Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 15.djvu/252

238 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY was falling away to David (II Sam, 2:8). The same town was also a refuge for David when he fled from Jerusalem at the time of Absalom's revolt (II Sam. 17:24). It was from the hills of Gilead that Elijah, the first of the great prophets, broke forth in defense of the ancient customs and religion of Israel (I Kings 17:1). A company of Gileadites aided in the dethronement of an Israelite king who did "that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh" (II Kings 15 123-25). It is well to put stress upon the settlement of this region. For, while it played on the whole an inconspicuous part in the history of Israel; while it remained in the background from first to last; yet it represents one of the characteristic social elements in Israel. Gilead stands for the backwoods, inhabited by a population tenacious of the primitive clan customs that lay at the basis of Israelite society. It was more closely identified with pastoralism than with agriculture: "Gilead was a place fit for cattle" (Num. 32:1). It was here that the goats lay along the hillsides (Song 4:1). It was here that the people fed in the days of old (Mic. 7:14). And it was to the primitive life of Gilead that Israel should be restored after the dispersion (Zech. 10:10; cf. Jer. 50:19). Gilead, therefore, seems to have given the Israelites their first foothold in the land of Canaan. From these early settlements, the clans went forth to gain other parts of the territory.

According to the first chapter of Judges, the clan of Manasseh invaded central Canaan. This district includes the famous plain of Esdraelon, which breaks in at the sea-coast on the west, penetrates the central range of hills, and gives a passage to the Jordan. The Canaanites of this region were entrenched in a number of well-built and strongly fortified cities. All ancient cities of size and importance were surrounded by high walls and guarded by towers and forts. The district of Esdraelon was the seat of several such places. The easternmost of these was the city of Beth-shean, which lay only three miles from the Jordan. From the east wall of Beth-shean, one could see the edge of the Gilead hills on the opposite side of the river. As this city commanded a main traveled road, its importance was great. On the west it was in touch with other cities of like disposition. These