Page 181 - Bible History

The time the Judges
V. THE ISRAELITES IN THE PROMISED LAND
1. JUDGES RULE OVER THE ISRAELITES
When the Israelites took possession of their new country, they adopted a very simple manner of life. They did not have one king or ruler over all the people. Each tribe or family was independent and had its own head. The government was patriarchal.
The Israelites now began to enjoy a life of ease and prosperity. They preferred this to the hardships an dangers of war. But too much ease weakened their bodies, and they neglected to train themselves in the art of warfare. Some of the Israelites married their pagan neighboTS, and in time many of them became
idolaters. The people forgot that God had commanded them to conquer all the territory and to drive out the pagan inhabitants.
God punished the Israelites from time to time by permitting their enemies to make war upon them. The leaders of the Israelites during these wars were men who kept their bodies strong by hard discipline. When some village was threatened, they aroused the people against their enemy and led them in battle. When
several tribes had a common enemy, they often chose, under the direction of God, one man to lead their armies. This leader was usually the man who showed the greatest strength and courage, and who could make the other leaders obey him. Such a military leader was called a Judge.
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