Story 68: The Story Of Gid'e-on And His Three Hundred Men ll

   When Is'ra-el finally realized that these raids were permitted by the LORD as punishments for their sins, they turnt to Him in penitence and prayer. Again we have the glorious story of God's tenderness and grace. As soon as the people gave proof that their repentance was genuine, He released them from their oppressors.
   This time, however, the LORD first sent a prophet to reprove Is'ra-el for her backslidings, and to deepen the conviction of sin among the people. They had shown signs of repentance, but must have a more thorough work of grace in their hearts before a deliverer could be given.
   When the LORD searched the land of Is'ra-el for a hero capable of delivering the people from the Mid'ian-ites, His choice fell on a man named Gid'e-on. His father, whose name was Jo'ash, lived at Oph'rah, a secluded town in the rugged hill country of southwestern Ma'nas-seh near She'chem. He was the chief of a clan called A-bi-ez'rites, and had shown his idolatry by building an altar to Ba'al and a grove to A-she'rah, who was the moon-goddess.
   Gid'e-on secretly worshiped the True God, and his heart was burdened by the idolatry and wickedness of his people, and by the calamities which had been brought upon them by the raids of the Mid'ian-ites. His father's household had been plundered by them, and two of his brothers had been captured and slain in the valley of Jez're-el by Mid'ian-ite princes.
The fear of being discovered by roving bands of Mid'ian-ites led him to thresh wheat in wine-presses deep in a rocky cave, instead of doing this work on a threshing-floor out in an open field.
   While Gid'e-on was engaged in this work he was visited by the "Angel Je-ho'vah," sometimes called the "Angel of the Cov'e-nant," and better understood as the Mes-si'ah before He came into this world as a man. The visitor, disguised as a man, was not recognized at first as an Angel.
   In His approach to Gid'e-on, the Angel spoke as follows: "The Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valor." To this true Is'ra-el-ite the voice of even a stranger raised in Honor of the True God struck a responsive chord. He had often longed for some congenial friend with whom he could speak freely about the low moral state of his people, and about the hope of a great spiritual revival throughout the land of Is'ra-el.
   Gid'e-on therefore answered the Angel with words which came from his heart. He said: "Oh, sir, how can you say that the LORD is with us when we are cast away, when desolation reigns over the land, when we are in the grasp of marauding bandits, when our people are brought to such terror that they hide in caves and dens like animals?" Gid'e-on fully believed that the LORD was able to solve any problem, that He could overcome the strongest and fiercest enemy, and that, if He was truly with them, His people would be saved by miracles like those which had been performed in the past.
   The LORD then gave Gid'e-on a solemn commission to go forth in his might for the deliverance of Is'ra-el from the grasp of the Mid'ian-ites. In his reply Gid'e-on addressed the Angel as the LORD, and acknowledged his faith in the ability of the Speaker to deliver Is'ra-el. But he hesitated to accept so great a work, not from any lack of faith, but in modesty and distrust of his own ability. He said, "My tribe is one of the weakest, my family is poor, and I am the least of my father's household. I am wholly unprepared for such a tremendous undertaking."
 

