illustrate. Tribal conflict threatened the nation’s stability; tribal loyalty at the expense of justice eventually precipitated a civil war. 3. The book of Judges also demonstrates Israel’s need for competent leadership. The prologue speaks of the judges in positive terms, probably because it is seeking to demonstrate the Lord’s provision for his people. When they cried for help, he raised up leaders to deliver them. The stories, in harmony with the prologue, tell how God accomplished great deeds