1. THE BOOK OF JUDGES! (Review)
What’s it all about?

2. Question #1
Describe the pattern that occurs repeatedly in the Book of Judges.

3. Answer: Israelites fall into sin, worshiping idols and abandoning God
Sin leads to calamity, assaulted and persecuted by their enemies, Canaanites
Israelites repent of their sin and cry to God for help
God raises up a judge to deliver them from disaster

4. Question #2:
In the Bible what was the role of the Judges? List the six major judges.

5. Answer: To deliver the Israelites from destruction Othniel Ehud
Deborah
Gideon
Jephthah
Samson

6. Defining ‘judge’
Not a judge as we think of one (e.g Supreme Court; Law & Order; Judge Judy)
Judge defined as…
One who acted as a temporary military leader, as well as arbiter of disputes within and between tribes.
Judges were expected to remind people of their covenant promise to God.

7. Who were the judges? Military Leaders Lone Warriors Leader & Commander
Othniel, Ehud, Barak, Gideon, Jepthah
Lone Warriors
Shamgar, Samson
Leader & Commander
Jepthah
Priests
Eli and Samuel
Prophets
Deborah and Samuel
Others not specified
Tola, Jair, Ibzan, Elon, Abdon

8. The Theology of the Judges
When Israel followed God and the Covenant, they lived peacefully.
When Israel lost awareness that God was in charge, suffering followed (usually at the hands of a foreign group).
The people would cry out to God for help and it would be granted.
After their rescue, they would resume their careful practice of the Covenant, at least for a while.

9. The Theology of the Judges Summary
Sin Punishment Repentance Deliverance

10. Judges Skits
Create a skit based on one of the Judges: -Othniel & Ehud (Judges 3:7-30) -Deborah (Judges 4-5) -Gideon (Judges 6-8) -Jephthah (Judges 10:6 – 12:7) -Samson (Judges 13-16) *See Rubric for more ‘graded’ details

11. Skit Basics: Read & Write down main plot/events
Remember the “Theology of Judges”
Did the Israelites sin?
What was their punishment?
How did they repent?
How were they delivered?
…Have Fun 