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as the people realized its calling to dedicate the land unto the Lord. On the ruins of what
not only symbolized, but at the time really was the kingdom of Satan,^173 the theocracy
was to be upbuilt. Instead of that focus whence the vilest heathenism overspread the
world, the kingdom of God was to be established, with its opposite mission of sending
the light of truth to the remotest parts of the earth. Nor can it be difficult to understand
how, in such circumstances, at such a time, and at that period of religious life, any
compromise was impossible - and every war must be one of extermination.
Before entering on this new "war," the children of Israel asked Jehovah, no doubt
through the Urim and Thummim, which tribe was to take the lead. In reply, Judah was
designated, in accordance with ancient prophecy (Genesis 49:8). Judah, in turn, invited
the co-operation of Simeon, whose territory had been parceled out of its own. In fact,
theirs were common enemies. The two tribes encountered and defeated the Canaanites
and Perizzites in Bezek, a name probably attaching to a district rather than a place, and,
as the word seems to imply, near the shore of the Dead Sea.^174 In the same locality
Adoni-bezek^175 appears to have made a fresh stand, but with the same disastrous result.
On that occasion a remarkable, though most cruel retaliation overtook him. As chieftain
of that district he must have been equally renowned for his bravery and cruelty. After a
custom not uncommon in antiquity,^176 the many chieftains whom he had subdued were
kept, like dogs, "for lengthened sport,"^177 under the banqueting table of the proud
conqueror in a mutilated condition, their thumbs and great toes cut off, in token that
they could never again handle sword and bow, nor march to war.
It need scarcely be said, that the Mosaic law never contemplated such horrors.
Nevertheless the allied tribes now inflicted mutilation upon Adoni-bezek. The victors
carried him to Jerusalem, where he died. On that occasion the city itself, so far as it lay
within the territory of Judah, was taken and burnt. But the boundary line between Judah
and Benjamin ran through Jerusalem, the Upper City and the strong castle, which were
held by the Jebusites, being within the lot of Benjamin. In the war under Joshua, the
Jebusites had foiled Judah (Joshua 15:63). Now also they retired to their stronghold,
whence the Benjamites did not even attempt to dislodge them (Judges 1:21). From
Jerusalem the tribes continued their victorious march successively to "the mountain," or
highlands of Judah, then to the Negeb, or south country, and finally to the Shephelah, or
lowlands, along the sea-shore. Full success attended the expedition, the tribes pursuing
their victories as far south as the utmost borders of the ancient kingdom of Arad, where,
as their fathers had vowed (Numbers 21:2), they executed the ban upon Zephath or
Hormah. The descendants of Hobab (Judges 4:11) the Kenite^178 the brother-in-law of
Moses, who had followed Israel to Canaan (Numbers 10:29), and had since pitched
their tents near Jericho, now settled in this border land, as best suited to their nomadic
habits and previous associations (Judges 1:8-11, 16). The campaign ended^179 with the
incursion into the Shephelah, where Judah wrested from the Philistines three out of their
(^)