1. The Book of
Judges

2. The Judges Why were they necessary? Pattern of Israel’s behavior
The people sin
God sends a leader (judge)
The judge dies
The people fall into even greater sin
Book tells how people continue to fall into idolatry, anarchy, civil war
The God raises up a judge: soldier/prophet

3. Why Why did Israel so easily fall into sin?
Could not drive out the Canaanites
Easier to ignore them
Canaanites: city dwellers, brick homes,
Israelites were drawn to Canaanite civilization and religion
Problems in Israel:
Tribes acted as separate units
Fell into civil war
Infighting made them easy prey for stronger powers
God would send a judge ……

4. The judges Othniel Ehud Shamgar Deborah – only woman Gideon Tola Jair
Jephthah
Ibzan
Elon
Abdon
Samson
Samuel: last judge, first prophet

5. Deborah Only female judge Defeated the Canaanites
Kept the Israelites free from attack for 40 years