THE JUDGES OF ISRAEL. 103

tion. For eight years they were his tributaries. Then, in
answer to their cry of distress, the Lord raised up a
deliverer, Othniel, the son of Kenaz, and nephew of
Caleb. You will remember that I mentioned him to
you before ; he was a brave man in his youth, and he
retained the same fearless spirit when advanced in years.

George. He would march at once against Chushan-
rishathaim, and drive him away to his own country
again ?

Grandfather. Something was to be done before he
marched against the Mesopotamians. Othniel first judged
Israel, that is, he reproved them for their sins, and
reformed them ; he subdued the sins of the people, and
then went out to war. This teaches us, that the way
to attain suecess in our undertakings is to begin by
bringing our own spirits into subjection. Othniel was
victorious. The Lord delivered Chushan-rishathaim into
his hand, so by his instrumentality the people were
delivered. While he lived he kept the people to their
duty, so that the land had rest. When Othniel died
the wayward people again bowed their knees before the
images in the groves. Another enemy was raised up
to oppress them. Eglon, king of Moab, was strengthened
against the Israelites by the Lord, because they had done
wickedly. The country of the Moabites lay nearer to
them than that of the Mesopotamians, therefore we may
suppose that subjection to them would be more keenly
felt than to their former oppressors. They had more
than one enemy to triumph over them at this time, for