The Book of Judges tells the history of Israel during the time between the death of Joshua and the establishment of the monarchy. It covers a period of over 300 years when Israel was ruled by “judges” who were raised up by God to deliver the people from their enemies. The recurring theme throughout Judges is the apostasy of Israel as they turned away from God to worship idols, followed by God’s judgment through allowing them to be oppressed by enemies, Israel’s repentance and crying out to God, and God raising up a judge to deliver them. The book shows the moral and spiritual decline of Israel after the generation that had seen God’s mighty works during the conquest died.
Outline of Judges
Here is a basic outline of the Book of Judges:
1. Israel’s failure to drive out the Canaanites (Judges 1:1-2:5)
After the death of Joshua, the tribes of Israel inquired of the Lord who should go up first against the remaining Canaanites. Judah was chosen to go first. However, the tribes did not fully drive out the Canaanites as God had commanded, but subjected them to forced labor instead. The Angel of the Lord rebuked Israel for breaking their covenant with God by making treaties with the people of the land.
2. The recurring cycle of sin, oppression, repentance, and deliverance (Judges 2:6-16:31)
This section makes up the bulk of Judges and reveals a repeating cycle:
- The people of Israel do evil in the eyes of the Lord and serve the Baals.
- The Lord gives them over to plunderers who oppress them.
- Israel cries out to the Lord in their distress.
- The Lord raises up a judge to deliver them from their enemies.
- Israel enjoys a time of peace under the judge.
- After the judge dies, Israel returns to their sinful ways.
This cycle is repeated around 7 times throughout this section as Israel passes through times of apostasy, oppression, repentance, and deliverance under judges like Othniel, Ehud, Deborah, Gideon, Jephthah, and Samson.
3. Religious and moral corruption in Israel (Judges 17-21)
The closing chapters of Judges depict the religious and moral corruption that was present in Israel during this era:
– Micah sets up an idolatrous shrine, appointing his own private priest (Judges 17-18).
– A Levite and his concubine spend the night in the Benjamite city of Gibeah, where the men of the city rape and abuse the concubine until she dies. This leads to war between the tribe of Benjamin and the other tribes of Israel (Judges 19-21).
These accounts reveal the “every man did what was right in his own eyes” mindset during this period when “Israel had no king” and lacked godly leadership.
Background
The events of Judges cover the turbulent period after the death of Joshua around 1375 B.C. The people had entered the Promised Land but were failing to drive out all the inhabitants as God had commanded. The Canaanites were left in the land to test Israel’s loyalty to God (Judges 2:20-3:6). The judges God raised up were military champions as well as judicial leaders and deliverers. Some scholars believe the judges may have ruled regional areas of Israel rather than the entire nation. The judges appear in no chronological order or succession.
Major Judges
Here is some background information on a few of the major judges in the book:
Othniel
Othniel was the first judge, a younger contemporary of Joshua. He delivered Israel from oppression by Mesopotamia and enjoyed 40 years of peace (Judges 3:7-11).
Ehud
Ehud assassinated Eglon the king of Moab and led Israel to defeat the Moabites who had been oppressing them (Judges 3:12-30). Peace lasted for 80 years during his judgeship.
Deborah
Deborah was a prophetess who ruled Israel and rendered judgments under a palm tree. She called Barak to lead 10,000 men into battle against the Canaanite forces led by Sisera. The Canaanites were defeated, and Israel enjoyed 40 years of peace (Judges 4-5).
Gideon
The angel of the Lord called Gideon to deliver Israel from the hand of Midian. Gideon destroyed the altar of Baal and miraculously defeated a huge Midianite army with just 300 men. Israel enjoyed 40 years of peace, but after Gideon’s death, Israel fell into idolatry again (Judges 6-8).
Jephthah
Jephthah led the Israelites to defeat the Ammonites who were oppressing them. However, he foolishly made a rash vow to sacrifice whoever first came out of his house when he returned from battle. This ended up being his daughter (Judges 11-12).
Samson
Samson was a Nazirite, blessed with supernatural strength by the Spirit of the Lord. However, he broke his Nazirite vows and pursued ungodly relationships with Philistine women. Through a series of clashes with the Philistines, Samson wreaked havoc among them. In a final act, he pushed over the pillars of a Philistine temple, killing many along with himself (Judges 13-16).
Themes and Teachings
Here are some of the key themes and teachings that emerge from this book:
Consequences of disobedience and compromise
A primary theme is how Israel’s disobedience led to their oppression by enemies. When they compromised and tolerated idolatry and sin, they opened themselves to God’s judgment through foreign powers. Yet God mercifully delivered them when they repented.
Need for godly leadership
The period of the judges showed Israel’s need for godly leadership to point people toward the Lord. Lack of leadership led to spiritual decline. The refrain “in those days Israel had no king” sets the stage for the coming of kingship in 1 Samuel.
God’s faithfulness and mercy
Despite Israel’s repeated sins, God remained faithful to His covenant and showed them mercy and grace by delivering and restoring them when they repented and cried out to Him.
All have sinned and fall short
Even the judges were deeply flawed people who failed to drive out the Canaanites and fell into sin. Yet God worked through and in spite of their flaws due to His mercy and sovereign plan.
Folly of idolatry and compromise
The devastating consequences of Israel’s idolatry, assimilation, and compromise with pagan nations are on full display in Judges. Going against God’s law and ways never ends well.
Need for personal holiness
The rampant moral corruption and “every man did as he saw fit” attitude illustrates the importance of personal holiness, integrity, and faithfulness to God’s standards.
Conclusion
Judges depicts a dark and turbulent time in Israel’s history but highlights God’s mercy and faithfulness in the face of human sin and failure. While the people were trapped in a cycle of rebellion against God and oppression by enemies that they’d been warned about, God patiently worked to draw them back to Himself when they repented. The judges He raised up delivered them from temporal enemies but pointed to Israel’s ultimate need for the Messiah who would one day deliver them from the root of all oppression – sin.