Judges

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
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.
Chapters

Chapters

 Israel's Continuing Conquest
1

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.

Read chapter 1
Israel's Unfaithfulness
2

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.

Read chapter 2
The Nations Remaining in Canaan
3

The Nations Remaining in Canaan

Judges 3

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

Read chapter 3
Yael Kills Sisera
4

Yael Kills Sisera

Judges 4

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

Read chapter 4
The Song of Deborah
5

The Song of Deborah

Judges 5

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

Read chapter 5
Gideon's Call
6

Gideon's Call

Judges 6

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

Read chapter 6
Gideon's 300 Men
7

Gideon's 300 Men

Judges 7

Gideon defeats the Midianites with a small army.

Read chapter 7
Gideon's Ephod
8

Gideon's Ephod

Judges 8

Gideon and his men capture and kill the Midianite kings.

Read chapter 8
Abimelech's Ambition
9

Abimelech's Ambition

Judges 9

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

Read chapter 9
Israel's Repentance
10

Israel's Repentance

Judges 10

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

Read chapter 10
Jephthah's Vow
11

Jephthah's Vow

Judges 11

Jephthah, a judge, delivers Israel from the Ammonites.

Read chapter 11
 Jephthah's Conflict with Ephraim
12

Jephthah's Conflict with Ephraim

Judges 12

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

Read chapter 12
The Birth of Samson
13

The Birth of Samson

Judges 13

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

Read chapter 13
Samson's Marriage and Riddle
14

Samson's Marriage and Riddle

Judges 14

Samson marries a Philistine woman and begins to judge Israel.

Read chapter 14
 Samson's Revenge with the Jawbone
15

Samson's Revenge with the Jawbone

Judges 15

Samson defeats the Philistines with the strength God gave him.

Read chapter 15
 Samson's Destructive Triumph:
16

Samson's Destructive Triumph:

Judges 16

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

Read chapter 16
Micah's Idolatry
17

Micah's Idolatry

Judges 17

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

Read chapter 17
The Tribe of Dan's Idolatry
18

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.

Read chapter 18
The Levite's Concubine
19

The Levite's Concubine

Judges 19

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

Read chapter 19
Battle Against the Benjamites
20

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.

Read chapter 20
 Capture of Wives for the Benjamites
21

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.

Read chapter 21