The World's Progress Part 53

[3] History of People of Israel, 47.

CHAPTER IX.

THE ERA OF THE JUDGES.

As we have seen, Joshua's victory left the conquest of Canaan but begun.

It so happened that the great powers were too absorbed with their own affairs to expand by conquest, so the earlier inhabitants of Palestine and the Hebrews were left to fight out their difficulties as best they might. For some generations after the entrance of the Israelites into Canaan, confusion and disorder ruled. The invaders would win the heights in a given region, while around them in the plains and valleys, flourished hostile clans, often hara.s.sing and threatening their settlements. Years of peace would settle over the land, and the two peoples--Israelites and Canaanites--would intermarry, when again the old hatred would break out anew.

The period following the death of Joshua has been called the "Era of the Judges." The simple statement of the ancient Hebrew chronicler makes clear the situation: "And there was no king in Israel; each man did that which was right in his own eyes." Our knowledge of this age is derived chiefly from the Book of Judges, which contains some of the earliest records of the Israelites. However, the material herein contained has not come down to us first hand. A prophet of later times selected such material as suited his purpose from records which were accessible to him. The writer or writers of the Book of Judges desired to inculcate religious truths--not to recount historical events. Such pictures of the life during those years which followed Hebrew occupation of Canaan as seemed best were fitted into phrases like these: "And the people of Israel did that which was evil in the sight of Jahweh, and Jahweh delivered them into the hands of their enemies." "The people of Israel cried unto Jahweh and He raised up to them a deliverer, and the land had rest." It seems to have been fortunately the case that the older material was incorporated into the phrases with little change, and from it one is able to get a very fair idea of the stage of progress to which the Hebrews had then arrived.

Thirteen _Judges_ are mentioned in the Old Testament, and there were surely many more whose names were not recorded. In times of emergency, danger, attack or oppression, a clan, or several clans, one tribe or possibly two or three tribes, would voluntarily unite under some chosen chieftain, whose duties and powers were indefinite. If he were able to deliver them in their distress, they acknowledged him as their leader so long as he lived. When a similar occasion arose, it was met in a similar way. Since differences between clans, disputes between individuals, and various questions were referred to this chief for settlement, later writers named these men from this duty of referees, _Judges_. Their earliest t.i.tle of "deliverer" was more expressive. The story of the several recorded judges may be read in the biblical book bearing that name. We shall consider the work of three--not necessarily the most important in Israel's history.

Matters had become most threatening in Canaan. The Canaanites had united for a final reduction of Israel and were led by Sisera. This chief was victorious and seemed about to overcome the Hebrew tribes. The very existence of Israel was in gravest danger. The highways were unsafe, for these were held by the Canaanites who were preparing for a final stand.

At this juncture Deborah, an inspired prophetess, called upon Barak, a chieftain of the north, to deliver the people. Intermarriage between the Israelites and Canaanites had become so common that it was useless to attempt to rally the early tribes--early distinctions were no longer closely drawn. So Deborah called on all who worshipped Jahweh to rally in His cause. The old enthusiasm was rekindled, and the Canaanites suffered a great defeat. Their king Sisera escaped and took refuge in the tent of a peasant woman. Trusting to her hospitality, he partook of refreshment she offered him. Asking simply for water, she gave him milk.

When he fell asleep for a brief rest, she drove a tent-pin through his head, thus killing him. It has been fully observed that "only in an age of tents could such a deed have been thus extolled." The Canaanites never recovered the loss of that day's defeat, and their strength was permanently broken. The Song of Deborah, recorded in the Book of Judges, is one of the earliest writings in the Old Testament. It has recently been thrown again into its original verse form, and rings clear of an early age, echoing the spirit of a crude but vigorous race.

DEBORAH'S SONG.

_Men._ For that the leaders took the lead in Israel--

_Women._ For that the people offered themselves willingly--

_All._ Bless ye the Lord!

PRELUDE.

_Men._ Hear, O ye kings--

_Women._ Give ear, O ye princes--

_Men._ I, even I, will sing unto the Lord--

_Women._ I will sing praises to the Lord, the G.o.d of Israel.

_All._ Lord, when thou wentest forth out of Seir, When thou marchedst out of the field of Edom, The earth trembled, the heavens also dropped, Yea, the clouds dropped water.

The mountain flowed down at the presence of the Lord.

Even yon Sinai at the presence of the Lord, the G.o.d of Israel.

I. THE DESOLATION.

_Men._ In the days of Shamgar, the son of Anath, In the days of Jael, The highways were unoccupied, And the travellers walked through byways; The rulers ceased in Israel, They ceased--

_Women._ Until that I, Deborah, arose, That I arose a mother in Israel.

They chose new G.o.ds; Then was war in the gates: Was there a shield or spear seen Among forty thousand in Israel?

_Men._ My heart is toward the governors of Israel--

_Women._ Ye that offered yourselves willingly among the people--

_All._ Bless ye the Lord!

_Men._ Tell of it, ye that ride on white a.s.ses, Ye that sit on rich carpets, And ye that walk by the way:--

_Women._ Far from the noise of archers, In the places of drawing water:--

_All._ There shall they rehea.r.s.e the righteous acts of the Lord, Even the righteous acts of his rule in Israel.

II. THE MUSTER.

_All._ The people of the Lord went down to the gates--

_Men._ Awake, awake, Deborah, Awake, awake, utter a song:--

_Women._ Arise, Barak, And lead thy captivity captive, thou son of Abinoan.

_All._ Then came down a remnant of the n.o.bles, The people of the Lord came down for me against the Mighty.

_Women._ Out of Ephraim came down they whose root is in Amalek--

_Men._ After thee, Benjamin, among thy peoples--

_Women._ Out of Machir came down the governors--

_Men._ And out of Zubulum they that handle the marshal's staff--

_Women._ And the princes of Issachar were with Deborah--

_Men._ So was Issachar, so was Barak:

_All._ Into the valley they rushed forth at his feet.

_Men._ By the water courses of Reuben There were great resolves of heart.

_Women._ Why satest thou among the sheepfolds, To hear the pipings for the flocks?

_Men._ At the watercourses of Reuben There were great searchings of heart!

_Women._ Gilead abode beyond Jordan--

_Men._ And Dan, why did he remain in ships?

_Women._ Ashur sat still at the haven of the sea, And abode by his creeks.

_Men._ Zubulum was a people that jeoparded their lives unto the death, And Naphtali upon the high places of the field.