Story 68: The Story Of Gid'e-on And His Three Hundred Men l

   After the deliverance of their land from the tyranny of Ja'bin, the Is'ra-el-ites lived in peace and prosperity for a long time. Forty years passed before the beginning of the next oppression. The influence of Deb'o-rah and of the thousands who had not yielded to idolatry during the latest religious decline spread throughout the land, raising the people to a higher level of religious and national patriotism. The triumph of Ba'rak over Sis'e-ra and his powerful army brought great fear to the idol-worshippers within the borders of Is'ra-el, and to the heathen nations in surrounding lands.
   The death of Deb'o-rah, however, was followed by the same old story of backsliding and idolatry. Once again the children of Is'ra-el fell away from God and followed the false religions of the land. They turnt away from the superior light and privileges which Heaven had granted, disregarded the truths constantly taught by Divine revelation, forgot the experiences of God's past dealings with them, and ignored the sacred obligations of the Covenant which they had made with God.
   The story of another decline in the spiritual life of the nation is followed by Divine punishments, of repentance, and of the raising up of another deliverer. This time the nation was afflicted for seven years by the roving bands of warlike Mid'ian-ites from the east. They were descendants of one of the sons of A'bra-ham and Ke-tu'rah, a wandering people who lived principally in the desert lands east of Ca'naan, and in A-ra'bi-a to the south. They had no settled national home, but roamed from place to place, and made their living by plundering and robbing the more civilized people of surrounding lands.
   These theiving prowlers brought their own herds of cattle and camels into Ca'naan to eat up the pastures of the Is'ra-el-ites. They took the best of the rich crops of grain, drove the sheep and cattle of the land into their own herds, demanded heavy tribute in money, and plundered the people of all their valuable possessions.
   For two hundred and sixty years the Mid'ian-ites had carried in their hearts an old grudge against Is'ra-el. This was caused by the crushing blow which Mo'ses had inflicted upon them at the LORD'S command after they had lured thousands of Is'ra-el-ites into sin. The falling away of Is'ra-el from True Religion, and the temporary withdrawal of God's protection for this reason, seemed to provide an excellent opportunity for revenge.
   In their plundering of the land they were joined by hordes of Ish'ma-el-ites and Am'a-lek-ites, whose habits were much the same. They had no intention of conquering the country, or of making subjects of the inhabitants. Their sole object was robbery, and acts of violence took place only when their banditry was resisted. They would strip the entire country during the harvest season, drive off the cattle and sheep, and sell the stolen goods to caravans of traders on their return to the desert. The Is'ra-el-ites were forced to plant new crops, grow more fruit, and raise more stock; then the invaders would return the next year for similar plundering. The land was so terrorized by them that many of the people were compelled to hide their produce in caves and dens, and no one dared to make war upon the bandits.

Story 67: The Triumph Of Deb'o-rah The Prophetess And Ba'rak The Warrior lll

   Ba'rak and his men were so greatly inspired by Deb'o-rah that all doubts and fears were cast from their hearts, and they swept down upon Sis'e-ra's army like a thundering avalanche from the skies. The LORD confused the forces of Sis'e-ra, bewilderment swept through their camps. Before the iron war chariots could be put into action, or the soldiers properly arrayed for battle, Ba'rak and his ten thousand men swooped down upon them like a whirlwind from the top of Mount Ta'bor. In addition to this fierce attack, the LORD sent a dreadful thunderstorm upon the enemies of Is'ra-el, and heavy hailstones beat upon their faces. The river Ki'shon, which runs across the plain of Es-dra-e'lon, overflowed its banks and checked the movement of soldiers and equipment. Sis'e-ra and his great army were overwhelmingly defeated, the few who escaped slaughter fled in despair, and the cry rang out:
   "Let us flee from the face of Is'ra-el, for the LORD fighteth for them against the Ca'naan-ites."
   Sis'e-ra himself fled before the armies of Ba'rak in his war chariot. When hard pressed by his pursuers, however, he was forced to alight from the chariot and to seek refuge on foot. Coming to a tent in which a Ke'nite family lived, he was invited to come in by a woman named Ja'el. She seems to have been on friendly terms with the Ca'naan-ites, but at heart was a true Is'ra-el-ite who hoped to aid Ba'rak in his final defeat of their foes. She gave milk and butter to Sis'e-ra, told him to lie down and sleep, and offered to hide him from his pursuers. When he was sound asleep she took an iron tent-peg and drove it through his temples with a hammer. Then she saw Ba'rak searching for the heathen general, so she called him to see how Sis'e-ra had been slain. Thus was fulfilled the prophecy of Deb'o-rah that the honor of the victory should be given a woman.

Story 67: The Triumph Of Deb'o-rah The Prophetess And Ba'rak The Warrior ll

   Ten thousand men, most of whom were from the tribes of Naph'ta-li and Zeb'u-lun, were called to arms by Ba'rak. Many of these soldiers came from the ranks of Ja'bin's slave-workers in the war chariot factories at Ha'zor and in the timber regions of that territory. Armed with axes, hatchets, iron-working tools, and such other weapons as they could gather, the ten thousand men gathered on Mount Ta'bor. From this elevation they could look down upon the great host of Sis'e-ra encamped on the plains of Es-dra-e'lon. With Ba'rak at the head of the Is'ra-el-ite army, and with Deb'o-rah as the guiding spirit of the war, these men prepared to rush down upon the huge army of Sis'e-ra.
   Determined to crush the hopes of Is'ra-el for independence, and to press his conquest deeper into their land, Sis'e-ra had gathered a vast army from northwestern Ca'naan. His forces were vastly superior in numbers and equipment to the army of Is'ra-el, but there was one very important factor which Sis'e-ra neglected. "The captain of the LORD'S host" was at the head of Is'ra-el's selected army; the LORD God was fighting for His chosen people.
   When all was in readiness for the battle to begin, Deb'o-rah was led by the Holy Spirit to tell Ba'rak when the moment had arrived for decisive action against the enemy. Speaking in the name of the LORD, she declared that the God who had performed so many miracles for Is'ra-el in the past would now lead them to victory. With fiery enthusiasm, with courage and faith flashing from her eyes, Deb'o-rah stood before the army of Is'ra-el like an angel sent by the LORD.

