JUDGES 2:6 TO JUDGES 3:6. THE DEUTERONOMIST'S INTRODUCTION TO THE BOOK OF JUDGES PROPER (Judges 3:5 to Judges 16:31). In the view of this interpreter of sacred history, the whole era of the Judges falls into longer or shorter times of national prosperity, in which Yahweh protects and blesses His fai... [ Continue Reading ]
OTHNIEL THE KENITE. The brief account of the oppression of Israel by the Aramæ ans, and of their deliverance by Othniel, is the work of D, whose familiar categories apostasy, Divine anger, oppression, repentance, deliverance, peace practically make up the whole narrative. Not a single detail of the... [ Continue Reading ]
EHUD, THE BENJAMITE. D's setting of the story of Ehud is apparent in Judges 3:12_ a_ and Judges 3:30. The story itself is a genuine folk-tale, handed down from century to century before being committed to writing. One can readily imagine with what zest it was told in the tribe of Benjamin, where the... [ Continue Reading ]
JUDGES 3:31. THE EXPLOIT OF SHAMGAR. The absence of D's formulæ, and of a chronological scheme, suggests that this verse was introduced by an editor who wished to bring the number of the Judges up to ten, not counting Abimelech worthy to rank as one. The verse interrupts the flow of the narrative ob... [ Continue Reading ]