• Hebrew text – “Judges”
• Greek test – “Judges”
• English text – “Judges”

The primary characteristic of this book is the rule and administration of the Judges in fact there is 12 in all. There are several things concerning judges which we should know: –

1. A judge was a local hero, while a King was a national hero. The judges ruled over local territories.
2. There was no line of succession. The judge was chosen by God. There was no dynasty.
3. The judge fulfilled the role of a military leader. ie Gideon and Samson.
4. The judge was recognised as having the Spirit of God because of the miraculous exploits in military battle. ie Gideon.

The judge occupied a very particular era in the history of Israel. See below:-

Moses – Joshua – JUDGES – Kings.

No author is identified. Tradition states that Samuel is the author of this book. The book was certainly written before the time of David and after the introduction of the monarchy. Notice the phrase used repeatedly throughout the book, “And in those days there was no King in the land”. Samuel reigned before David and so it seems likely that the book was written during his reign

The theme of this book can be summed up in one word, that is “Apostasy”. There has been a covenant established between God and Israel. And time after time Israel fall from the truth. They break in particular the first commandment. Judges 21:25 is the key verse for the whole book.

The purpose of the book is to give a warning against apostasy. If you want to preach on apostasy its dangers then this is the book for you.

There are three major sections in this book:-

• The introduction to the book (Chapter 1:1-3:6). In these verses three causes are given for the tragic conditions which will appear through the book. They are:-

1. There was incomplete obedience. The people of Israel did not completely destroy the Canaanites and so later these people arise and trouble Israel.
2. Idolatry.
3. Inter-marriage. They married the heathen who turned them to other “gods”.

• What happens as a result of these failings (Chapter 3:7-16:31). This section is also the period of the judges. In these chapters Israel seems to be going round and round in cycles. They are constantly falling into sin because they do not repent from their wickedness and the God sends His judgement upon them in the form of the Canaanites. God sends judges to be the “saviour” of the people of Israel and they are restored again. Later Israel would again fall into sin. In Judges God sends 12 judges to free Israel. There are seven main judges, they are:-

1. Othniel (Chapter 3:7-11).
2. Ehud (Chapter 3:12-30).
3. Shamgar (Chapter 3:31).
4. Deborah (Chapter 4:1-5:31).
5. Gideon (Chapter 6:1-8:32).
6. Jephthah (Chapter 11:1-12:7).
7. Samson (Chapter 13:1-16:31).

• A brief appendix about apostasy (Chapters 17-21). It is presented to us in its three major fields:-

1. Religious area – Chapter 17 to 18 there is idolatry.
2. Domestic area – Chapter 19 there is immorality.
3. Political area – Chapters 20 and 21 there is anarchy.

• The story of Jephthah – Many people think that in Judges 11:34-40 Jephthah made a pledge to God to offer his daughter as a living sacrifice if God helped him, and that he was forced to keep his vow because God helped him. But was there any human sacrifice? Here are some reasons why not:-

1. The Bible does not say that there was a human sacrifice involved.
2. For Jephthah to offer his daughter as a human sacrifice would have been contrary to the law of Moses and the Old Testament.
3. It seems that Jephthah vows to give his daughter over to God. This does not mean that her offered as a sacrifice but that he did with her what Samuel’s mother did with him. He took her to the temple or tabernacle and she became one who was consecrated to the service of God by working and living and serving in the temple or tabernacle. (See 1 Samuel that there was such girls. Eli’s sons committed immorality with such girls)..

• The issue of Samson’s hair. The significance of Samson’s hair is connected with the law of the Nazarites, which were:-

1. Do not touch a dead body.
2. Do not drink strong wine.
3. Do not cut hair. This showed Samson’s dedication and dependence on God. This is why he lost strength when his hair was cut.

• The question of Gideon’s fleece – God calls Gideon to go out to battle. Gideon is apprehensive and so he devises the little test with the fleece in Judges 6:36-40. Many believers believe that this is a way of discovering God’s will. It was:-

1. To confirm God’s will.
2. It was an act of unbelief on Gideon’s part. He needed a sign. If believers need a sign it is an act of unbelief on their part, to confirm God’s will. It is not to know God’s will.