Asher, (or, according to. CellariuS' and' Reland^ Naphthalim]^ 

 invaded the Western tribes, and subjugated them for twenty 

 years: but Barak, of the tribe of Naphthalini, having defeated 

 Sisera^ the whole country enjoyed peace 40 years, which con* 

 eluded with the 80, which the Eastern tribes enjoyed. 



2d. He preserves this distinction of the tribes, in the se- 

 quel,, as appears from tlie table. After the death of Jair, 

 the seventh Judge, the Israelites were attacked in poncert by 

 the Ammonites on the East, and by the Philistines on the 

 West, (i Judges, c. 10. v. 7. 8. 9^.) On the Eastern side, after 

 the oppression of the Ammonites, for 18 years, Jepthah, 

 Ibsan, Eglon, and Abdon^ were Judges, for 31 years ; dur- 

 ing which the Eastern tribes were at peace. On the West, 

 the Philistines ruled 40 years until Samuel, who governed \6 

 years before the choice of Saul to be king. Tliis makes 56 

 years, so that Samuel began to judge the Western tribes in. 

 the last year of Eion, and was co-temporary with. Abdon in; 

 the East. As for Samson,, we read,. " he judged the people, 

 203'ears in the days of the Philistines," (Judges, c. 15. &20.) 

 or during the period of the 40 years their domination lasted ;. 

 but he did not deliver them, neither did Eli accomplish their 

 deliverance. He died in the twentieth year of the servitude- 

 under the Philistines, after \he captivity of ark, and his 

 judicature, whenever it commenced, was only a civil ju- 

 risdiction. (" lilius judicatura, quandocimq csepcrit,. non 

 alia fuerit, quan;i litium pro Pontiiicali auctoriti^te, discep^ 



tatio' 



