Judges
The Book of Judges covers the men with spiritual discernment, military prowess and administrative abilities that the LORD GOD raised up to guide the fortunes of Israel. These leaders were established from the death of Joshua to the days of Samuel, the last judge. Samuel is traditionally thought to have written this book. The account notes the failure of the children of Israel to maintain the high spiritual standards laid down by Moses and Joshua in their failure to conquer the land of Canaan as God had challenged them to do, to their growing disobedience and spiritual apostasy brought on by wicked immorality. God would teach His people through this period that “rest” was fully available, and provided for by Himself, but must be entered into by an obedient people.
Judges 1
1:1-7 Judah and Simeon capture Abonibezek
1:8-10 Conquests of Judah
1:11-15 Othniel conquers Debir and receives Achsah
1:16-21 The extent of conquests of Judah and Benjamin
1:22-36 Conquests of other tribes
Judges 2
2:1-5 Angel of the Lord rebukes Israel
2:6-10 The death of Joshua
2:11-15 Israel’s apostasy
2:16-23 Ministry of the judges
Judges 3
3:1-7 Nations left to test Israel
3:8-11 Othniel judges and delivers Israel
3:12-30 Ehud delivers Israel from Moab
3:31 Shamgar delivers Israel
Judges 4
4:1-16 Deborah and Barak deliver Israel
4:17-24 The death of Sisera
Judges 5
5:1-31 The song of Deborah and Barak
Judges 6
6:1-10 Midian oppresses Israel
6:11-35 The call of Gideon
6:36-40 Gideon’s signs
Judges 7
7:1-14 Gideon’s men reduced to three hundred
7:15-23 The lamps and the pitcher
7:24-25 Gideon’s victory
Judges 8
8:1-28 Gideon captures and slays Midian’s kings
8:29-32 Gideon’s children; his death
8:33-35 Israel turns from God
Judges 9
9:1-6 Abimelech made king
9:7-21 Jotham rebukes the Shechemites
9:22-49 The conspiracy of Gaal
9:50-57 Death of Abimelech
Judges 10
10:1-5 Tola and Jair judge Israel
10:6-18 Israel humiliated
Judges 11
11:1-28 Jephthah delivers Israel
11:29-31 Jephthah’s vow
11:32-40 Jephthah’s victory
Judges 12
12:1-6 Ephraimites slain by Jephthah
12:7 Jephthah’s death
12:8-15 Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon judge Israel
Judges 13
13:1-25 The birth of Samson
Judges 14
14:1-7 Samson and the women from Timnath
14:8-20 Samson feast and riddle
Judges 15
15:1-2 Samson is denied his wife
15:3-13 Samson burns the Philistines’ corn
15:14-20 Samson slays a thousand Philistines
Judges 16
16:1-3 Samson at Gaza
16:4-22 Samson and Delilah
16:23-31 The death of Samson
Judges 17
17:1-6 Micah’s images
17:7-13 Micah’s hired priest
Judges 18
18:1-31 Micah and the Danites
Judges 19
19:1-30 The Levite and his concubine
Judges 20
20:1-14 The war against the Benjamites
20:15-16 Seven hundred left-handed men chosen
20:17-23 Israel defeated in two battles
20:24-48 The defeat of the Benjamites
Judges 21
21:1-7 Mourning for Benjamin
21:8-25 Wives for the Benjaminites
