WRITER, unknown; tradition attributes the authorship to Samuel
MAIN THEME, The History of Israel during the Times of the Fourteen
Judges. The Book portrays a series of relapses into idolatry on the part of God’s people, followed by invasions of the Promised Land and the oppressions by their enemies. The narrative centres around the personalities of the heroic judges who were raised up to become deliverers of Israel, whenever they sincerely repented of their sins. The dark side of the picture is especially emphasized in the record. A study of the dates would seem to show that the people maintained an outward loyalty to Jehovah a larger part of the time than the casual reading of the book would indicate.
THREE PERIODS into which the book may be divided.
SYNOPSIS
I. The Period Immediately after the Death of Joshua # Jud 1:1 – 2:10
II. The Period of the Seven Apostasies, Six Servitudes and Civil War, chs. 3-16 # Jud 3:1 – 16:1
The First Servitude, to Mesopotamia, –Judge, Othniel # Jud 3:5-9
The Second Servitude, to Moab, –Judges, Ehud and Shamgar # Jud 3:12-31
The Third Servitude, to Jaban and Sisera, –Judges, Deborah and Barak # Jud 4:1-23
The Fourth Servitude, to Midian, –Judge, Gideon, chs. 6,7# Jud 6:1 – 7:1
The Civil War, Judges, Abimelech, Tola and Jair # Jud 8:33 – 10:5
The Fifth Servitude, to the Philistines and Ammon, –Judges, Jephtha, Ibzan, Elon and Abdon chs. 10-12 # Jud 10:1 – 12:1
The Sixth Servitude, to the Philistines, –Judge, Samson chs. 13-16 # Jud 13:1 – 16:1
III. The Period of Confusion and Anarchy, chs. 17-21 # Jud 17:1 – 21:1
SPIRITUAL MESSAGES
(1) Human Failure, divine mercy, and deliverance.
(2) The power of prayer in emergencies when it becomes a real crying to God. Note in the book the repeated statement that Israel cried unto the Lord. SEE “Crying to God”
COMPANION BOOK, Galatians. Compare the relapse of Israel into idolatry with the backsliding of the Galatian church into ceremonialism.
CHARACTER STUDIES
Deborah, the patriotic woman
Gideon, the mighty man of valour
Jephtha, the man of the rash vow
Samson, the weak strong man