March 10, 2025
Israel's Unfortunate Decline
Judges 1-4
Brea Alexander-Daniels
Big Book Idea
The people do what's right in their own eyes, and it doesn't go well.
Key Verse | Judges 1:28
When Israel grew strong, they put the Canaanites to forced labor, but did not drive them out completely.
Judges 1-4
Chapter 1
The Continuing Conquest of Canaan
1 After the death of Joshua, the people of Israel inquired of the LORD, “Who shall go up first for us against the Canaanites, to fight against them?” 2 The LORD said, “Judah shall go up; behold, I have given the land into his hand.” 3 And Judah said to Simeon his brother, “Come up with me into the territory allotted to me, that we may fight against the Canaanites. And I likewise will go with you into the territory allotted to you.” So Simeon went with him. 4 Then Judah went up and the LORD gave the Canaanites and the Perizzites into their hand, and they defeated 10,000 of them at Bezek. 5 They found Adoni-bezek at Bezek and fought against him and defeated the Canaanites and the Perizzites. 6 Adoni-bezek fled, but they pursued him and caught him and cut off his thumbs and his big toes. 7 And Adoni-bezek said, “Seventy kings with their thumbs and their big toes cut off used to pick up scraps under my table. As I have done, so God has repaid me.” And they brought him to Jerusalem, and he died there.
8 And the men of Judah fought against Jerusalem and captured it and struck it with the edge of the sword and set the city on fire. 9 And afterward the men of Judah went down to fight against the Canaanites who lived in the hill country, in the Negeb, and in the lowland. 10 And Judah went against the Canaanites who lived in Hebron (now the name of Hebron was formerly Kiriath-arba), and they defeated Sheshai and Ahiman and Talmai.
11 From there they went against the inhabitants of Debir. The name of Debir was formerly Kiriath-sepher. 12 And Caleb said, “He who attacks Kiriath-sepher and captures it, I will give him Achsah my daughter for a wife.” 13 And Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother, captured it. And he gave him Achsah his daughter for a wife. 14 When she came to him, she urged him to ask her father for a field. And she dismounted from her donkey, and Caleb said to her, “What do you want?” 15 She said to him, “Give me a blessing. Since you have set me in the land of the Negeb, give me also springs of water.” And Caleb gave her the upper springs and the lower springs.
16 And the descendants of the Kenite, Moses' father-in-law, went up with the people of Judah from the city of palms into the wilderness of Judah, which lies in the Negeb near Arad, and they went and settled with the people. 17 And Judah went with Simeon his brother, and they defeated the Canaanites who inhabited Zephath and devoted it to destruction. So the name of the city was called Hormah. 1 1:17 Hormah means utter destruction 18 Judah also captured Gaza with its territory, and Ashkelon with its territory, and Ekron with its territory. 19 And the LORD was with Judah, and he took possession of the hill country, but he could not drive out the inhabitants of the plain because they had chariots of iron. 20 And Hebron was given to Caleb, as Moses had said. And he drove out from it the three sons of Anak. 21 But the people of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites who lived in Jerusalem, so the Jebusites have lived with the people of Benjamin in Jerusalem to this day.
22 The house of Joseph also went up against Bethel, and the LORD was with them. 23 And the house of Joseph scouted out Bethel. (Now the name of the city was formerly Luz.) 24 And the spies saw a man coming out of the city, and they said to him, “Please show us the way into the city, and we will deal kindly with you.” 25 And he showed them the way into the city. And they struck the city with the edge of the sword, but they let the man and all his family go. 26 And the man went to the land of the Hittites and built a city and called its name Luz. That is its name to this day.
Failure to Complete the Conquest
27 Manasseh did not drive out the inhabitants of Beth-shean and its villages, or Taanach and its villages, or the inhabitants of Dor and its villages, or the inhabitants of Ibleam and its villages, or the inhabitants of Megiddo and its villages, for the Canaanites persisted in dwelling in that land. 28 When Israel grew strong, they put the Canaanites to forced labor, but did not drive them out completely.
29 And Ephraim did not drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer, so the Canaanites lived in Gezer among them.
30 Zebulun did not drive out the inhabitants of Kitron, or the inhabitants of Nahalol, so the Canaanites lived among them, but became subject to forced labor.
31 Asher did not drive out the inhabitants of Acco, or the inhabitants of Sidon or of Ahlab or of Achzib or of Helbah or of Aphik or of Rehob, 32 so the Asherites lived among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land, for they did not drive them out.
33 Naphtali did not drive out the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh, or the inhabitants of Beth-anath, so they lived among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land. Nevertheless, the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh and of Beth-anath became subject to forced labor for them.
34 The Amorites pressed the people of Dan back into the hill country, for they did not allow them to come down to the plain. 35 The Amorites persisted in dwelling in Mount Heres, in Aijalon, and in Shaalbim, but the hand of the house of Joseph rested heavily on them, and they became subject to forced labor. 36 And the border of the Amorites ran from the ascent of Akrabbim, from Sela and upward.
