Consequently, the author of the first division of the book of Judges must have lived and written before David, and under King Saul. If he had lived under David he would have mentioned the capture of Jerusalem by that monarch, as the nature of his subject. did not allow him to pass it over in silence. The omission, moreover, of the history, not only of Samuel but also of Eli, indi cates an author who, living in an age very near that of Eli, considered his history as generally known, because so recent. The exact time when the appendix was added to the book of Judges cannot .indeed be determined, but its author cer tainly lived in an age much later than that of the recorded events.
(3) Character of the Book. Parts of the work are undoubtedly taken from ancient records and genealogies, others from traditions and oral in formation. From ancient authentic documents are probably copied the song of Deborah (ch. v), the beautiful parable of Jotham (ch. ix:8-15), and the beginning of Samson's epinicion, or triumphal poem (ch. xv :16). In their genealo gies the Hebrews usually inserted also some his torical accounts, and from this source may have been derived the narrative of the circutnstances that preceded the conception of Samson, which were given as the parents related them to others (ch. xiii).
(4) Authority of the Book. (a) It was pub lished at a time when the events related were generally known, and when the veracity of the author could be ascertained by a reference to the original documents. Several of its narratives are confirmed by the books of Samuel (comp. Judg. iv :2; Vi :14 ; Xi, with Sam. xii :9-12; Judg. ix :53 with Sam. xi:21). The Psalms not only allude to the book of Judges (comp. Ps. lxxxiii:it, with Judg. vii :25), but copy from it entire verses (comp. Ps. lxviii :8, 9; xcvii :5; with Judg. v :4, 5). Philo and Josephus knew the book, and made use of it in their own compositions. The New Testament alludes to it in several places (comp. Luke i :13-16 with Judg. xiii :5; xvi :17; Acts xiii: 20 ; Heb. xi:32).
(b) This external evidence in support of the authority of the book of Judges is corroborated by many internal proofs of its authenticity. All its narratives are in character with the age to which they belong, and agree with the natural order of things. We find here that shortly after the death of Joshua the Hebrew nation had, by several vic tories, gained courage and become valorous (Judg. i and xix) ; but that it afterwards turned to agri culture, preferred a quiet life, and allowed the Canaanites to reside in its territory in considera tion of a tribute imposed on them, when the orig inal plan was that they should be expelled. This
changed the Hebrew character entirely ; it became effeminate and indolent—a result which we find in the case of all nations who, from a nomadic and warlike life, turn to agriculture.
(e) The intercourse with their heathen neigh bors frequently led the uncultivated Hebrews to idolatry; and this, again, further prepared them for servitude. They were consequently over powered and oppressed by their heathen neigh bors. The first subjugation, indeed, by a king of Mesopotamia, they endured but eight years ; but the second, more severe, by Eglon, lasted longer; it was the natural consequence of the public spirit having gradually more and more declined, and of Eglon having removed his residence to Jericho with a view of closely watching all their move ments (Joseph. Antiq. v:5).
When Ehud sounded the trumpet of revolt the whole nation no longer rose in arms, but only the inhabitants of Mount Ephraim (ch. iii :27) ; and when Barak called to arms against Sisera many tribes remained quietly with their herds (ch. v:14, 15, 26, 28). Of the 3o,000 men who offered to follow Gideon, he could make use of no more than 3oo, this small number only being, as it would seem, filled with true patriotism and courage.
(d) Thus the people had sunk gradually, and deserved for forty years to bear the yoke of the Philistines, to whom they had the meanness to deliver Samson, who, however, loosed the cords with which he was tied, and killed a large number of them (ch. xv). It is impossible to consider such an historical work, which perfectly agrees with the natural course nf things, as a fiction ; at that early period of authorship no writer could have, from infancy, depicted the character of the Hebrovs so conformably with nature and estab: Hsi-led facts. All in this book breathes th.e spirit of the ancient world. Martial law we find in it, as could not be but expected, hard and wild. The conquered people are subjected to rough. treat ment, as is the case in the wars of all uncivilized people; the inhabitants of cities are destroyed wholesale (cc. viii:t6, 17; xx). . Hospitality and the protection of strangers received as guests is considered the highest virtue (ch. xix; comp. Gen. xix).