From the death of Joshua until Saul became the first king of Israel was the approximately three hundred fifty year period of the Judges in Israel (cf. Judges 11:26; 1 Kings 6:1), from about 1370 B.C. to around 1020 B.C.

In violation of God’s command, Israel failed to destroy all the idolatrous inhabitants of the land, but made covenants with them (Judges 1:27-36). God decreed that He therefore would not drive out these people but would leave them to be “thorns” in the side of Israel (Judges 2:1- 5). These nations would prove Israel, whether they would remain faithful to God or not (Judges 2:20 - 3:4). Joshua’s generation, which knew the Lord, died (Judges 2:6-10). Later generations intermarried with the idolatrous Gentiles in the land and served their gods (Judges 3:5-6). Israel went through a repeated cycle: (1) SIN - they sinned against God; (2) SERVITUDE - God allowed oppressors to overcome them; (3) SORROW - they repented of their rebellion; (4) SALVATION - God sent a judge to deliver them (Judges 2:11-19). The book of Judges records twelve such judges. Eli and Samuel, recorded in 1 Samuel, complete the list of judges (14, and one evil, self-proclaimed king, Abimelech).

The word “judges” means “saviors.” Essentially the judges were deliverers of the people of Israel from foreign oppressors. At least some of them also acted as rulers and judges of disputes.

Othniel, Caleb’s younger brother and the first judge of Israel, delivered the people from oppression by “Cushan-Rishathaim” (i.e., twice wicked Cushan), king of Mesopotamia (Judges 3:7-11).

Ehud, a left handed man of Benjamin, stabbed grossly fat King Eglon of the Moabites and then led Israel to victory over Moab (Judges 3:12-30).

Deborah, a mother in Israel, judged the people from the mountains of Ephraim while Jabin king of Canaan oppressed them. She summoned Barak to lead a 10,000 man army taken from Naphtali and Zebulun against Sisera, Jabin’s commander, though the Canaanites had 900 iron chariots. Because Barak would not go without Deborah, the Lord gave Sisera into the hands of a woman. Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite. She drove a tent peg through Sisera’s temple as he slept in her tent (Judges chapter 4).

Afterward the Midianites oppressed Israel. Though it took three miraculous signs from God to embolden Gideon (Jerub-baal) to attack the huge Midianite army, God called him a “mighty man of valor.” With 300 men he routed the Midianites. Gideon refused Israel’s offer to be ruler, saying “the Lord shall rule over you” (Judges chapters 6-8).

Abimelech, Gideon’s son by a concubine, murdered Gideon’s 70 other sons and made himself king in Shechem. He eventually was killed when a woman of Thebez threw a millstone off the wall of the city and crushed his skull as he and his lawless men besieged it (Judges chapter 9).

Later, because of Israel’s idolatry, both the Philistines in the Southwest and the Ammonites in the East oppressed Israel (Judges 10). When Israel repented and cried to the Lord, He raised up Jephthah, the son of a harlot, to deliver Israel from Ammon. Jepthah foolishly vowed to the Lord that, if the Lord would give him victory over Ammon, he would sacrifice the first thing that came out of his house to greet him. The Lord gave him victory, his daughter, his only child, was the first to greet him, and Jephthah kept his vow (Judges 11).

To begin the deliverance of Israel from the Philistines, God gave Samson, a Nazirite from birth, miraculous strength through the Holy Spirit as long as he was faithful as a Nazirite (Judges chapters 13 - 16). Samson repeatedly fell victim to the schemes of ungodly, Philistine women whom he loved, but God used these events to bring defeats upon the Philistines. Though Samson was an undisciplined character who eventually committed suicide, he began the eventual victory of Israel over their most entrenched enemies, the Philistines.

Eli was both high priest and judge. Samuel, born to his mother by divine promise, lived with him and ministered to the Lord even as a child. Because Eli did not restrain his wicked sons who defiled the worship of God, God caused his sons to be killed in battle with the Philistines, the ark of God to be taken, Eli to die, and a curse to be placed on his lineage (1 Samuel chapters 1 - 4).

Samuel was the last judge of Israel as well as the first prophet of the kingdom of Israel (1 Samuel 3:19-21). He also ministered before the Lord as priest (1 Samuel 2:18). He persuaded Israel to put away their idols. The Philistines were subdued during his day, and he went to various cities to judge Israel (1 Samuel 7). When he was old, his sons were also wicked, and Israel desired to have a king (1 Samuel 8).

The primary characteristic of the period was, “In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” (Judges 17:6; 21:25) Every man followed his own conscience. There was no rule of law. The result was a time of anarchy: outward oppression and inward decay (Judges chapters 17-21). This shows the results for both individuals and nations when people simply do what they feel is right without regard for divine law.

During this dark period a young woman lived whose story offers a bright contrast of righteousness. The young woman Ruth, whose story is recorded in the book bearing her name, is a moving example of loyalty, service, and obedience that our daughters may emulate. No more exalted statement of loyalty has ever been made than the stirring request of Ruth to her mother-in-law Naomi (Ruth 1:16-17).

The Judges of Israel