1. With regard to =the native races=. They were not destroyed nor driven
away, as had been commanded.[E] They remained as subject people in some
places, as the ruling race on the sea-coast and in the Jordan valley. We
see their influence, always injurious, throughout all Israel's history
(Exod. 23. 31-33; Deut. 7. 1-5); and some think that the present
inhabitants of the country belong to the original Canaanite stock.
2. =The Israelites= did not occupy all the country. They possessed most
of the mountain region, but none of the sea-coast plain on the Jordan
valley. They were like the Swiss in modern times, living among the
mountains. Even in the New Testament period the lowlands were occupied
mainly by Gentiles.
3. =The landed system= was peculiar. Estates were inalienable. They
might be leased, but not sold; and on the year of Jubilee (every
fiftieth year) all land reverted to the family originally owning it.
Thus every family had its ancestral home, the poor were protected, and
riches were kept within bounds.
4. =The government= was a republic of families without an executive
head, except when a judge was raised up to meet special needs. Each
tribe had its own rulers, but there was no central authority after
Joshua (Judg. 21. 25). This had its evils, for it led to national
weakness; but it had its benefits: 1.) It kept Israel from becoming a
great worldly kingdom like Egypt and Assyria, which would have thwarted
the divine purpose. 2.) It promoted individuality and personal energy of
character. There would have been no "age of heroes" if Israel had been a
kingdom like Egypt.
5. The =religious system= was simple. There was but one altar at Shiloh
for all the land and for all the tribes, and the people were required to
visit it for the three great feasts (Deut. 12. 11, 14; Josh. 18. 1).
This was the religious bond which united the people. If it had been
maintained they would have needed no other constitution, and even its
partial observance kept the people one nation.
6. The =character= of the people was diverse. Throughout the history we
trace the working of two distinct elements. There was the true
Israel--the earnest, religious, God-worshiping section, the Israel of
Joshua and Gideon and Samuel. Then there was the underlying mass of the
people--secular, ignorant, prone to idolatry, the Israel that worshiped
Baal and Ashtoreth, and sought alliance with the heathen. One element
was the hope of the nation, the other was its bane.
Blackboard Outline.
=I. Canaanites.= 1. Var. 2. Ham. rac. 3. Idol. 4. Weak.
=II. Camp. Conq.= 1. Camp. Eas. Jor. 1.) Gil. Jah. 2) Bash. Ed.
3.) Mid.
2. Camp. Wes. Jor. 1.) Cent. Pal. Jer. Ai. She. 2) Sou. Pal. Beth-hor.
3.) Nor. Pal. L. Mer.
3. Supp. Camp. 1.) Cal. cap. Heb. 2.) Jud. cap. Bez. 3.) Dan. cap.
Lai.
=III. Gen. Asp. Isr. at Clo. Conq.= 1. Nat. rac. sub. 2. Isr. in mtn.
reg. 3. Land. sys. 4. Gov. rep. fam. 5. Rel. sys. 6. Char. peo.