Chapter XIII: Part TWO

V. Pal'es-tine is a land of =Mountains=, among which we notice only a few of the most important, beginning in the north.

1. =Mount Her'mon=, is near the source of the Jor'dan, on the east, and is the highest mountain in Pal'es-tine.

2. =Mount Leb'a-non=, west of Her'mon, was famous for its cedars (1 Kings 5. 6; Psa. 29. 5).

3. =Mount Ta'bor=, the place of Deb'o-rah's victory, is southwest of the Sea of Gal'i-lee (Judg. 4. 6).

4. =Mount Gil-bo'a=, where King Saul was slain, is south of Ta'bor (1 Sam. 31. 1; 2 Sam. 1. 21).

5. =Mount Car'mel=, the place of E-li'jah's sacrifice, is on the Med-i-ter-ra'ne-an, due west of the Sea of Gal'i-lee (1 Kings 18. 20, 42; Isa. 35. 2).

6. =Mount E'bal=, "the mount of cursing," lies in the center of the land (Deut. 11. 26).

7. =Mount Ger'i-zim=, "the mount of blessing," is south of E'bal (Josh. 8. 33; John 4. 20).

8. =Mount Zi'on=, on which Je-ru'sa-lem stood and still stands, is due west of the head of the Dead Sea.

9. =Mount Ne'bo=, where Mo'ses died, is directly opposite Zi'on, on the east of the Dead Sea (Deut. 34. 1).

VI. We note a few of the most important places, selecting only those connected with Old Testament history; and we arrange them according to the natural divisions of the land.

1. On the _Seacoast Plain_ were:

1.) =Ga'za=, on the south, the scene of Sam'son's
exploits and death (Judg. 16. 21).

2.) =Jop'pa=, principal seaport of Pal'es-tine (2
Chron. 2. 16; Jonah 1. 3).

3.) =Tyre=, just beyond the northern boundary of
Pa'les-tine, a great commercial city of the
Phoe-ni'cians (Josh. 19. 29).

2. In the _Mountain Region_ were:

1.) =Be'er-she'ba=, in the southern limit of the land
(Gen. 21. 31, 33; 1 Sam. 3. 20; 1 Kings 19. 3).

2.) =He'bron=, burial place of the patriarchs (Gen.
23. 19; 49. 29-31).

3.) =Beth'le-hem=, the birthplace of Da'vid (1 Sam.
17. 12).

4.) =Je-ru'sa-lem=, "the city of the great king,"
which stands due west of the northern point of the
Dead Sea (2 Sam. 5. 6-9).

5.) =Beth'el=, nine miles north of Je-ru'sa-lem, the
place of Ja'cob's vision (Gen. 28. 19).

6.) =She'chem=, between the twin mountains Ger'i-zim
and E'bal, in the center of the land (1 Kings 12. 1).

7.) =Sa-ma'ri-a=, the capital of the Ten Tribes (1
Kings 16. 24).

3. In the _Jor'dan Valley_ were:

1.) =Jer'i-cho=, near the head of the Dead Sea (1
Kings 16. 34).

2.) =Dan=, at one of the sources of the Jor'dan, the
northernmost place in the land (Judg. 18. 28; 20. 1).

Blackboard Outline

I. =Na.= Ca. Isr. Jud. Pal.
II. =Dim.= Ca. 6,600. Pal. 12,000. C. L. 140. To Jor. 25. To D. S.
60. Jor. L. 155.
III. =Wat.= Med. Jor. L. Me. S. Gal. D. S.
IV. =Nat. Div.= M. P. Sh. M. R. J. V. E. T.-L.
V. =Mtns.= Her. Leb. Tab. Gil. Car. Eb. Ger. Zi. Ne.
VI. =Pla.= 1. _Sea. Pl._ Ga. Jop. Ty. 2. _Mtn. Reg._ Beer. Heb.
Beth. Jer. Bet. She. Sam. 3. _Jor. Val._ Jer. Da.

Review Questions

Name nine mountains on the map of Pal'es-tine. State
the location of each mountain. State a fact for which
each mountain is celebrated. Name and locate three
places on the Maritime Plain. Name and locate seven
places in the Mountain Region. Name and locate two
places in the Jor'dan Valley.

SEVENTH STUDY

The Conquest of Canaan

I. Let us notice the =Ca'naan-ites=, the peoples who were dispossessed by the Is'ra-el-ites.

1. They were of =one stock=, according to the Scriptures, belonging to the Ham'ite race, and all descended from the family of Ca'naan (Gen. 10. 15-19).

