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and these were forgotten, together with the contamination which followed them. She was taken into the tribe of Judah not only by adoption but by marriage. She became the wife of Salmon, one of the prominent men of that tribe, and the mother of Boaz, who became the husband of Ruth. The author of the book of Joshua, writing doubtless quite a number of years after the conquest of Jericho, speaks thus of the place of Rabah's descendants in Israel: "And Joshua saved Rahab the harlot alive, and her father's household and all that she had, and she dwelleth in Israel even unto this day: because she hid the messengers which Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.”

Her exact place in the genealogy of the great king David and of Christ. is given by Matthew, her by the name who distinctly refers "Rachab," as the great-grandmother of Jesse, the father of David.

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Of the character of Rahab. but little can be But we are safe in said, for very little is known. saying that in spite of her manner of life, which was somewhat excusable in a resident of a city where the moral standard was very low, she was of a highly sensitive nature, peculiarly susceptible Her implicit faith in the to spiritual influences. conquering power of God's people and her confidence in the promise the two spies gave her, of safety in the midst of the destruction of the city. are worthy of our sincerest admiration. With this faith went its appropriate works, and these to

gether brought about her safety. This faith was great, considering her environments, and the effect. it produced was so satisfactory that it was considered worthy of this special reference by Paul in his Epistle to the Hebrews: "By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.

Not less worthy of mention is the depth and sincerity of her repentance and the completeness of her reformation of life. Not every woman, we are safe in saying, would have had the strength of purpose and the endurance to turn so completely from the life she had been leading, and become an honored wife and mother in Israel.

Therefore, although the details of her life and character are meager, enough is given to enable us to judge of her as noble in spirit, steadfast in purpose, spiritual minded, strong in zeal, rich in faith, earnest in repentance, and admirable in domestic virtues.

VI. WOMEN OF THE JUDGES.

1. DEBORAH.

After Joshua had succeeded in conquering a goodly portion of the land of Canaan and dividing it among the tribes, the people were largely left to themselves in governmental affairs, no general leader having been appointed over them. From a careful reading of the history we are led to look on this as unfortunate. It resulted in a condition of division and anarchy. "In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his

own eyes.

During this period there were many wars, which resulted from attacks being made on a tribe or a small body of the people by some of their surrounding enemies. A leader would be bastily chosen by the people attacked, and he would raise an army of defence, disbanding it and returning to his farm or flocks when the short war was over. The book of Judges is made up of accounts

of these conflicts, and of the attendant disunion and confusion. The lives and experiences of a few women of this period are given, though these accounts are, like the chief history itself, very fragmentary.

Several of the attacks referred to above had been made and repulsed, and the Israelites were gradually encroaching on the domain of the surrounding hostile peoples, when they turned again to evil, and the tribes of the north were given into the hands of Jabin, king of Canaan, who lived in the region west of the Sea of Galilee. In this new and heavy affliction there seemed to be no man of the northern region who possessed sufficient courage and spirit to lead an army against the oppressor. It was under these conditions that the first and only woman judge of Israel arose.

Her name was Deborah. She lived in Mount Ephraim, near the middle of the land of Canaan. Opinion is divided as to her tribe, some supposing her to have belonged to Ephraim, and some to Issachar. The palmtree under which she lived "is mentioned as a well known and solitary landmark," and was called, apparently, "the sanctuary of the palm." She manifested her power in the way of prophetic command; and we do not suppose that she was possessed of quite the same judicial powers as some of the other judges. Her husband's name was Lapidoth.

When Jabin's oppression of the northern tribes became severe, she summoned Barak, "the thun

derer," and commanded him to go against the tyrant. On Barak's refusing to go unless Deborah went with him, she told him that the honor of defeating and slaying Sisera, Jabin's chief leader, should be given not to him but to a woman.

At her command, Barak placed himself at the head of an army of ten thousand men, and marched As they northward, accompanied by Deborah. approached the army of Sisera, Deborah designated the day in which victory was to be gained, and "And the Lord immediately the attack was made. discomfited Sisera and all his chariots and all his host with the edge of the sword, before Barak: so that Sisera lighted down off his chariot, and fled away on his feet. But Barak pursued after the chariots."

Sisera fled in another direction, and a part of the prophecy of Deborah was fulfilled. He made his way in weakness and weariness to the tent of Heber, the Kenite, who had been one of the allies of Jabin. As Sisera came to the tent door, he was treacherously invited in by Jael, Heber's wife, and Abandoning all protection was promised him. fear, and submitting himself entirely to the protection she had promised, Sisera asked for water and an opportunity to sleep. Jael gave him a kind of buttermilk to drink, and this brought on extreme drowsiness. Telling her to watch the tent door and turn aside all pursuers, he lay down and slept.

Then Jael performed an act which to us appears