Judges

Composition

The Book of Judges is the seventh book in the Old Testament of the Bible. It is part of the Hebrew Deuteronomic history that also includes the books of Deuteronomy, Joshua, 1 and. 2 Samuel, and 1 and 2 Kings. It is also considered the second book of the Earlier Prophets according to Jewish tradition.

Jewish religious tradition generally cites the writer of the Book of Judges as the Israelite prophet Samuel in the eleventh century BCE. However, some biblical scholars believe that the work was written later during the Israelites’ exile in Babylon in the sixth century BCE and the author is unknown.

In the Book of Judges, it says that the work was written during the time when a king ruled the nation of Israel and after the time of the judges in chapters 17, 18, 19, and 21. Also, in 1:21 it mentions that the Jebusite people were still living in the city of Jerusalem, so it must have been written before they were expelled by the Israelite king David.

The time covered by the Book of Judges is between the conquering of the Canaanite nations and the establishment of a kingship over Israel. During this time, a series of men serving as leaders of the people were known as the judges. Some scholars theorize that the judges’ narratives are not presented chronologically.

Summary

The Book of Judges opens with the narrator telling the reader that Joshua has died, and the Israelites are living in the Promised Land, which is the area of Canaan that God had promised to give to them if they obeyed the law he gave to Moses. In the first chapter, readers learn that the Jebusite people are still living in the city of Jerusalem. In addition, some conquests are mentioned, but it is also recorded that the Canaanite people were not completely overtaken, and some remained in the land. These remaining nations began to oppress the Israelites, which occurred because the people sinned against God. In chapter 2, it is mentioned that they began serving other gods and worshiping the idols of neighboring nations.

Next, the work provides the account of the major judges and explains how they fought against oppression from the nations that remained in Canaan. While more judges are mentioned, the book focuses on the stories of a few major judges, and with some judges, more information is given than with others. The first Biblical judge of Israel mentioned is Othniel, and he fights against the king of Aram. Next, the judge Ehud is presented as being designated by God to protect the people of Israel from the Moabites who sought to dominate them. His story includes how he daringly assassinates the obese King Eglon by driving a sword into him unexpectedly with his left hand.

In chapter 4 of the Book of Judges, a female prophetess is introduced. Deborah is the only female judge mentioned in the Bible. According to her story, she consults with the army Captain Barak to direct the military against a Canaanite city Hazor and their army captain Sisera. Joshua’s narrative explains how this enemy army captain was killed by Jael, the wife of his friend Jabin, as he retreated from the Israelite army. To commemorate the victory, Deborah and Barak compose a ballad, which is recorded in chapter 5.

The book then goes on to describe the Midianites oppressing the nation of Israel. God calls a man named Gideon to save the people from the Midianites. Gideon becomes a judge and a military commander who leads the army against the nations of Midian and their allies, including Amalek. According to God’s instructions, Gideon reduces his army to only three hundred men and performs a ritual that includes blowing horns and smashing clay jars. This sends the enemy army into confusion, and they turn on one another.

In chapter 11, the narrative of judge Jephthah is told. He promises God that if his battle with the Ammonites is successful, he will give to God for holy service the first person he sees after the battle. Jephthah is successful, but the first person to greet him with a victory song and dance is his only daughter. Distraught, he tells her of his vow to God. However, she understands her obligation and follows through. She is supported by the daughters of Israel for her life of sacred devotion.

Jephthah’s account also includes the recounting of a fight with Ephraim in chapter 12. The men captured an area by the Jordan River, so when the Ephraimites tried to escape, they would be stopped. To determine if they were indeed from Ephraim, they were asked to say the word “Shibboleth.” Those who could say it correctly were freed, while those who could not were killed. This account came to be known as the “Shibboleth test.”

The notoriously strong last judge Samson is next introduced, and several chapters are dedicated to his exploits. His strength is a gift from God to battle against the Philistines. He is seduced by a woman, Delilah, who discovers that his power leaves him when his hair is cut. She betrays him to the Philistines, but he eventually sacrifices his life when his strength briefly returns to kill a large group of Philistines.

Six other minor judges are discussed throughout the text, including Shamgar, Tola, Jair, Ibizan, Elon, and Abdon. Some scholars suggest that these individuals were more involved in legal proceedings, while others whose stories are more fully covered were viewed as military leaders.

The final chapters of the Book of Judges discuss how the priests of Israel eventually become corrupted by idolatry after the last of the judges’ rule, and the tribes begin to war amongst themselves.

Themes

The theological themes of the Book of Judges are consistent with the other Deuteronomic histories. Israel had a binding agreement with God to follow the law given to Moses, and those individuals who obeyed it are blessed. Those who did not would be conquered and oppressed by enemy nations. God promised them a homeland, and they were to settle it according to his instructions.

The Israelites at times deviate from following the law and are often influenced by the worship of gods from surrounding nations. As they suffer the consequences of foreign domination, they call out to God for help, repenting for their sins. God, in turn, sends a delivery, which takes the form of a judge during this time. While the judges were not kings, they provided rulership and direction to the people by acting as liaisons between them and God. These judges were not part of any dynasty whose descendants went on to continue their rule; they were selected individually by God.

This cycle of sin, repentance, and deliverance is a major theme that is played out multiple times in the Book of Judges. The nations that come against the Israelites vary, but the result is the same. Once the people listen to the appointed judge and their sin is corrected, the enemy is vanquished. Many scholars feel that these enemies underestimated the power of God behind the Israelites. Attempts to cruelly oppress them are presented in satirically in the Book of Judges. For example, the death of the obese king Eglon is comical as are the Ephraimites who could not properly pronounce the word “Shibboleth.”

Some Biblical scholars also feel that the narratives of some of the great acts of the judges are exaggerations of real people. For example, the great strength of Samson and his fight with the Philistines seeks to teach that powers should be used wisely. However, when Samson fell in love with Delilah, he eventually let down his guard and gave away the secret to his power, which was his long hair. She turned on him, cutting his hair and allowing him to be taken captive by the Philistines. His story ends with a heroic redemption that costs him his life.

The Book of Judges is also known for its narrative of women who were given authority that was usually only given to men. For example, the prophetess Deborah was a highly respected woman who provided direction to a male army captain. Also, Jael, a woman, defied the agreement between the enemy army captain and her husband and murdered Sisera with her own hands. Finally, the unmarried daughter of Jephthah is presented as a good example of selfless loyalty to her father and God.

Bibliography

Hirsch, Emil G. & Victor Ryssel. “Judges, Book of” Jewish Encyclopedia, 2021, jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/9051-judges-book-of. Accessed 11 April 2022.

“Judges, Book of.” Harper Collins Bible Dictionary, 2022, www.bibleodyssey.org/HarperCollinsBibleDictionary/j/judges‗-the-book-of. Accessed 11 April 2022.

Nelson, Ryan. “Who Were the Judges of Israel?” Overview Bible, 2020, overviewbible.com/judges-of-israel/. Accessed 11 April 2022.

Spronk, Klaas. “Parallel Structures in Judges and the Formation of the Book.” Journal for the Study of the Old Testament, 2022, journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/03090892211032242. Accessed 11 April 2022.

Throntveit, Mark “Theological Themes in Judges.” Enter the Bible, n.d., enterthebible.org/courses/judges/lessons/theological-themes-in-judges. April 2022.