Introduction to Judges

I. Title

“Judges”--myfip]/`=shophetim—

            --They were actually saviors or deliverers rather than judges.

            --Only Deborah served as a judge, i.e. settling cases.

 

II. Key Problem

            They forsook Yahweh

                        …forgot Yahweh

                        …did evil in the eyes of Yahweh

            They served Baals

                        …worshipped other gods

…“prostituted themselves” to other gods. (Note discussion of Canaanite religion & pantheon of gods in the textbook.)

 

                        (2:11-13; 3:6-7; 4:1; 6:1; 10:6, 10, 13; 13:1)

 


III. The Cycle of Judges: Judges 2:10-19

 

 


IV. Composition of the Book of Judges—

A. Many parallels to Joshua, probably because they were written at the same time, or at least the final composition/editing occurred at the same time.

 

B. Authorship—Unknown—Suggested authors include Samuel, someone in David or Solomon’s court, or the Deuteronomist, a hypothetical author (or group of authors) who were responsible for the creation of Joshua-2 Kings.

 

C. Date of Composition

            1. Jebusites in Jerusalem/Canaanites in Gezer suggest pre 1000.

            2. “In those days there was no king”—During the monarchy

            3. “Until the captivity of the land”—8th century?

4. This would suggest a long period of composition, with some written in the 10th century, some during early monarchy, and the final form reached late in monarchy, circa 600.

 

V. Historical Setting

A. Late Bronze Age—1550-1200

1. Time of fairly powerful Canaanite city-states—These cities, such as Jerusalem, Gezer, Megiddo, & Hazor, controlled their city & the surrounding region.

2. Egyptian control of the region—Egypt had basic control of the area. The kings of the city-states reported to the Egyptian pharaoh, as seen in the Amarna Letters.

 

B. Transition to Iron Age—1200

1. Marked by destruction of large cities—Many sites, including many major Canaanite cities were destroyed, many losing their importance for a time.

2. “Sea Peoples” appeared from Aegean & Cyprus. These people are at least partially responsible for the mass destruction of sites in the ANE. They were various groups, including the Philistines in the southern coastal plain.

 

C. Iron Age I—1200-1000

1. Marked by small towns/villages. These were concentrated in the hill country & valleys where earlier settlement was sparse.

2. Philistines (Sea Peoples) controlled region

--This is seen in both archaeological & biblical records. The Philistines

 

VI. Summary

            A. Amphictyony—Tribal groups centered around a central shrine. In “Judges” the tent & ark are in Shiloh. All of the tribes are associated with this central sanctuary. (This compares with Greek tribal leagues centuries later, & the comparison is less than perfect.) This shows that such assemblies of tribal groups were not unheard of.

 

            B. Tribes are unstructured, sometimes even at war with each other.

 

            C. Judges usually operate in their own tribes or neighboring tribes—Israel was still tribal in nature, with little central structure.

 

            D. “Everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (21:25). (NIV: “Everyone did as he saw fit.”)

 

 

 


Judges 1-9

 

Judges 1:1-2:5—Conclusion of the “Conquest”

--1:1-36 describes further battles & conquests, as well as failures, by Israel. The passage is set after the death of Joshua. However, the reality is that these verses contain a summary of the conquest, which contains battles fought during the time of Joshua & some afterward.

            1. 1:1-20—Judah (& Simeon) fight the Canaanites & Perizzites. They conquer:

--Bezek, Jerusalem (but it is not settled, see 1:21), Hebron, Debir, Hormath.

--Gaza, Ashkelon, Ekron—This is later material. It did not happen, at least on a permanent basis, for 100s of years.

--v. 19—Israel could not dislodge Canaanites from the plains because of iron chariots, a problem that will resurface later as well.

 

                        2. 1:21, 27-36—Repeats much of the undefeated land mentioned earlier in Joshua.

 

                        3. 1:22-26—Ephraim captured Bethel.

