Book of Judges
From Wikible
| ← Joshua | Book of Judges | Ruth → |
The Book of Judges stands in stark contrast to Joshua. In Joshua, an obedient people conquered the land through trust in the power of God. In Judges, however, a disobedient and idolatrous people are defeated time and time again because of their rebellion against God.
Judges can be easily divided into a prologue, a main section and an epilogue. The main body (3:6-16:31) has seven distinct cycles of sin to salvation; Israel set aside God's law and in its place substituted "what was right in his own eyes" (Judges 21:25). The recurring result of abandonment from God's law is corruption from within and oppression from without. During the nearly four centuries spanned by this book, God raises up military champions to throw off the yoke of bondage and to restore the nation to pure worship. But all too soon the "sin cycle" begins again as the nation's spiritual temperature grows steadily colder.
The Hebrew title is Shophetim, meaning "judges," "rulers," "deliverers," or "saviors." Shophet not only carries the idea of maintaining justice and settling disputes, but it is also used to mean "liberating" and "delivering." First the judges deliver the people; then they rule and administer the justice. The Septuagint used the Greek equivalent of this word, Kritai, "Judges." The Latin Vulgate called it Liber Judicum, the "Book of Judges." This book could also be appropriately titled the "Book of Failure."
 Judges in a nutshell:
|
| Template:Bookmessagestatements |
Contents |
Outline
Prologue
Chapter one through 3:6 (the prologue) divides nicely into two section. In 1:1-2:5, we see the curve of the entire book: positive to negative. The first two verses of the book open with an obedient Israel communicating with Yahweh and beginning their conquests. 1:3-36 highlights seven tribes and moves from good to terrible: Judah, Benjamin, Joseph, Zebulun, Asher, Naphtali and Dan. 2:1-5 closes with another assembly and Yahweh condemning disobedient Israel. The second half of the prologue can best seen with this outline:
- A. Positive - Israel sets out to take their inheritance and serve Yahweh (2:6-9)
- B. Sinful Generation - (2:10-13)
- contrast from fathers
- served the Baals, worshipped other gods
- went after other gods
- once, they had an excuse
- C. Judgement - military defeat (2:14-15)
- "Yahweh was angry with Israel..."
- D. Yahweh's Intervention - 2:16
- B. Worse Generation - (2:17-19)
- contraster with fathers
- served the Baals, worshipped other gods
- went after other gods
- repeated, with excuse
- C. Worse judgement - no longer enabled (2:20-3:4)
- "Yahweh was angry with Israel..."
- B. Sinful Generation - (2:10-13)
- A. Negative - Failed, settled, intermarrying, serving other gods (3:5-6)
Main section
Continuing the pattern of good turning bad, the bulk of Judges is occupied by the seven (eight) persons who bore the title, judge. Counting Deborah and Barak as a unit, the seven judges for a chiasm, with its apex in the middle of Gideon's story:
- A. Othniel (3:7-11, 1:11-15)
- good Israelite wife, obeying Yahweh
- drives Canaanites out
- wife presses him to good, extending territory
- good judge, uniting Israel
- blessed by brave Israelite father-in-law
- B. Ehud (3:12-30)
- in Benjamin
- Transjordanisn king oppresses Israel 18 years
- secret message, message from God for enemy king
- captures ford of Jordan
- with help of Ephraimites kills thousands of enemies crossing
- Israel united
- C. Deborah/Barak (4:1-5:31)
- woman crushes Sisera's skull in careless moment
- D. Gideon (6:1-8:32)
- against idolatry at Ophrah (6:1-32)
- battle against Midianites (6:33-7:25)
- battle against Israelites (8:1-21)
- into idolatry at Ophrah (8:22-32)
- against idolatry at Ophrah (6:1-32)
- C' Abimelech (8:33-9:57)
- woman crushes Abimelech's skull in careless moment
- B' Jephthah (10:6-12:7)
- in Benjamin
- Transjordanisn king oppresses Israel 18 years
- sends messages twice to enemy king
- captures ford of Jordan
- kills thousands of Ephraaimites crossing
- Israel divided
- A' Samson (13:1-16:31)
- bad Canaanite wife, disobeying Yahweh
- settles with Canaanites
- wife presses him to evil, betrays secrets
- bad judge, dividing Israel
- betrayed by cowardly, pagan father-in-law