2. They were divided into =various tribes=, from seven to ten nations, arranged mainly as follows: 1.) On the seacoast plain, the Phi-lis'tines on the south, the Ca'naan-ites in the middle, and the Phoe-ni'cians, or Zi-do'ni-ans, on the north of Mount Car'mel. 2.) In the mountain region, the Am'or-ites in the south, the Jeb'u-sites around Je-ru'sa-lem, the Hi'vites in the center of the land, and the Hit'tites in the north. 3.) The Jor'dan valley was held by the Ca'naan-ites. 4.) On the eastern table-land, the Mo'ab-ites east of the Dead Sea, the Am'or-ites east of the Jor'dan, and the Ba'shan-ites in the north.

3. Their =government= was =local=. Not only was each tribe independent, but each little locality, often each city, had its own "king," or chief. There was no unity of government, and scarcely any combination to resist the invasion of Is'ra-el, a fact which made the conquest far less difficult.

4. They were =idolatrous= and, as a result, grossly =immoral=. Idolatry is always associated with immorality; for the worship of idols is a deification of sensuality. Ba'al and Ash'e-rah (plural Ash'to-reth) were the male and female divinities worshiped by most of these races (Judg. 2. 13).

5. They had been =weakened= before the coming of the Is'ra-el-ites either by war or by pestilence. The allusions in Exod. 23. 28; Deut. 7. 20; and Josh. 24. 12, have been referred to an invasion before that of Israel, or to some plague, which destroyed the native races.

II. =The Campaigns of the Conquest.= These may be divided as follows:

1. =The Campaigns East= of the Jor'dan. These were during the lifetime of Mo'ses, and gained for Is'ra-el all the territory south of Mount Her'mon.

1.) The conquest of Gil'e-ad was made at the battle of Ja'haz, near the brook Ar'non (Num. 21. 21-31). In one battle the Is'ra-el-ites gained the land of Gil'e-ad east of the Jor'dan.

2.) The conquest of Ba'shan was completed at the battle of Ed're-i, in the mountainous region (Num. 21. 33-35).

3.) The conquest of Mid'i-an (Num. 31. 1-8) was led by the warrior-priest Phin'e-has, and by smiting the tribes on the east protected the frontier toward the desert. The land won by these three campaigns became the territory of the tribes of Reu'ben, Gad, and the half tribe of Ma-nas'seh (Deut. 32).

2. =The Campaigns West of the Jor'dan= were led by Josh'u-a, and showed great tactical skill and resistless energy of action. Josh'u-a led his people across the Jor'dan and established a fortified camp, the center of operations during all his campaigns, at Gil'gal (Josh. 4. 19).

1.) The first invasion was of _Central Pal'es-tine_, beginning with Jer'i-cho (Josh. 6), taking A'i on the way (Josh. 8), and ending with She'chem, which apparently fell without resistance (Josh. 8. 30-33). This campaign gave to Is'ra-el the center of the land and divided their enemies into two sections.

2.) Next came the campaign against _Southern Pal'es-tine_. At this time was fought the battle of Beth-ho'ron (Josh. 10. 10), the most momentous in its results in all history, and one over which, if ever, the sun and moon might well stand still (Josh. 10. 12, 13).[9] After this great victory Josh'u-a pursued his enemies and took the towns as far south as He'bron and De'bir (Josh. 10. 29-39).

3.) Lastly, Josh'u-a conquered _Northern Pal'es-tine_ (Josh. 11). The battle in this campaign was near Lake Me'rom (Josh. 11. 7), and, as before, it was followed by the capture of many cities in the north. Thus in those marches Josh'u-a won all the mountain region of western Pal'es-tine.

3. There were certain =supplementary campaigns=, partly in Josh'u-a's time, partly afterward.

1.) Caleb's capture of He'bron, which had been reoccupied by the Am'or-ites (Josh. 14; Judg. 1. 10-15).

2.) The Ju'dah-ites' capture of Be'zek, an unknown place between Je-ru'sa-lem and the Phi-lis'tine plain (Judg. 1. 1-8).

3.) The Dan'ites' capture of La'ish, in the extreme north, which afterward bore the name of Dan (Judg. 18).

But, after all these campaigns, a large part of the land was still unsubdued, and the war of the conquest did not end until the days of Da'vid by whom every foe was finally placed under foot.

