Chapter 52. Giant Wars of the Judges
During the epoch of the judges, Israel fought battles against Ammonites, Moabites, Midianites, Philistines, and Amorites, whom Egyptians noted the Shasu dwelled among. God left the Philistines, Canaanites, Hivites, Amorites, Jebusites, and Perizzim for Israel to contend with; to experience and test Israelites in warcraft.
Israel’s success or failure depended on their devotion to God, His ways, and the Holy Covenant. Unfortunately, Israel often backslid into serving the Baalim and were subsequently oppressed by fierce enemies. To this end, early into the epoch of judges, King Chushanrishathaim of Assyria forced Israel into servitude for eight years. Chushan, as Josephus named him, besieged Israel, killing many. Israel submitted to Chushan as a vassal state and paid an oppressive tribute.
Chushanrishathaim was a title of hatred, likely assigned by the Israelites. Chushanrishathaim’s name means “twice-wicked Cushan.” One deduces he was a dynastic giant king, from the additional meanings to the compound words in his title. Chushan is defined as “their blackness,” describing an unknown people of Arabia and Mesopotamia descended from Cush, father of Nimrod, and patriarch of the Ethiopians; Cush additionally means “black.” Rishathaim means “wickedness.” One deduces the double portions of wickedness derives from his ancestor Nimrod and the terrible actions of Chushanrishathaim.
Israel, after eight years of oppression and servitude, cried out to God for deliverance. God raised up Othniel, son of Kenaz, brother of Caleb, to judge over and to save Israel. Othniel organized willing Israelites to raid the Assyrian garrison Chushan had set over them. Othniel successfully captured the garrison, which begat an outpouring of Israelite support to join him in battle against the Assyrians. Othniel prevailed. Israel was freed from Chushanrishathaim’s tyranny. Othniel’s leadership provided forty years of peace.
The Amalekites, Ammonites, and Moabites, led by Moabite King Eglon, attacked, defeated, and imposed servitude on Israel for eighteen years as a vassal nation. The alliance captured the city of palms/iyr hattmariym, another name for Jericho. Eglon, the Moabitish, king built a royal palace for his summer days at Jericho. Ammon and Moab had previously driven out the Emim and Zamzummim giants from their lands, so one would think the Moabite war was not against giants. Even so, Ammon and Moab were in league with the eastern Amalekites, which opens the door to giants and Amalekite hybrids giants bolstering the Ammonite and Moabite armies.
