Studies in Old Testament History Part 6

From the death of Joshua (about B. C. 1426) to the coronation of Saul (B. C. 1095) the twelve tribes of Israel were without a central government, except as from time to time men of ability rose up among them. It was not as some have supposed, "an age of anarchy," for anarchy is confusion; and during most of the three hundred and thirty years there were peace and order in Israel. It was rather an age of heroes, for its rulers were neither hereditary nor elective, but men called forth by the needs of the hour and their own qualities of leadership.

I. =THE CONDITION OF ISRAEL DURING THIS PERIOD.= This was partly favorable, and partly unfavorable. The favorable elements were:

1. =The mountain location= of Israel. The tribes were perched like Switzerland in the Alps. There was a desert on the south and on the east, while on the west lay the plain by the sea, the great route of travel between Egypt and the Euphrates. Great armies pa.s.sed and repa.s.sed over this plain, and great battles were fought by Egyptians, Hitt.i.tes, and a.s.syrians, while Israel on her mountain peaks was unmolested. This mountain home left Israel generally unnoticed, and, when attacked, almost inaccessible.

2. =The racial unity= of Israel. The two finest races of the world, the Greek and the Israelite, were both of pure blood. The Israelites were one in origin, in language, in traditions, in aspirations. This national unity often brought the tribes together in times of distress; though not always when their union was needed.

3. =The religious inst.i.tutions.= In Greece every town had its own G.o.d and its own religion; hence the many parties and petty nationalities.

But in Israel there was in theory but one altar, one house of G.o.d, one system of worship, with its annual pilgrimage to the religious capital (1 Sam. 1. 3). Just to the measure in which these inst.i.tutions were observed, Israel was strong against all foes, and as they were neglected the land became the prey of oppressors (Judg. 2. 7-14; 1. Sam. 7. 3).

But there were also unfavorable elements in the condition of Israel, which threatened its very existence. These were:

1. =The native races.= These were of two kinds: the subject peoples left on the soil, more or less under the domination of the conquerors, and the surrounding nations, Ammon, Moab, Syria, and the Philistines. There was danger from their enmity, a rebellion of the subject tribes, allied with the enemies around, for the destruction of Israel. And there was far greater danger from their friendship, which would lead to intermarriage, to idolatry, to corruption of morals, and to ruin (Judg.

3. 1-7).

2. =Lack of a central government.= Israel was in the condition of the United States at the close of the Revolution, from 1783 to 1789, a loose confederation with no central authority. There were twelve tribes, but each governed itself. Only under some great chieftain like Gideon or Samuel were all the twelve tribes united. Most of the judges ruled only over their own district of a few adjoining tribes. Often the northern tribes were in peril, but we never read of Judah going to their a.s.sistance; and in Judah's wars with the Philistines the northern tribes stood aloof.

3. =Tribal jealousy.= Until the establishment of the American republic the world never saw, for any length of time, a league of states on an equal footing. In Greece the strongest state claimed the _hegemony_, or leadership, and oppressed its allies. In Italy the Romans reduced all their neighbors to subjection. In Europe it now requires an army of more than a million men to maintain the "balance of power." So in Israel there was a constant struggle for the leadership between the two great tribes of Judah and Ephraim. During the period of the judges Ephraim was constantly a.s.serting its right to rule the other tribes (Judg. 8. 1-3; 12. 1-6). We trace this rivalry through all the reign of David; and at last it led to the division of the empire under Rehoboam.

4. =Idolatrous tendencies.= We note constantly "the two Israels"--a spiritual minority and an irreligious, idolatrous ma.s.s. For ten centuries the greatest evil of Israelite history was the tendency to the worship of idols. Causes which operated to promote it were: 1.) The natural craving for a visible object of worship, not altogether eradicated from even the Christian heart; for example, Romish images and ritualistic bowing toward the altar. 2.) The a.s.sociation of Israel with idolaters on the soil or as neighbors. 3.) The opportunity which idol-worship gives to gratify l.u.s.t under the guise of religion. As a result of these forces we find idol-worship the crying sin of the Israelites down to the captivity in Babylon.

II. =THE JUDGES OF ISRAEL.= These were the heroes of that age, the men who in turn led the tribes, freed them from their enemies, and restored them to the service of G.o.d.

1. =Their office.= It was not generally to try legal cases between man and man, or between tribe and tribe. It might be regarded as a military dictatorship blended with a religious authority. The judge was a union of the warrior and the religious reformer.

2. =Their appointment=; not by election, nor the votes of the people.

The Orientals have never chosen their rulers by suffrage. The judges were men whom the people recognized as called of G.o.d to their office (Judg. 2. 16; 3. 9; 6. 11-13).

3. =Their authority= rested not on law, nor on armies, but on the personal elements of integrity and leadership in the men, and on the general belief in their inspiration. They spoke to the people with the authority of a messenger from G.o.d. They arose in some hour of great need, and after the immediate danger was over held their power until the end of their lives.

4. =The extent of their rule= was generally local, over a few tribes in one section. Deborah ruled in the north (Judg. 5. 14-18); Jephthah governed the east of the Jordan only (Judg. 11. 29). Often more than one judge was ruling at the same time; probably Samson and Eli were contemporaneous. Gideon and Samuel alone ruled all the twelve tribes.

III. =THE OPPRESSIONS AND DELIVERERS.= During these three centuries the influences already named brought Israel many times under the domination of foreign power. The story was always the same, forsaking G.o.d, following idols, subjection, reformation, victory, and temporary prosperity. We notice the seven oppressions. Some of these were undoubtedly contemporaneous.

1. =The Mesopotamian Oppression.= (Judg. 3. 7-11.) Probably this was over the southern portion, and the invaders came by the east and around the Dead Sea, as earlier invaders from the same land had come (Gen. 14.