Story 67: The Triumph Of Deb'o-rah The Prophetess And Ba'rak The Warrior l

   We are not told how long E'hud lived to rule over Is'ra-el, but his death probably took place toward the close of the period of eighty years of peace which followed his notable defeat of the Mo'ab-ites. We do know, however, that after his death there began another lapse into idolatry which increased in its evil influence upon the life of Is'ra-el until another great affliction was brought upon them by the invasion of a mighty force of Ca'naan-ites from the north.
   Prior to the invasion of the Ca'naan-ites from the north, there was a local uprising of the Phi-lis'tines in the coastal cities of western Ca'naan. A hero named Sham'gar organized a group of farmers and crushed this revolt, thereby preventing a war which might have spread throughout the land. Armed only with an ox goad, Sham'gar and his followers slew six hundred Phi-lis'tines in one heroic feat, and thus broke up the disturbance. The ox goads used in those days were eight feet long and about six inches in circumference, and had a sharp prong at one end for driving cattle.
   Before long the tribes occupying the northern section of the land were conquered by the Ca'naan-ites, who had reoccupied the city of Ha'zor. This city had been captured by Josh'u-a more than one hundred and fifty years before. Another king of the same name as the one conquered and slain by Josh'u-a had extended his rule over a large area in the northern part of the country, holding several strong coastal towns. For twenty years Ja'bin severely oppressed the people of Naph'ta-li and Zeb'u-lun, forcing the men to cut and hew timbers in the forests for transport to the port of Zi'don. His chief ambition was to win back all the territories which had been taken from his ancestors by Josh'u-a. He stationed a large army in the plains of Jez're-el-also called Es-dra-e'lon and Me-gid'do-in which there were nine hundred war chariots of iron and thousands of well trained soldiers.
   Sympathizing with the people of the two tribes who were oppressed by Ja'bin, and realizing that the entire country was in danger from the invasion, all Is'ra-el resorted to prayer. Twice before, under the same circumstances, the nation had turnt to God in repentance and prayer-first, in the time of the Syr'i-an oppression, and later when crushed under the iron heel of the Mo'ab-ite king-and both times God had raised up a deliverer.
   This time the LORD had ready for the emergency a noble woman called Deb'o-rah, who already held a place of honor in the nation. She was famed as a prophetess, a sweet singer, and a capable judge, and was a heroine fully prepared for the dangers of war. So noted was she for giving good advice that all Is'ra-el looked to her for counsel. She was a woman of unfaltering faith in God, believed in His Covenant with the chosen people, and relied upon His promises for help.
   Having been stirred to the heart by the impulse to overthrow Sis'e-ra and his mighty host, Deb'o-rah called upon Ba'rak, a military leader of renown, to raise an army of ten thousand men from the tribes of Naph'ta-li and Zeb'u-lun for an attack upon the armies of the Ca'naan-ites on the plains of Es-dra-e'lon. Barak felt unworthy of such an appointment, and accepted it only on condition that Deb'o-rah would go with him into the battle. Deb'o-rah granted this request, but told Barak that because of his lack of faith and courage the honor of the victory over Sis'e-ra would be given to a woman.