 

            --2:1-5—Transition into the Period of the Judges

                        --“The Angel of the Lord”—Who was this?

                                    --God Himself in human form,

                                    --Divine Messenger, i.e. angel,

                                    --Jesus Preincarnate

 

                        --Message of the Angel:

                                    1. “I (God) have been faithful to the covenant.”

                                    2. “You have been unfaithful & broken the covenant.”

            3. “Therefore, God will leave the inhabitants of the land in Canaan as a snare.”

 

--The Problem:

            1. Lack of leadership—Joshua’s generation was gone.

            2. Lack of obedience—The people blatantly disobeyed the Law of God.

            3. Lack of “rest”—Because of disobedience, the people knew warfare, oppression, & conflict rather than “rest” & “peace.” (“Rest” is not in these verses, but it is the theme of the remainder of the book.)

 

Judges 2:6-3:6—Introduction to the Period of the Judges

 

2:6-10—Joshua & his generation is gone.

            The new generation grew up w/o knowledge of Yahweh. Rebellion & disobedience followed (see introduction).

 

            2:11-23—The cycle of judges (see introduction).

 

            3:1-6—The nations left in the land—

                        Philistines, Canaanites, Sidonians, Hivites, etc.

 

Judges 3:7-31—The 1st Three Judges

            3:7-11—Othniel

 

NOTE:

            --“Israel did what was evil”

            --The forgot Yahweh

            --“And they served the baals & asherahs” (.twrovea}h;Ata,wÒ µyli[;B]h'Ata, Wdb]['Y"w"[1])

            --Yahweh's anger "was kindled" or "burned" against them.

            --Yahweh "sold" them to Cushan-rishathaim of Aram-Naharaim.

            --The "Spirit of the Lord" came upon Othniel.

                        --The "Spirit" did not regularly dwell with God's people (until NT).

--The "Spirit" came upon people to enable them to accomplish a specific task..

            --Othniel, Caleb's nephew, of the tribe of Judah delivered them.

            --They had "rest" 40 years, i.e. a long time?

 

            3:12-30—Ehud

--Eglon, king of Moab, w/Ammonites & Amalekites, capture “City of Palms,” probably Jericho.

--Israel serves Eglon for 18 years.

--People cry out.

--Ehud takes tribute to Eglon, a fat man.

--Ehud delivers “a word” for Eglon.

            --a small sword,

            --the fat swallowed it up,

            --“refuse” came out!

--Eglon’s servants think he is relieving himself, i.e. using the restroom.

--Ehud brings back the Israelite army, which miraculously defeats Moab.

 

            3:31—Shamgar

                        --Struck down 600 Philistines with an “oxgoad.”

                                    --“Oxgoad”—Long stick (8-10’), with sharp end, like a spear.

                                    --Note the inventiveness of the judges.

 

Judges 4-5—Deborah

            4:1-23—Deborah/Barak & the Canaanites

 

            NOTE:

--Jabin, king of Hazor, & his commander, Sisera, oppressed Israel for 20 years. They used 900 iron chariots.

--Deborah

            --Prophetess—She has authority to deliver a word from Yahweh to Barak.

            --She was “judging” between Ramah & Bethel.

--Barak

            --Summoned from Kedesh in Naphthali to lead the army.

            --He asks Deborah to accompany him (as a prophetess?)

            --Takes the army to Mt. Tabor

            --The army routs the Canaanites (cf. 5:21ff)

--Kenites

            --Nomadic/semi-nomadic, i.e. in tents

            --Known as mighty warriors

            --In OT viewed as faithful to the Lord

            --Apparently had a treaty with Jabin, thus warned him about Barak.

--Jael

            --Wife of Heber, Kenite leader

            --Gave Sisera some milk (“curds” in 5:25)

            --When he slept, she killed him with a tent peg.

 

            5:1-31—Song of Deborah

--Victory song. Some scholars would consider this song to be an earlier account of the battle of Deborah than the narrative account.

                        --Recounts historical events in the past.

