The Book of Judges

Group 2- St. Thomas More

ckground and Purpo
- the seventh book in the Old Testament
- the title refers were the charismatic leader who
delivered Israel from a succession of foreign
dominations after their conquest of Canaan, the
Promised Land.
- the third of the series of five books that reflect the
theological viewpoint of the Deuteronomic historian,
covers the history of the Israelite tribes from the death
of Joshua and a period compromising nearly 200 years.
- the internal chronology of Judges points to a period of
about 400 years
ole of the Judge
-The Hebrew term “shofet”, which is translated
into English as “judge,” is closer in meaning to
“ruler,” a kind of military leader or deliverer from
potential or actual defeat.

-. In a passage from the so-called “Ras Shamra”

tablets (discovered in 1929), the concept of the
judge as a ruler is well illustrated:
1. Our king is Triumphant Baal,
2. Our judge, above whom there is no one!
Three (3) Major Judges
Othniel
- Othniel means "powerful one" or "lion of God"
- the first of the judges
- He gained his wife’s hand(Achsah) as a reward for his
bravery in leading a successful expedition against
Debir.
- He is the only judge mentioned connected with the tribe
of Judah
- The land is under him for forty years
 Occupation Second Judge of Israel

2. Ehud
Predecessor Othniel

Successor Shamgar

- as a judge who was sent by God to deliver the Israelites from Moabite

domination
- He is described as being left-handed and a member of the Tribe of Benjamin
- Ehud was sent to the Moabite King Eglon on the pretext of delivering the
Israelites' annual tribute
- He made a double-edged shortsword about a cubit (eighteen inches) long,
useful for a stabbing thrust
- Being left-handed, he could conceal the sword on his right thigh, where it
was not expected
- After the death of Eglon, the narrative reports that there was peace in the
land for 80 years
. Gideon
-
-
comes with many other names—Gedeon, Jerubbal, and Jerubbesheth
The name Gedeon is Hebrew for “Destroyer”
- a military leader, judge, and prophet
- was renowned for his calling and victory over the Midianites
- he is a leader of the Israelites, he secured a victory over a Midianite army
despite numerical disadvantage, as he only led a troop of 300 men
- Gideon’s story begins with the Israelites not obeying God
- In the New Testament, Gideon is mentioned in chapter 11 of the Epistle to the
Hebrews as an example of a man of faith
- Gideon is recognized as a saint by the Eastern Orthodox/Eastern Catholic and Latin
Rite Catholic Churches
- He is also commemorated, together with other righteous figures of the Old
Testament, on the Sunday before Christmas (Fourth Sunday of Advent)
Three (3) Minor Judges
1. Abdon
Abdon
Predecessor Elon
Successor Samson

- the son of Hillel, a Pirathonite

- the twelfth Judge of Israel  mentioned in the Book of Judges
(Judges 12:13-15)
- member of the tribe of Ephraim
- had forty sons and thirty grandsons
- He restored order in the central area of Israel "after the
disastrous feud with Jephtha and the Gileadites
- judged Israel for eight years
2. Elon
- is named in the Book
  of Judges at Judges 12: 11-12
- a member of the Tribe of Zebulun who served as a judge of
Israel for ten years
- followed Ibzan and was succeeded by Abdon
- Elon, along with Tola, Jair, Ibzan, and Abdon are only briefly
mentioned and appear to the names of clans.
Shamgar Predecessor Ehud

Successor Deborah
- son of Anath
- The biblical meaning of the name Shamgar is: Named a stranger; he
is here a stranger
- the first reference to Shamgar has no introduction, conclusion, or
reference to the length of reign
- Jewish Encyclopedia suspects him of having been a foreign
oppressor of the Israelites, rather than an Israelite ruler
- , it is suspected that Shamgar may actually have been a Hittite