Story 66: Oth'ni-el And E'hud, Two Heroes Of Is'rael lll

   This time He used the Mo'ab-ites to scourge Is'ra-el. For nearly a century these neighboring heathens had looked with envy upon the growth of a people for whom they had a deep hatred. Struck with awe by the power of God which so often aided Is'ra-el, and long having been too weak to attack them, they had patiently awaited an opportunity of gaining vengeance. Finally, when Is'ra-el began to show weakness through neglect of God's Law, the time seemed opportune. Eg'lon, the king of Mo'ab, invited the Am'mon-ites and Am'a-lek-ites to join him in an invasion of the land. In some strange way Divine Providence caused the schemes of Eg'lon to succeed, while failure and disaster attended every effort of the Is'ra-el-ites to defend themselves.
   The invaders brought the entire land under their control, plundered the country of its products, and oppressed the people with heavy tribute. For eighteen years Is'ra-el was under the iron heel of the combined heathen nations. The city of Jer'i-cho, which had been delivered into their hands by a miracle, was made a Mo'ab-ite stronghold to guard the passes across the Jor'dan, and to force Is'ra-el into subjection. The children of Is'ra-el refused to serve God with the corn and wine and oil which He gave them in abundance, but were forced to include these things in their tributes to the oppressors.
   Once again the Is'ra-el-ites were brought to their knees through suffering, and fled to their only refuge in penitence and prayer. The LORD heard their cry, and raised up another deliverer. His name was E'hud, a valiant man of the tribe of Ju'dah who was more skilled in the use of his left hand than he was with his right.
   The first duty imposed upon E'hud by the LORD was the removal of Eg'lon, the Mo'ab-ite king who had a palace in Jer'i-cho. Eg'lon was a glutton, very fat, and indolent. He had directed his people in seizing the property of the Is'ra-el-ites, and in many oppressive acts filled the homes of the land with misery and wailing. For such cruelty he was doomed by the LORD to a shameful death, and E'hud was chosen to bring it to pass.
   The man of God called upon Eg'lon to pay the tribute which the Mo'ab-ites demanded of Is'ra-el. Then he returnt to the palace, telling the guards that he had a private message for the king. He was admitted to the king's room, where he was left alone with the man he was to destroy in the LORD'S name. The guards had not noticed his sword, for he carried it where a right-handed man could not reach it. He then approached the king with the announcement of God's judgment upon him, and suddenly thrust his sword through Eg'lon's body. Locking the parlor door from inside, E'hud escaped through an unguarded porch and fled to the mountains of E'phra-im. The guards of the palace finally unlocked the door, but were too late to revive the king.
   Terror spread quickly through all the encampments of the Mo'ab-ites, for God had provided a way to confuse and alarm all the people of this heathen nation. E'hud sounded a trumpet to summon Is'ra-el to battle, and the army descended upon the Mo'ab-ites at the fords of the Jor'dan. Nearly ten thousand men were slain, and not one Mo'ab-ite escaped death. The land of Is'ra-el was completely freed of the heathen invaders, and there followed a period of peace and prosperity which lasted for eighty years.

Story 66: Oth'ni-el And E'hud, Two Heroes Of Is'ra-el ll

   These long years of punishment worked out the purposes and mercy of God toward Is'ra-el. They were severely afflicted, not merely for the sake of punishment, but in order to correct and reform them. God was seeking to turn them back to Himself. He was seeking to cure them of the dreadful disease which had done so much harm among them. When these purposes were fully accomplished, He raised up from among them a leader who delivered them from the rule of Chu'shan and restored peace and prosperity to the land. When Is'ra-el repented of their sins and cried in righteous sorrow to the LORD, He came to their help as quickly as He had so many times in the past.
   In choosing the man of the hour, who must be capable of organizing the Is'ra-el-ites for war against their foreign masters, and of leading them in breaking the yoke of a cruel king who had terrified the people for eight years, the LORD laid His hand on a veteran named Oth'ni-el. He was a member of the family Ke'naz, was closely related to Ca'leb, and had won honor in the early wars of Is'ra-el in Ca'naan. In the notable victory at De'bir his name had risen as a star of the first magnitude in the military skies of Is'ra-el.
   Oth'ni-el was a man of ripe experience, being fully eighty-five years of age when he was called to judge Is'ra-el. He had learnt long before that Is'ra-el's hope of victory in war depended upon faith in God, and that their defeats were always the result of unbelief and departure from the Laws of God. He was a deeply religious man, and to him the honor of God's name was more precious than anything else in the world. He attacked the armies of Chu'shan in the name of the all-powerful God, and at the same time used all his own skill as a leader. All the resources at his command were faithfully employed, and, with practical endurance and perfect trust in God, he accomplished what appeared to be impossible. The Syr'i-ans were driven from the land, and Is'ra-el was given forty years of rest from all enemies.
   After the deliverance of Is'ra-el from the oppression of the Syr'i-ans, the worship of God was resumed throughout the nation, and idolatry was overthrown. Civil justice was restored, and the laws and ordinances of God were now fully resumed.
   Upon the death of Oth'ni-el, however, the children of Is'ra-el once again fell into idolatrous practices and evils of various kinds. Again the LORD visited them with severe punishments for their sins. He afflicted them to show that He cannot violate His own Holiness by allowing His people to worship false gods, that sin is always a deep offense to Him, and that He will not let His own people engage in things which undermine their character and destroy their happiness.