                        --Describes the victory over Jabin & Sisera

 

 

            --Summary of Judges 4-5—

                        --God gives the victory

                        --The importance of faithfulness:

                                    Deborah

                                    Barak

                                    The army of Israel

                                    Jael

 

Judges 6-8—Gideon

            --Midianites—(& Amalekites)

                        --Nomadic people

                        --Made raids against Israel, not a conquest

                        --Stole harvest, sheep, ox, donkey

                        --Used camels—One of the earliest uses of camels in warfare

 

            --Israel cried out to God after they were “very low.”

 

            --God sent a prophet:

                        --God had delivered them in the past

                        --God had given them the land

                        --They were to worship only Yahweh.

                        --But they disobeyed Him.

 

            --Gideon

                        --From the tribe of Manasseh

                        --Meets the “angel of the Lord”—appearance of God to Gideon?

                        --The angel calls Gideon “valiant warrior”

--Note the irony, Gideon is hiding, threshing grain in the winepress to keep the Midianites from finding it.

--Perhaps the angel wanted Gideon to see his potential.

                        --Gideon questions God’s presence with His people.

                        --Gideon has been called to deliver his people.

                        --Gideon asks for a sign

                                    --Offers a sacrifice

                                    --It is consumed & the angel disappears

                        --“Yahweh is Peace”—Yahweh shalom µwl¿v; hw:hyÒ

                                    --He brings completeness

                                    --He brings rest

 

            --Baal’s altar

                        --Gideon destroys his father’s altar to Baal.

                        --He cuts down the Asherah

                        --He builds an altar to Yahweh & offers a sacrifice.

                        --Joash defends his son by calling upon Baal to defend himself

                                    --Note again the irony, even absurdity.

                        --Gideon=Jerubbaal, “let Baal contend” (l['B'ruyÒ)

 

 

            --“Spirit of the Lord” comes on Gideon

                        --He calls Manasseh, Asher, Zebulun, & Naphtali to go battle.

 

            --Gideon’s Hesitancy

                        1. Fleece—dew on fleece, dry ground

                        2. Fleece—Dry fleece, dew on ground

                        3. The Midianite’s dream.

 

            --Gideon’s Army

                        1. The fearful removed

                        2. Those kneeling to drink removed (Perhaps alertness was the issue).

                        3. 300 remained, given jars, torches, & trumpets

                        4. This kept Israel from trusting in themselves

 

            --The “battle”

                        --After midnight

                        --Break jars & blow trumpets

                        --Midianites flee in confusion

                        --Ephraim called in to assist (Note rivalry)

                        --Israel pursues them across Jordan

 

            --The Ephod

                        --Some type of priestly garment, sometimes went on a stand.

                        --It became an object of worship, i.e. idol.

                        --They “prostituted themselves,” i.e. practiced Canaanite worship practices.

 

            --Gideon & kingship

                        --The people of Israel request that Gideon & his son rule as king.

                        --Gideon refuses, saying that Yahweh will rule them.

 

1221

Midian

                                  Abimelech

1214     GIDEON           1174

           AND                

          REST

 

1171    TOLA

      

1148

 

 

       JAIR       1126

1145

  Beginning Eli

 

 

Judges 9-Abimelech

 

--Abimelech

            --Son of a Shechemite woman.

            --Convinced the men of Shechem to follow him.

            --He hired mercenaries & killed 70 brothers.

 

--Jotham, the only surviving son of Gideon

            His Fable:

                        --The trees looked for a king.

                        --The olive tree, fig tree, & vine refused

                        --They already had responsibilities to God & the community.

                        --The bramble offered shelter

                                    --even though it had no shelter.

                                    --Rather it would bring disaster, like a summer fire!

 

--Fall of Abimelech

            --The Shechemites begin to question Abimelech’s rule.

            --After several battles & slaughters

            --Abimelech is killed by a millstone dropped on his head.

