The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1902-11-13

htl any lOIstE SAdHA btiOlE NllNlI
,5. Whithersover they went out, the hand
of the Lord was against them for evil, as
the LORD had said, and as the LorC, had
sworn unto them; and they were greatly
distressed.
l6. Nevertheless the Lord raised up
judges, which delivered them out of the
hand OF those that spoiled them
GOLDEN TENT.-They,cry unto the
Lord I'm their trouble, and He saveth
them out Of their distress.-Ps. 1O7 I'D.
OUTLINE OF SCRIPTURE SECTION.
The condition of Israel. Judges l-2:5.
Ihe deliverers. s.................Judge 2:i6-25
TlME-B. c. l425.
PLACE-Canaan.
NOTES AND COMMENTS.
The text selected for this lesson
gives general summary of this history
during the whole 300 years, during
which, from time to time. these
judges or special deliverers APP
peared. They were heroes for the
most part; men of fight, who
here and there arose and led the peo-
pie of the tribe especially oppressed to
victory. Then they were naturally ex-
alted by them to general leadership,
which included the duties of judges.
With the opening of the book of
Judges, Israel is encamped in the Jor-
dan valley near Jericho. They inquire
of the oracle of Jehovah compare Mum.
2':2l; Judges 1873; Sam. 22:10-15; 1
Sam. 23:9-ll. etc.) which tribe shall
go up first to attack the Canaanites,
who are in possession of most of TIE
country. Judah, who is chosen, with
Simeon and the house of Joseph" ,"are
successful in the hill country but cam
not conquer the lowlands. In the
north, the Hebrews generally settle
down among the original iuha bitants,
and in the west the Amorites force Dan
back into the hills. The last five verses
OF thds survey tell of the moving Of the
center of worship from Gilgal, where
It had been during the invasion, to
Bochim (perhaps Beth-el). The writer
declares emphatically that the failure
to make a complete conquest was not
because OF the strength Of the Canaan
ties, but Of the disobedience OF the
Hebrews.
The generation which grew up in
Canaan was less faithful than the for
mer had been. Served the Baalim:"
That is, served the local Baals. which
were almost as many as the Canaanite
cities. The Baals were the gods of fer
tility, both in plant and animal life.
They were supposed to shine upon and
water the land and make il fruitful. and
their. worship was just as much part
of farming in Canaan a 5 was preparing
the groupd and sowing the seed. The
Hebrews. learned how to farm in
Canaan from the Canaanites. 1t was
natural that, with all the rest. they
should take up the Baal worship. which
was considered among those peoples
the MOST important part of farming.
At first the Hebrews probably thought
Of Jehovah as their Baal, but soon they
forgot Him in the fascination of this
sensual Canaanite worship. Instead
OF discriminating the native races.
the Hebrews were being rapidly alb
sorbed into the older population.
Under this less rigorous If" and i'm
moral worship, they were weakened,
oppressed and enslaved by the very
people for whose religion they had
forsaken Jehovah. "The Ashtaroth:"
Ashtaroth is the plural of Ashtoreth,
one OF the principal Semitic deities.
She was sometimes called AStarte.
and sometimes IShtar. Like the
Haals, the AShtaroth were supposed
TO influence fruitfuluess in plant and
animal life. A>htoreth was the
Venus of the Semitic peoples and
was worshiped with a great variety
OF disgusting rites. "The Israelite
found in Syria land teemng with
holy places, and voiceful with
thousand oracles. 1t is hardly to
be wondered at that the people. in
toxicated with the lavish gifts of
their new home, went astray on
every high hill and under every
green tree. "-hglen.' "The hands of
spoilers" Better, of pillagers. And
ell this, says the historian. was the
result Of disobediencc God com
mandcd His people. as He always
does, only what would have been for
their good, but they thought they
knew better.
In this dark period, when the tribes
were scattered and almost wholly in
dependent Of each other, deliverers
arose. under whom the tribes final
L. emerged into national life again.
Here and there. under these deliv.
erers, the people made successful re-
volts against the opprcssors, and
then exalted their delivcrers to b.
their military and civil rulers--their
judges.
PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS
To forsake God Is TO turn away from
one who has always been loving and
faithful.
To forsake God IL 10 turn away from.
one who has placed you under count.
less obligations.
TO forsake God is 10 become morally
and spiritually weak, 50 that one ~
easily overcome by evil.
To forfake God is In come under