The Book of Judges

The Book of Judges

The Book of Judges was given it’s title from the twelve men and one woman whom God had chosen to use as judges and rescue Israel. The 13 judges mentioned in this book came from different tribes of Israel. They served as military leaders, as well as decision makers, between people experiencing disputes with one another, what we call today civil judges. Several of these judges mentioned in this book only led a few tribes or small area of Israel. One other judge in addition to the 13 mentioned, the last and first prophet of Israel, Samuel, is not mentioned in the Book of Judges. He has his own books: 1 and 2 Samuel.

This book is the main connection between the time when Israel took possession of the promised land (Book of Joshua) and the time when Israel began to have kings (I Samuel). The period of judges date from about 1375 to 1050 B.C. During this time period of Judges, Israel was a united group of tribes.

It is uncertain who wrote the Book of Judges. The contents of the book suggest it was written after the Ark of the Covenant was removed from Shiloh, during the time of Eli and Samuel (Judges 18:31 and 1 Samuel 4:3-11). Four times it is mentioned by the author “in those days there was no king in Israel.” (Judges 17:6, 18:1, 19:1, and 21:25) I believe this tells us that Israel’s monarchy or period of kings, already existed when this book was written. Another factor in establishing the time it was written was that Jerusalem had not yet been taken from the Jebusites (Judges 1:21). In view of the foregoing it is believed that the Book of Judges was written sometime after the beginning of King Saul’s reign (1050 B.C.) and before King David captured Jerusalem (1000 B.C.)

The Jewish Talmud connects the origin of the Book of Judges records and evaluates with the last judge and first prophet Samuel. Although the actual writer is unknown, there is a strong possibility that Samuel may have written it.

One thing is definitely certain: The Book of Judges records and evaluates this period from the perspective of God’s covenant with Israel (Judges 2:1-5), talks of God’s covenant and Israel’s failure to obey it. It was further discussed (Deuteronomy 28:25, 33, 48) by Moses that Israel would be oppressed or become servants of foreign nations if they rebelled against the terms of God’s covenant. Judges shows the history and reality of that prophecy.

The Book of Judges gives the main record of Israel’s history in the promised land. It covers the time from Joshua’s death to the time of Samuel. It reveals the moral and spiritual decline of the tribes of Israel after they settled in the promised land that God had given them. It also reveals the judgments and consequences of Israel’s sins as well as the results that always came upon them when they forgot their covenant with God. Because Israel forgot about God and their covenant with him, they started following false gods which led them into a lifestyle of rebellion and immorality.

Backsliding and God’s amazing grace in recovering and restoring is the theme of Judges. Some theologians call it rebellion and rescue, and others call it defeat and deliverance. All of which paint the picture of Israel’s history during this period. Another aspect you could say of this book is that is emphasizes disappointments.

We know that the tribes of Israel entered the promised land with high hopes for their future. They were led out of slavery in Egypt, led through the wilderness for forty years, and then brought into the promised land, by the mighty power of God. They expected now to attain a higher level of living and victory in the promised land and in their lives. Look at their past history prior to entering the promised land. It was a hard life. Now, they are entering the land flowing with milk and honey. They think life is going to be great. But this was not the case. They failed and suffered miserably, defeat after defeat.

Proverbs 14:34 shows Israel during this period of history. It states, “righteousness exalteth a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.” It records their history as a nation from the death of Joshua to Samuel. It bridges the gap, if you will, between Joshua and the rise to a monarchy. Morally, it is a time of Israel’s deep declining as they turned from God. They stooped to the low level of “in those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.” (Judges 17:6) This should have been a glowing progress for the tribes of Israel, but instead, it was a dark time of repeated failure.

There is a continuous circle of events here in Israel’s history. First, the history starts with the nation of Israel serving God. Thereafter, the declining steps commence. Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord and served Baalim (Judges 2:11). Israel now forsook the Lord and served Baal and Ashtaroth. The anger of the Lord was kindled and he delivered Israel into the hands of their enemies. He did that to chastise them because they followed their own way (pleasures). They were sold into slavery (depression and war). It was a time of servitude for them. Israel then cries out to God because of their distress. Israel turned back to God and repented. God hears their prayer and raises up Judges, who through them, were delivered. Once again, Israel served God. But they did not learn. The sale old story repeats itself again and again. The old cliché “history repeats itself” is absolutely true here.

In view of what I have discussed here, I have divided Judges into three basic parts. Part one shows Israel’s failure to complete the conquest of Canaan. The failed to remove ungodliness from the land as God had commanded them. That resulted in Israel’s suffering the moral and spiritual decline after Joshua had died.

The second part covers the main body of Judges. It shows six examples of Israel’s recurring cycle of rebellion, being placed into slavery and servitude, crying out to God and repenting asking for help, and God rescuing them through his appointed leaders, the judges. Among the thirteen judges mentioned in this part, best known are the team of Deborah and Barak, Gideon, Jephthah, and Samson. (See the Book of Hebrews, Chapter 11, verse 32)

The third and last part shows the depth of moral and social corruption caused by Israel’s rebellion and failing to comply with God’s directions for them to fulfill the covenant.

The Book of Judges truly reminds us today of how slowly people learn from history and their own mistakes. Furthermore, it shows how quickly we today repeat the same mistakes as they did, again and again.

The Book of Isaiah in Chapter 1 outlies three steps that cause the downfall of nations. The first is spiritual apostacy which is a renouncing of a belief or faith, or an abandoning of principles. The second is moral awfulness, in Israel’s case serving Baal and Ashtaroth. The last step is political anarchy or disorder. These steps, as history shows, has destroyed many nations.

Writing about Judges would not be complete if I didn’t discuss six major features that characterizes this book.

The first is that the Book of Judges records events of Israel’s dark history during the time of conquest of the promised land and the beginning of the monarchy.

The second feature is that it highlights three (3) important truths: (1) Being God’s people means accepting God as King and Lord. In other words, we have to recognize Him as the absolute authority and leader of our life. (2) Sin will always cause us destruction and death and (3) When we humble ourselves, when we pray and repent, God will respond by restoring his relationship with us. When Israel did this, he also renewed righteousness in their land. God promises that as stated in 2 Chronicles 7:14, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn away from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

The third feature shows that each time Israel lost sight of being God’s chosen people under his kingship, they quickly returned to the repeated cycles of spiritual darkness, moral decline, and social unrest. This cycle is referred to in Judges 21:25 and 17:6 as a time when “every man is doing that which is right in his own eyes.”

The forth feature is that it reveals several repeated patterns in the history of God’s people under both the old and the new covenants. i.e. unless God’s people love and obey him, they become spiritually hardened and rebel against God. But God is patient. Each time his people truly repent and turn to him he responds in mercy. Here in the Book of Judges he did that by his spirit moving in people he called to rescue them.

The fifth feature is mentioned a couple of times (Judges 2:11 and 3:7) that they started the same cycle the same way: “the children did evil in the sight of the Lord.”

The last feature reveals that God used foreign nations that were more evil than his own people Israel to judge them for their sins. Gid’s intervention was the only thing that kept Israel from being completely conquered and lost in the wilderness.

Lord, may we all learn from the past history and mistakes and let you guide our lives. Amen