Father Mike Schmitz hosts The Bible in a Year podcast, reading through The Bible using the Revised Standard Version Second Catholic Edition and The Great Adventure Bible timeline from Ascension Press.

On day 92 of the 365-day reading plan, Father Mike covers Judges chapters 9-11, Ruth chapter 4, and Psalm 137. He warns listeners that the book of Judges contains increasingly intense and violent content, describing it as 'PG-13' material that gets worse with each chapter.

The readings include the brutal story of Abimelech's rise to power through fratricide, Jephthah's tragic vow and its consequences, and the happy conclusion of Ruth's story with her marriage to Boaz and connection to King David's lineage.

Abimelech's Violent Rise to Power Through Fratricide

Abimelech, son of Gideon (Jerubbabel), murdered his 70 brothers 'upon one stone' to establish himself as king over Shechem, with only Jotham escaping

Jotham delivered a parable about trees seeking a king, where only the worthless bramble accepted, warning that Abimelech would bring destruction

God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem, leading to treachery and ultimately Abimelech's death when a woman dropped a millstone on his head

Father Mike notes this continues the pattern where Gideon 'set himself up essentially as the king' and his son followed the same destructive path

The Tragic Cycle of Apostasy and Oppression in Judges

The Israelites again served foreign gods including 'the Baals and the Ashtaroth, the gods of Syria, the gods of Sidon, the gods of Moab, the gods of the Ammonites, and the gods of the Philistines'

God sold them into the hands of the Philistines and Ammonites for 18 years of oppression across the Jordan region

When Israel cried out, God initially refused help, saying 'Go and cry to the gods whom you have chosen, let them deliver you in the time of your distress'

Father Mike explains this represents the 12-13 time cycle in Judges: 'God's close to his people. He blesses them. Then they turn away... Then tragedy befalls them. They repent, they turn back to the Lord'

Jephthah's Rash Vow and Its Devastating Consequences

Jephthah was 'the son of a harlot' who became 'a mighty warrior' after being rejected by his family, leading a band of 'worthless fellows' as raiders

Before battle, Jephthah vowed 'whoever comes forth from the doors of my house to meet me when I return victorious from the Ammonites shall be the Lord's. I will offer him up for a burnt offering'

His daughter came out first with 'timbrels and with dances' as his 'only child,' leading to his lament 'Alas, my daughter, you have brought me very low'

Father Mike emphasizes this was 'absolutely prohibited' by God, comparing it to Molech worship: 'Jephthah did the same thing that Israel would later do... offer up their sons and daughters in sacrifice to Moloch'

Ruth's Marriage and David's Genealogical Line

Boaz arranged to redeem Ruth and Naomi's land when the closer kinsman declined, saying 'I cannot redeem it for myself lest I impair my own inheritance'

The elders blessed the union: 'May the Lord make the woman who is coming into your house like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the house of Israel'

Ruth bore a son named Obed, who 'was the father of Jesse, the father of David,' establishing the royal lineage

The women told Naomi her daughter-in-law 'is more to you than seven sons,' highlighting Ruth's extraordinary devotion