Introduction to Judges

The book of Judges is a startling narrative about the pain of a life without God and about the wonder of God’s intervention. The stories in Judges begin shortly after the death of Joshua, who led the Israelites into the promised land (Josh 24:29–33; Judg 1:1). The people no longer have a leader like Moses or Joshua, and they neglect their relationship with Yahweh. The result is a recurring cycle of sin, punishment, repentance, and rescue by a “judge”—a leader sent by God.

Background

The events in Judges take place shortly after the conquest of the promised land but before the selection of Saul as Israel’s first king—roughly 1250–1050 bc. The book’s narrative centers on military leaders, whom the narrative calls judges; this relates them to the leaders Moses appointed to arbitrate disputes among the Israelites, but only the judge Deborah clearly serves that role (Exod 18:21, 26; compare Judg 4:4–5). Most of the judges are warriors leading the tribes of Israel against nearby enemies, including Moabites, Canaanites, Ammonites, and Philistines.

The period of the judges is marked by violence and moral decline; the end of the book attributes this to an absence of centralized leadership resulting in a lack of accountability and unity (e.g., 17:6; 21:25). Judges opens by referring back to the book of Joshua (Judg 1:1). In this way, it functions to bring clarity to the end of Joshua: Although the Israelites had settled in Canaan (Josh 24:28), enemies still abounded (Judg 1:27–36). In line with the viewpoint of Deuteronomy, foreign oppression is directly related to the sinfulness of the people (Judg 2:19–23; 17:6; Deut 28:25). But whenever the people repent, a judge arises to save them.

Structure

Judges opens with a description of political and religious turmoil in Israel (Judg 1–2). After this comes a sequence of hero stories about the judges, Israel’s leaders. Major judges include Ehud (3:12–30), Deborah (chs. 4–5), Gideon (chs. 6–8), Abimelech (ch. 9), Jephthah (chs. 10–11), and Samson (chs. 13–16). The same pattern occurs in each story: Israel falls into sin; God allows a foreign nation to oppress Israel as punishment; Israel repents; God sends a judge to deliver Israel from foreign oppression. The last five chapters of Judges emphasize the social and moral decline within Israel rather than conflict with outside enemies.

Outline

• Incomplete occupation of the land (1:1–3:6)

• Judges deliver Israel (3:7–16:31)

• Israel’s depravity under the judges (17:1–21:25)

Themes

The Israelites’ failures during the period of the judges undo many of Joshua’s accomplishments. By failing to finish the conquest Joshua started, they lose much of the land he led them in occupying (ch. 1); and they break the covenant (contract) they had renewed under his leadership (ch. 2). In addition, most of their heroes do not rise to Joshua’s standard of leadership (chs. 3–16). At the end of the book, these failures remain unresolved.

But kingship is not necessarily the answer. Judges shows the problem of kingship: Gideon does not allow himself to be made king because that role belongs to God alone (8:23). Yet, his son Abimelech’s name means “my father is king,” and Abimelech kills his 70 brothers in an attempt to claim the kingship for himself (9:5). This foray into kingship ends in disaster and profoundly demonstrates the evils of monarchy.

On the other hand, the final section of Judges (chs. 17–21) includes stories about Israel’s disarray, showing the need for centralized leadership. Without a godly governance, Israel’s tragic cycle—idolatry, punishment, pleas for mercy, God’s appointment of a judge, and the return to idolatry—would undoubtedly continue. There is a contrast here: Joshua’s leadership exemplified faithfulness, but the lack of leadership in Judges results in everyone doing what is right in their own eyes (e.g., 17:6; 21:25).

Judges simultaneously endorses and critiques the need for a king in Israel (compare 18:1; 19:1)—declaring that Yahweh alone is king (8:22–23). In this way, Judges shows why Yahweh would allow Israel to have a king, while emphasizing that Yahweh is truly king over the nation (compare 1 Sam 8:5). Without Yahweh, the nation will fail (Judg 10:13–14; compare Deut 28:36–37). Ultimately, the appointment of a king in Israel is a rejection of their true king (1 Sam 8).

Judges reveals the depravity that results from people living by their own truth—disorder, immorality, corruption, and destruction—and the incredible need for God’s reign. Even those raised up to help us can lead us astray, but Yahweh will not. He is the rightful king over our lives and over all the earth (compare Luke 19:38; Mark 15:2; Rev 17:14; 19:16).

Further Reading

The Historical Books

Philistines

Judges, Book of CLBD