III. =General Aspects of Is'ra-el at the Close of the Conquest.=

1. With regard to the =native races=. They were not destroyed nor driven away, as had been commanded.[10] They remained as subject people in some places, as the ruling race on the seacoast and in the Jor'dan valley. We see their influence, always injurious, throughout all Is'ra-el's history (Exod. 23. 31-33; Deut. 7. 1-5); and some think that the present inhabitants of the country belong to the original Ca'naan-ite stock.

2. The =Is'ra-el-ites= did not occupy all the country. They possessed most of the mountain region, but none of the seacoast plain on the Jor'dan valley. They were like the Swiss in modern times, living among the mountains. Even in the New Testament period the lowlands were occupied mainly by Gen'tiles.

3. The =landed system= was peculiar. =Estates= were inalienable. They might be leased, but not sold; and on the year of jubilee (every fiftieth year) all land reverted to the family originally owning it. Thus every family had its ancestral home, the poor were protected, and riches were kept within bounds.

4. The =government= was a republic of families without an executive head, except when a judge was raised up to meet special needs. Each tribe had its own rulers, but there was no central authority after Josh'u-a (Judg. 21. 25). This had its evils, for it led to national weakness; but it had its benefits: 1.) It kept Is'ra-el from becoming a great worldly kingdom like E'gypt and As-syr'i-a, which would have thwarted the divine purpose. 2.) It promoted individuality and personal energy of character. There would have been no "Age of Heroes" if Is'ra-el had been a kingdom like E'gypt.

5. The =religious system= was simple. There was but one altar at Shi'loh for all the land and for all the tribes, and the people were required to visit it for the three great feasts (Deut. 12. 11, 14; Josh. 18. 1). This was the religious bond which united the people. If it had been maintained they would have needed no other constitution, and even its partial observance kept the people one nation.

6. The =character= of the people was diverse. Throughout the history we trace the working of two distinct elements: There was the true Is'ra-el--the earnest, religious, God-worshiping section, the Is'ra-el of Josh'u-a and Gid'e-on and Sam'u-el. Then there was the underlying mass of the people--secular, ignorant, prone to idolatry, the Is'ra-el that worshiped Ba'al and Ash'to-reth, and sought alliance with the heathen. One element was the hope of the nation; the other was its bane. We shall constantly see the evidences of these two elements in the story of the Is'ra-el-ites.

Blackboard Outline

I. =Can.= 1. One st. 2. Var. tri. 1.) S. P. Phil. Can. Phoe.
2.) M. R. Am. Je. Hiv. Hitt. 3.) J. V. Can. 4.) E. T.-L. Mo.
Am. Bash. 3. Gov. loc. 4. Idol. imm. 5. Weak.

II. =Camp. Conq.= 1. Camp. Eas. Jor. 1.) Gil. Jah. 2.) Bash. Ed.
3.) Mid.
2. Camp. Wes. Jor. 1.) Cent. Pal. Jer. Ai. She. 2.) Sou. Pal.
Beth-hor. 3.) Nor. Pal. L. Mer.
3. Supp. Camp. 1.) Cal. cap. Heb. 2.) Jud. cap. Bez. 3.) Dan.
cap. Lai.

III. =Gen. Asp. Isr. at Clo. Conq.= 1. Nat. rac. sub. 2. Isr. in
mtn. reg. 3. Land. sys. 4. Gov. rep. fam. 5. Rel. sys.
6. Char. peo.

Questions for Review

To what race did the Ca'naan-ite tribes belong? What
were their tribes, and where located? What was their
government? What was their worship? What was the
effect of their worship on their character? What had
taken place shortly before the coming of the
Is'ra-el-ites? What campaigns of conquest were made
before the death of Mo'ses? What battles were fought
in these campaigns? What tribes took possession of
this territory? On which side of the Jor'dan were
Josh'u-a's campaigns? What traits as a military leader
did he show? What places were captured on the first of
Josh'u-a's campaigns? What was the effect of this
campaign on the enemies? Against what section was
Josh'u-a's second campaign? Where was the great battle
fought? What is said to have taken place at this
battle? What cities were captured at this time? Where
was the third campaign of Josh'u-a directed? Where was
the battle fought in this campaign? What were the
three supplementary campaigns? What city was conquered
by Ca'leb? What city was occupied by the tribe of Dan?
What king, long after Josh'u-a, completed the conquest
of Ca'naan? What was the condition of the native races
after the conquest? What was the result of their
continuance in the land? What portion of the country
was occupied by the Is'ra-el-ites? What modern analogy
is given to them? What was the system of land tenure
among the Is'ra-el-ites? What were some of its
benefits? What was the form of government? Wherein was
the system defective? What were its excellences? What
was the religious system of the Is'ra-el-ites? What
was the effect of this system? What was the religious
character of the people? What was the condition of the
mass of the Is'ra-el-ites?

