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 passed and repassed
over this plain, and great battles were fought by Egyptians, Hittites,
and Assyrians, 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 institutions.= In Greece every town had its own god
and its own religion; hence the many parties and petty nationalities.
But in Israel there was in theory but one altar, one house of God, one
system of worship, with its annual pilgrimage to the religious capital
(1 Sam. 1. 3). Just to the measure in which these institutions 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
assistance; 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 asserting 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 mass. 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 association of Israel with
idolaters on the soil or as neighbors. 3.) The opportunity which
idol-worship gives to gratify lust 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 God.
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 God 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 God. 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 God,
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 Manasseh-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 lusts 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.