Judges 13:1

PHILISTINE OPPRESSION, Judges 13:1.

1. The Philistines From the narrative of the Ammonite oppression, and Jephthah’s rule in eastern Palestine or Gilead, the historian now passes to the extreme west the Shephelah, or maritime plain of Philistia and introduces us to a nation of warriors that gave Israel more trouble than they had hitherto experienced from any heathen power. These warlike foes have been frequently mentioned before, (see note on Joshua 13:2,) but here they appear for the first time as having dominion over Israel. For this dominion they had doubtless been aiming many years, and they had met with at least one check from the heroic Shamgar. Judges 3:31. But the successful invasions of northern and eastern powers, and Israel’s many misfortunes, gave them marked advantages for extending their conquests over the southern tribes.

Forty years This period seems to have included the twenty years of Samson’s judgeship, (Judges 15:20;) at least the Philistine power was not fully broken in his day, but only greatly weakened. These foes maintained their rule, with only occasional breaks, till the time of Samuel. It was a most memorable period in the history of the chosen people. The tribe of Judah lost all spirit, and quietly succumbed, (Judges 15:11;) and long before the night of oppression ceased, the ark of God was captured, and the sanctuary at Shiloh made desolate.