dedicate the land unto the Lord. On the ruins of what not only symbolized, but at the time really was the

kingdom of Satan,173 the theocracy was to be upbuilt. Instead of that focus whence the vilest heathenism

overspread the world, the kingdom of God was to be established, with its opposite mission of sending the

light of truth to the remotest parts of the earth. Nor can it be difficult to understand how, in such

circumstances, at such a time, and at that period of religious life, any compromise was impossible - and

every war must be one of extermination.

Before entering on this new "war," the children of Israel asked Jehovah, no doubt through the Urim and

Thummim, which tribe was to take the lead. In reply, Judah was designated, in accordance with ancient

prophecy (Genesis 49:8). Judah, in turn, invited the co-operation of Simeon, whose territory had been

parceled out of its own. In fact, theirs were common enemies. The two tribes encountered and defeated the

Canaanites and Perizzites in Bezek, a name probably attaching to a district rather than a place, and, as t he

word seems to imply, near the shore of the Dead Sea.174 In the same locality Adoni-bezek175 appears to have

made a fresh stand, but with the same disastrous result. On that occasion a remarkable, though most cruel

retaliation overtook him. As chieftain of that district he must have been equally renowned for his bravery

and cruelty. After a custom not uncommon in antiquity,176 the many chieftains whom he had subdued were

kept, like dogs, "for lengthened sport,"  177 under the banqueting table of the proud conqueror in a mutilated

condition, their thumbs and great toes cut off, in token that they could never again handle sword and bow,

nor march to war.

It need scarcely be said, that the Mosaic law never contemplated such horrors. Nevertheless the allied tribes

now inflicted mutilation upon Adoni-bezek. The victors carried him to Jerusalem, where he died. On that

occasion the city itself, so far as it lay within the territory of Judah, was taken and burnt. But the boundary

line between Judah and Benjamin ran through Jerusalem, the Upper City and the strong castle, which were

held by the Jebusites, being within the lot of Benjamin. In the war under Joshua, the Jebusites had foiled

Judah (Joshua 15:63). Now also they retired to their stronghold, whence the Benjamites did not even attempt

to dislodge them (Judges 1:21). From Jerusalem the tribes continued their victorious march successively to

"the mountain," or highlands of Judah, then to the Negeb, or south country, and finally to the Shephelah, or

lowlands, along the sea-shore. Full success attended the expedition, the tribes pursuing their victories as far

south as the utmost borders of the ancient kingdom of Arad, where, as their fathers had vowed (Numbers

21:2), they executed the ban upon Zephath or Hormah. The descendants of Hobab (Judges 4:11) the

Kenite178 the brother-in-law of Moses, who had followed Israel to Canaan (Numbers 10:29), and had since

pitched their tents near Jericho, now settled in this border land, as best suited to their nomadic habits and

previo us associations (Judges 1:8-11, 16). The campaign ended179 with the incursion into the Shephelah,

where Judah wrested from the Philistines three out of their five great cities. This conquest, however, was not

permanent (14:19; 16:1), nor were the inhabitants of the valley driven out, "because they had chariots of

iron." 180

But the zeal of Israel did not long continue. In fact, all that follows after the campaign of Judah and Simeon

is a record of failure and neglect, with the single exception of the taking of Bethel by the house of Joseph.

Thus the tribes were everywhere surrounded by a fringe of heathenism. In many parts, Israelites and

heathens dwelt together, the varying proportions among them being indicated by such expressions as that

the "Canaanites dwelt among" the Israelites, or else the reverse. Sometimes the Canaanites became tributary.

On the other hand, the Amorites succeeded in almost wholly  181 driving the tribe of Dan out of their

possessions, which induced a considerable proportion of the Danites to seek fresh homes in the far north

(Judges 18).

Israel was settling down in this state, when their false rest was suddenly broken by the appearance among

them of "the Angel of Jehovah."  182 No Divine manifestation had been vouch-safed them since the Captain

of Jehovah's host had stood before Joshua in the camp at Gilgal (Joshua 5:13-15). And now, at the

commencement of a new period, and that one of spiritual decay, He "came" from Gilgal to Bochim, not to

announce the miraculous fall of a Jericho before the ark of Jehovah, but the continuance of the heathen

power near them in judgment upon their unfaithfulness and disobedience. "From Gilgal to Bochim!" There is