The History of the Old Testament Methodized, Chapter 4 · Section 133
SECT. CXXXIII.
BY theſe preceding Diſorders we may ſee how corrupt this new Generation was. For they turned quickly out of the way their Fathers had walked in, and forſook the Lord, and ſerved Baal and Aſhtaroth. (f)Baalim was the common name of the Heatheniſh gods, and Aſhtaroth of their Goddeſſes, ſee 1 King. 11.5.They ceaſed not from their own doings, nor from their ſtubborn way. They went a whoring after other gods, baſely and unlawfully joyning themſelves to Idols, though they had formerly entred into Covenant with God, and therefore ſhould have kept themſelves wholly to Him, as a chaſt Wife to her own Husband. And the anger of the Lord was hot againſt them, and he delivered them into the hands of Spoilers that ſpoiled them of their goods, and he ſold them into the hands of their Enemies round about, ſee Pſal. 44.12. And his Hand was ſore againſt them (as he had threatned it ſhould be upon ſuch Provocations, Levit. 26. Deut. 28.) and they were greatly diſtreſſed. In theſe their Diſtreſſes they cried unto Him, and humbled themſelves before Him; and upon their altering their courſe, and returning unto Him by Repentance, He alſo altered his courſe of proceeding againſt them, and ſhewed them Mercy. And this was the courſe they uſually held with God, and God with them throughout this whole Book. In the time of their Diſtreſſes God ſometimes raiſed them up Judges to avenge them of their Enemies, and to Govern them according to his Laws, endowing them with the Gifts of his Spirit, and fitting them for thoſe great Imployments. And though for a time they hearkened to their Judges, yet they ſoon returned to their former evil ways, and relapſed to Idolatry. God being highly provoked by their breach of Covenant with Him, would not drive out the Nations out of the Land which Joſhua left when he died, but ſuffered them to continue there to prove Iſrael by them; that is, to try whither they would be drawn away by their Idolatries or no, and ſuffering theſe Canaanites greatly to Vex and Oppreſs them; He thereby proved them whether by theſe Afflictions they would be brought to repent and turn unto Him. And further He left theſe Nations in the Land, that the preſent Generation might be made careful to train up their Children in War and Martial Diſcipline, that ſo they might be the better able in due time to perform what God commanded them, in driving out the Canaanites out of the Land. Now the Canaanites that were left in the Land, and not caſt out, were theſe, viz. five Lords of the Philiſtines, viz. the Lords of Aſhdod, Gaza, Askelon, Gath, and Ekron; and the Canaanites, Sidonians, and Hivites that dwelt about Libanus, and from Mount Baal-hermon on the Eaſt of Libanus, to the entring in of Hamath, a City in the North of Canaan, afterwards call'd Antiochia. The Children of Iſrael dwelling thus among the Canaanites, grew extreamly corrupt, ſo that they ſerved their gods and the Idols which they ſet up, and worſhipped in Groves, and made interchangeable Marriages with them. Upon which great Provocations the Lord gave them up into the hands of Chuſhan-riſhathaim King of Meſopotamia. 'Tis like he firſt brake in upon the Tribes that lay on the other ſide of Jordan, and then incroached upon thoſe within Jordan by degrees. And this was their firſt Servitude (g)Firſt Servitude under Cuſhan eight years. Othniel firſt Judge.which continued eight years. Then returning unto the Lord, and crying unto Him for Mercy and Forgiveneſs, He was pleaſed to raiſe up for them a Saviour and Deliverer; namely, Othniel the Son of Kenaz, Caleb's Nephew, and Son in law, ſee Ch. 1.13. ſo that, to the great Honour of the Children of Judah, the firſt Judge after Joſhua was of their Tribe. Thus that Propheſie was made good, Gen. 49.8. Judah, thou art He whom thy Brethren ſhall praiſe, thy Hand ſhall be in the Neck of thine Enemies; thy Fathers Children ſhall bow down before thee. Othniel being thus raiſed up by God to this high Office, The Spirit of the Lord came upon him; that is, he was furniſhed with thoſe Gifts and Graces that were requiſite to make him a wiſe and valiant General in War, and a prudent Governour in Peace; and the Lord gave Cuſhan into his hands, ſo that he prevailed againſt him, and delivered the Iſraelites out of their Bondage under Him. And ſo the Land had reſt forty years; Not as if there were forty years of Peace in the Land uninterrupted from this time, but the Land had Reſt till forty years were expired from the firſt Reſt wherein it was ſetled by Joſhua before his death. And then Othniel died.
Judg. 2. from 11. to the end.
Ch. 3. from 1. to 12.