THE JUDGES
Israel had no centralized government (king), no unified effort against her enemies. “Nevertheless, the LORD raised up judges who delivered them out of the hand of those who plundered them.” (2:16)
Judges were more strong military leaders than they were court officials.
Judges were more strong military leaders than they were court officials.
Battle Against The Midianites
32,000 men assemble to fight the Midianites. ¨To show that God—not the army’s size—is the reason for Israel’s victory, Gideon reduces the army. 22,000 go home because they are afraid. At the place of the water, only those who lap water like dogs--300 men--are picked to fight! Armed with trumpets, empty pitchers, and torches in the pitchers, they attack. The battle cry is, “The sword of Jehovah and Gideon.” The enemies panic and kill each other! Israel has rest for 40 years. They seek to make Gideon a king, but he refuses.
Judges
Period of judges lasted over 350 years. There were 15 judges (here are 13). For 8 years, Israel served the king of Mesopotamia.
1) OTHNIEL, Caleb’s son-in-law, became the 1st judge. Under his leadership, Israel fought and defeated the king of Mesopotamia. They had rest for 40 years.
Eglon, king of Moab, allied himself with the Ammonites and Amalekites to defeat Israel. They served him and paid tribute for 18 years.
2) EHUD, the 2nd judge, was left-handed. He, took the tribute money to Eglon. He asked to speak with him privately, then stabbed him with an 18” sword. Ehud escaped and led Israel’s army to defeat the Moabites. The land had rest for 80 years.
3) SHAMGAR, the 3rd judge, saved Israel by killing 600 Philistines with an ox-goad. Jabin, king of Canaan, oppressed Israel for 20 years.
4) DEBORAH, the 4th judge, who was a prophetess, called Barak to lead Israel’s army against Sisera. He agreed to go, but only if she went with him. They fought near Megiddo, and Israel’s army routed the Canaanites. Sisera fled on foot. Israel had rest for 40 years.
5) GIDEON was the 5th judge. The Midianites and Amalekites join forces and subdue Israel for seven years. Israel flees to the mountains for safety and can only harvest their crops in secret. God calls on Gideon to fight against the Midianites. At night Gideon destroys the altar of Baal. God gives Gideon two signs. Fleece of wool on threshing floor. Dew on fleece, but not on the floor. Next morning, dew on floor, but not on fleece.
6) ABIMELECH one of Gideon’s 70 sons became the 6th judge. Desiring to be king over Israel, he killed 68 of his brothers (only Jotham escape) and began to reign in Shechem. Jotham gave a speech and caused the men of Shechem to rebel against his brother. Abimelech subdues the uprising, but he is killed when a woman drops a millstone on his head as he fights against the people at Thebez. He reigned for 3 years.
7) TOLA, the 7th judge, ruled for 23 years.
8) JAIR, the 8th judge, ruled for 22 years.
9) JEPHTHAH, a man of valor, became the 9th judge. Deprived of his inheritance because he was the son of a prostitute, he had been driven out of Gilead into the Land of Tob, where he formed a band of powerful, vain men. When the Philistines and Ammon had oppressed them for 18 years, Israel called on Jepthah to rescue them.
He consented to help them if they made him king, if he was victorious. Jepthah promised God that if He would give him victory, he would sacrifice the first thing that came out to greet him. When he returned from the victory, the first to greet him was his daughter. He kept his vow! The Ephraimites became angry with the men if Gilead because they had not been asked to fight against the Philistines. Civil war followed and 42,000 Ephraimites died.
10) IBZAN, the 10th judge, ruled for 7 years.
11) ELON, the 11th judge, ruled for 10 years.
12) ABDON, the 12th judge, ruled for 8 years. The Philistines oppressed Israel for 40 years. The angel of the Lord promised a child to a man named Manaoh and his barren wife. This son would not drink wine or strong drink and would never shave his head.
13) SAMSON, the 13th judge, rules for 20 years. He falls in love with a Philistine woman from Timnah. He wagers – for 30 changes of clothes – that the Philistines cannot solve his riddle. The Philistines threaten the bride’s parents, and she tells them the answer to the riddle. Samson kills 30 Philistines in Ashkelon and takes their garments to pay the wager!
1) OTHNIEL, Caleb’s son-in-law, became the 1st judge. Under his leadership, Israel fought and defeated the king of Mesopotamia. They had rest for 40 years.
Eglon, king of Moab, allied himself with the Ammonites and Amalekites to defeat Israel. They served him and paid tribute for 18 years.
2) EHUD, the 2nd judge, was left-handed. He, took the tribute money to Eglon. He asked to speak with him privately, then stabbed him with an 18” sword. Ehud escaped and led Israel’s army to defeat the Moabites. The land had rest for 80 years.
3) SHAMGAR, the 3rd judge, saved Israel by killing 600 Philistines with an ox-goad. Jabin, king of Canaan, oppressed Israel for 20 years.
4) DEBORAH, the 4th judge, who was a prophetess, called Barak to lead Israel’s army against Sisera. He agreed to go, but only if she went with him. They fought near Megiddo, and Israel’s army routed the Canaanites. Sisera fled on foot. Israel had rest for 40 years.
5) GIDEON was the 5th judge. The Midianites and Amalekites join forces and subdue Israel for seven years. Israel flees to the mountains for safety and can only harvest their crops in secret. God calls on Gideon to fight against the Midianites. At night Gideon destroys the altar of Baal. God gives Gideon two signs. Fleece of wool on threshing floor. Dew on fleece, but not on the floor. Next morning, dew on floor, but not on fleece.
6) ABIMELECH one of Gideon’s 70 sons became the 6th judge. Desiring to be king over Israel, he killed 68 of his brothers (only Jotham escape) and began to reign in Shechem. Jotham gave a speech and caused the men of Shechem to rebel against his brother. Abimelech subdues the uprising, but he is killed when a woman drops a millstone on his head as he fights against the people at Thebez. He reigned for 3 years.
7) TOLA, the 7th judge, ruled for 23 years.
8) JAIR, the 8th judge, ruled for 22 years.
9) JEPHTHAH, a man of valor, became the 9th judge. Deprived of his inheritance because he was the son of a prostitute, he had been driven out of Gilead into the Land of Tob, where he formed a band of powerful, vain men. When the Philistines and Ammon had oppressed them for 18 years, Israel called on Jepthah to rescue them.
He consented to help them if they made him king, if he was victorious. Jepthah promised God that if He would give him victory, he would sacrifice the first thing that came out to greet him. When he returned from the victory, the first to greet him was his daughter. He kept his vow! The Ephraimites became angry with the men if Gilead because they had not been asked to fight against the Philistines. Civil war followed and 42,000 Ephraimites died.
10) IBZAN, the 10th judge, ruled for 7 years.
11) ELON, the 11th judge, ruled for 10 years.
12) ABDON, the 12th judge, ruled for 8 years. The Philistines oppressed Israel for 40 years. The angel of the Lord promised a child to a man named Manaoh and his barren wife. This son would not drink wine or strong drink and would never shave his head.
13) SAMSON, the 13th judge, rules for 20 years. He falls in love with a Philistine woman from Timnah. He wagers – for 30 changes of clothes – that the Philistines cannot solve his riddle. The Philistines threaten the bride’s parents, and she tells them the answer to the riddle. Samson kills 30 Philistines in Ashkelon and takes their garments to pay the wager!