Book of Judges
Part of a series on the
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| Pentateuch ("the Law") |
| Historical Books |
| Books of Wisdom |
| Minor Prophets ("the Twelve") |
| Major Prophets |
| Appendix |
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The Book of Judges, is the second of the twelve Historical books and the seventh book from the Old Testament.
Authorship and writing
The authorship of the Book of Judges is traditionally attributed to Samuel. Judges (meaning "rulers") was written in Palestine, during his early ministry, three centuries after the entry of the tribes of Israel into Canaan under Joshua. It covers the events of those centuries.
The book is named for the thirteen judges of Israel: twelve raised up by God, one a usurper.
Major Theme
God's continual deliverance of a people that had forgotten Him and the Law.
Background
The Israelites had been settled for nearly three hundred years in Canaan. This time coincides with the beginning of the Iron Age in the Middle East. The Israelites began their apostasy after the death of Joshua. They did not drive out the Canaanites as God had commanded them to do through Moses. Instead, they intermarried with their pagan neighbors and began worshipping Baal.
The judges were to bring deliverance, protection and military leadership; to settle differences, judge lawsuits, and administer justice. Israel was a theocracy; the judges were not kings but deputies of God sent to save the people from seven different apostasies. The office was not continual; rather, judges were raised up as oppressive circumstances required.
Outline
- Failure to complete the Canaanite Conquest (1:1-3:6)
- Oppression and Deliverance: Judges vs. the Nations (3:7-16:31)
- Religious and Moral disorder (17:1-18:31)
- The War Against Benjamin (19:1-21:25)