All that
was subdued in the strict sense of that word was the mountainous
land, particularly the southern hill country of "Mount Ephraim;"
yet, even here the Canaanites retained possession of not a few
cities, such as Jebus, Shechem, Thebez. It was only after the
lapse of centuries that all the lacunae were filled up, and the
Canaanite enclaves made tributary.
The Israelites had the extraordinarily disintegrated state of
the enemy to thank for the ease with which they had achieved
success. The first storm subsided comparatively soon, and
conquerors and conquered alike learned to accommodate themselves
to the new circumstances. Then the Canaanites once more collected
all their energies to strike a blow for freedom. Under the
hegemony of Sisera a great league was formed, and the plain of
Jezreel became the centre of the reorganised power which made
itself felt by its attacks both northwards and southwards. The
Israelites were strangely helpless; it was as if neither shield
nor spear could be found among their 40,000 fighting men. But at
last there came an impulse from above, and brought life and soul to
the unorganised mass; Deborah sent out the summons to the tribes,
Barak came forward as their leader against the kings of Canaan who
had assembled under Sisera's command by the brook of Kishon.
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