1. Bible Survey Lesson 9: Judges

2. Title, Author, and Date
Title Hebrew and LXX: Judges Author: Possibly Samuel Written: Unknown Events: 1390 – 1055 (Samson’s Death)

3. Purpose
Judges described the deepening moral depravity of Israel after the second generation passed away portrayed as a cycle of disobedience, judgement, partial repentance, and deliverance. This is the result of both the incomplete possession of the Promised Land and the lack of a righteous king in the land.

4. Outline
Israel’s Disobedience (1:1-3:6)
Israel’s Deliverance (3:7-16:31)
Israel’s Depravity (17-21)

5. Israel’s Disobedience (1:1-3:6)
Theme: Incomplete Obedience (1, 2)
Theme: The Spiral (2, 3, 4-5, 6-8, , 13-16)
Sin (2:11-13; 3:7)
Servitude (2:14-15; 3:8)
Supplication (2:18; 3:9)
Salvation (2:16; 3:9-10)
Security (2:18; 3:11)

6. Israel’s Deliverance (3:7-16:31)
The Judges
Leaders
Warriors
Arbiters

7. Israel’s Deliverance (3:7-16:31)
Othniel (3:7-11)
Opponents: Mesopotamia
Occupation: 8 years
Lineage: Caleb’s Brother (converted gentile)
Spirit of God: Yes
Rest: 40 years
Notes: none

8. Israel’s Deliverance (3:7-16:31)
Othniel
Ehud
Deborah
Gideon
Jephthah
Samson

9. Israel’s Deliverance (3:7-16:31)
Ehud (3:12-31)
Opponents: Moab
Occupation: 18 years
Lineage: Benjaminite
Spirit of God: No
Rest: 80 years
Notes: Left handed

10. Israel’s Deliverance (3:7-16:31)
Othniel
Ehud
Deborah
Gideon
Jephthah
Samson

11. Israel’s Deliverance (3:7-16:31)
Deborah (4:1-5:31)
Opponents: Canaanites
Occupation: 20 years
Lineage: Ephraimite
Spirit of God: No
Rest: 40 years
Notes: Prophetess

12. Problem: Deborah’s Leadership (4:1- 5:31)
Classical/Liberal Feminism
Evangelical/Conservati ve Feminism
Classical Fundamentalism
De Facto Evangelical

13. Israel’s Deliverance (3:7-16:31)
Othniel
Ehud
Deborah
Gideon
Jephthah
Samson

14. Israel’s Deliverance (3:7-16:31)
Gideon/Jerubaal (6:1-8:32)
Opponents: Midian
Occupation: 7 years
Lineage: Manasseh
Spirit of God: Yes
Rest: 40 years
Notes: Cowardly, Doubtful, and falsely humble

15. Israel’s Deliverance (3:7-16:31)
“Kingship” of Abimelech (8:33- 9:57)
Opponents: Israel
Occupation: 3 years
Lineage: Gideon’s Son
Spirit of God: No
Rest: None
Notes: Murderer and Tyrant

16. Israel’s Deliverance (3:7-16:31)
Othniel
Ehud
Deborah
Gideon
Jephthah
Samson

17. Israel’s Deliverance (3:7-16:31)
Jephthah (10:1-12:7)
Opponents: Ammon
Occupation: 18 years
Lineage: Son of a prostitute
Spirit of God: Yes
Rest: 6 years
Notes: Ambitious Outcast

18. Israel’s Deliverance (3:7-16:31)
Problem: Jephthah’s Vow (11:29-40)
Perpetual Virginity and Tabernacle Service [Life]
Offering [Death]

19. Israel’s Deliverance (3:7-16:31)
Othniel
Ehud
Deborah
Gideon
Jephthah
Samson

20. Samson (13:1-16:31) Opponents: Philistines Occupation: 40 years
Lineage: Danite
Spirit of God: Yes
Reign: 20 years
Notes: Nazarite, Lustful, Wrathful, and Obsessed with Foreign women

21. Problem: What was the character of the Judges?
Faithful flawed men
Condemned sinners
32 And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions…38 of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. 39 And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, 40 since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

22. Israel’s Depravity (17-21)
Theme: “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” (Judges 17:6)
Idolatry in Israel (17:1-18:31)
Immorality and Civil War in Israel (19:1-21:25)