BASIC STUDY OF THE BOOK OF JUDGES

NAME AND CHARACTER OF THE BOOK:

This second of the historical books of the Old Testament takes its name from the exploits of the thirteen men raised up by GOD to deliver Israel from the oppressions of alien peoples –oppressions brought upon them as punishment for their apostasies and idolatries. Through these men, GOD continued HIS personal government of the nation. The records of the Book, however, are fragmented without chronological order, and the work of some of these leaders may have been contemporaneous, at least in part.

CONDITION OF THE NATION:

Following the death of Joshua, Israel’s national life continued over a long period without being centrally organized, and the people were falling constantly into idolatry and suffering under the iron heel of heathen nations. The Book records seven apostasies, seven periods of servitude to seven nations, and seven deliverances. It also proves explanations and interpretations of these dealings of GOD with Israel and other signifigant events.

KEYWORDS:

“The children of Israel again did evil in the eyes of the LORD”; and “The LORD sold them into the hands of the oppressor”. KEY VERSE is “Every man did that which was right in his own eyes” (17:6) whereas the KEY WORD is “confusion”

PERIOD COVERED:

We are told in 1 Kings 6:1 that the tine from Exodus to the building of the Temple in the fourth year of Solomon was 480 years. On the other hand the period of 40 years in the wilderness, 40 years reign of Saul, 40 years for the reign of David, 24 years covering the life of Joshua after entering Canaan, and 4 years in Solomon’s reign. A total of 148 years. If 148 is subtracted from 480, we have 332 years as the period of Judges, including Samuel’s long term of service.

OUTLINE:

The book is divided into four sections:

1) The conquest to the Judges (1:1-3:6)

2) Judges and their work (3:7-16)

3) The idolatry of Micha (17-18)

4) The Crime of Gibeah (19-21)