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‘When Jehovah Raised Up Judges’

YOU can readily find Mount Tabor (F4) on the map​—southwest of the Sea of Galilee, in the Valley of Jezreel. Try to visualize an army of 10,000 assembled on top of the mountain. Jehovah used Judge Barak and the prophetess Deborah to rally Israel against Canaanite King Jabin, who had oppressed the people for 20 years. Under army chief Sisera, Jabin’s 900 chariots equipped with menacing iron scythes came from Harosheth to the dry bed of the Kishon, between Megiddo and Mount Tabor.

Judge Barak led the men of Israel down into the valley to engage Sisera’s forces. Jehovah ensured victory by sending a flash flood that bogged down Sisera’s chariots, which panicked the Canaanites. (Jg 4:1–5:31) That was just one of the many victories that God granted Israel during the period of the Judges.

After the conquest of Canaan, the land was apportioned to the tribes of Israel. Note where various non-Levite tribes settled. The small tribe of Simeon received cities in Judah’s territory. Following Joshua’s death, the nation fell into spiritual and moral decline. Israel “got to be in very sore straits,” oppressed by enemies. Responding compassionately, ‘Jehovah raised up judges’​—12 men of faith and courage—​who delivered Israel in the course of three centuries.​—Jg 2:15, 16, 19.

Judge Gideon used only 300 lightly armed but mobile soldiers to rout 135,000 Midianite warriors. The battlefield was between Mount Gilboa and Moreh. After an initial victory, Gideon chased the enemy to the east, into the desert.​—Jg 6:1–8:32.

Jephthah, a Gileadite of the tribe of Manasseh, freed Israelite towns east of the Jordan from the Ammonite oppressors. To achieve his victory, Jephthah likely traveled on the King’s Road, which linked Ramoth-gilead and the area of Aroer.​—Jg 11:1–12:7.

Samson’s exploits against the Philistines centered on the coastal area around Gaza and Ashkelon. Gaza lies in a well-watered region famous for agriculture. Samson used 300 foxes to set fire to the Philistines’ grainfields, vineyards, and olive groves.​—Jg 15:4, 5.

As evident from the Biblical account or as suggested by their tribe, the judges were active across the Promised Land. Wherever the scene of action, Jehovah took good care of his repentant people in times of crisis.

[Map on page 15]

(For fully formatted text, see publication)

Tribes and Judges

Judges

1. Othniel (Tribe of Manasseh)

2. Ehud (Tribe of Judah)

3. Shamgar (Tribe of Judah)

4. Barak (Tribe of Naphtali)

5. Gideon (Tribe of Issachar)

6. Tola (Tribe of Manasseh)

7. Jair (Tribe of Manasseh)

8. Jephthah (Tribe of Gad)

9. Ibzan (Tribe of Zebulun)

10. Elon (Tribe of Zebulun)

11. Abdon (Tribe of Ephraim)

12. Samson (Tribe of Judah)

Tribal Allotments (See publication)

Enclave Cities of Manasseh

E4 Dor

E5 Megiddo

E5 Taanach

F4 En-dor

F5 Beth-shean (Beth-shan)

F5 Ibleam (Gath-rimmon)

Enclave Cities of Simeon

C9 Sharuhen (Shaaraim) (Shilhim)

C10 Beth-lebaoth (Beth-biri)

D8 Ether (Tochen)

D9 Ziklag

D9 Ain

D9 Hazar-susah?

D9 Ashan

D9 Beer-sheba

D10 Hazar-shual

E9 Etam

E9 Beth-marcaboth

E9 Bethuel? (Chesil?)

E9 Sheba? (Jeshua)

E10 Baalath-beer (Baal)

E10 Ezem

Levite Cities of Refuge

E8 Hebron

F3 Kedesh

F6 Shechem

H4 Golan

H5 Ramoth-gilead

H8 Bezer

Main Roads

B10 Via Maris

G10 King’s Road

Tribes of Israel

DAN (D7)

D7 Joppa

E8 Zorah

JUDAH (D9)

C8 Ashkelon

C9 Gaza

C9 Sharuhen (Shaaraim) (Shilhim)

C10 Beth-lebaoth (Beth-biri)

C12 Azmon

C12 Kadesh

D7 Jabneel

D8 Ether (Tochen)

D9 Ziklag

D9 Ain

D9 Hazar-susah?

D9 Ashan

D9 Beer-sheba

D10 Hazar-shual

E8 Lehi

E8 Bethlehem

E8 Hebron

E9 Etam

E9 Beth-marcaboth

E9 Bethuel? (Chesil?)

E9 Sheba? (Jeshua)

E10 Baalath-beer (Baal)

E10 Ezem

ASHER (E3)

E2 Tyre

E4 Harosheth

E4 Dor

F1 Sidon

MANASSEH (E5)

E6 Shamir (Samaria)

E6 Pirathon

F6 Shechem

G5 Abel-meholah

EPHRAIM (E7)

E7 Timnath-serah

F6 Tappuah

F6 Shiloh

F7 Bethel (Luz)

NAPHTALI (F3)

F2 Beth-anath

F3 Kedesh

G3 Hazor

ZEBULUN (F4)

E4 Bethlehem

ISSACHAR (F5)

E5 Megiddo

E5 Kedesh (Kishion)

E5 Taanach

F4 En-dor

F5 Beth-shittah

F5 Beth-shean (Beth-shan)

F5 Ibleam (Gath-rimmon)

BENJAMIN (F7)

F7 Gilgal

F8 Jerusalem

DAN (G2)

G2 Dan (Laish)

MANASSEH (H3)

H4 Golan

GAD (H6)

G6 Succoth

G6 Penuel

G6 Mizpah (Mizpeh)

G7 Jogbehah

H5 Ramoth-gilead

H7 Rabbah

H7 Abel-keramim

REUBEN (H8)

G7 Heshbon

G9 Aroer

H7 Minnith

H8 Bezer

[Other locations]

I1 Damascus

[Mountains]

F4 Mt. Tabor

F4 Moreh

F5 Mt. Gilboa

F6 Mt. Ebal

F6 Mt. Gerizim

[Bodies of water]

C5 Mediterranean Sea (Great Sea)

F9 Salt Sea

G4 Sea of Galilee

[Rivers and streams]

B11 T.V. of Egypt

F6 Jordan River

G6 T.V. of Jabbok

G9 T.V. of Arnon

G11 T.V. of Zered

[Picture on page 14]

Mount Tabor, in Issachar’s territory, rises over the Valley of Jezreel

[Picture on page 14]

The flooding Kishon bogged down Sisera’s chariots