Page:History of Art in Sardinia, Judæa, Syria and Asia Minor Vol 1.djvu/144

 1 26 A History of Art in Sardinia and Jud.ka. black tent or over the roofs of the tribes ; and when disputes arose they were settled by elders, or "sekenim," who sat within the gates of the city. Whichever way the eye may wander in trying to reconstruct the history of this period, nought is seen but waver- ing, weakness, and internal division. To these evils were added others from without. The example of the Israelites was followed by people beyond Jordan, who pressed forward with the avowed purpose of despoiling them of the territory they had gained. The Hebrews were obliged, therefore, to keep on the watch and on the defensive. Successfully to face both Philistines and inroads from the waste ; to change their position into one of attack, and make themselves masters of the whole country, — it became a matter of necessity to obey one chief. An undercurrent from north to south, or, as the Bible has it, " from Dan to Beersheba," had been known long before the advent of Saul, accounted the first King of Israel. But various causes had prevented these early glimmerings from being carried into effect. Foremost among these should be placed the claims of rival clans, and the petty jealousies of local magnates. Gideon, after his victories over the Midianites, had wielded almost sovereign power over Manasseh, and set up an ephod or sanctuary in his own town of Ophrah. 1 But the ascendency he had acquired was lost by his son Abimelech. The force of circumstances, no less than the march of events, led to and made personal govern- ment indispensable, in order to oppose the Philistines, who, no longer content with their narrow borders, aspired to extension of territory. Favoured by their fortified cities of Gaza, Askalon, and Ashdod, behind whose walls they could retire after successful raids, and defy the pursuers, they had plundered Sidon, and thrust back Benjamin and Judah towards the Salt Sea. Under the pressure of ever-increasing danger, Saul, a warlike Benjamite, had been made king. His success over the Amalekites and Ammonites, south and east, had pointed him out from among a host of others. He was at first no less successful with the Philis- tines, whom he defeated on several occasions, 2 albeit he was finally overthrown. His action had, nevertheless, been useful in showing his countrymen that the dread foe, with superior armour and war- chariots, could be beaten. This auspicious result had been brought 1 Read the interesting chapter in which Stade endeavours to reconstruct the history of Gideon (Geschic/ife, torn. i. pp. 181-191). 2 1 Sam. xiv. 52.