Go and Do Likewise
A recurring call to imitate actions across scripture.
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The phrase 'go and do likewise' does not appear verbatim in the provided passages, but the concept of imitating an action or pattern is recurrent. Several passages use the word 'likewise' to command or describe the replication of a specific behavior, whether in worship, warfare, or daily conduct. For example, in Judges 7:17, Gideon instructs his men, 'Look on me, and do likewise,' establishing a direct call to imitate his actions. Similarly, Deuteronomy 12:30 warns against imitating the practices of other nations, saying, 'even so will I do likewise.' These passages collectively portray a motif of imitation—both commanded and warned against—across various contexts.
Lore & Background
In narratives, 'likewise' often describes collective imitation in battle or judgment. In Judges 9:49, all the people 'likewise cut down every man his bough' and followed Abimelech to destroy the tower of Shechem. In 1 Samuel 31:5, Saul's armor-bearer, seeing Saul dead, 'fell likewise upon his sword,' mirroring his master's suicide. The motif also appears in prophetic contexts: in 1 Samuel 19:21, when Saul sent messengers to capture David, they 'prophesied likewise,' imitating the previous group's behavior. These examples show that 'likewise' can denote both voluntary imitation and divinely orchestrated repetition.
Reader's Guide
The passages portray 'likewise' as a versatile term for imitation, often carrying moral or practical weight. In legal contexts, it extends commands to ensure consistency (Exodus 22:30; Deuteronomy 15:17). In worship, it describes the replication of sacred patterns (Exodus 26:4; 36:11). In warfare, it signals coordinated action (Judges 7:17; 9:49). The term also appears in warnings: Deuteronomy 12:30 cautions against imitating pagan worship, while Deuteronomy 22:3 commands imitation in restoring lost property. Notably, the passages do not present a single theological doctrine of imitation; rather, 'likewise' functions as a practical connector, linking actions across different spheres—ritual, ethical, and military. The reader is left to discern the appropriateness of each imitation based on context, as some imitations are commanded (e.g., Gideon's men) and others are condemned (e.g., following foreign gods).
Did You Know?
- In Judges 7:17, Gideon explicitly says 'Look on me, and do likewise,' making his own actions the template for his soldiers.
- The word 'likewise' appears in both positive commands (Exodus 22:30) and negative warnings (Deuteronomy 12:30) about imitation.
- In 1 Samuel 31:5, the armor-bearer's suicide is described as falling 'likewise upon his sword,' mirroring Saul's death.
- The construction of the tabernacle curtains in Exodus 26:4 and 36:11 uses 'likewise' to ensure identical loops on matching edges.