This is a summary of the time of the judges.
This was the period of history between Joshua and Samuel.
The judge was the person given temporary authority by God to rule over the Israelites. This is where people kept rebelling against God and “doing as they deemed fit” so God had their enemies rule over them.
The pattern was: They cried out to God, God would save them, they would forget God and start worshipping idols again, and God would punish them by letting them be ruled by the same worshipping idol enemies.
Here’s a summary of Judges in Order:
1 Judge: Othniel
Rule: 1367-1327 BC
Years of Judging: 40 years
Reference: Judges 1:11-13; 3:7-11
Memorable Acts: He captured a powerful Canaanite City and ended Aramean oppression.
Vital Statistics: Was the son of Caleb’s, one of the two scouts send to the promised land that reported good news, younger brother, Kenoz.
Note: “The Spirit of the Lord was upon him”
2 Judge: Ehud
Rule: 1309-1269 BC
Years of Judging: 40 years
Reference: Judges 3:12-3:30
Memorable Acts: King Elgor of Moab had taken control over Israel as the people had done evil, but they cried for help and God raised a rescuer to save them again. A left handed man, he developed a double-edged dagger about a foot long. He went to pay tribute but was able to get close to the king, who was fat, by saying I have a secret message for you. And then plunged the dagger deep beneath the king’s belly. Once he escaped, he made a call to arms, and said, follow me for God had given you victory over your enemy, and defeated them.
Strengths:
– A man of direct action, a frontline leader
– Use of perceived weakness (left-handedness) to do a great work for God
– Led the revolt against Moabite domination and gave Israel 80 years of peace
Lessons from Life:
– Some conditions calls for radical action
– God responds to the cry for repentance
– God is ready to use our unique qualities to accomplish his work
Vital statistics:
Born during the last years of exodus or early years of the promised land
Relative: Father: Gera, the Benjamite
3 Judge: Shamgar
Rule: Unrecorded
Years of Judging: Unrecorded
Reference: Judges 3:31
Memorable Acts: Once killed 600 Philistines with an Ox Goad.
4 Judge: Deborah (With Barak)
Rule: 1209-1169 BC
Years of Judging: 40
Reference: Judges 4;5
Memorable Acts: After Ehud’s death, the Israelites again did evil in the Lord’s sight. So the Lord turned them over to king Jabin of Hazor, a Canaanite king. The commander of his army was Sisera who had 900 iron chariots and ruthlessly oppressed Israel for 20 years. Then Israel cried for help and God gave them Deborah, wife of Lappidoth, a prophet who was judging at the time. One day Deborah called Barak to get 10,000 warriors from the tribe of Naphtahi and said the Lord will give the victory over them. Barak said I will go, but only if you go with me. She agreed but said you will receive no honor for this venture for the Lord’s victory over Sisera will be at the hands of a woman. When the battle ensued and Barak attacked, God threw Sisera and all of his chariots and warriors in a panic. Sisera escaped to a tent of Heber the Kinite, a descendant of Moses’s brother in law, Hobab, thinking they were allies. But Jael, his wife, killed Sisera with a tent peg to the temple of his head with a hammer. And they were able to have peace for another 40 years.
Strengths and accomplishments:
– Only female Judge of Israel
– Special abilities as a mediator, advisor, and counselor
– When called to lead, was able to plan, direct, and delegate
– Known for prophetic powers
– A writer of songs
Lessons from her life:
– God chooses leaders by his standards, not ours
– Wise leaders choose good helpers
Vital Statistics:
Where: Canaan
Occupations prophet and Judge
Relative: Husband: Lappidoth
Contemporaries: Barak, Jael, Jabin of Hazor, Sisera
5 Judge: Gideon
Rule: 1162-1122 BC
Years of Judging: 40
Reference: Judges 6-8
Memorable Acts: After Deborah, the Israelites again did evil in the Lord’s sights. So God handed them over to the Midianites. The Midianites were cruel and would leave the Israelites with nothing to eat, taking all their sheep, goats, cattle, and donkeys. They arrived in droves of camels with too many to count. So Israelites were reduced to starvation and cried out for the Lord to help. Then the angel of the Lord came to Gideon, son of Joash and said go with the strength you have and rescue Israel. But Gideon said how can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest of Massaneh and I am the least of my entire family. Lord said I will be with you and you will destroy the Midianites as if you were fighting one man. Gideon said if it’s truly you Lord, show me a sign to prove it. So God took Gideon’s offering and by the touch of his staff, had a flame burn and had it disappear. So Gideon believed. Then the Lord told Gideon to take down his father’s altar to Baal and replace it with an altar to God. He did it at night to avoid people saying anything and in the morning when they objected, he said whoever pleads Baal’s case will be put to death. If Baal is truly a God, let him defend himself. Then God told Gideon to take his army of 32,000 and bring it down to 300 so people would know it was God who gave them the victory. And he had Gideon go down to the enemies camp at night so he could see what they were saying and be encouraged. When he heard some of the enemies describe a dream that shows God had given victory to Gideon, he assembled his army and led a surprise attack in the cover of night to defeat the Midianites. Gideon had many wives and seventy sons, including a son named Abimelek
