appointed over ten men, and probably amounted to 60,000 then those of fifty, one hundred, and one thousand men; the final jurisdiction, in all cases of difficulty, being reserved to Moses himself. (Ex. xviii. 21 — 26.) After they became settled in their respective districts of the promised land, this judiciary system underwent considerable modification. Judges were then appointed for the cities or chief towns.
The book of Judges forms an important part in the history of Israel; and independently of the ample proofs of its authenticity found in its style, and in its being quoted by both Old and New Testament writers, the transactions it records are confirmed by traditions current among the heathen. Thus we find the memorial of Gideon's transactions preserved by Sanchoniatho.
THE JUDGES OF ISRAEL.
Othniel was raised up to deliver the Israelites from the
hands of Chushan-Ethiopians.
Ehud, who delivered the children of Israel from the Moabites.
Deborah. 1. (Judg. iv. 4.) A woman of eminent wisdom and holiness, (called a prophetess,) and a judge of the people of Israel. She was the wife of Lapidoth, (though some think the passage should read, a woman of Lapidoth,) and had her judgment-seat under a palm tree, which is hence called by her name. (Judg. iv. 5.) Israel was suffering at that time a most oppressive bondage, under Jabin, a Canaanitish king, to which they were doomed in consequence of their sin. Deborah, by divine direction, called upon Barak, who had probably signalized himself in some way, and commanded him, as from God, to station himself upon mount Tabor, with a prescribed number of men, and
she would see to it that Sisera, the commander of the tyrant's army, should fall into his power.
Barak, (Judg. iv. 6,) was the son of Abinoam, and was distinguished for his share in the conquest of Sisera and the deliverance of Israel from long and severe oppression. A history of the transaction, and a copy of their sublime and triumphal song, are given in Judg. iv. and v.
