6. The character of the people was diverse. Throughout the history we trace the working of two distinct elements: There was the true Is´ra-el—the earnest, religious, God-worshiping section, the Is´ra-el of Josh´u-a and Gid´e-on and Sam´u-el. Then there was the underlying mass of the people—secular, ignorant, prone to idolatry, the Is´ra-el that worshiped Ba´al and Ash´to-reth, and sought alliance with the heathen. One element was the hope of the nation; the other was its bane. We shall constantly see the evidences of these two elements in the story of the Is´ra-el-ites.
Blackboard Outline
| I. | Can. 1. One st. 2. Var. tri. 1.) S. P. Phil. Can. Phœ. 2.) M. R. Am. Je. Hiv. Hitt. 3.) J. V. Can. 4.) E. T.-L. Mo. Am. Bash. 3. Gov. loc. 4. Idol. imm. 5. Weak. |
| II. | Camp. Conq. 1. Camp. Eas. Jor. 1.) Gil. Jah. 2.) Bash. Ed. 3.) Mid. |
| 2. Camp. Wes. Jor. 1.) Cent. Pal. Jer. Ai. She. 2.) Sou. Pal. Beth-hor. 3.) Nor. Pal. L. Mer. | |
| 3. Supp. Camp. 1.) Cal. cap. Heb. 2.) Jud. cap. Bez. 3.) Dan. cap. Lai. | |
| III. | Gen. Asp. Isr. at Clo. Conq. 1. Nat. rac. sub. 2. Isr. in mtn. reg. 3. Land. sys. 4. Gov. rep. fam. 5. Rel. sys. 6. Char. peo. |
Questions for Review
To what race did the Ca´naan-ite tribes belong? What were their tribes, and where located? What was their government? What was their worship? What was the effect of their worship on their character? What had taken place shortly before the coming of the Is´ra-el-ites? What campaigns of conquest were made before the death of Mo´ses? What battles were fought in these campaigns? What tribes took possession of this territory? On which side of the Jor´dan were Josh´u-a's campaigns? What traits as a military leader did he show? What places were captured on the first of Josh´u-a's campaigns? What was the effect of this campaign on the enemies? Against what section was Josh´u-a's second campaign? Where was the great battle fought? What is said to have taken place at this battle? What cities were captured at this time? Where was the third campaign of Josh´u-a directed? Where was the battle fought in this campaign? What were the three supplementary campaigns? What city was conquered by Ca´leb? What city was occupied by the tribe of Dan? What king, long after Josh´u-a, completed the conquest of Ca´naan? What was the condition of the native races after the conquest? What was the result of their continuance in the land? What portion of the country was occupied by the Is´ra-el-ites? What modern analogy is given to them? What was the system of land tenure among the Is´ra-el-ites? What were some of its benefits? What was the form of government? Wherein was the system defective? What were its excellences? What was the religious system of the Is´ra-el-ites? What was the effect of this system? What was the religious character of the people? What was the condition of the mass of the Is´ra-el-ites?
EIGHTH STUDY
The Age of the Heroes
From the death of Josh´u-a to the coronation of Saul the Twelve Tribes of Is´ra-el were without a central government, except as from time to time men of ability rose up among them. It was not, as some have supposed, an "age of anarchy," for anarchy is confusion; and during most of the time there were peace and order in Is´ra-el. It was rather an "age of heroes," for its rulers were neither hereditary nor elective, but men called forth by the needs of the hour and their own qualities of leadership.