Judges 3
Aram Naharaim -- Could be Nahrima mentioned in three Amarna tablets
Baal Hermon -- Could be modern Mount Hemon
Lebo Hamath -- unidentified location but stereotypically a resort for gay members of the terrorist group Hamas
ox goad - pointed stick used to poke the ox and goad it into moving when you wanted it to move.
Judges 3 says that because the descendants of the Israelites had not had previous battle experience, God gave them five rulers of the Philistines, Canaanites, Sidonians, and Hivites (one tribe must have had more than one ruler), so that they might learn warfare. And even worse, the Kings “were left to test the Israelites to see whether they would obey the Lord’s commands, which he had given their ancestors through Moses."
At first glance, this is cowabunga, total OMG. It reminds me of how my boyfriend’s mother (a niche Jewish lady) reacts when she thinks God has offered her a challenge. “Oye, ya gotta do it now? Ya couldna waited till the weekend.”
But on the other hand, I can see how life is a challenge. I can hear Jonathan Edwards, “Brothers and Sisters, Satan will tempt you with the five kings of Canaan. The gates of hell … etc”
So the Hebrews lived among the above four groups and also, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, and Jebusites. I know that the Hittites and Amorites were the superpowers of the times. For example, the Hittites fought the Egyptians at the Battle of Kadesh.
A hurly-burly neither lost nor won,
Settled by treaty when it was done.
Hammurabi was an Amorite king, who published his code, necessary or appropriate in aid of his jurisdiction, known today as, The Code of Hammurabi.
So Canaan became a sort of melting pot as the Hebrews mixed with the locals, and the Hebrews “served the Baals and the Asherahs.” I think that means that they worshiped any local god. Sort of if you can’t beat’um, join’um. I can hear it, “Oye, I sent my son to town. He came home a Canaanite.”
A most likely illiterate king, Cushan-Rishathaim, of Aram Naharaim, which is an undisclosed location, conquered Canaan for less than a decade. A judge, Othniel son of Kenaz removed Cushan Rishathaim. “So the land had peace for forty years, “ … until Othniel son of Kenaz died.”
Next the king of Moab, Eglon, subjugated the Hebrews for almost two decades. Archaeological sites in Egypt and Moab have identified Moab.
A judge, Ehud “son of Gera the Benjamite,” “a left handed man” “made a double edged sword,” and he used it to kill Eglon. Moab became subject to Israel, and they had peace for eight decades.
Double edged swords must have been somehow unique.
Next Shamgar smote 600 Philistines with an oxgoad. Shamgar, fortunes fool, the Philistines might have had AK-47’s instead of oxgoads.
Judges 4
Hazor - several Hazors are archaeological sites.
Harosheth Haggoyim - any of three achaeological sites
Jabin - an historically unidentified king of Hazor
Sisera - commander of Jabin’s army
Ehud died.
Jabin, King of Canaan, reigned in Hazor. Sisera, commander of the Jabin’s army, had headquarters at Harosheth Haggoyim.
Jabin oppressed the Israelites for two decades. A female judge lead Israel in legal matters, and that suggests that the Israelis ruled themselves. Oppressed in this case must mean “demanded tribute.”
Deborah organized the resistance. She appointed Barak son of Abinoam as a general, and he wanted her to serve on his staff.
Somehow they lured Sisera’s army to Mount Tabor. That must have given the Barak a tactical advantage. Only Sisera survived the battle, and he, not privy to his face, found the bad fortune to stop at Jael’s tent. She gave him drink and a bed. When he went to sleep, she, being an ancestor of Lady MacBeth, drove a tent peg through his head.
The battle at Mount Tabor must have been the first, but decisive battle because “the Israelites pressed ... Jabin king of Canaan until they destroyed him.”