1. The Judges of Israel (Introduction) The godly generation who lived at the time of Joshua dies. (See Judges 2:6-10) The godly generation who lived at the time of Joshua dies. (See Judges 2:6-10) “And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which He had done for Israel.” “And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which He had done for Israel.”

2. The Cycle of the Judges Explained in Judges 2:11-19 1. “The children of Israel did evil” (11-13) 2. “The LORD delivered them into the hands of their enemies” (14-15) 3. “They were greatly distressed” (15, 18b) 4. “The LORD raised up judges” (16, 18) 5. “When the judge was dead … they corrupted themselves more than their fathers” (19)

3. The Judges of Israel OTHNIEL Judges 3:7-11 “The First Judge After Joshua’s Death”

4. 1 - Spiritual Condition of Israel Judges 3:5-6 – Intermarriage with the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites “And served their gods.” “Did evil in the sight of the LORD” “Forgot the LORD their God” “Served Baalim”

5. 2 - God Afflicts Israel for Her Sins Judges 3:8 – “He sold them into the hand of Chushanrishathaim king of Mesopotamia: and the children of Israel served Chushanrishathaim eight years.” Israel served the heathen king of Mesopotamia for 8 years.

6. 3 - Israel Cries to God for Deliverance Judges 3:9 “the children of Israel cried unto the LORD”

7. 4 – God Raises Up a Judge to Deliver Israel Judges 3:9 – “And when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD raised up a deliverer to the children of Israel, who delivered them, even Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother.”

8. How the LORD Used Othniel to Deliver Israel The Spirit of the LORD came upon Othniel He went out to war against Chushanrishathaim (King of Mesopotamia) The LORD delivered Chushanrishathaim into his hand

9. 5 - The People Obeyed and Worshiped Jehovah for a Time Judges 3:11 – “And the land had rest forty years. And Othniel the son of Kenaz died.

10. Conclusion Othniel was the first judge. Othniel judged Israel for 40 years.

11. Students Present:  Ehud  Shagmar  Deborah  Gideon  Abimelech

12. The Judges of Israel TOLA Judges 10:1-2

13. The Judge Tola Judges 10:1 – “And after Abimelech there arose to defend Israel Tola the son of Puah, the son of Dodo, a man of Issachar; and he dwelt in Shamir in mount Ephraim.” Judges 10:1 – “And after Abimelech there arose to defend Israel Tola the son of Puah, the son of Dodo, a man of Issachar; and he dwelt in Shamir in mount Ephraim.”

14. Main Points Regarding Tola Judge after Abimelech Judge after Abimelech He arose to defend Israel He arose to defend Israel Judged Israel for 23 years Judged Israel for 23 years “And he judged Israel twenty and three years, and died, and was buried in Shamir.” “And he judged Israel twenty and three years, and died, and was buried in Shamir.”

15. The Judges of Israel JAIR Judges 10:3-5

16. Judged Israel 22 Years  Judges 10:3 – “And after [Tola] arose Jair, a Gileadite, and judged Israel twenty and two years.”  After Jair died “the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim, and Ashtaroth, and the gods of Zidon, and the gods of Moab, and the gods of the children of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines, and forsook the LORD, and served not Him.”

17. After the Death of Jair  After Jair died “the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim, and Ashtaroth, and the gods of Zidon, and the gods of Moab, and the gods of the children of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines, and forsook the LORD, and served not Him.”

18. Students Present:  Jepthah  (Ibzan, Elon, Abdon)  Samson  Eli  Samuel