Week 15 — Jan 12-18: (Josh 24, Judges 1-22)
deliverance, peace returns, then they fall again when the judge dies.
These judges are not courtroom officials; they are rescuers and local leaders from many walks of life—warriors, prophets, farmers—raised for a season.
● Othniel frees them from Aram.
● Ehud, the left-handed Benjamite, hides a dagger and kills huge King Eglon of Moab.
● Shamgar drives off Philistines with an ox goad.
● Deborah, a prophet, orders soldier Barak into battle; rain floods the enemy chariots, and...
● Jael ends fleeing commander Sisera with a tent peg.
● Gideon tears down an idol, twice asks God for a fleece sign, and defeats Midian with only 300 torch-bearing men.
● Abimelech crowns himself but dies when a woman drops a millstone on his head.
● Jephthah beats Ammon yet keeps a rash vow and sacrifices his only daughter.
● Samson, mighty but careless, harries Philistines, is betrayed by Delilah, and in death pushes their temple down, killing many foes.
The last stories turn grim: a stolen idol, a horrid attack on a Levite’s wife, and civil war that nearly wipes out Benjamin. Judges ends, “Everyone did what was right in his own eyes,” warning that Israel needs a faithful king.
Key Verses:
● Judges 2:16 – “Nevertheless the Lord raised up judges, which delivered them out of the hand of those that spoiled them.” – God’s mercy in delivering Israel despite their rebellion.
● Judges 6:12 – “And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him, and said unto him, The Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valour!” – God calls Gideon to lead, despite his fear and self-doubt.
● Judges 16:30 – “Let me die with the Philistines!” – Samson’s final act of sacrifice defeats Israel’s enemies.
● Judges 17:6 – “In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.” – A repeated theme highlighting Israel’s moral decline.
● Judges 10:15 – “And the children of Israel said unto the Lord, We have sinned: do thou unto us whatsoever seemeth good unto thee; deliver us only, we pray thee, this day.” – Israel acknowledges their sin.
1 | The First Judges (Judges 1–3)
Israel fails to drive out the Canaanites, leading to cycles of rebellion and oppression. Israel’s repentance renews the Sinai covenant, showing grace plus human return. In response, God raises up the first judges: Othniel, Ehud, and Shamgar to deliver Israel from its enemies and restore order. The Spirit of the LORD rushes upon each judge, granting power for deliverance.
2 | Judges Call (Judges 4–6)
Deborah and Barak defeat Sisera, a Canaanite commander, as Jael kills him with a tent peg. Later, God calls Gideon to deliver Israel, but he struggles with fear and repeatedly seeks reassurance from God.
3 | Gideon’s Victory (Judges 7–11)
With only 300 men, Gideon wins the war with Midian, proving victory comes from God, not numbers. Minor judges Tola and Jair then provide brief stability. After Gideon dies, Abimelech’s brutal coup plunges Israel into civil strife. Jephthah later defeats the Ammonites but fulfils a tragic rash vow which led to his daughter's death . After Jephthah, minor judges Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon offer short time of peace between crises.
4 | Samson (Judges 12–16)
An angel announces Samson’s birth and sets him apart under a lifelong Nazirite vow. Samson, blessed with great strength, battles the Philistines but falls into sin and is deceived by Delilah and fails his nazarite vow. Captured and blinded by the philistines and was sent to jail, his final act of sacrifice collapses a temple killing the philistines and himself, bringing victory through his death.
5 | Moral Collapse (Judges 17–19)
Israel descends into deep moral corruption, seen in Micah’s idolatry and the Levite’s concubine’s tragic fate. The Danites steal Micah’s idol and migrate north, spreading idolatry (Judg 18). The people do what is right in their own eyes, completely forsaking God’s law.
6 | Need for a King (Judges 20–21)
A brutal civil war erupts against Benjamin, nearly wiping out the tribe. The book ends in chaos, highlighting Israel’s desperate need for a righteous king to restore order and faithfulness.
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