Gideon and the Judges; A Study Historical and Practical (Paperback)

Book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1890. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XIX. GIDEON: WHAT HAPPENED "AS SOON AS HE WAS DEAD." The character and effect of his rule--Apparently, there was no striking disturbance of harmony for some years after his decease: but the tendency to idolatry operated in apostacy to the worship of Baalberith--How Gideon had prepared for this--The craving for a visible god--The warning sounded for all times--St. Paul's expression of the teaching conveyed--Baal, and the types of Baal-worship indicated in the historical books--The parody of the true worship in the form adopted by the men of Shechem--Covenant, in what is it rooted ?-- The contrast between the man-god and the God-man--Mr. Maurice's entreaty--The lapse of Israel " the certain presage of slavery." GIDEON had done a great work. He had reformed the nation. He had proclaimed Jehovah the God and King of Israel. He had restored the consciousness of the unity of the tribes. His rule had been generally acknowledged. The pride of Ephraim had been held in check. It had been obliged, though perhaps with sullen temper, to acknowledge the ascendancy of Manasseh and its hero; to recognize in Ophrah, the hitherto obscure village of the Abiezrite, the seat of government and even the centre of worship. For forty years the land had enjoyed its Sabbath. No hostile attack menaced it from without; no internal feud and foray reddened its fields with the blood of its people. Universal, and apparently profound, was the tranquillity when the sepulchre was closed in which had reverently been laid the remains of one of the noblest of national heroes--the illustrious Jerubbaal.1 'The name Jerubbaal becomes the prominent name in the later part of the narrative concerning Gideon and his house. It is the only name given to the hero in the ninth chapter. The overthrow of the altar of Baal was ...