Part 4 (2/2)
The Canaanites, who had been there about six centuries, and the Amorites, who had lived there about ten centuries, were the two peoples that furnished greatest resistance to Israel's occupancy of the country. They were virtually one people.
Around Palestine were many kingdoms, some large and strong, some small and weak. Among the more important were the Philistines, west of Judah, the Phoenician kingdoms on the north, Arameans or Syrians on the northeast, and on the east and southeast, the Ammonites, Moabites and Edomites, the last three being kinsmen of the Hebrews.
(3) _Conditions favorable to its conquest_. Several circ.u.mstances conspired to make it a suitable time for the Hebrews to enter Canaan: (a) Egypt had crushed the Hitt.i.tes and devastated their land; (b) Northern hordes from and through Syria had broken the power of Egypt and the Hitt.i.tes and had also crushed the Canaanites; (c) a.s.syria had increased her borders to the coasts of Phoenicia and was feared by all other peoples; (d) Babylonia was not strong enough to displace a.s.syria as an Asiatic power but strong enough to dispute her supremacy; (e) For two hundred years, therefore, their weakness together with that of Egypt and the Hitt.i.tes gave the Hebrews ample time to develop and grow strong.
The Crossing of the Jordan and the Fall of Jericho. To the Hebrews these two incidents have always been of first importance. As the two great events through which they gained entrance to their permanent home, they have been given a place in Hebrew literature almost equal to that of their deliverance from Egyptian bondage. The divine share in these great accomplishments was fully recognized. He it was who caused the waters of Jordan to separate and He it was who threw down the walls of Jericho. Not only did Jericho occupy a strategic position, being somewhat apart from other Canaanite cities, but the marvelous manner of its fall both encouraged the Hebrews to expect complete victory and also caused the Canaanites to fear them and expect defeat.
The Complete Conquest of Canaan. The conquest was a sort of whirlwind campaign that crushed the active and dangerous opposition of the Canaanites, the complete occupancy being accomplished by a piecemeal process of subduing one after another of the little cities and independent tribes. The campaign was well planned. The Jordan was crossed, Jericho was taken and then by pus.h.i.+ng forward for the heart of the land, Ai was overcome and in a short time Joshua was in the center of the land, ready to strike either way. With his central camp established at Gilgal (5:10; 9:6) and the forces of Canaan divided, Joshua could advance by two lines of invasion. Whether he made simultaneous campaigns in different directions is not certain, but he seems first to have turned his attention to the southern territory and then to have completed his conquest by an invasion of the northern districts. After bending before this storm the Canaanites still held possession of the land and the piecemeal process of subjugation began.
It was not all accomplished by the sword but aided by the peaceful measures of inter-marriage and treaties with friendly neighbors.
Israel contended against a far superior civilization but finally won because the religious as well as the civil and social life was involved.
The Cruelty to the Canannites. Stress has commonly been laid on the cruelty to the Canaanites and upon their being driven out of their land when it should have been put upon their character where the Scripture puts it. This is a waste of false sympathy. The Scripture always speaks of the driving out of the Canaanites as a punishment for their sins (Dt, 9:4-5; Lev. 18:24-25). Some of the abominations which they practiced are described in Lev. 18:21-30 and Dt. 12:30-32. These abominations were practiced in the name of religion and were so shocking that one shudders to read the description.
Everything evil was wors.h.i.+ped. The chief G.o.d was Baal, the sun, who was wors.h.i.+ped at different places under different names, but everywhere his wors.h.i.+p was fierce and cruel. His consort Ashtaroth, the Babylonian G.o.ddess Istar, the G.o.ddess of love, wors.h.i.+ped as the morning star, Venus, fostered in her wors.h.i.+p abominations that are almost inconceivable in our times. It was a wors.h.i.+p of impurity and could not be cured by ordinary means. G.o.d had borne with it for hundreds of years. Their destruction was therefore justifiable just as was that of the old world and the Jews were simply G.o.d's instruments just as were the waters of the flood or the fire and brimstone in the case of Sodom and Gomorrah.
