2. The Mo´ab-ite Oppression (Judg. 3. 12-30). Over the eastern and central section, including E´phra-im (verse 27); deliverer, E´hud, the second judge; battle fought at the ford of the river Jor´dan (verse 28).
3. The Early Phi-lis´tine Oppression (Judg. 3. 31). Over the southwest, on the frontier of Ju´dah; deliverer, Sham´gar.
4. The Ca´naan-ite Oppression (Judg. 4). Over the northern tribes; deliverer, Deb´o-rah, the woman judge; battle at Mount Ta´bor.
5. The Mid´i-an-ite Oppression (Judg. 6. 1-6). Over the northern center, especially Ma-nas´seh, east; the most severe of all; deliverer, Gid´e-on, the greatest of the judges (Judg. 6. 11, 12); battle, on Mount Gil-bo´a (Judg. 7), followed by other victories (Judg. 8).
6. The Am´mon-ite Oppression (Judg. 10. 7-9). Note an alliance between the Am´o-rites and Phi-lis´tines, which is suggestive; mainly over the tribes on the east of Jor´dan; deliverer, Jeph´thah[11] (Judg. 11); victory at A-ro´er (verse 33).
7. The Phi-lis´tine Oppression (Judg. 13). This was the most protracted of all, for it extended, with intervals of freedom, for a hundred years; embraced all the land, but was most heavily felt south of Mounts Car´mel and Gil-bo´a. The liberation was begun by Sam´son (Judg. 13. 5), but he was led astray by sensual lusts and became a failure. Freedom was later won by Sam´u-el at the battle of Eb-en-e´zer (1 Sam. 7. 7-14); but the oppression was renewed in the time of Saul, and became heavier than ever (1 Sam. 13. 17-20). Finally the yoke was broken by Da´vid, in a succession of victories, ending with the capture of Gath, the Phi-lis´tine capital (2 Sam. 5. 17-25; 1 Chron. 18. 1).
Note with each oppression: 1.) The oppressor. 2.) The section oppressed. 3.) The deliverer. 4.) The battlefield.
IV. The General Aspects of the Period.
1. It was an age of individuality. There was no strong government to oppress the people, to concentrate all the life of the nation at the court, and to repress individuality. Contrast Per´sia with Greece; Rome under the emperors with Rome as a republic. As men were needed they were raised up, for there was opportunity for character. Hence it was an age of heroes—Oth´ni-el, E´hud, Sham´gar, Gid´e-on, Jeph´thah, Sam´son, Sam´u-el, etc. Free institutions bring strong men to the front.
2. It was an age of neglect of the law. During all this period there is no allusion to the law of Mo´ses. Its regulations were ignored, except so far as they belonged to the common law of conscience and right. The laws of Mo´ses were not deliberately disobeyed, but were ignorantly neglected. Even good men, as Gid´e-on and Sam´u-el, built altars and offered sacrifices (Judg. 6. 24; 1 Sam. 7. 9) contrary to the letter of the law of Mo´ses, but obeying its spirit.