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 ]