G.o.d was planning to begin, a new nation, to start a new civilization and by using this method of punishment for the Canaanites he impressed the Hebrews in a most striking way with the consequences of forsaking wors.h.i.+p of the true G.o.d. It was a new thing in the world to have all idolatrous symbols destroyed and to wors.h.i.+p an unseen G.o.d and yet Joshua constantly represented to them that all the evils they had inflicted upon the Canaanites, and greater evils, would be sent upon them if they should become idolaters. Little, therefore, need be said of the cruelty of the Hebrews nor of the suffering of the Canaanites.
The Hebrews were the instrument of G.o.d and the Canaanites were reaping what they had sown.
The Significance of the War Against the Canannites. Of all the wars recorded in human history this was one of the greatest, if not the greatest of all. None was ever fought for a more n.o.ble purpose and none has accomplished greater ends. The fate of the world was in the balance. Old civilizations on account of their wickedness, were to soon fall and this series of conflicts was to decide whether a new civilization with a pure and holy purpose to serve G.o.d could arise in their midst. It was, therefore, a war (1) _For purification_. The individual, the temple and the home must all be pure. (2) _For civil liberty_. Israel was now, under G.o.d, to govern herself and thereby to give the world a pattern of government as G.o.d's free nation. (3) _For religious liberty_. Idolatry, vice and superst.i.tion were everywhere and the people must be free to wors.h.i.+p the one true G.o.d and Creator of all. (4) _For the whole world_. Israel was to be a blessing to all nations. Out of her and out of this land was to come Christ, her son, who should save the nations. The war was, therefore, for us as well as for them.
The Character and Work of Joshua. The name Joshua in the Old Testament is equivalent to Jesus in the New (Heb. 4:8). His character and work were well adapted to his age and he therefore made a deep impression upon this formative period of Israel's history. He was fully prepared for the work of the conquest by his a.s.sociation with Moses and by such events as the defeat of Amalek which he accomplished by divine help (Ex. 17:10-16). With all he had been called of G.o.d and set apart for the work of subjugating the Canaanites. As a soldier and commander, he ranks among the first of the world. He is resourceful, brave, straightforward, fertile in strategy, and quick to strike (1:10-11; 2:1 etc.). In the councils of peace he was wise and generous. He displayed statesmans.h.i.+p of the highest order in mapping out the boundaries of the tribes and thus preparing the land for a permanent occupancy of the Hebrews. In the matter of religion he was actuated by a spirit of implicit obedience to G.o.d's authority. He combined in his nature both courage and gentleness and exhibited in his dealings the disposition of both the lion and the lamb. His dying charge is full of earnestness and devotion. As a type of Christ he led the people to the ”rest” of Canaan, though not to the rest of the gospel which ”remaineth to the people of G.o.d.” A void still remained and they still had to look forward. He led them to victory over their enemies and became their advocate when they sinned and met defeat.
Lessons of the Period. Among many lessons suggested by this book the following should be considered and the student asked to suggest others. (1) G.o.d is at war with sin: (a) He thrusts out the Canaanites because of their sins; (b) He allows the defeat of Israel at Ai because sin was among them; (c) He allows Achan put to death because of it. He is, therefore, against all sin, personal, social and civic or national. (2) Religious victory and entrance upon spiritual rest is accomplished through a leader or commander and through a divine power, not through a law giver and by the works of the law. It was not Moses, the lawgiver, through whom they entered and not by their own strength.
(3) G.o.d keeps his covenants in spite of all the weakness of man. (4) G.o.d decides the issues of battles and of wars with a view to the final on-going of his kingdom. Only G.o.d and not the relative strength or preparedness of the contending armies can forecast the final issues of war. (5) The fact that G.o.d is for one does not preclude the use of strategy and discretionary methods. (6) The failure or sin of one man may defeat a whole cause and that in spite of the faithful efforts of many others. (7) What is a just severity to some is often a great mercy to others. The destruction of the Canaanites was a severe penalty for their sins, but it was an unspeakable blessing to all the future ages because by it a true faith and a pure wors.h.i.+p was preserved.
For Study and Discussion. (1) Each of the lessons suggested above.
