And even this comparatively narrow strip of mountain and hill Judah was eventually compelled to share with two other tribes. Dan got a section of the very best of the western declivities, where the mountains break down in long terraced spurs, and rich intervening vales, to the plain beneath Zorah and Bethshemesh [DAN]. In fact, Judah's real border does not seem to have gone farther west in this direction than Kirjath-jearim (Judg. xiii. 25 ; xviii. 12 ; JOSh. XiX. 40-46). Simeon again obtained a large part of that splendid pasture land which Joshua calls the South, and which lay near Beer-sheba, and towards the coast of awn (xv. 21 ; xix. 2-8). Of the portion of the chil dren of Judah was the inheritance of the children of Simeon ; for the part of the children of Judah was too much for them ' (ver. 9). These southern pasture-lands were the favourite camping-grounds of the old patriarchs, as they still are of those nomad tribes that frequent the southern border of Palestine (Robinson, B. R.) These partitions of its allotted territory, while they curtailed its extent, tended in the end greatly to strengthen the position, and increase the power of Judah. Dan defended the western border against the inroads of the Philistines, with a brave and well-trained band of soldiers ; having esta blished, as it seems, a permanent camp on the commanding height between Zorah and Eshtaol (Judg. xiii. 25 ; xvi. 31 ; xviii. 12 ; see DAN). Simeon bore the bnint of all attacks and forays made on the southern border by the tribes of the great Wilderness of Wandering.' And when the Edomites attempted to penetrate Judah, Simeon could always check them by an attack upon their flank.
The broad summit of the mountain ridge be ' tween Jerusalem and Juttah was the home and stronghold of Judah. On every side the ap proaches to it were difficult, and the passes easily defended. The towns and villages, too, were gene rally perched on the tops of hills, or on rocky slopes. The resources of the soil were great. The country was rich in corn, wine, oil, and fruits ; and the daring shepherds were able to lead their flocks far out over the neighbouring plains and through the mountains. During the wars of Joshua two men distinguished themselves by suc cessful excursions, the aged Caleb, and his nephew Othniel. Caleb took Hebron from the giant Anakim ; and Othniel captured Debir, and as a revvard for his valour got Caleb's daughter with a rich dowry (josh. xv. 13-19).
During the rule of the Judges the tribe of Judah was mainly occupied in completing the conquest of the territory. A few strongholds in the mountains
still remained in the hands of the Canaanites ; these they took, and they also made a successful expedition into Philistia, capturing Gaza, Askelon, and Ekron, though they were urtable to establish permanent settlements there. In all these expedi tions they were aided by the tribe of Simeon ( Judg. i.) In fact, it would seem that both Dan and Simeon, being closely connected with Judah by geographical position, and being to a great ex tent dependent upon it for aid in times of pressing danger, ranged themselves under Judah's banner, and in the end became to a large extent amalga mated with that tribe. Judah thus began gradu ally to assume the headship of a southcrn confede racy, which interfered little, if at all, with the affairs of the more distant tribes, but acted inde pendently in the management of its own. The only case in which Judah appears in its natural place during a period of nearly 400 years, is in the war against I3enjamin, when it was divinely appointed to lead the van (Judg. xx. IS). Strongly established amid the fastnesses of its own moun tains, and having its frontiers defended by Dan and Simeon, Judah remained at rest, gradually ac quiring that power, wealth, and influence which in the end gave it a decided supremacy. When David was banished from the court of Saul he found an asylum in the dorr,inions of his own tribe; and the manner in which he was able to evade the troops of the enraged monarch was probably as much owing to the sympathy of his brethren as to the nature of the country. On the death of Saul David removed to Hebron : ` And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah ' (2 Sam. ii. 1-4). They had no consultation with the other tribes ; and this was the first step toward the establishment of an independent kingdom. Ephraim was the rival of Judah, and was the only tribe which shewed any disposition to dispute its supremacy. The exist ence of the sacerdotal establishment at Shiloh may have tended to encourage the claims of Ephraim. But when Judah placed David on the throne, and when the priests and tabernacle were removed to Jerusalem, Judah exulted, and Ephraim was pro portionably dissatisfied. Probably the division of Israel into two kingdoms may thus be traced to the rivalry of these powerful tribes. \Vhen the kingdom was divided under Rehoboam and Jero boam, the history of Judah as a tribe lapsed into that of 7isdah as a kingdosn.—J. L. P.