Judges

Background and History

The chapters above are the King James text. This essay is the setting of Judges: who is said to have written it, when and where, what happens in it, and how the text has been copied.

At a Glance

Who Wrote It

The book does not name its author. The repeated line in those days there was no king in Israel, in Judges 17:6Judges 17:6 · King James VersionIn those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.Judges 17:6 · King James VersionOpen the Source and Judges 21:25Judges 21:25 · King James VersionIn those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.Judges 21:25 · King James VersionOpen the Source (1), suggests a writer in the time of the kings. The Talmud in Bava Batra 14b says Samuel wrote his book, Judges, and Ruth. (2) Critical scholars include it in the Deuteronomistic History. Judges 18:30Judges 18:30 · King James VersionAnd the children of Dan set up the graven image: and Jonathan, the son of Gershom, the son of Manasseh, he and his sons were priests to the tribe of Dan until the day of the captivity of the land.Judges 18:30 · King James VersionOpen the Source mentions the captivity of the land, which many read as the Assyrian exile of 722 BC, supporting a later final form.

Who It Is Not

None of the judges is named as author. Deborah’s song in Judges 5 is attributed to her and Barak.

When and Where

Bible Gateway gives 1045–1000 BC, possibly recorded under Josiah. (5)

Audience and Setting

Israel under the monarchy. The purpose is to show the downward spiral of a people who forget God and the need for faithful leadership.

Rulers at the Time

Eglon king of Moab, in Judges 3:12Judges 3:12 · King James VersionAnd the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD: and the LORD strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel, because they had done evil in the sight of the LORD.Judges 3:12 · King James VersionOpen the Source, Jabin king of Canaan, in Judges 4:2Judges 4:2 · King James VersionAnd the LORD sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, that reigned in Hazor; the captain of whose host was Sisera, which dwelt in Harosheth of the Gentiles.Judges 4:2 · King James VersionOpen the Source, and Abimelech, in Judges 9, are named. This page does not assign them dates.

Places in This Book

What Is Happening

Judges 1–2 introduce the incomplete conquest and the pattern. Judges 3–16 tell of the judges, including Deborah, Gideon, Jephthah, and Samson. Judges 17–21 are appendices showing idolatry and civil war.

Key Themes

The cycle of apostasy in Judges 2:11–19Judges 2:11–19 · King James Version^2:11 And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim: ^2:12 And they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the LORD to anger. ^2:13 And they forsook the LORD, and served Baal and Ashtaroth. ^2:14 And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and he sold them into the hands of their enemies round about, so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies. ^2:15 Whithersoever they went out, the hand of the LORD was against them for evil, as the LORD had said, and as the LORD had sworn unto them: and they were greatly distressed. ^2:16 Nevertheless the LORD raised up judges, which delivered them out of the hand of those that spoiled them. ^2:17 And yet they would not hearken unto their judges, but they went a whoring after other gods, and bowed themselves unto them: they turned quickly out of the way which their fathers walked in, obeying the commandments of the LORD; but they did not so. ^2:18 And when the LORD raised them up judges, then the LORD was with the judge, and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge: for it repented the LORD because of their groanings by reason of them that oppressed them and vexed them. ^2:19 And it came to pass, when the judge was dead, that they returned, and corrupted themselves more than their fathers, in following other gods to serve them, and to bow down unto them; they ceased not from their own doings, nor from their stubborn way.Judges 2:11–19 · King James VersionOpen the Source. Each doing what is right in his own eyes in Judges 21:25Judges 21:25 · King James VersionIn those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.Judges 21:25 · King James VersionOpen the Source. God raising deliverers despite Israel’s failure.

Apologetics Questions

Jephthah’s vow in Judges 11 is a moral difficulty. The book narrates it without approving it, as it narrates much evil in its last chapters. Narrative is not endorsement.

How the Book Points to Christ

The judges are flawed deliverers who point to the need for a perfect one. Hebrews 11:32Hebrews 11:32 · King James VersionAnd what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:Hebrews 11:32 · King James VersionOpen the Source names Gideon, Barak, Samson, and Jephthah among the faithful. The angel of the Lord in Judges 13:18Judges 13:18 · King James VersionAnd the angel of the LORD said unto him, Why askest thou thus after my name, seeing it is secret?Judges 13:18 · King James VersionOpen the Source gives his name as secret, or wonderful, a word used of the child in Isaiah 9:6Isaiah 9:6 · King James VersionFor unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.Isaiah 9:6 · King James VersionOpen the Source. Jesus is God.

Text and Manuscripts

Judges is among the books found at Qumran. (6)

Canon Reception

Never disputed. (4)

Further Reading

Who Wrote the Bible?.