Page 182 - Bible History

THE ISRAELITES IN THE PROMISED LAND 155
Usually Judges had power to rule only during the time of trouble. When the trouble was over, their power was taken away from them and given back to the heads of the tribes.
The Israelites were ruled by Judges during several centuries. The Bible gives the names of fteen Judges, the most famous of whom were Debbora, Gedeon, Samson, and Samuel.
God permitted di erent nations to make war upon the Israelites. Their principal enemies were the Moabites, the unconquered Hittites, or Chanaanites, the Madianites, the Ammonites, and the Philistines.
2. GEDEON LEADS Hrs PEOPLE TO VICTORY
Gedeon rst became a hero among the people be- G n cause he had dared to overthrow the altar which his :i father had built to the false god Baal, and to erect an
altar to the true God in its place.
God allowed the Madianites to make war upon the Israelites for seven years. These people laid waste the territory belonging to the tribe of Gad. They also crossed the Jordan River and settled in the valleys which belonged to the tribes of Issachar and Manasses. There they pitched their tents and destroyed the elds of the Israelites. The Israelites were humbled and cried to the Lord for help against the enemy.
God heard their cries and called Gedeon to lead His Chosen People against the invaders. An angel of the Lord appeared to Gedeon and said to him, ''The Lord is with thee, 0 most valiant of men.'' He told Gedeon