EIGHTH STUDY

The Age of the Heroes

From the death of Josh'u-a to the coronation of Saul the Twelve Tribes of Is'ra-el 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 time there were peace and order in Is'ra-el. 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 Is'ra-el during This Period.= This was partly favorable and partly unfavorable. The _favorable_ elements were:

1. =The Mountain Location= of Is'ra-el. 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 E'gypt and the Eu-phra'tes. Great armies passed and repassed over this plain, and great battles were fought by E-gyp'tians, Hit'tites, and As-syr'i-ans, while Is'ra-el on her mountain peaks was unmolested. This mountain home left Is'ra-el generally unnoticed, and, when attacked, almost inaccessible.

2. =The Racial Unity= of Is'ra-el. The two finest races of the world, the Greek and the Is'ra-el-ite, were both of pure blood. The Is'rael-ites 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 the 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 Is'ra-el 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 Is'ra-el 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 Is'ra-el, which threatened its very existence. These were:

1. =The Native Races.= These were of two kinds: the subject people left on the soil, more or less under the domination of the conquerors; and the surrounding nations, Am'mon, Mo'ab, Syr'i-a, and the Phi-lis'tines. There was danger from their enmity, a rebellion of the subject tribes, allied with the enemies around, for the destruction of Is'ra-el. 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.= Is'ra-el 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 Gid'e-on or Sam'u-el 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 Ju'dah going to their assistance; and in Ju'dah's wars with the Phi-lis'tines 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 Ro'mans 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 Is'ra-el there was a constant struggle for the leadership between the two great tribes of Ju'dah and E'phra-im. During the period of the judges E'phra-im was constantly asserting its rights to rule the other tribes (Judg. 8. 1-3; 12. 1-6). We trace this rivalry through all the reign of Da'vid; and at last it led to the division of the empire under Re-ho-bo'am.

4. =Idolatrous Tendencies.= We note constantly "the two Is'ra-els"--a spiritual minority and an irreligious, idolatrous mass. For many centuries the greatest evil of Is'ra-el-ite 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, Ro'mish images and the use of the crucifix. 2.) The association of Is'ra-el 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 Is'ra-el-ites down to the captivity in Bab'y-lon.

II. =The Judges of Is'ra-el.= 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. Deb'o-rah ruled in the north (Judg. 5. 14-18); Jeph'thah governed only the east of the Jor'dan (Judg. 11. 29). Often more than one judge was ruling at the same time; probably Sam'son and E'li were contemporaneous. Gid'e-on and Sam'u-el alone ruled all the twelve tribes.

Blackboard Outline

I. =Cond. Isr.= _Fav._ 1. Mtn. Loc. 2. Rac. Un. 3. Rel. Inst.
_Unfav._ 1. Nat. Rac. 2. Lac. Cent. Gov. 3. Tri. Jeal.
4. Idol. Ten.
II. =Jud. Isr.= 1. Off. 2. App. 3. Auth. 4. Ex. Ru.

Review Questions

Between what events was this period? What were its
traits? What were the conditions favorable to Is'ra-el
during this period? How did their location aid the
Is'ra-el-ites? Wherein were the Is'ra-el-ites one
people? How did their religious institutions keep them
together? What were the unfavorable and dangerous
elements in the condition of Is'ra-el? How were they
in danger from the native races? What was lacking in
the government of Is'ra-el? What two tribes were in
rivalry? What was the effect of this jealousy? What
analogy is found in ancient history? How was the same
principle illustrated in modern times? What evil
tendency was manifested in Is'ra-el through nearly all
its history? What causes are assigned for this
tendency? What was the office of a judge in Is'ra-el?
How were the judges appointed? What was their
authority? How widely did their rule extend?

III. =The Oppressions and Deliverers.= During these centuries the influences already named brought Is'ra-el 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 Mes-o-po-ta'mi-an 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 Oth'ni-el, the first judge, and the only judge of the tribe of Ju'dah.

2. =The Mo'ab-ite Oppression= (Judg. 3. 12-30). Over the eastern and central section, including E'phra-im (verse 27); deliverer, E'hud, the second judge; battle fought at the ford of the river Jor'dan (verse 28).

3. =The Early Phi-lis'tine Oppression= (Judg. 3. 31). Over the southwest, on the frontier of Ju'dah; deliverer, Sham'gar.