 

Judges 10-21

 

Judges 10:1-5—Tola & Jair

 

Judges 10:6-12:7—Jephthah

 

Jephthah

            --From Gilead

            --The rejected “son of harlot”

            --Recalled because of military ability to deliver them.

 

The Battle

            --Yahweh vs. Chemosh

            --God of Israel vs. god of Moab

            --The battle was left in Yahweh’s hand.

            --Jephthah wins a decisive victory.

                        --This shows the superiority of Yahweh over all other gods.

--It also shows the foolishness of trusting in anything other than Yahweh. Only He is able to bring about the victory they desire. Their real enemy will be Yahweh when they go to serve other gods.

 

The Vow

--Jephthah vows to sacrifice “whatever comes out of the doors of my house to greet me” after the victory.

--He surely expected to see an animal 1st, since he lived in a rural society with many more animals than people.

--His daughter comes out to meet him.

--Why could he not take back the vow?

            --The word was a bond.

            --In tribal communities, one could not recant a vow.

--Human sacrifice was not unheard of, esp. in connection with war. Mesha, king of Moab, describes the sacrifice of his 1st born to insure victory, but not the norm.

 

Ephraim’s Complaint

            --The tribe of Ephraim accuses Jephthah of ignoring them.

            --Jephthah

                        --Gives Yahweh credit for the victory

                        --Tries diplomacy

                        --Calls out his army & defeats Ephraim

            --Shibboleth/Sibboleth—West of Jordan did not have the “sh” sound.

 

Judges 12:8-15—Three More Judges

            Ibzan

            Elon

            Abdon

 

 

 

Judges 13:1-16:31—Samson

Samson’s Family

            --Manoah, his father

            --A family of Dan living among the Philistines

            --Mother was barren, i.e. could have no children. This was seen as a curse.

 

Samson’s Call

--“Angel of the Lord” appears to his mother. This appearance to a woman was against the norm of ANE.

--“Nazirite”—Set apart as a servant of Yahweh.

            1. No razor, hair cut.

            2. No contact with dead bodies, i.e. anything unclean.

            3. Drink no wine, or other strong drink.

 

**Samson’s life is the process of breaking all of this vow, & thus losing his position as the chosen servant of Yahweh. The peak of his life is at birth!!!**

 

Samson’s Women

            1. His mother,

                        --the only righteous woman in his life

            2. Philistine Wife from Timnah

                        --“I saw a woman,

                        --“Go get her for me.”

            3. Harlot from Gaza

            4. Delilah

 

The dead lion (14:6-8)

            --The “Spirit of the Lord” comes upon Samson

            --He kills a lion.

            --Returns & eats honey from the carcass

            --Touches dead body, i.e breaking his vow.

 

The wedding feast (14:10)

            --Probably included wine, which would be a breaking of his vow.

 

The Riddle (14:10-20)

            --He offers a riddle to the men at the feast.

            --His wife badgers him into telling her the answer.

            --He kills 30 Philistines to fulfill the requirements of the riddle.

            --He is beginning to deliver Israel by defeating Philistines.

            --He deserts his wife (apparently)

 

Samson’s Revenge (15:1-8)

            --His wife’s father gave his wife away.

            --He burns the fields of the Philistines.

            --The Philistines burn his wife’s family.

 

                        ***Note that Samson is just like the Philistines.***

 

Samson & the Jawbone (15:9-20)

            --Samson is hiding out in Judah’s land

            --The Philistines come looking for him

            --Judah hands Samson over to the Philistines

                        --Philistines are their rulers!

                        --Obedience to Philistines is more important to them than tribal loyalties.

                                                --Probably the tribe Dan had lost its identity by this time.

                                                --Part of the tribe may have already migrated north to Laish/Dan.

                                                --Thus, Judah felt little connection to a member of the tribe of Dan.

 

            --The “Spirit of the Lord” come on Samson

                        --He breaks the ropes

                        --He kills 1000 Philistines with a “fresh jawbone” of  a donkey.

