History
The book of Judges
The cycle of sin, oppression, and rescue under Israel’s judges, from Othniel to Samson.
Judges repeats “In those days there was no king in Israel” (Judges 17:6; 21:25), so it was written after the monarchy began, but it speaks of the Jebusites still living in Jerusalem (1:21), so before David took the city. That points to the time of Saul or David’s early reign.
Kinds of writing
- Narrative 96%
- Song and psalm 4%
Key verses
Yahweh raises up judges. Yahweh raised up judges, who saved them out of the hand of those who plundered them.
Judges 2:16 (World English Bible)
Deborah sends Barak to battle. Deborah said to Barak, “Go; for this is the day in which Yahweh has delivered Sisera into your hand. Hasn’t Yahweh gone out before you?” So Barak went down from Mount Tabor, and ten thousand men after him.
Judges 4:14 (World English Bible)
Gideon's three hundred. Yahweh said to Gideon, “I will save you by the three hundred men who lapped, and deliver the Midianites into your hand. Let all the other people go, each to his own place.”
Judges 7:7 (World English Bible)
Samson's last prayer. Samson called to Yahweh, and said, “Lord Yahweh, remember me, please, and strengthen me, please, only this once, God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes.”
Judges 16:28 (World English Bible)
No king in Israel. In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did that which was right in his own eyes.
Judges 21:25 (World English Bible)
People
OthnielEhudDeborahBarakGideonJephthahSamsonDelilah
Places
Mount TaborOphrahMidianShechemGileadZorahGazaGibeah
On the timeline
Othniel, the first judgeEhud kills EglonDeborah and Barak defeat SiseraGideon's 300 defeat MidianJephthah defeats Ammon; his rash vowSamson's birth foretoldSamson's death at GazaMicah's idol and civil war with Benjamin
Dating notes
Jewish tradition (the Talmud) names Samuel. Spans are estimates. The span is an estimate; Scripture doesn’t say when the book was written.