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The wayfaring men； though fools； shall not err therein。
〃No lion shall be there；
Nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon；
It shall not be found there；
But the redeemed shall walk there：
〃And the ransomed of the Lord shall return；
And come to Zion with songs
And everlasting joy upon their heads：
They shall obtain joy and gladness；
And sorrow and sighing shall flee away。〃
Isaiah 35：1； 2； 5…10。
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Chapter 53
The Earlier Judges
After the settlement in Canaan the tribes made no vigorous effort to
complete the conquest of the land。 Satisfied with the territory already
gained； their zeal soon flagged； and the war was discontinued。 〃When Israel
was strong； 。 。 。 they put the Canaanites to tribute； and did not utterly
drive them out。〃 Judges 1：28。
The Lord had faithfully fulfilled； on His part； the promises made to Israel；
Joshua had broken the power of the Canaanites； and had distributed the land
to the tribes。 It only remained for them； trusting in the assurance of
divine aid； to complete the work of dispossessing the inhabitants of the
land。 But this they failed to do。 By entering into league with the
Canaanites they directly transgressed the command of God； and thus failed to
fulfill the condition on which He had promised to place them in possession
of Canaan。
From the very first communication of God with them at Sinai； they had been
warned against idolatry。 Immediately after the proclamation of the law the
message was sent them by Moses concerning the nations of Canaan： 〃Thou shalt
not bow down to their gods； nor serve them； nor do after their works： but
thou shalt utterly overthrow them； and quite break down their images。 And ye
shall serve the Lord your God； and He shall bless thy bread； and thy water；
and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee。〃 Exodus 23：24； 25。 The
assurance was given that so long as they remained obedient； God would subdue
their enemies before them： 〃I will send My fear before thee； and will
destroy all the people to whom thou shalt come； and I will make all thine
enemies turn their backs unto thee。 And I will send hornets before thee；
which shall drive out the Hivite； the Canaanite； and the Hittite； from
before thee。 I will not drive them out from before thee in one year； lest
the land become desolate； and the beast of the field multiply against thee。
By little and little
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I will drive them out from before thee； until thou be increased； and inherit
the land。 。 。 。 I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hand；
and thou shalt drive them out before thee。 Thou shalt make no covenant with
them； nor with their gods。 They shall not dwell in thy land； lest they make
the sin against Me： for if thou serve their gods； it will surely be a snare
unto thee。〃 Exodus 23：27…33。 These directions were reiterated in the most
solemn manner by Moses before his death； and they were repeated by Joshua。
God had placed His people in Canaan as a mighty breastwork to stay the tide
of moral evil； that it might not flood the world。 If faithful to Him； God
intended that Israel should go on conquering and to conquer。 He would give
into their hands nations greater and more powerful than the Canaanites。 The
promise was： 〃If ye shall diligently keep all these commandments which I
command you； 。 。 。 then will the Lord drive out all these nations from
before you； and ye shall possess greater nations and mightier than
yourselves。 Every place whereon the soles of your feet shall tread shall be
yours： from the wilderness and Lebanon； from the river； the river Euphrates；
even unto the uttermost sea shall your coast be。 There shall no man be able
to stand before you： for the Lord your God shall lay the fear of you and the
dread of you upon all the land that ye shall tread upon； as He hath said
unto you。〃 Deuteronomy 11：22…25。
But regardless of their high destiny； they chose the course of ease and
self…indulgence； they let slip their opportunities for completing the
conquest of the land； and for many generations they were afflicted by the
remnant of these idolatrous peoples； that were； as the prophet had foretold；
as 〃pricks〃 in their eyes； and as 〃thorns〃 in their sides。 Numbers 33：55。
The Israelites were 〃mingled among the heathen； and learned their works。〃
Psalm 106：35。 They intermarried with the Canaanites； and idolatry spread
like a plague throughout the land。 〃They served their idols： which were a
snare unto them。 Yea； they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto
devils： 。 。 。 and the land was polluted with blood。 。 。 。 Therefore was the
wrath of the Lord kindled against His people； insomuch that He abhorred His
own inheritance。〃 Psalm 106：36…40。
Until the generation that had received instruction from Joshua became
extinct； idolatry made little headway； but the parents
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had prepared the way for the apostasy of their children。 The disregard of
the Lord's restrictions on the part of those who came in possession of
Canaan sowed seed of evil that continued to bring forth bitter fruit for
many generations。 The simple habits of the Hebrews had secured them physical
health； but association with the heathen led to the indulgence of appetite
and passion； which gradually lessened physical strength and enfeebled the
mental and moral powers。 By their sins the Israelites were separated from
God； His strength was removed from them； and they could no longer prevail
against their enemies。 Thus they were brought into subjection to the very
nations that through God they might have subdued。
〃They forsook the Lord God of their fathers； which brought them out of the
land of Egypt；〃 〃and guided them in the wilderness like a flock。〃 〃They
provoked Him to anger with their high places； and moved Him to jealousy with
their graven images。〃 Therefore the Lord 〃forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh；
the tent which He placed among them； and delivered His strength into
captivity； and His glory into the enemy's hand。〃 Judges 2：12； Psalm 78：52；
58； 60； 61。 Yet He did not utterly forsake His people。 There was ever a
remnant who were true to Jehovah； and from time to time the Lord raised up
faithful and valiant men to put down idolatry and to deliver the Israelites
from their enemies。 But when the deliverer was dead； and the people were
released from his authority； they would gradually return to their idols。 And
thus the story of backsliding and chastisement； of confession and
deliverance； was repeated again and again。
The king of Mesopotamia； the king of Moab； and after them the Philistines；
and the Canaanites of Hazor； led by Sisera； in turn became the oppressors of
Israel。 Othniel； Shamgar； and Ehud； Deborah and Barak； were raised up as
deliverers of their people。 But again 〃the children of Israel did evil in
the sight of the Lord； and the Lord delivered them into the hand of Midian。〃
Heretofore th