Without the thumbs, how could a soldier handle a sword or a spear? And the loss of the big toes would result in inability to maintain oneвЂ™s balance properly.Дў:10-12. *вЂ‹- Joshua 19:9.ДЎ:6, 7вЂ‹ -Why were the thumbs and the big toes of defeated kings cut off? A person who lost his thumbs and big toes apparently was incapacitated for military action. Simeon, who went up with Judah, received small areas of land scattered throughout the large territory of Judah. ( Genesis 49:3-5, 7) Hence, the next in line was Judah, the fourth son of Jacob. Simeon and Levi, who had acted with cruelty, were to be scattered in Israel. But in his deathbed prophecy, Jacob foretold that Reuben was not to excel, having forfeited his right as the firstborn. In this religious, social, and political climate unfolds the account of a line of judges whom Jehovah raises up to save his people from their enemies.ДЎ:2, 4вЂ‹ -Why is Judah designated to be the first tribe to take possession of the land allotted to it? Normally, this privilege would go to the tribe of Reuben, JacobвЂ™s firstborn. When oppression becomes severe, though, the sons of Israel call upon the true God for help. So Jehovah gives the Israelites into the hands of their enemies. The generation that comes after the days of Joshua вЂdoes not know Jehovah or the work that he has done for Israel.вЂ™ ( Judges 2:10) Moreover, the people proceed to form marriage alliances with the Canaanites and to serve their gods. This failure proves to be a real snare for Israel. However, the Israelites fail to dispossess the inhabitants of the land. ( 1В Timothy 6:12, 19 2В Peter 3:13) The deeds of salvation that Jehovah performs in behalf of his people provide a foregleam of the greater deliverance by his Son, Jesus Christ, in the future.ДЄfter the kings of the land of Canaan are defeated under the leadership of Joshua, the individual tribes of Israel go to their inheritance and take possession of the land.

The lessons that we learn from them strengthen our faith and help us to get a firm hold on вЂњthe real life,вЂќ everlasting life in GodвЂ™s promised new world.

( Hebrews 4:12) The exciting accounts recorded in it give us insight into GodвЂ™s personality. Completed by the prophet Samuel about 1100В B.C.E., it covers events that span some 330 yearsвЂ‹-from the death of Joshua to the enthronement of IsraelвЂ™s first king.ДЄs a part of GodвЂ™s dynamic word, or message, the book of Judges is of great value to us. HOW does Jehovah respond when his own people turn their back on him and begin to worship false gods? What if they repeatedly fall away and call on him for help only when they are in distress? Does Jehovah provide a way of escape for them even then? The book of Judges answers these and other vital questions.

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