JUDGES PART 3

Judges covers about two hundred years following the entry of Israel into Canaan. Iron had just been discovered. This strong metal revolutionized agriculture and warfare. The Hittites of Asia Minor first employed iron weapons about 1400 B C. They were making their impact all the way to Egypt by the time Joshua was pushing out of the desert into Canaan in the 13th century B C.

The message of Judges also stresses the theme that God raises up the weak to confound the strong. Gideon was the "least in his father's house" and his father's family was "least in all the tribes of Israel." The people were weak and unarmed, as in the case of Gideon's band. They used earthen pitchers, and lamps, the blood-curdling blast of trumpets--and their faith in God! With these they routed the enemy and seizing the weapons of the foe, they drove the Midianites, back into the desert. Another great lesson: no weapons can destroy the people that puts its faith in God--and all the weapons of war are useless unless God gives the victory. Faith in God is stronger than a thousand armies.

The final lesson is that chaos reigns whenever man is free to do what is right in his own eyes. Civilized life is impossible when every man has "his own way." It is an expression of the original sin which goes all the way back to the Garden of Eden. Only by obedience to the law and love of God can man ever find he happiness for which God made him!

Archaeological Notes:
Iron in Palestine. Only after Saul and David broke the power of the Philistines did iron come into use in Israel (II Samuel 12:31, I Chronicles 22:3, 29:7).

Canaanite Oppression (Judges 4:3). Israel's victory at Megiddo (Judges 5:19).
The Oriental Institute, excavating at Megiddo, found (1917), in the stratum of 12th century B C, indications of a tremendous fire. Underneath the floor of a palace were found abut 200 pieces of beautifully carved ivory and gold ornaments, one of which represents Canaanite king as receiving captives who were circumcised. This looks like evidence of a terrific defeat for the Canaanite's, and their antecedent oppression of Israel.

The Grain Pits.
In excavations, at Kiriath-seher, by the Xeniz Seminary and American School, under the direction Kyle and Albright (1926-1928), in the stratum belonging to the time of the Judges, many hidden grain pits were found, indicative of the insecurity of life and property.

Albright (1922-23), found, in the ruins of Gibeah, a layer of ashes, from a fire that occurred about 1200 B C. It could have been this fire (20:40).

Archaeological discoveries are evidences that the Book of Judges is real history.

More tomorrow.

God's blessings to each of you,
LJG

SOURCES: King James Bible, Halley's Bible Handbook