Page:Studies in the Scriptures - Series I - The Plan of the Ages (1909).djvu/54

 that cuougii it was bupuiutcd Miai tiit tfugriuu 1 ussS wlbick tkose governors could not decide were to be brought ui>to Moses, yet they themselves were the judges as to what cases "went before Moses : "The cause which is too hard for you, bring it unto me, and I will hear it." Detit. 1:17.

Thus seen, Israel vuis a republic whose officers a<5led under a divine commission. And to the confusion of those who ignorantly claim that the Bible sanctions an established empire rule oviir the people, instead of " a government of the people by the people," be it noted that this republican form of civil government continued for over four hundred year's. And it was then changed for that of a kingdom at the re- quest of " The Elders/' without the Lord's approval, who said to Samuel, then admg as a sort of informal president, " Hearken unto the voice of the j>cople in all that they shall say unto thec, for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them.'* At God's instance Samuel explained to the people how their rights and liberties would be disregarded, and how they would become servants by such a change ; yet they had be- come infatuated with the popular idea, illustrated all around them in other nations, (i Sam, 8:<J-j.) In consider- ering this account of thoir dtsire for a. king, who iti not impressed with the thought that Moses could have firmly established himself at the hoad of a great empire without difficulty?

While Israel as a whole constituted one nation, yet the tribal division was ever recognized after Jacob's death, K&ch family, or tribe, by common consent, elected or recognised certain members as its representatives, or chiefs, This custom was continued even through their long slavery in Egypt These xverc culled chiefs or ddera, and it was to these that Moses delivered the honor and power of divfl, government ; whereas, had he desired to central!** povw

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