So, in reading and contemplating I've come to realize that God established the nation of Israel as a functioning anarchy.
Anarchy doesn't mean 'no rules/laws' but it means 'no rulers' and we read several times throughout the book of judges that 'in those days Israel had no king and everyone did what they thought was right.. ' or something close to that.
Hi largeli, actually when the Israelites emerged from Egyptian captivity as a nation and a monarchy, God governed all matters by His representative/servant - Moses and then Joshua. Moses brought to them the original law on Mount Sinia - the 10 comandments, and they had many statues and laws which all the people agreed to obey.
Exo 19:7 So Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before them all these words which the LORD commanded him.
v. 8 Then all the people answered together and said, "All that the LORD has spoken we will do." So Moses brought back the words of the people to the LORD.
Also there were elders in all the individual tribes that maintained order.
Exo 18:21 Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.
There were also the priests that served the people.
Exo 28:1 "Now take Aaron your brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister to Me as priest, Aaron and Aaron's sons: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
So I would not think of it as being anarchy... maybe when it says "everyone did what was right in his own eyes" was the time after Joshua when they did not have constant leadership and then some did fall into idolatry from time to time. That was the time period when judges did rise up at times to lead to people. Then when Samuel came along was the transitional period, as he actually was the last judge, because Saul became the monarch/king and Samuel a prophet to him. But for the most part they did have some system in place that gave them leadership.
I've always wondered about "there is nothing new under the sun," what does that mean?
When a computer was created,wasn't it new?Cars?Or all sorts of technology?
To me this is speaking about the condition of mankind. Through all the centuries and all the various advances of the times there was always greed, crime, corruption and wickedness. The carnal human nature has always been at work no matter what good advances or even technology has brought about. It has been a vicious cycle from generation to generation and Solomon realized this, that this age is doomed by the corruptness of the carnal nature and he saw it all as "vanity."
Ecc 1:2 "
Vanity (G1892 - emptiness or vanity; figuratively something transitory and unsatisfactory) of vanities," says the Preacher; "Vanity of vanities, all is vanity."
But we know that there is great wisdom in what God is doing and though Solomon started out his Ecclesiastes in a rather gloomy and depressing look at the way of this world, but at the end he summed it all up very well.
Ecc 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man's all.
v. 14 For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil.
mercy, peace and love
Kat