                        --Note: Further breaking of Nazirite vow.

 

Samson & the Prostitute (16:1-3)

            --Samson goes to Gaza

                        --Why? This is enemy territory.

            --He goes to a prostitute.

                        --She is doing her expected work,

                        --he certainly is not!

            --The men of Gaza wait in ambush.

            --He escapes by destroying the gate.

 

Samson & Delilah (16:4-31)

            --Delilah & the Philistine men use deceit to find Samson’s secret.

                        --They recognized his strength as supernatural.

 

            --Samson loses his strength:

                        --Because his hair was cut?

                        --No, because his vow was broken!

 

            --The Philistines capture Samson.

                        --He is made a servant of Dagon

                        --Though he was called to be a servant of Yahweh

                        --NOTE: Dagon vs. Yahweh (vv. 23-24)

 

            --Samson asks the Lord for vengeance

                        --Samson sees the need for personal vengeance

                        --NOTE—No mention of the “Spirit of the Lord”

                        --God takes vengeance on Dagon?

 

 

Judges 17:1-18:32—Micah’s Priest & the Tribe of Dan

 

“Micah”=”Who is like Yahweh?”

            --He hires a Levite

            --He is trying to buy God’s favor

            --Note irony, “Who is like Yahweh?” is setting up images of false gods.

 

Dan moves to Laish

            --On the way they stole Micah’s idol.

            --Micah’s Levite also goes with them.

            --They set up images in Dan, cf. Jeroboam later.

 

 

Judges 19:1-30—A Levite’s concubine

Levite & his concubine stay the night in Gibeah

            --This is in Benjamin

            --He wanted to stay with his own people, not the Jebusites

            --Note again, Israel was as bad as, even worse than, Canaanites.

            --His concubine dies in the debauchery of the night.

 

Levite sends parts of the dead body to each of 12 tribes.

            --This is a summons to vengeance.

 

 

Judges 20:1-21:24—Israel & Benjamin

Civil Wars:

            --Benjamin is almost wiped out

                        --over the concubine incident.

            --Jabesh-Gilead is wiped out

                        --for failure to assist in punishing Benjamin.

 

Wives for Benjamin:

            --Virgins from Jabesh-Gilead.

            --Virgins from the festival at Shiloh.

                        --Apparently a Yahweh festival had become Canaanite

                        --The virgins in the fields suggests sexual rites

                        --Benjamin used this event to get wives.

 

Judges 21:25—Conclusion

            “Israel had no king” (See also 17:6; 18:1; & 19:1)

 

            “Everyone did as he saw fit” (See also 17:6)

                        1. No unity.

                        2. No morality.

                        3. No true worship of Yahweh.

 

Theology of Judges

 

I. Faithfulness

            A. Yahweh is faithful to His promises

                        --He gave them the land.

                        --He raises up deliverers.

 

            B. Israel is unfaithful to Yahweh

                        --Their worship is compromised.

                        --Their morality is compromised.

 

            C. Israel is unfaithful to one another

                        --Conflicts over inclusion/exclusion

                        --Handing Samson over to Philistines

                        --Civil Wars & near extermination

 

II. Leadership

            A. God is their leader

                        --The victory is His

                        --Gideon learns that he must trust in Yahweh

                        --Abimelech fails as king

 

            B. A King is needed

                        --“There was no king”

                        --However, the king could not reign in terror

                        --The king would be subject to God

 

III. Purity

            A. God had warned that Canaanites would be a snare.

            B. They were!

            C. A main problem was false worship.

--Altars

–Idols

–Hiring priests

 

IV. Rest

            A. God gave rest in the land

            B. They lost rest through disobedience

            C. Rest was restored by “judges.”

D. The rest was not lasting because of disobedience.

--In fact, the judges did not actually bring rest, only temporary peace from war.

--True rest only comes from being in right relationship with God (see also Hebrews 4).

 


[1]Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia, (Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft Stuttgart) 1990.