LESSONS IN COOPERATION
After the Hebrews began to be settled in Canaan, not only were they
tempted to neglect the poor and unfortunate; they also failed to stand
together against their enemies. Each tribe and clan seemed to care
only for its own safety.
The men of Judah in the south, the Ephraimites in central Canaan, and
the Naphtalites in the northern hills, and Gilead and Reuben across
the Jordan--each group tried to fight its own battles. Often they
fought with each other. There was a bloody war between the men of
Gilead, and their cousins, the Ephraimites on the opposite side of the
Jordan. The Ephraimites crossed the river and attacked the Gileadites,
and were badly beaten; when they tried to get back home again, they
found the Gileadites holding the fords of the river. Each fugitive was
asked, "Are you an Ephraimite?" If he said "No," they would order him
to say "Shibboleth" (a Hebrew word). And if he said "Sibboleth" (the
Gileadite dialect), and did not pronounce it exactly right, then they
would kill him.
This was only one example of the many wars between the tribes. There
was no central government to keep the peace. This age in their history
is sometimes called the period of the Judges. But these judges did not
rule over the whole land. Most of them were only petty champions, each
of whom helped his own tribe to defend itself against its enemies.
SISERA AND DEBORAH
In this disorganized state they would have been an easy prey to any
strong enemy; and before long, an enemy came. In the fertile plain of
Esdraelon, which cuts across Palestine just north of the central
highland, there was a group of Canaanite towns which the Hebrews had
not as yet conquered. These were organized into a kingdom by a warrior
named Sisera, who at once began to reconquer those parts of the
country which now belonged to the Hebrews. It was a bitter time for
the tribes that were settled around the Plain of Esdraelon. Those
villages which were perched on the mountain sides held out for a time,
but the inhabitants dared not go down into the valleys. They could not
take their grain to the market. The valley roads were all deserted
except for bands of Sisera's troopers. Each year Sisera grew stronger,
and more of the Hebrews submitted to him. In a little while there
would have been none left to call themselves Hebrews and to keep up
the noble traditions and hopes of Moses and Abraham.
=A wise and patriotic woman.=--If only the more distant tribes had
come to the help of those that bordered on Sisera's kingdom, if only
all the Hebrews had stood together, they could easily have defended
themselves. But no one seemed to see this, or had faith enough to try
to accomplish anything in this way "until Deborah arose." One day
there came up through the sheepfolds of the Reubenites this remarkable
woman whose name was Deborah. "Come to the help of your brethren
across the river," she said, as she told her story. "Come to the help
of Jehovah, by helping his people."
At first the Reubenites seemed greatly moved by Deborah's words.
Certainly, they would come, whenever Deborah and her friends were
ready. So the brave woman was encouraged and went to other tribes, to
all of them one after another. But not everywhere was she successful.
Many said: "Why should we go up and help your people? Suppose Sisera
wins, he will come and punish us. We will stay here where we are
safe." Even the Reubenites, whose first resolves had been so brave,
changed their minds, and "stayed in their sheepfolds, listening to the
pipings of the flocks."
=The battle by the Kishon River.=--After many weeks of tramping,
however, Deborah was able to get a few of the tribes really organized.
Ephraim, Benjamin, Naphtali, Zebulun, Issachar, and some smaller clans
all promised to send troops and did send them. An army was gathered
under a captain named Barak. The Canaanites under Sisera came out to
fight them, and the battle took place on the flat fields of the Plain
of Esdraelon. It looked like a victory for Sisera. He had charioteers
as well as foot soldiers--troops of men in heavy war carts, from the
axles of which extended sharp blades like scythes.
But Deborah had called to her people in the name of Jehovah. And
Jehovah seemed, indeed, to be on their side. We may well believe that
it was the spirit of God that put it into the hearts of Deborah and
Barak to delay the battle until there should be a rainy day. When the
clash finally came there was a heavy downpour. The flat plain became a
swamp. The war chariots sank into the mud and were helpless. The
Canaanites became panic-stricken and fled in terror. Many of them were
drowned in the attempt to cross the Kishon, which is usually a shallow
creek, but on that day was a deep and swiftly flowing torrent.
Sisera, himself in flight, was killed by a woman in whose tent he
tried to take refuge. The battle was won for Jehovah's people. The
Hebrews could still be free and independent, and they had learned a
valuable lesson--the necessity for cooperation.
STUDY TOPICS
1. Read chapters 4 and 5 of the book of Judges.
2. With the help of a map showing the location of the various tribes
in Canaan, find the ones which were most in danger from Sisera, whose
kingdom was in the Plain of Esdraelon.
3. With the help of the map, explain why it was not easy for Deborah
to persuade the Reubenites and the Gileadites to enter this war.
4. What arguments would you have used to persuade them?
5. Could you use the same arguments in favor of the League of Nations
and our membership in it, as a nation?