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succession after Elmd ; opposition to the enemies of his 

 country; and dehverance of his people — nothing can be 

 more precise, consistent, and appropriate. His titles are so 

 far recognized, that Josephus (Ant. 5-5.) assigns him one 

 year of jurisdiction, while the Chronicon Paschale, and the 

 Ohronicon Latinobarbarum, published by Scaliger, extend 

 his period to 24 or 25 years, which they retrench from the 

 80 usually attributed to Ehud, and grant to the latter but 

 the remainder. But the Scripture is silent as to his govern- 

 ment, rather I should say, speaking as to the truth and jus- 

 tice of our system. 



1. Because, unquestionably, the period of one of the four 

 first Judges or Deliverers is not mentioned in any manner, 

 however equivocal or ambiguous. 



2. Since his judicature intervenes between the conquest of 

 Moab and the subjugation of Israel, (c. 4. v. 2.) to the king 

 of Canaan, which the text assures us took place " in conse- 

 quence of the idolatry, (or rather vices,) of the people, after 

 the death of Ehud" we find, in this, as in the former in- 

 stance of Othniel, that there is an express distinction drawn 

 between repose and jurisdiction ; the death of Ehud and the 

 repose of 80 years being clearly contradistinguished. If not, 

 how could the people require a new deliverer, during the life 

 of their former chief? contrary to the text produced above. 

 (Judges, 2-18.) Or, shall we be compelled to adopt the 

 method of eluding the authority and expression of the his- 

 torian, 



