"But the spirit of the Lord took possession of Gideon"

The heading is a phrase from Judges 6:34, NSRV translation. The Hebrew word that has been translated into "took possession" is labash and means to put on, wear, clothe or be clothed. In other words, the Spirit is wearing Gideon. The NRSV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible comments on this verse:

According to the normal use of this form of this Hebrew verb (“to clothe”), the Hebrew reads “the Spirit of the LORD put on Gideon,” suggesting that the Spirit “wears” Gideon, i.e., the Spirit is inside him, rather than Gideon “wearing” the Spirit, as an external force. This raises the question whether the Spirit functions as an internal or external force. 

The question about the Spirit functioning as an internal or external force is worth pondering. Especially considering the fact that there are other passages of scripture describing the Spirit of the Lord coming or rushing upon someone. There are multiple examples of that also in the book of Judges, like 3:10, 11:29, 14:6 and 15:14. In these examples, the spirit is portrayed as more of an external force. There are also other scriptures using the labash or the clothing metaphor to describe righteous people enwrapped in the divine, which is the opposite of what happens with Gideon. Clothed in glory or in the robe of righteousness, etc. is a topic that has been discussed frequently on this blog. See for instance this post with links to related posts. These examples would describe the spirit as more of an external force, so Judges 6:34 creates an interesting twist. Like Gideon, we can become worthy of becoming the clothing of the spirit, something that he feels comfortable wearing!

The phrase from Judges 6:34 is almost unique in the Old Testament. I found one other example.

And the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, which stood above the people, and said unto them, Thus saith God, Why transgress ye the commandments of the Lord, that ye cannot prosper? because ye have forsaken the Lord, he hath also forsaken you. (2 Chronicles 24:20)

In the KJV it has been translated as "came upon", in the NSRV it is "took possession of" like in Judges, but the underlying Hebrew is labesh so a more accurate translation would be that the Spirit of God put on Zechariah. The idea of the Spirit inside of us instead of upon us is not unique in these two verses in 2 Chronicles and Judges, though. But it is usually portrayed as the Spirit dwelling in us rather than wearing us. 

And they saw that they had become weak, like unto their brethren, the Lamanites, and that the Spirit of the Lord did no more preserve them; yea, it had withdrawn from them because the Spirit of the Lord doth not dwell in unholy temples (Helaman 4:24)

The difference between our bodies/temples and clothes are not as big as we might think, not to the ancient Israelite mind. For instance, in Job 10:11, Job says that God has clothed (Hebr. labash) him in skin and flesh, i.e. given him a mortal body. There was a symbolic connection between your body, your clothes and your dwelling place. The Savior was sometimes described as dwelling in a tabernacle, meaning his mortal body. Also, Levite priests wore special garments when entering into the ancient tabernacle that were made of the same fabric as the tabernacle itself. They were also changed when the priest moved from the holy place into the holy of holies, emulating the different fabrics of the tabernacle. 

Back to the question about the Spirit as an internal or external force. The obvious answer is both. 

43 And it came to pass that when they cast their eyes about, and saw that the cloud of darkness was dispersed from overshadowing them, behold, they saw that they were encircled about, yea every soul, by a pillar of fire.

44 And Nephi and Lehi were in the midst of them; yea, they were encircled about; yea, they were as if in the midst of a flaming fire, yet it did harm them not, neither did it take hold upon the walls of the prison; and they were filled with that joy which is unspeakable and full of glory.

45 And behold, the Holy Spirit of God did come down from heaven, and did enter into their hearts, and they were filled as if with fire, and they could speak forth marvelous words. (Helaman 5)

In this example the fire was encircling them from the outside and filling them inside. A similar example from D&C including both "round about" and "in your hearts".

And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up. (D&C 84:88)

 

Scriptural repetition -- Book of Mormon examples 3

I return to the topic introduced in this post, with a note on the recurring theme of a wicked people casting out, stoning and killing prophets. Already in the first chapter of the Book of Mormon, we read

And when the Jews heard these things they were angry with him; yea, even as with the prophets of old, whom they had cast out, and stoned, and slain; and they also sought his life, that they might take it away. (1 Nephi 1:20)

I tried to look for accounts in the Old Testament, where this had happened, but could not find many. There is one in 2 Chronicles 24:20-21

20 And the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, which stood above the people, and said unto them, Thus saith God, Why transgress ye the commandments of the Lord, that ye cannot prosper? because ye have forsaken the Lord, he hath also forsaken you.

21 And they conspired against him, and stoned him with stones at the commandment of the king in the court of the house of the Lord.

We also read about prophets being rejected in times of wickedness in Israel. Elijah, for instance flees for his life from the queen, Jezabel, in 1 Kings. But the Book of Mormon indicates that there are other examples not recorded in our current Old Testament

15 For it is not written that Zenos alone spake of these things, but Zenock also spake of these things—

16 For behold, he said: Thou art angry, O Lord, with this people, because they will not understand thy mercies which thou hast bestowed upon them because of thy Son.

