JUDGE

Men raised up by Jehovah to deliver his people prior to the period of Israel’s human kings were known as judges. (Judg. 2:16) Moses, as mediator of the Law covenant and God-appointed leader, judged Israel for forty years. But the period of judges, as usually viewed, began with Joshua and ran through the judgeship of Samuel, extending 356 years from Moses’ death in 1473 B.C.E. to the beginning of King Saul’s reign, 1117 B.C.E.

The judges were selected and appointed by Jehovah from various tribes of Israel. Joshua was of the tribe of Ephraim and Samuel was a Levite. (Num. 13:8, 16; 1 Sam. 1:1; 1 Chron. 6:16, 33, 34) Between Joshua and Samuel, thirteen judges are named, as follows:

Judge Tribe Judge Tribe

Othniel Judah Jair Manasseh

Ehud Benjamin Jephthah Manasseh

Shamgar (?) Ibzan Zebulun (?)

Barak Naphtali (?) Elon Zebulun

Gideon Manasseh Abdon Ephraim

Tola Issachar Samson Dan

Eli Levi

The exact area over which each of the judges exercised jurisdiction and the dates of their judgeships cannot in every case be determined. Some may have judged contemporaneously in different sections of Israel, and there were periods of oppression intervening.—See CHRONOLOGY; COURT, JUDICIAL; JUDGES, BOOK OF; and judges of Israel under individual names.

JUDGES, BOOK OF

This Bible book basically covers a period of some 330 years between Israel’s conquest of Canaan and the beginning of the monarchy. (See CHRONOLOGY, pp. 336, 337.) Earlier, the Israelites had been forewarned that their failure to drive out the inhabitants of the land, as divinely commanded, would lead to their adopting the debased religious practices of the Canaanites. Finally this would result in Jehovah’s disfavor and his abandoning them to their enemies. (Ex. 23:32, 33; 34:11-17; Num. 33:55; Deut. 7:2-5) The historical record found in the book of Judges shows how the forewarning became a reality. However, rather than dealing extensively with Israel’s unfaithfulness and the resultant foreign oppression, the book primarily relates the exploits of the judges and the marvelous deliverances Jehovah performed by means of them. Thus Jehovah’s saving ability and his long-suffering, mercy, undeserved kindness and justice are highlighted. The judges themselves stand out as sterling examples of faith.—Heb. 11:32-34, 39, 40.

ARRANGEMENT

Judges is linked with the preceding Bible book by its opening words, “And after the death of Joshua . . . ” However, some of the happenings narrated therein evidently occurred before Joshua died. For example, Judges 2:6 reads: “When Joshua sent the people away, then the sons of Israel went their way, each to his inheritance, to take possession of the land.” So it appears that Judges 1:1–3:6 serves as an introduction, the writer having drawn on events taking place before and after Joshua’s death in order to provide the historical background for the account that follows. The section running from chapter 3, verse 7, to the end of chapter 16 is, basically, in chronological order and relates the activities of twelve judges (not including Deborah), starting with Othniel and concluding with Samson. The last part of the book could be termed an appendix and fits a period much earlier than Samson’s judgeship. The capture of Laish by the Danites could reasonably have taken place before Joshua’s death. (Compare Joshua 19:47; Judges 18:27-29.) The mass sex crime of the men of Gibeah and subsequent events resulting in the near extermination of the tribe of Benjamin probably occurred not many years after Joshua’s death. (Judg. 19:1–21:25; Josh. 24:31) This would allow sufficient time for the Benjamites to have increased from about 600 men (Judg. 20:47) to nearly 60,000 warriors by the time of David’s reign.—1 Chron. 7:6-12.

WRITER AND TIME OF COMPOSITION

Internal evidence provides a basis for determining when the book of Judges was written. It was compiled while a king ruled over Israel. Otherwise, the writer, when referring to the past, would not have said: “In those days there was no king in Israel.” (Judg. 17:6; 18:1; 19:1; 21:25) Yet it was at a time when the Jebusites still inhabited Jerusalem. (Judg. 1:21) Since David captured the “stronghold of Zion” (a part of Jerusalem) from the Jebusites in 1070 B.C.E. and transferred his capital there (2 Sam. 5:6-9), the book of Judges must have been committed to writing before that date, probably during Saul’s reign. At that time Samuel was the main advocate of true worship and, as Jehovah’s prophet, would have been the logical one to have recorded this book.

AUTHENTICITY

That the book of Judges rightly occupies a place in the Bible canon there can be no question. It is frank and honest, and does not hide Israel’s gross sins. Throughout, the book gives glory and honor, not to the human judges, but to Jehovah God as Israel’s real Deliverer. It shows that God’s spirit empowered the judges (Judg. 3:9, 10; 6:34; 11:29; 13:24, 25; 14:6, 19; 15:14, 18; 16:20, 28-30) and they, in turn, recognized Jehovah as Judge (11:27) and King (8:23). Other inspired Bible books refer to events recorded therein.—1 Sam. 12:9-11; 2 Sam. 11:21; Ps. 83:9-12; Isa. 9:4; 10:26; Heb. 11:32-34.

OUTLINE OF CONTENTS

I. Background for and conditions prevailing during time of judges (1:1–3:6)

A. Though taking possession of inheritances through tribal and individual effort, Israelites fail to obey God’s decree about expelling Canaanites and destroying appendages of idolatry (1:1–2:5)

B. After death of Joshua and older generation, Israelites ensnared by false worship of remaining Canaanites; Jehovah abandons his people to foes but raises up judges to deliver them when repentant (2:6–3:6)

II. Record of specific oppressions by enemies and subsequent exploits of judges (3:7–16:31)

A. Under control of King Cushan-rishathaim for eight years; delivered by Othniel the son of Kenaz (3:7-11)

B. For eighteen years subject to Moabite King Eglon; Benjamite Ehud, after killing Eglon, assembles Israelites for war and defeats Moab (3:12-30)

C. Shamgar strikes down 600 Philistines with cattle goad and saves Israel (3:31)

D. Twenty-year oppression of Jabin the king of Hazor; prophetess Deborah judging Israel; Barak commissioned to lead fight against enemy (4:1–5:31)

1. Barak assembles Israelite forces at Mount Tabor, drawing enemy’s chariotry to torrent valley of Kishon (4:11-13)

2. Jehovah gives victory to Barak, which provides basis for song sung by Deborah and Barak (4:14–5:31)

E. Israelites harassed by Midianites, Amalekites and Easterners for seven years; Gideon divinely commissioned as deliverer (6:1-24)

1. Gideon acts on assignment—at night, with cooperation of ten men, pulls down altar of Baal, cuts down sacred pole, builds altar to Jehovah and sacrifices bull; when enemy forces encamp in low plain of Jezreel, Gideon calls together an army and, by means of two tests,