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In Exodus 2:14 Moses is so styled. This fact may indicate that while for revenue purposes the “taskmasters” were over the people, they were yet, just as at a later time when under the Romans, governed by their own rulers.
A.D. 450 it was separated from it and placed in the Hebrew scriptures immediately after the Song of Solomon.
The book contains, (1.) An introduction (1-3:6), connecting it with the previous narrative in Joshua, as a “link in the chain of books.” (2.) The history of the thirteen judges (3:7-16:31) in the following order:
FIRST PERIOD (3:7-ch. 5)
I. Servitude under Chushan-rishathaim of Mesopotamia 8
Years
1. OTHNIEL delivers Israel, rest 40
II. Servitude under Eglon of Moab: Ammon, Amalek 18
2. EHUD’S deliverance, rest 80
3. SHAMGAR Unknown.
III. Servitude under Jabin of Hazor in Canaan 20
4. DEBORAH and,
5. BARAK 40
—— 206
SECOND PERIOD (6-10:5)
IV. Servitude under Midian, Amalek, and children of the east 7
6. GIDEON 40
ABIMELECH, Gideon’s son, reigns as
king over Israel 3
7. TOLA 23
8. JAIR 22
—— 95
THIRD PERIOD (10:6-CH. 12)
V. Servitude under Ammonites with the Philistines 18
9. JEPHTHAH 6
10. IBZAN 7
11. ELON 10
12. ABDON 8
—— 49
FOURTH PERIOD (13-16)
VI. Seritude under Philistines 40
13. SAMSON 20
—— 60
In all 410
Samson’s exploits probably synchronize with the period immediately preceding the national repentance and reformation under Samuel (1 Samuel 7:2-6).
After Samson came Eli, who was both high priest and judge. He directed the civil and religious affairs of the people for forty years, at the close of which the Philistines again invaded the land and oppressed it for twenty years. Samuel was raised up to deliver the people from this oppression, and he judged Israel for some twelve years, when the direction of affairs fell into the hands of Saul, who was anointed king. If Eli and Samuel are included, there were then fifteen judges. But the chronology of this whole period is uncertain.
(3.) The historic section of the book is followed by an appendix (17-21), which has no formal connection with that which goes before. It records (a)