonds…. 

Shevat has strong connections to water as well.  The story of Jesus turning water to wine occurred during this month.. I love the tie of having to fill the cisterns with water first… a receiving before the transformation!  

From here on every time a bowl comes into my view I’m sure to be reminded of these stories and the importance of keeping my own bowl positioned to receive….and in return, avoid an unnecessary mess…..

Stacy Howell