And the house of Joseph, they also went up against Beth-el: and the LORDwas with them.
The verse stands at the beginning of the book of Judges, in its introduction and in its first three chapters. Its setting is the period after the death of Joshua. That history runs from Joshua's death to the raising up of Samuel, a span of about three hundred fifty to four hundred fifty years.
The opening of the book shows that not all of the country had been possessed. It presents Israel's failure to carry out what God had instructed, a history of ups and downs with constant backsliding from God and consequent repeated captivities to surrounding enemies. It shows the help that came through the judges, or saviours, whom the Lord raised up, demonstrating that God uses very unpromising material, always the best at hand.
The verse stands at the beginning of the book of Judges, in its introduction and in its first three chapters. Its setting is the period after the death of Joshua. That history runs from Joshua's death to the raising up of Samuel, a span of about three hundred fifty to four hundred fifty years.
The opening of the book shows that not all of the country had been possessed. It presents Israel's failure to carry out what God had instructed, a history of ups and downs with constant backsliding from God and consequent repeated captivities to surrounding enemies. It shows the help that came through the judges, or saviours, whom the Lord raised up, demonstrating that God uses very unpromising material, always the best at hand.