(e) In the state of oppression in which the He brews often found themselves during the period from Joshua to Eli, it was to be expected that men filled with heroism should now and then rise up and call the people to arms in order to deliver them from their enemies. Such valiant men are introduced by our author, and he extols them indeed highly; but on the other hand he is not silent respecting their faults, as may be seen in the instances of Ehud, whom he reports to have murdered a king to recover liberty for his country (ch. iii:16, sq.); of Gideon, who is recorded to have punished the inhabitants of Succoth and Penuel cruelly, for having refused bread to his weary troops (ch. viii :16, 17) ; and of Jephthah, who vows a vow that if he should return home as a conqueror of the Ammonites he would offer as a burnt-offering whatever should first come out of the door of his house to meet him (ch. xi:34): in consequence of this inconsiderate vow, his only daughter is sacrificed by a savage father. who thus becomes a gross offender against the Mosaic law, which expressly forbids human immola tions. This cannot be a fiction; it is no pane gyric on Israel to describe them in the manner the author has done. And this frank, impartial tone pervades the whole work. It begins with display ing the Israelites as a refractory and obstinate people, and the appendix ends with the statement of a crime committed by the Benjamites, which had the most disastrous consequences. At the same time dpe praise is bestowed on acts of gen erosity and justice, and valiant feats are carefully recorded.
(5) Authenticity of the Book. This has been questioned, because of the remarkable exploits ascribed to its heroes. But it will be easy to show that, when properly understood, they do not neces sarily exceed the limits of human power. Ex traordinary indeed they were; lint they are not al leged by the Scripture itself to have been super natural. Those, however, who do hold them to have been supernatural cannot reasonably take ex ception to them on the ground of their extraor dinary character. Considering the very remote period at which our book was written—consider ing also the manner of viewing and describing events and persons which prevailed with the ancient Hebrews, and which very much differs from that of our age--taking, moreover, into ac count the brevity of the narratives, which consist of historical fragments, we may well wonder that there do not occur in it more difficulties, and that not more doubts have been raised as to its histor ical authority. (Bishop Hall, Coritemp/otions on the O. T., bks. x, xi; Milman, Hist. of the Jews, N. Y. 1864; Stanley, Jewish Ch., i :315-426, Amer. ed.; Bachman, Der Buch der Richter, etc., 1868, i:1-242; Keil. losua, in Bibl. Comm. of Keil and Delitzsch, iii:t75-356, trans. by J. Martin, in
Clark's For. Theol. Libr. Edin. 1865.) JITDGMEIft (j5j'ment), (Heb. UFO, mish ficrzon.
(t) Wisdom and prudence, whereby one can judge of what is proper or improper, right or wrong (Jer. x:24; Is. xxx:i8; Ps. lxxii:t). (2) 'Strict equity,' such as should appear in judging (Luke xi:42). (3) The decision of a judge (t Kings iii :28). (4) Courts for trying causes (Matt. v (5) Controversies to be tried and de cided (t Cor. vi :4). (6) Sentiment, opinion, ad vice Cor. :to and vii:25). (7) Chastisement inflicted on saints 0 Pet. iv :t7). (8) The statutes or commandment of God, or what he has decided in his word, particularly in what relates to civil punishments (Ps. xix :7; Matt. xii :18; Exod. xxi: t). (9) The punishment inflicted for sin (Prov. xix :29; Is. liii :8; Ezek. xxx :14). (to) The power of judging the world: this God has committed to Christ (John V:22 and xvi :8). (11) The solemn trial of men at the last day, that the wicked may be condemned, and the righteous adjudged to everlasting life (Eccl. xii:t4; Jude 6, 15).
Examples of Its Use. (1) God brings forth Men'S judgment as the noon-day, when, in his wise and righteous providence, he openly mani fests and rewards them according to the goodness and equity of their cause (Ps. xxxvii :6). (2) Zion shall be redeemed with judgment, shall be delivered according to the wisdom and equity of God, and through the infliction of punishment on God's Son (Is. i (3) Christ brings forth judgment to the Gentiles, and sends it forth unto victory, when he effectually reveals the truths of God, and forms a people to himself (Is. xlii:2, 3; Matt. xii:i8, 2o). (4) Now is the judgment of this world come; now shall the prince of this world be cast out. Now shall God separate multi tudes to himself ; now shall he bring down their high looks and imaginations; now shall Satan be cast out from men's hearts, and lose his authority in the world (John xii :31). (5) The Holy Ghost shall convince men of judgment,because the prince of this world is judged; by dislodging Satan from men's bodies, and casting him out of their hearts, he shall demonstrate Jesus' power and authority, and evince his future appearance to judgment (John xvi :ix). (6) God's judgments are truc and righteous; his conduct in delivering his peo ple, and punishing his enemies, corresponds with the predictions and threatenings of his word, and the equity of his nature (Rev. xix :2). (7) Rash judgments are absolutely forbidden in the sacred Scriptures (Matt. vii:1). (a) We thereby author ize others to requite us in the same kind. (b) It often evidences our pride, envy, and bigotry. (c) It argues a want of charity, the distinguishing fea ture of the Christian religion. (d) They who are most forward in censuring others are often most defective themselves.