‘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