Strengths and Accomplishments:
– A military strategist who was an expert at surprise
– A members of the hall of faith in Hebrews 11
– Defeated the Midianite army
– Was offered a hereditary kingship by the men of Israel
– Though slow to be convinced, acted on his convictions
Weaknesses and Mistakes:
– Feared his own limitations would prevent God from working
– Collected Midian gold and made an ephod to honor God but it ended up being treated like an idol
– Failed to establish the nation in God’s ways. After he died, they all went back to idol worship
Lessons:
– God calls us in the middle of our present obedience. As we are faithful, he gives us more responsibility
– God expands and uses the abilities he has already built into us
– God uses us in spite of our limitations and failures
– Even those who make great spiritual progress can easily fall into sin if they don’t consistently follow God
Vital Statistics:
Occupations: Farmer, Warrior and Judge
Relatives: Father: Joash Son: Abimelek
Contemporaries: Zebah and Zalmunna – Kings of Midian
6 Judge: Tola
Rule: Unrecorded
Years of Judging: 23
References: Judges 10:1,2
Vital Statistics:
– From the tribe of Issachar
– Lived in the hill country of Ephraim
7 Judge: Jair
Rule: Unrecorded
Years of Judging: 22
Reference: Judges 10:3-5
Vital Statistics: – Had 30 sons that owned 30 towns in the land of Gilead
8 Judge: Jephthah
Rule: Unrecorded
Years of Judging: 6
Reference: Judges 10:6-12:7
Memorable acts: The people of Israel abandoned God and no longer served him at all. The people cried for help and God said I will not rescue you anymore. Go cry out to the other Gods you have chosen. Let them rescue you in your hour of distress, but the Israelites pleaded we have sinned. Punish us as you see fit. And they set aside their idols and served the Lord. And the Lord was grieved by their misery. Jephthah was a great warrior who was a son of Gilead but whose mother was a prostitute. His half brothers chased him off the property, but the elders of Gilead said if you will defeat the Ammonites, we will make you ruler over all people. Jephthah wrote a letter to Ammonite king explaining why the land did not belong to them, but it was ignored. At that time, the spirit of the lord came upon Jephthah and vowed to God if you give me a victory, I will sacrifice the first thing that comes to greet me from my home. Once God gave him the victory, his daughter came to greet him. He kept his word and his daughter and only heir, died a virgin.
Strengths and accomplishments:
– Listed in the hall of faith in Hebrews 11
– Controlled by God’s spirit
– Brilliant military strategist who negotiated before fighting
Weaknesses and Mistakes:
– Was bitter over the treatment he received from his half brothers
– Made a rash and foolish vow that was costly
Lessons from his life:
– A person’s background does not prevent God from working powerfully in his or her life
Vital statistics: Where: Gilead
Occupations: Warrior, Judge
Relative: Father: Gilead
9 Judge: Ibzan
Rule: Unrecorded
Years of Judging: 7
References: Judges 12:8-10
Vital statistics:
– Had 30 sons and daughters
– From Bethlehem
10 Judge: Elon
Rule: Unrecorded
Years of Judging: Unrecorded
Reference: Judges 12:11-12
Nothing more is known about Elon
11 Judge: Abdon
Rule: Unrecorded
Years of Judging: 8
Reference: Judges 12:13-15
Vital Statistics: Had 40 sons and 30 daughters, who rode seventy donkeys
12 Judge: Samson
Rule: 1075-1055 BC
Years of Judging: 20
Reference: Judges 13-16
Memorable Acts: The angel of the Lord came to Manoah’s wife saying you will have a son and raise him a nazirite. He will lead the rescue of the Israelites from the philistines. He should not cut his hair. He killed a lion with his bare hands, burned the philistine wheat fields, killed 1,000 philistines with a donkey’s jawbone, tore off an iron gate, was betrayed by Delilah, and destroyed 3,000 philistines in one last mighty act.
Strengths and Accomplishments:
– Dedicated to God at birth as a Nazirite
– Known for his feat of strength
– Began to free Israel from philistine oppression
Weaknesses and Mistakes:
– Violated his vow and God’s vow on many occasions
– Was controlled by sensuality
– Got irritated by nagging and give in, not holding his ground
– Confided in the wrong people
– Used his gifts and abilities unwisely
Lessons from his life:
– Great strength in one area of life does not makeup for great weaknesses in other areas
– God’s presence does not overwhelm a person’s will
– God can use a person of faith in spite of their weaknesses
Vital Statistics: Where: Zorah, Timnah, Ashkelon, Gaza, Valley of Sorek
Occupation: Judge
Relative: Father: Manoah
Contemporaries: Delilah, Samuel (Who might have been born while Samson was a judge)
