History · Old Testament
The Book of Judges
When Israel turns from God, it falls into cycles of oppression, repentance and rescue.
- Author
- Unknown; traditionally attributed to Samuel
- Date
- Probably written c. 1050–1000 BC
- Chapters
- 21
- Genre
- History
Summary
Judges describes Israel's life in the land after Joshua's death. Again and again the people worship other gods, fall under foreign oppression, cry out to the Lord, and are rescued by leaders called judges — among them Deborah, Gideon and Samson.
The cycle spirals downward, and the book closes with stories of moral and spiritual chaos, summed up in its repeated refrain: "In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit." It shows both the seriousness of sin and God's persistent mercy.
Outline
- Chapters 1–2 — An incomplete conquest
- Chapters 3–16 — The cycles of the judges
- Chapters 17–21 — Israel's moral decline
Key Themes
The cycle of sin and deliveranceGod's mercyLeadershipFaithfulnessThe need for a true king
Key Verses
Then the Lord raised up judges, who saved them out of the hands of these raiders.
Start reading JudgesIn those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit.