1. judges  Before their arrival in the Promised Land, the people of Israel were led by individual leaders such as:  Moses  Joshua

2. Why were there Judges?

3. Deuteronomy 7:2  “ And when the Lord your God delivers them over to you, you shall conquer them and utterly destroy them. You shall make no covenant with them nor show mercy to them.”

4. This COMMAND was supposed to be carried out by the people of Israel when they entered the Land. They were commanded to do 4 things:  Smite their enemies  Utterly destroy their enemies  Make no covenant with their enemies  Show no mercy to their enemies God did NOT want His chosen people to be corrupted by the pagans who were living in the Promised Land.

5. Result of their disobedience… God allowed Israel to be taken captive by its enemies. However… before the 1 st chapter of Judges ends, we learn that the tribes of Israel did NOT drive out the people from the Promised Land.

6. Cycle of the Judges Israelites grow Sinful God allows enemies to Oppress Israel Israelites cry out to God for Deliverance God sends a Judge to save His People

7. What Type of Judge?  Not like Judges today… NOT in a courtroom  Military leader  (God would empower His people to lead during a period of oppression by an enemy nation) ✪ Almost 400 years of Judges

8. Othniel ????