109. And thus, in Israel itself, the chief business of their
judges and first kings seems to have been to be captains in war and
leaders of their armies, which (besides what is signified by "going
out and in before the people," which was, to march forth to war and
home again at the heads of their forces) appears plainly in the
story of Jephtha. The Ammonites making war upon Israel, the
Gileadites, in fear, send to Jephtha, a bastard of their family,
whom they had cast off, and article with him, if he will assist them
against the Ammonites, to make him their ruler, which they do in these
words: "And the people made him head and captain over them" (Judges
11. 11), which was, as it seems, all one as to be judge. "And he
judged Israel" (Judges 12. 7)- that is, was their captain-general-
"six years." So when Jotham upbraids the Shechemites with the
obligation they had to Gideon, who had been their judge and ruler,
he tells them: "He fought for you, and adventured his life for, and
delivered you out of the hands of Midian" (Judges 9. 17). Nothing
mentioned of him but what he did as a general, and, indeed, that is
all is found in his history, or in any of the rest of the judges.
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