Between the death of Joshua and the inauguration of King Saul, the ancient nation of Israel didn't have specific human leaders at the top of the food chain, running the show. Moses' generation didn't get to enter the Promised Land. The next generation did, and they fought battles and took land as God directed.
In Judges 4 and 5 we read about a battle Israelite prophet Deborah led an army of 10,000 against Sisera’s iron chariots and much larger army. The Israelites defeated the Canaanites, and Sisera was killed in his sleep by Jael, who drove a tent peg through his head. The evidence appears to be strong.