17 And now, my brethren, ye see that a second prophet of old has testified of the Son of God, and because the people would not understand his words they stoned him to death. (Alma 33)

At least in the Book of Mormon, casting out, stoning and slaying the prophets is a repeated theme. Nephi prophesies

And after the Messiah shall come there shall be signs given unto my people of his birth, and also of his death and resurrection; and great and terrible shall that day be unto the wicked, for they shall perish; and they perish because they cast out the prophets, and the saints, and stone them, and slay them; wherefore the cry of the blood of the saints shall ascend up to God from the ground against them. (2 Nephi 26:3)

This prophecy is repeated by Samuel the Lamanite, a prophet who himself was cast out (Helaman 13:2) and almost stoned (Helaman 16:2).

24 Yea, wo unto this people, because of this time which has arrived, that ye do cast out the prophets, and do mock them, and cast stones at them, and do slay them, and do all manner of iniquity unto them, even as they did of old time.

25 And now when ye talk, ye say: If our days had been in the days of our fathers of old, we would not have slain the prophets; we would not have stoned them, and cast them out. (Helaman 13)

I don't know if this is significant or what the meaning would be, but I do notice that there is a certain order repeated in all the quotes so far up until Helaman 13:24.

1. Cast out
2. Stone
3. Slay

But in Helaman 13:25, the order is reversed as in a chiasmus. A few verses later, Samuel states

32 And in the days of your poverty ye shall cry unto the Lord; and in vain shall ye cry, for your desolation is already come upon you, and your destruction is made sure; and then shall ye weep and howl in that day, saith the Lord of Hosts. And then shall ye lament, and say:

33 O that I had repented, and had not killed the prophets, and stoned them, and cast them out. (Helaman 13)

The reversal is kept, also when the fulfillment of this prophecy is described almost verbatim in 3 Nephi 8:25

And in another place they were heard to cry and mourn, saying: O that we had repented before this great and terrible day, and had not killed and stoned the prophets, and cast them out; then would our mothers and our fair daughters, and our children have been spared, and not have been buried up in that great city Moronihah. And thus were the howlings of the people great and terrible.

This triplet shows up again in Ether 8:25, still reversed compared to the examples up until Helaman 13:24.

For it cometh to pass that whoso buildeth it up seeketh to overthrow the freedom of all lands, nations, and countries; and it bringeth to pass the destruction of all people, for it is built up by the devil, who is the father of all lies; even that same liar who beguiled our first parents, yea, even that same liar who hath caused man to commit murder from the beginning; who hath hardened the hearts of men that they have murdered the prophets, and stoned them, and cast them out from the beginning.

As far as I can tell, I have quoted all the verses that include this triplet. But the topic comes up frequently in the scriptures, sometimes mentioning only one or two of these actions signifying rejection of the prophets. There is much focus on this topic in conjunction with the coming of Christ. As we have seen, Nephi prophesied it in 2 Nephi 26. Samuel the Lamanite prophecied it in the verses quoted from Helaman 13, in addition to Samuel himself being cast out and thrown stones at.

In this context, it is interesting to note the Savior's own words in Matthew 23.

37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!

38 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. (Matthew 23)

Only a few days after having spoken those words, Jesus was crucified. Jerusalem killed the greatest prophet of them all, the Son of God himself. 

As Jesus died on the cross in the Old World, there begun terrible natural disasters in the New World as fulfillment of Samuel the Lamanite's prophecy.  After the tempest and earthquakes, Jesus' voice was heard throughout the land, saying

And behold, the city of Laman, and the city of Josh, and the city of Gad, and the city of Kishkumen, have I caused to be burned with fire, and the inhabitants thereof, because of their wickedness in casting out the prophets, and stoning those whom I did send to declare unto them concerning their wickedness and their abominations. (3 Nephi 9:10)

5 And again, how oft would I have gathered you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, yea, O ye people of the house of Israel, who have fallen; yea, O ye people of the house of Israel, ye that dwell at Jerusalem, as ye that have fallen; yea, how oft would I have gathered you as a hen gathereth her chickens, and ye would not.

6 O ye house of Israel whom I have spared, how oft will I gather you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, if ye will repent and return unto me with full purpose of heart.

7 But if not, O house of Israel, the places of your dwellings shall become desolate until the time of the fulfilling of the covenant to your fathers. (3 Nephi 10)

These words were only spoken a few days apart, first by the mortal Jesus in the Old World, then out of heaven by his spirit in the New World. In addition to repeating the stoning of the prophets, he repeats a couple of other themes from Matthew 23:37-38. The voice heard by the people in the Americas even refers to Jerusalem (see the italic part), even though the people dwelling in Jerusalem 600 years after Lehi's exodus might seem less relevant to the people at that point. But his mention of Jerusalem further underscores the reference to the first quote in Matthew. 

Bottom line is, the descendants of Lehi who left Jerusalem have become just like the people at Jerusalem. They were supposed to separate as a righteous branch in a new promised land, but have become corrupted like the people they separated from. Killing the prophets is the indicator of this corruption. Because of that, Jesus is not able to gather them as he would like and their houses become desolate, in the New World as in the Old.