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Book 7 of 66 · Old Testament

Judges

The years between Joshua and the first king, told as a repeating cycle of falling away, rescue, and falling again.

21 chapters618 versesWritten in HebrewSet Canaan, between Joshua and the kings (c. 1380–1050 BC)

Overview

Judges covers the period after Joshua and before Israel had a king. It follows a repeating pattern: the people turn to other gods, an enemy oppresses them, they cry out, and God raises up a "judge" — a rescuer — to deliver them; then the cycle begins again, each time worse. Its best-known figures are Deborah, Gideon, Jephthah, and Samson. It ends in near-chaos, with the refrain that "every man did that which was right in his own eyes."

Book facts

Author
Unknown; traditionally SamuelThe book names no writer. Jewish tradition credits the prophet Samuel, who lived at the end of this period.
Date written
c. 1050–1000 BCThe traditional range. The events it records span roughly 1380–1050 BC; many scholars date the writing later.
Original language
HebrewHebrew narrative, with an early victory poem in chapter 5.
Setting
Canaan, between Joshua and the kings (c. 1380–1050 BC)The tribes settled in the land, but with no king and no single leader.

How it came to be

Judges names no author. Jewish tradition assigns it to the prophet Samuel, who lived at the end of the period it describes.

The repeated line "in those days there was no king in Israel" suggests it was written looking back on this era from the time of the kings.

What is arguedWhether it is a single account or older hero-stories later gathered and framed by the cycle of falling away and rescue. Most scholars read it as edited together from earlier material.

The whole book, chapter by chapter

ChapterWhat happensWho is in itWhere it takes place
Before the judges — how the land was left unconquered and the cycle began, chapters 1–2
Chapter 1The tribes' battlesAfter Joshua's death the tribes fight to take their land, but fail to drive out all the Canaanites., , , ,
Chapter 2The angel at BochimAn angel rebukes Israel at Bochim; once Joshua's generation dies, the people turn to other gods and the cycle of oppression and rescue begins.—
The judges — the rescuers God raised up, chapters 3–16
Chapter 3EhudThe first judges: Othniel defeats a Mesopotamian king, and left-handed Ehud kills the fat king Eglon of Moab., ,
Chapter 4Deborah and BarakDeborah the prophetess sends Barak against Sisera's army; Jael kills the fleeing Sisera with a tent peg., , , —
Chapter 5The song of DeborahDeborah and Barak sing a victory song recounting the battle., —
Chapter 6Gideon's fleeceGod calls Gideon to tear down Baal's altar and rescue Israel from Midian; Gideon tests God twice with a fleece.,
Chapter 7The three hundredGideon's army is cut to three hundred men, who rout the Midianites with trumpets, jars, and torches.
Chapter 8Gideon's pursuitGideon chases down the Midianite kings Zebah and Zalmunna, but later makes an ephod that becomes a snare., , —
Chapter 9AbimelechGideon's son Abimelech murders his brothers and makes himself king, until a woman drops a millstone on his head.,
Chapter 10Tola and JairTwo lesser judges, Tola and Jair, and Israel again turns away.,
Chapter 11Jephthah's vowJephthah leads Gilead against Ammon after vowing to sacrifice whatever meets him — and is met by his daughter.,
Chapter 12ShibbolethEphraim quarrels with Jephthah and is caught at the river by the word "Shibboleth"; three brief judges follow., , ,
Chapter 13The birth of SamsonAn angel promises the childless wife of Manoah a son, Samson, set apart as a Nazirite., —
Chapter 14Samson's riddleSamson marries a Philistine woman and poses a riddle at his wedding feast.—
Chapter 15The jawboneSamson burns the Philistines' fields and kills a thousand men with the jawbone of a donkey.—
Chapter 16Samson and DelilahDelilah coaxes the secret of Samson's strength from him; blinded and captive, he pulls down the temple on himself and the Philistines.,
When there was no king — Israel without a king, and the disorder that followed, chapters 17–21
Chapter 17Micah's idolsA man named Micah sets up his own shrine and hires a wandering Levite as his priest.—
Chapter 18The DanitesThe tribe of Dan takes Micah's idols and priest and seizes a distant town for itself.—
Chapter 19The Levite's concubineA Levite's concubine is abused to death at Gibeah, and he sends word of it through all Israel.—
Chapter 20The war with BenjaminIsrael goes to war against the tribe of Benjamin over the crime, nearly wiping it out.
Chapter 21Wives for BenjaminTo save the tribe from dying out, wives are found for the survivors of Benjamin.—

All 21 chapters. Start reading →

Worth knowing

Key people

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Key places

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Known for

Some of the book's best-known moments — tap the verse to read it.