4. =The Ca'naan-ite Oppression= (Judg. 4). Over the northern tribes; deliverer, Deb'o-rah, the woman judge; battle at Mount Ta'bor.

5. =The Mid'i-an-ite Oppression= (Judg. 6. 1-6). Over the northern center, especially Ma-nas'seh, east; the most severe of all; deliverer, Gid'e-on, the greatest of the judges (Judg. 6. 11, 12); battle, on Mount Gil-bo'a (Judg. 7), followed by other victories (Judg. 8).

6. THE AM'MON-ITE OPPRESSION (Judg. 10. 7-9). Note an alliance between the Am'o-rites and Phi-lis'tines, which is suggestive; mainly over the tribes on the east of Jor'dan; deliverer, Jeph'thah[11] (Judg. 11); victory at A-ro'er (verse 33).

7. THE PHI-LIS'TINE 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 Car'mel and Gil-bo'a. The liberation was begun by Sam'son (Judg. 13. 5), but he was led astray by sensual lusts and became a failure. Freedom was later won by Sam'u-el at the battle of Eb-en-e'zer (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 Da'vid, in a succession of victories, ending with the capture of Gath, the Phi-lis'tine 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.

IV. =The General Aspects of the Period.=

1. It was an age of =individuality=. There was no strong government to oppress the people, to concentrate all the life of the nation at the court, and to repress individuality. Contrast Per'sia with Greece; Rome under the emperors with Rome as a republic. As men were needed they were raised up, for there was opportunity for character. Hence it was an age of heroes--Oth'ni-el, E'hud, Sham'gar, Gid'e-on, Jeph'thah, Sam'son, Sam'u-el, etc. Free institutions bring strong men to the front.

2. It was an age of =neglect of the law=. During all this period there is no allusion to the law of Mo'ses. Its regulations were ignored, except so far as they belonged to the common law of conscience and right. The laws of Mo'ses were not deliberately disobeyed, but were ignorantly neglected. Even good men, as Gid'e-on and Sam'u-el, built altars and offered sacrifices (Judg. 6. 24; 1 Sam. 7. 9) contrary to the letter of the law of Mo'ses, but obeying its spirit.

3. Nevertheless, it was an age of =progress=. There were alternate advancements and retrogressions; yet we see a people with energy, rising in spite of their hindrances. By degrees government became more settled (1 Sam. 7. 15-17), foreign relations arose (1 Sam. 7. 14; Ruth 1. 1), and the people began to look toward a more stable system (1 Sam. 8. 4-6).

Hints to the Teacher

1. See that the outline is thoroughly committed to
memory, and test the pupil's knowledge by calling upon
him to read at sight the Blackboard Outline below.

2. Draw on the board an outline map of Pal'es-tine,
and indicate upon it in succession the portions
occupied in each of the oppressions.

Blackboard Outline

I. =Cond. Isr.= _Fav._ 1. Mtn. Loc. 2. Rac. Un. 3. Rel. Ins.
_Unfav._ 1. Nat. Rac. 2. Lac. Cent. Gov.
3. Tri. Jeal. 4. Idol. Ten.
II. =Jud. Isr.= 1. Off. 2. App. 3. Auth. 4. Ext. Ru.
III. =Opp. and Deliv.= _Opp._ _Sec._ _Deliv._ _Batt.-fie._
1. Mes. Sou. Oth.
2. Moab. Ea. cen. Ehu. For. Jor.
3. Ea. Phil. So.-wes. Sham.
4. Can. Nor. Deb. Mt. Tab.
5. Mid. Nor. cen. Gid. Mt. Gil.
6. Amm. East. Jeph. Aro.
7. Phil. All. Sams. Saml. Eben.
Dav. Gath.
IV. =Gen. Asp. Per.= 1. Ind. 2. Neg. Law. 3. Prog.

Review Questions

What resulted from these evil tendencies in Is'ra-el?
How many oppressors were there? Who were the first
oppressors? Over what part of the country was the
first oppression? Who delivered Is'ra-el from it? What
was the second oppression? What part of the country
suffered from it? Who was the deliverer? Where was the
battle fought? What was the third oppression, and
where? Who delivered Is'ra-el? What was the fourth
oppression? Where was it? Who was the deliverer? Where
was the victory won? What was the fifth oppression?
Over what part of the country was it? Who delivered
Is'ra-el from it? What was the sixth oppression? Over
what part of the land was it? Who delivered from it?
What was the last oppression? How did it differ from
the others? What three names are associated in the
deliverance from its power? What are the three general
aspects of this period?

NINTH STUDY

The Rise of the Israelite Empire