Jude 1:22

1:22-36 Two references to the descendants of Joseph (1:22, 35) frame this litany of the northern tribes’ failures to drive out the enemy. 1:22 The Lord was with the descendants of Joseph (the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh), but only in their united attack on Bethel, a place sacred to Israelite memories from the days of Jacob (Gen 28:19). They failed in attacks made separately (Judg 1:27-29). • Bethel is associated with the battle against Ai (Josh 7:2) and is listed in the summary statement of kings that Israel had defeated (Josh 12:16). 1:22-23 The NLT accepts the manuscript tradition that includes three commands in these verses, corresponding to three categories of people: (1) those whose faith is wavering, (2) those who need to be snatched from the flames of judgment, and (3) others who need to be shown mercy. Some manuscripts have only two categories of people: (1) those whose faith is wavering and thus need to be snatched from judgment, and (2) those who need to be shown mercy. The text adopted in the NLT follows the pattern of threes that Jude uses elsewhere (1:5-7, 11). 1:22 those whose faith is wavering: Some believers were in the early stages of doubt because of what the false teachers were saying.