Judges Overview + Outline
When we think of judges, we think of our judicial system. (Or Judge Judy!) A judge presides over a court case, ruling who was in the wrong and right in light of the law. However, our understanding of the judicial system today differs from the role of a judge in this Old Testament book.
After Joshua's death, there was not one specific leader who unified the Israelite people, for each tribe was supposed to defend its territory from the enemy. Therefore, the Lord raised judges to lead His people and protect them from other nations after they sought other gods. They would swiftly bring about God's justice. Hence the name, Judges!
With this context in mind, we can dive into the overarching themes and outline presented throughout the book.
WHAT TYPE OF BOOK IS THIS? (LAW, HISTORY, POETRY, WISDOM, GOSPEL, EPISTLE, OR PROPHECY)?
Judges is a book outlining Israel's history in the Promised Land. And it was not a good account of them! This historical narrative takes place over 350 years and details the twelve judges God raised to lead Israel before Israel had its first earthly king.
WHO WROTE THIS BOOK? WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE AUTHOR?
The text does not explicitly attribute anyone with writing this book. However, the Jewish Talmud identifies Samuel as the possible writer. This authorship would make sense considering the prophet lived during these events and could have easily written about them.
If Samuel wrote this book, most of what we know about him is found within 1 Samuel, not judges. His mother had infertility problems until the Lord opened her womb to give birth to him (1 Samuel 1:19-20). His parents dedicated him to the priestly service, where he grew up under the leadership of Eli. He would eventually be the last judge to serve Israel before Saul took the throne.
WHO IS THE AUDIENCE OF JUDGES? WHEN IS IT WRITTEN?
The Israelites looked to Judges for the account of their disobedience and God's deliverance after Joshua led them into the Promised Land. It is a beautiful reminder of the Lord's willingness to spare Israel despite Israel's lawlessness. It also sets the context for the era of kings ruling over God's people.
Most scholars place this book's authorship shortly after Saul began his reign around 1051 BC.
WHAT IS THE SETTING AND LOCATION OF THIS BOOK?
This book takes place after Joshua died and Israel settled into their new territories within the Promised Land, dating the events within this book around 1398 BC to 1051 BC.
WHAT'S THE GENERAL OUTLINE AND STRUCTURE OF THE BOOK AS A WHOLE?
Introduction to Judges: Israel disobeys (1:1-3:6)
Failure to Completely Conquer the Canaanites (1:1-36)
The decline and judgment of Israel (2:1-3:6)
The deliverance of Israel (3:7-11)
First: Othniel vs. Mesopotamians (3:7-11)
Second: Ehud and Shamgar vs. Moabites (3:12-31)
Third: Deborah vs. Canaanites (4:1-5:31)
Fourth: Gideon vs. Midianites (6:1-8:32)
Fifth: Tola and Jair vs. Abimelech (8:33-10:5)
Sixth: Jephthah, Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon vs. Philistines and Ammonites (10:6-12:15)
Seventh: Samson vs. Philistines (13:1-16:31)
Epilogue: Israel's Decline
Idolatry of Micah and the Danites (17:1-18:31)
The Crime at Gibeah and War Against Benjamin (19:1-21:25)
HOW DOES THIS BOOK FIT INTO THE TIMELINE OF SCRIPTURE? WHAT HAPPENS BEFORE IT? WHAT HAPPENS AFTER IT?
Joshua covers the Israelites moving into the Promised Land while not fully obeying the Lord in removing the neighboring tribes. As a result of their disobedience, they intermingled with the enemy and bowed to foreign gods. This direct rebellion against the Lord is fully displayed throughout Judges, for Israel repeatedly forsakes God as their king.
Fast forward to 1 Samuel, where Israel begs for a king to be like other nations. The Lord honors their request and gives Saul as their formal king. The desire for an earthly king caused generations of godly and ungodly kings to rule over God's people.
HOW DID CHRIST FULFILL THE TRUTH FOUND IN JUDGES?
Israel rejected God as their king. Likewise, everyone on this earth has sinned, living a life of lawlessness. However, just like God sent a judge to the Israelites, we have a better Judge and King: Christ Jesus!
As a result, we see the following truths throughout Scripture declaring Christ's fulfillment of the pages of Judges:
Our king was promised. Hundreds of years before Christ's birth, Jeremiah 23:5 foreshadowed it, "Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land."
Our king has arrived. Matthew 2:1-2 declares, "Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, "Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him." He came to earth, dwelling among us as fully God and fully man.
Our king was rejected. John 19:19 tells us, "Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews." The Jews wanted their king dead.
Our king was resurrected. 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 says, "For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures…." That's a fact, Jack! Christ died, was buried, and raised three days later. Hallelujah!
Our king is reigning. 1 Corinthians 15:25 reminds us, "For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet." Christ reigns today with His sovereign rule over the world and through the Church submitted to Him.
Our king is returning. 1 Timothy 6:14-15 commands us "to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which he will display at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords…." He's coming back again for His people!
KEY VERSES IN JUDGES
"Then the Lord raised up judges, who saved them out of the hand of those who plundered them. Yet they did not listen to their judges, for they whored after other gods and bowed down to them. They soon turned aside from the way in which their fathers had walked, who had obeyed the commandments of the Lord, and they did not do so. Whenever the Lord raised up judges for them, the Lord was with the judge, and he saved them from the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge. For the Lord was moved to pity by their groaning because of those who afflicted and oppressed them. But whenever the judge died, they turned back and were more corrupt than their fathers, going after other gods, serving them and bowing down to them. They did not drop any of their practices or their stubborn ways." Judges 2:16-19
"And the people of Israel said to the Lord, 'We have sinned; do to us whatever seems good to you. Only please deliver us this day.'" Judges 10:15
"In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes." Judges 21:25
KEY THEMES IN JUDGES: REJECTION
The Israelites constantly rejected the Lord's kingship and authority in their lives. They wanted lawlessness, which they got in the long run. After Israel turned away from the Lord, He disciplined His people by giving them over to their neighboring enemies. Then, the Lord raised a judge to direct His people to Him. Like a hamster on a hamster wheel, this process happened repeatedly.
Ultimately, the cycles of rejection, discipline, and deliverance mirror man's heart. We reject the Lord as King, choosing lawlessness instead. However, praise the Lord that Christ came to deliver us from our wicked hearts!
WHERE DOES THE NEW TESTAMENT QUOTE OR REFER TO JUDGES?
Hebrews 11:32 refers to Gideon, Barak, Samson, and Jephthah in the Hall of Faith.