1-7). The deliverer was Othniel, the first judge, and the only judge of the tribe of Judah.

2. =The Moabite Oppression.= (Judg. 3. 12-30.) Over the eastern and central section, including Ephraim (verse 27); deliverer, Ehud, the second judge; battle fought at the ford of the river Jordan (verse 28).

3. =The Early Philistine Oppression.= (Judg. 3. 31.) Over the south-west, on the frontier of Judah; deliverer, Shamgar.

4. =The Canaanite Oppression.= (Judg. 4.) Over the northern tribes; deliverer, Deborah, the woman judge; battle at Mount Tabor.

5. =The Midianite Oppression.= (Judg. 6. 1-6.) Over the northern center, especially Mana.s.seh-east; the most severe of all; deliverer, Gideon, the greatest of the judges (Judg. 6. 11, 12); battle, on Mount Gilboa (Judg. 7), followed by other victories (Judg. 8).

6. =The Ammonite Oppression.= (Judg. 10. 7-9.) Note an alliance between the Amorites and Philistines, which is suggestive; mainly over the tribes on the east of Jordan; deliverer, Jephthah[F] (Judg. 11); victory at Aroer (verse 33).

7. =The Philistine Oppression.= (Judg. 13) This was the most protracted of all, for it extended, with intervals of freedom, for a hundred years; embraced all the land, but was most heavily felt south of Mounts Carmel and Gilboa. The liberation was begun by Samson (Judg. 13. 5), but he was led astray by sensual l.u.s.ts and became a failure. Freedom was later won by Samuel at the battle of Ebenezer (1 Sam. 7. 7-14); but the oppression was renewed in the time of Saul, and became heavier than ever (1 Sam.

13. 17-20). Finally the yoke was broken by David, in a succession of victories, ending with the capture of Gath, the Philistine capital (2 Sam. 5. 17-25; 1 Chron. 18. 1).

Note with each oppression: 1.) The oppressor. 2.) The section oppressed.

3.) The deliverer. 4.) The battlefield.

IV. =THE GENERAL ASPECTS OF THE PERIOD.=

1. It was an age of =individuality=. There was no strong government to oppress the people, to concentrate all the life of the nation at the court, and to repress individuality. Contrast Persia with Greece; Rome under the emperors with Rome as a republic. As men were needed they were raised up, for there was opportunity for character. Hence it was an age of heroes--Othniel, Ehud, Shamgar, Gideon, Jephthah, Samson, Samuel, etc. Free inst.i.tutions bring strong men to the front.

2. It was an age of =neglect of the law=. During all this period there is no allusion to the law of Moses. Its regulations were ignored, except so far as they belonged to the common law of conscience and right. The laws of Moses were not deliberately disobeyed, but were ignorantly neglected. Even good men, as Gideon and Samuel, built altars and offered sacrifices (Judg. 6. 24; 1 Sam. 7. 9) contrary to the letter of the law of Moses, but obeying its spirit.

3. Nevertheless, it was an age of =progress=. There were alternate advancements and retrogressions; yet we see a people with energy, rising in spite of their hindrances. By degrees government became more settled (1 Sam. 7. 15-17), foreign relations arose (1 Sam. 7. 14; Ruth 1. 1), and the people began to look toward a more stable system (1 Sam. 8.

4-6).

Blackboard Outline.

=I. Cond. Isr.= _Fav._ 1. Mtn. Loc. 2. Rac. Un. 3. Rel. Ins.

_Unfav._ 1. Nat. Rac. 2. Lac. cent. gov. 3. Tri.

jeal. 4. Idol. ten.

=II. Jud. Isr.= 1. Off. 2. App. 3. Auth. 4. Ext. ru.

=III. Opp. and Deliv.= _Opp._ _Sec._ _Deliv._ _Batt.-fie._ 1. Mes. Sou. Oth.

2. Moab. Ea. cen. Ehu. For. Jor.

3. Ea. Phil. So.-wes. Sham.

4. Can. Nor. Deb. Mt. Tab.

5. Mid. Nor. cen. Gid. Mt. Gil.

6. Amm. East. Jeph. Aro.

7. Phil. All. Sams. Saml. Eben.

Dav. Gath.

=IV. Gen. Asp. Per.= 1. Ind. 2. Neg. Law. 3. Prog.

QUESTIONS FOR REVIEW.

How long was this period? What were its traits? What were the conditions favorable to Israel during this period? How did their location aid the Israelites? Wherein were the Israelites one people? How did their religious inst.i.tutions keep them together?

What were the unfavorable and dangerous elements in the condition of Israel? How were they in danger from the native races? What was lacking in the government of Israel? What two tribes were in rivalry? What was the effect of this jealousy? What a.n.a.logy is found in ancient history?

How is the same principle ill.u.s.trated in modern times? What evil tendency was manifested in Israel through nearly all its history? What causes are a.s.signed for this tendency?

What was the office of a judge in Israel? How were the judges appointed?

What was their authority? How widely did their rule extend?

What resulted from these evil tendencies in Israel? How many oppressors were there? Who were the first oppressors? Over what part of the country was the first oppression? Who delivered Israel from it? What was the second oppression? What part of the country suffered from it? Who was the deliverer? Where was the battle fought? What was the third oppression, and where? Who delivered Israel? What was the fourth oppression? Where was it? Who was the deliverer? Where was the victory won? What was the fifth oppression? Over what part of the country was it? Who delivered Israel from it? What was the sixth oppression? Over what part of the land was it? Who delivered from it? What was the last oppression? How did it differ from the others? What three names are a.s.sociated in the deliverance from its power?

What are the three general aspects of this period?