WAEC Christian Religious Studies (CRS) 2017 Theory — Question 3

Model answer

Despite the covenant by God with the Israelites in the time of Joshua that they would not worship any other god apart from Yahweh, they defected and started worshipping Baal and Ashtoreth, the gods of the Canaanites. The Israelites were delivered into the hands of their enemies for worshipping other gods. As punishment for their sin, their enemies oppressed them. Their enemies not only oppressed them but also plundered them. At wars, they were defeated by their enemies. For these sufferings, the Israelites called on God. God, Yahweh was moved by their groaning, raised up judges who would deliver them from their enemies. However, when the judges died, Israel went back to sin against God. They were punished again and were forgiven after their repentance. It was after the death of one of such judges (Ehud) that Israel sinned against God and He gave them up to the Canaanite king - Jabin to oppress them for twenty years. When Israel cried for mercy, God raised up Deborah, a prophetess and a judge, to come to their rescue. Acting on God's instructions, Deborah summoned Barak to gather 10,000 men at the mount Tabor against Jabin and his army commander, Sisera. Deborah also added that God had promised to give Barak victory. Rather than going to the battle, Barak demanded that Deborah should go with him. Deborah agreed but added that the victory would go to a woman. When Sisera heard that Israel had gone to mount Tabor, he called up his men to fight Barak and Deborah. However, the Israelites defeated the Canaanites. After losing his entire army, Sisera fled on foot to the tent of Jael, the Kenite to seek asylum. Sisera was given hospitality by Jael but when he was asleep, Jael drove a peg into his throat with a hammer and killed him. Jabin, the king of Canaan was also killed and the Israelites became free again and lived peacefully.