Find a basis either in incident or teaching for each. (2) The geography of the country with the princ.i.p.al cities mentioned. (3) The several tribes of people mentioned in the narrative. (4) The providential conditions favorable to the conquest just at that time.
(5) The cruelties of the Israelites to their enemies. Select examples and discuss each. (6) The significance of the war. (7) The character and work of Joshua. Point out incidents or acts that show elements of greatness and weakness in his character; also estimate the value of his work. (8) The cooperation of the two and a half tribes in these wars. (9) The several battles described. List them and decide what contributed to the success or failure of Israel in each case. (10) The story of the fall of Jericho. (11) The sin of Achan, its results, its discovery and punishment. (12) The story of the Gibeonites, their stratagem, its embarra.s.sment to Joshua and consequent slavery to them.
(13) The portion of land allotted to each tribe and how it was secured. (14) The miraculous element running through the narrative.
List and discuss each incident that tends to show or makes claim of such miraculous element. (15) The place of prayer and wors.h.i.+p in the hook. Give incidents. (16) The element that is figurative or ill.u.s.trative of truth revealed in New Testament times.
Chapter IX.
The Judges.
Judges 1; 1 Sam. 7.
The Characteristics of the Times. This is a period of transition for Israel Nothing was quite certain, and ”every man did that which was right in his own eyes” (17:6). In consequence of this there was lack of organization, cooperation or leaders.h.i.+p. While we do not have all the history covered by the period and while we do not easily understand or explain its events, it is clear that things did not run smoothly. In Judges 2:16-19 the author gives a vivid picture of the conditions and characteristics of the time. The problems of the times may be outlined as follows: (1) _Political problems_. These arose, (a) because of the isolated conditions of the tribes, (b) because of their tribal government which lacked the bond of unity of former times, (c) because of the strength and opposition of the Canaanites. (2) _Social problems_. These grew out of: (a) the adoption of Canaanite customs and manner of life, (b) the intermarriage of the Jews with the new people. (3) _Religious Problems_. The source of these problems arose from two directions, (a) Baal wors.h.i.+p ministered to their l.u.s.ts and was therefore a snare to them, (b) the religion of Israel required purity and was, therefore, counted a burden. The problems of the times of peace were greater than those in the times of war.
The Judges. Now that there was no central stable government and no hereditary rulers the people accepted from time to time as their rulers certain military leaders whom G.o.d raised up and who, by their prowess, delivered them from the yoke of foreign oppression. It was, therefore, a period of personal efforts some of which are preserved for us in this portion of scripture. Fifteen Judges are named counting Eli and Samuel, who are by some not so named, but we know very little of any except six of the military judges and Eli and Samuel. These six are brought into prominence because of as many invasions by other nations as follows. (1) The Mesopotamians came down from the northeast and oppressed Israel until Othniel, Caleb's nephew, was raised up to deliver them. (2) The invasion of the Moabites and the deliverance through Ehud. (3) The oppression of the Canaanites, who came down from the north, was thrown off through the leaders.h.i.+p of Deborah a.s.sisted by Barak. (4) The Midianites came in from the east and greatly oppressed Israel until Gideon defeated and destroyed these bold oppressors. (5) The invasion of the Ammonites and Israel's deliverance through Jephthah. (6) The Philistines were the next successful enemies of Israel and were enabled to do great harm to Israel until Samson arose and overthrew their power.
Eli and Samuel differed widely from the other judges and on that account are sometimes not counted among them. Eli was a good but weak man. His weakness in the control of his children ruined them and brought him to sorrow and also caused a severe defeat for Israel.
Samuel was the last of the judges and was also a priest and prophet.
He is one of the outstanding Old Testament characters. Abraham founded the Hebrew race; Joseph saved them from famine; Moses gave them a home and Samuel organized them into a great kingdom which led to their glory. His birth was in answer to prayer and as judge or deliverer he won his most signal victory, that against the Philistines, by means of prayer. He founded schools for the instruction of young prophets at Gilgal. Bethel, Mizpeh and Ramah. In this he perhaps rendered his most valuable and most lasting service. These schools gave a great impetus to prophecy. After this time prophecy and prophets had a vital and permanent place in the life of the nation. Even kings had to consult them for instructions from G.o.d.
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