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tribes were divided into families； each headed by its senior member； the
senior of all these heads of families succeeded by right to the office of
captain； for Moses chose from among these seniors his seventy coadjutors；
who formed with himself the supreme council。 （102） Those who
administered the government after the death of Joshua were called elders；
and elder is a very common Hebrew expression in the sense of judge； as I
suppose everyone knows； however； it is not very important for us to make
up our minds on this point。 （103） It is enough to have shown that after the
death of Moses no one man wielded all the power of a sovereign； as affairs
were not all managed by one man； nor by a single council； nor by the
popular vote； but partly by one tribe； partly by the rest in equal shares； it is
most evident that the government； after the death of Moses； was neither
monarchic； nor aristocratic； nor popular； but； as we have said； Theocratic。
（104） The reasons for applying this name are：
（17：105） I。 Because the royal seat of government was the Temple； and
in respect to it alone； as we have shown； all the tribes were fellow…citizens；
（106） II。 Because all the people owed allegiance to God； their supreme
Judge； to whom only they had promised implicit obedience in all things。
（17：107） III。 Because the general…in…chief or dictator； when there was
need of such； was elected by none save God alone。 （108） This was
expressly commanded by Moses in the name of God （Deut。 xix：15）； and
witnessed by the actual choice of Gideon； of Samson； and of Samuel；
wherefrom we may conclude that the other faithful leaders were chosen in
the same manner； though it is not expressly told us。
（17：109） These preliminaries being stated； it is now time to inquire the
effects of forming a dominion on this plan； and to see whether it so
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effectually kept within bounds both rulers and ruled； that the former were
never tyrannical and the latter never rebellious。
（17：110） Those who administer or possess governing power； always
try to surround their high…handed actions with a cloak of legality； and to
persuade the people that they act from good motives； this they are easily
able to effect when they are the sole interpreters of the law； for it is
evident that they are thus able to assume a far greater freedom to carry out
their wishes and desires than if the interpretation if the law is vested in
someone else； or if the laws were so self…evident that no one could be in
doubt as to their meaning。 ＇17：8＇ （111） We thus see that the power of evil…
doing was greatly curtailed for the Hebrew captains by the fact that the
whole interpretation of the law was vested in the Levites （Deut。 xxi：5）；
who； on their part； had no share in the government； and depended for all
their support and consideration on a correct interpretation of the laws
entrusted to them。 （112） Moreover； the whole people was commanded to
come together at a certain place every seven years and be instructed in the
law by the high…priest； further； each individual was bidden to read the
book of the law through and through continually with scrupulous care。
（Deut。 xxxi：9； 10； and vi：7。） （113） The captains were thus for their own
sakes bound to take great care to administer everything according to the
laws laid down； and well known to all； if they； wished to be held in high
honour by； the people； who would regard them as the administrators of
God's dominion； and as God's vicegerents； otherwise they could not have
escaped all the virulence of theological hatred。 （114） There was another
very important check on the unbridled license of the captains； in the fact；
that the army was formed from the whole body； of the citizens； between
the ages of twenty and sixty； without exception； and that the captains were
not able to hire any foreign soldiery。 （115） This I say was very； important；
for it is well known that princes can oppress their peoples with the single
aid of the soldiery in their pay； while there is nothing more formidable to
them than the freedom of citizen soldiers； who have established the
freedom and glory of their country； by their valour； their toil； and their
blood。 （116） Thus Alexander； when he was about to make wax on Darius；
a second time； after hearing the advice of Parmenio； did not chide him
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who gave the advice； but Polysperchon； who was standing by。 （117） For；
as Curtius says （iv。 Para。 13）； he did not venture to reproach Parmenio
again after having shortly； before reproved him too sharply。 （118） This
freedom of the Macedonians； which he so dreaded； he was not able to
subdue till after the number of captives enlisted in the army； surpassed that
of his own people： then； but not till then； he gave rein to his anger so long
checked by； the independence of his chief fellow…countrymen。
（17：119） If this independence of citizen soldiers can restrain the
princes of ordinary states who are wont to usurp the whole glory of
victories； it must have been still more effectual against the Hebrew
captains； whose soldiers were fighting； not for the glory of a prince； but
for the glory of God； and who did not go forth to battle till the Divine
assent had been given。
（17：120） We must also remember that the Hebrew captains were
associated only by the bonds of religion： therefore； if any one of them had
transgressed； and begun to violate the Divine right； he might have been
treated by the rest as an enemy and lawfully subdued。
（17：121） An additional check may be found in the fear of a new
prophet arising； for if a man of unblemished life could show by certain
signs that he was really a prophet； he ipso facto obtained the sovereign
right to rule； which was given to him； as to Moses formerly； in the name of
God； as revealed to himself alone； not merely through the high priest； as in
the case of the captain