Judges

Leaders

The Book of Judges is a book in the Hebrew Bible and the Old Testament of the Christian Bible. It is the seventh book of the Bible in the Hebrew Bible and the second book of the Bible in the Christian Old Testament. The Book of Judges covers the period of history in ancient Israel following the death of Joshua, the leader of the Israelites after the Exodus, and the conquest of the Promised Land. The book tells the stories of the judges, who were leaders and military leaders appointed by God to deliver the Israelites from their enemies and lead them in the ways of God. Key figures in the Book of Judges include the judges themselves, such as Othniel, Ehud, Deborah, Gideon, and Samson, as well as various other individuals and groups who are involved in the stories contained in the book. The book also includes a number of references to God and his actions, as well as expressions of trust and reliance on him.

Commentary

21 chapters

Biblical figures

Key figures in Judges

God

Supreme Being

Israel

King

Moses

Prophet, biblical judge

Judah

Tribal leader

Jerusalem

Capital

Egypt

Pharaoh

Dan

Judge

Levi

Priest

Aaron

High Priest of Israel

Philistine

Enemy

Ben

Son of Jacob.

Joseph

Prophet, Vizier

Joshua

Prophet

Jordan

Baptist

Ephraim

Tribe Leader

Benjamin

Son of Jacob.

Canaan

Land of Canaan

Eve

Mother of all humankind

Syria

Ruler

Manasseh son of Jacob

Ammon

Servant

Jonathan

Prince

Gilead

Judge

Edom

Chief of Edom.

Reuben

Firstborn of Jacob.

Ram

Judge

Hebron

City

Eleazar

High Priest of Israel

Bethel

priest

Midian

Judge

Bethlehem

Town.

Simeon

Priest

Ishmael

Son of Abraham

Naphtali

Tribal leader

Jezreel

The position held by Jezreel was "a city in Israel."

Joash

King

Zebulun

Asher

Tribal leader.

Gideon

Prophet, biblical judge

Issachar

Tribal leader.

Nazar

Prophet.

Shilo

Religious Leader

Samson

Biblical judge

Caleb

Spy.

Sinai

Prophet.

Ramah

Prophet.

Shiloh

Leader.

Amon

King

Micah

Prophet

Zidon

King

Jephthah

Judge

Kadesh

Priest

Arnon

Governor

Phinehas

High Priest of Israel

Abel

Shepherd

Jotham

King of Judah

Zeba

Army commander

Gaza

Ruler of Gaza

Sidon

King

Manoah

Manoah was a Judge.

Heber

Judge

Barak

Judge

Gershom

Priest

Dagon

Philistine god of agriculture and fertility

Kenaz

Kenaz held the position of chief or chieftain.

Deborah

Prophet, biblical judge

Ehud

Biblical judge

Tabor

Judge

Dor

Generation.

Elon

Judge

Gaal

Leader

Abdon

Judge

Jabin

King.

Tola

Judge

Zorah

Judge

Abiezer

Judge

Aijalon

Judge

Othniel

Judge

Delilah

Philistine spy.

Jael

Jael was a "woman of great courage and resourcefulness."

Kishon

Judge

Talma

Arad

Achsah

Danit

Lehi

Hillel

Camon

Abimelech

King of Israel

Debir

King

Ham

Moab

Chapters

Israel's Continuing Conquest

Judges 1

The Israelites begin to worship other gods, and as a result, God allows them to be oppressed by their enemies.

Israel's Unfaithfulness

Judges 2

The Israelites continue to worship other gods, and as a result, God raises up judges to deliver them from their oppressors.

The Nations Remaining in Canaan

Judges 3

God allows certain nations to remain in the Promised Land as a test for the Israelites.

Yael Kills Sisera

Judges 4

Deborah, a prophetess, leads Israel to victory against the Canaanites.

The Song of Deborah

Judges 5

Deborah and Barak sing a song of victory and praise God.

Gideon's Call

Judges 6

The Israelites are oppressed by the Midianites, and God raises up Gideon to deliver them.

Gideon's 300 Men

Judges 7

Gideon defeats the Midianites with a small army.

Gideon's Ephod

Judges 8

Gideon and his men capture and kill the Midianite kings.

Abimelech's Ambition

Judges 9

Abimelech, one of Gideon's sons, becomes king and kills his brothers to consolidate power.

Israel's Repentance

Judges 10

The Israelites again worship other gods and are oppressed by their enemies.

Jephthah's Vow

Judges 11

Jephthah, a judge, delivers Israel from the Ammonites.

Jephthah's Conflict with Ephraim

Judges 12

The Israelites are again oppressed and God raises up Samson to deliver them.

The Birth of Samson

Judges 13

Samson is born and is dedicated to God as a Nazirite.

Samson's Marriage and Riddle

Judges 14

Samson marries a Philistine woman and begins to judge Israel.

Samson's Revenge with the Jawbone

Judges 15

Samson defeats the Philistines with the strength God gave him.

Samson's Destructive Triumph:

Judges 16

Samson falls in love with Delilah, who betrays him and causes him to lose his strength.

Micah's Idolatry

Judges 17

The Israelites again worship other gods and are oppressed by their enemies.

The Tribe of Dan's Idolatry

Judges 18

The tribe of Dan, in search of land, takes the city of Laish and renames it Dan.

The Levite's Concubine

Judges 19

A Levite's concubine is raped and murdered, leading to a civil war among the tribes of Israel.

Battle Against the Benjamites

Judges 20

The Israelites unite to punish the tribe of Benjamin for the crime, but end up killing all the men, women and children of the tribe.

Capture of Wives for the Benjamites

Judges 21

The Israelites regret their actions and work to repopulate the tribe of Benjamin by allowing the remaining Benjaminite men to take wives from a group of women who had gathered at Shiloh.