Part 7 (1/2)

Subjects for Special Papers

THE ISRAELITE REPUBLIC

THE CAREER OF GIDEON

THE VOW OF JEPHTHAH

THE FAILURE OF SAMSON

shi+LOH AND THE TABERNACLE

FAMILY LIFE DURING THE AGE OF THE JUDGES

[Illustration: MODERN JERUSALEM]

FOOTNOTE:

[F] With Jephthah is associated the only instance of human sacrifice offered to Jehovah in all Bible history; and this was by an ignorant freebooter, in a part of the land farthest from the instructions of the tabernacle and the priesthood When we consider that the practice of human sacrifice was universal in the ancient world, and that not only captives taken in war but also the children of the worshi+pers were offered (2 Kings 3 26, 27; Mic 6 7), this fact is a re power of the Israelite worshi+p

FIFTH STUDY

THE RISE OF THE ISRAELITE EMPIRE

The coronation of Saul (B C 1095) marks an epoch in the history of Israel From that point, for five hundred years, the chosen people were under the rule of kings

I =THE CAUSES LEADING TO THE MONARCHY= The kingdoradual preparation for it through all the period of the judges

1 Note the =tendency toward settled government= In the ti 8 22, 23) His son atte 9) We find judges setting up a sees for their children outside of their tribe (Judg 12 9, 13, 14) Judges associating their sons with the 10 4; 1 Sam 8 1, 2) All these show a monarchical trend in the time

2 Another cause was the =consolidation of the surrounding nations= In the days of the conquest there were few kings in the lands neighboring Palestine We read of ”lords” and ”elders,” but no kings, a the Philistines, the Moabites, the A 3

3; 1 Sam 5 8; Num 22 7) But a wave of revolution swept over all those lands, as about the same time over Greece; and very soon we find that every nation around Israel had its king (1 Sam 21 10; 11 1; 22

3; 2 Sam 5 11) The movement of Israel toward monarchy was in accordance with this spirit

3 There was a =danger of invasion=, which iovernment (1 Sam 12 12) They felt theanized for conquest, and desired a king for leader in war

4 Then, too, the =rule of Saanization of the government For twenty years they had enjoyed the benefit of a wise, strong, and steady rule They felt unwilling to risk the dangers of tribal dissension after the death of Sa

5 But underlying all was the =worldly a to remain the people of God, and work out a peculiar destiny They wished to be like the nations around, to establish a secular state, to conquer an empire for themselves (1 Sam 8 5-20) It was this worldly spirit, whose results Sa to accede to the wish of the Israelites But the very things against which he warned them (1 Sam 8 11-18) were just what they desired

II =THE CHARACTER OF THE ISRAELITE KINGDOM= When es his He desired Israel to remain a republic, and not to enter into worldly relations and aiave the (1 Sam 8 22); but his rule was not to be like that of the nations around Israel We ascertain the divine ideal of a kingdodonized God as the supre as his representative, to rule in accordance with his will, and not by his own right Only as people and king confordo should deviate from this order, he should lose his throne Disobedience to the divine will caused the kingdom to pass from the family of Saul to that of David (1 Sam 13 13, 14; 15 26)

2 =It was a constitutional kingdouaranteed, and there was a written constitution (1 Sam 10

25) Nearly all the Oriental countries have always been governed by absolute monarchs; but Israel was an exception to this rule The people could des 12 3, 4) Ahab could not take away nor even buy Naboth's vineyard against its owner's will (1 Kings 21 1-3) No doubt the rights of the people were often violated; but the violation was contrary to the spirit of the ulated by the prophets= The order of prophets had a regular standing in the Israelite state The prophet was a check upon the power of the king, as a representative both of God's will and the people's rights He spoke not only of his own opinions, but by the authority of God Notice instances of the boldness of prophets in rebuking kings (1 Sas 13 1-6; 17

1; 22 7-17) The order of prophets was like the House of Co and the people