Chapter 2
Israel's Disobedience
1 Now the angel of the LORD went up from Gilgal to Bochim. And he said, “I brought you up from Egypt and brought you into the land that I swore to give to your fathers. I said, ‘I will never break my covenant with you, 2 and you shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land; you shall break down their altars.’ But you have not obeyed my voice. What is this you have done? 3 So now I say, I will not drive them out before you, but they shall become thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare to you.” 4 As soon as the angel of the LORD spoke these words to all the people of Israel, the people lifted up their voices and wept. 5 And they called the name of that place Bochim. 2 2:5 Bochim means weepers And they sacrificed there to the LORD.
The Death of Joshua
6 When Joshua dismissed the people, the people of Israel went each to his inheritance to take possession of the land. 7 And the people served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great work that the LORD had done for Israel. 8 And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died at the age of 110 years. 9 And they buried him within the boundaries of his inheritance in Timnath-heres, in the hill country of Ephraim, north of the mountain of Gaash. 10 And all that generation also were gathered to their fathers. And there arose another generation after them who did not know the LORD or the work that he had done for Israel.
Israel's Unfaithfulness
11 And the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the LORD and served the Baals. 12 And they abandoned the LORD, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt. They went after other gods, from among the gods of the peoples who were around them, and bowed down to them. And they provoked the LORD to anger. 13 They abandoned the LORD and served the Baals and the Ashtaroth. 14 So the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he gave them over to plunderers, who plundered them. And he sold them into the hand of their surrounding enemies, so that they could no longer withstand their enemies. 15 Whenever they marched out, the hand of the LORD was against them for harm, as the LORD had warned, and as the LORD had sworn to them. And they were in terrible distress.
The LORD Raises Up Judges
16 Then the LORD raised up judges, who saved them out of the hand of those who plundered them. 17 Yet they did not listen to their judges, for they whored after other gods and bowed down to them. They soon turned aside from the way in which their fathers had walked, who had obeyed the commandments of the LORD, and they did not do so. 18 Whenever the LORD raised up judges for them, the LORD was with the judge, and he saved them from the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge. For the LORD was moved to pity by their groaning because of those who afflicted and oppressed them. 19 But whenever the judge died, they turned back and were more corrupt than their fathers, going after other gods, serving them and bowing down to them. They did not drop any of their practices or their stubborn ways. 20 So the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he said, “Because this people have transgressed my covenant that I commanded their fathers and have not obeyed my voice, 21 I will no longer drive out before them any of the nations that Joshua left when he died, 22 in order to test Israel by them, whether they will take care to walk in the way of the LORD as their fathers did, or not.” 23 So the LORD left those nations, not driving them out quickly, and he did not give them into the hand of Joshua.
Chapter 3
1 Now these are the nations that the LORD left, to test Israel by them, that is, all in Israel who had not experienced all the wars in Canaan. 2 It was only in order that the generations of the people of Israel might know war, to teach war to those who had not known it before. 3 These are the nations: the five lords of the Philistines and all the Canaanites and the Sidonians and the Hivites who lived on Mount Lebanon, from Mount Baal-hermon as far as Lebo-hamath. 4 They were for the testing of Israel, to know whether Israel would obey the commandments of the LORD, which he commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses. 5 So the people of Israel lived among the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. 6 And their daughters they took to themselves for wives, and their own daughters they gave to their sons, and they served their gods.
Othniel
7 And the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the LORD. They forgot the LORD their God and served the Baals and the Asheroth. 8 Therefore the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia. And the people of Israel served Cushan-rishathaim eight years. 9 But when the people of Israel cried out to the LORD, the LORD raised up a deliverer for the people of Israel, who saved them, Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother. 10 The Spirit of the LORD was upon him, and he judged Israel. He went out to war, and the LORD gave Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand. And his hand prevailed over Cushan-rishathaim. 11 So the land had rest forty years. Then Othniel the son of Kenaz died.
Ehud
12 And the people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, and the LORD strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel, because they had done what was evil in the sight of the LORD. 13 He gathered to himself the Ammonites and the Amalekites, and went and defeated Israel. And they took possession of the city of palms. 14 And the people of Israel served Eglon the king of Moab eighteen years.
15 Then the people of Israel cried out to the LORD, and the LORD raised up for them a deliverer, Ehud, the son of Gera, the Benjaminite, a left-handed man. The people of Israel sent tribute by him to Eglon the king of Moab. 16 And Ehud made for himself a sword with two edges, a cubit 3 3:16 A cubit was about 18 inches or 45 centimeters in length, and he bound it on his right thigh under his clothes. 17 And he presented the tribute to Eglon king of Moab. Now Eglon was a very fat man. 18 And when Ehud had finished presenting the tribute, he sent away the people who carried the tribute. 19 But he himself turned back at the idols near Gilgal and said, “I have a secret message for you, O king.” And he commanded, “Silence.” And all his attendants went out from his presence. 20 And Ehud came to him as he was sitting alone in his cool roof chamber. And Ehud said, “I have a message from God for you.” And he arose from his seat. 21 And Ehud reached with his left hand, took the sword from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly. 22 And the hilt also went in after the blade, and the fat closed over the blade, for he did not pull the sword out of his belly; and the dung came out. 23 Then Ehud went out into the porch 4 3:23 The meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain and closed the doors of the roof chamber behind him and locked them.
24 When he had gone, the servants came, and when they saw that the doors of the roof chamber were locked, they thought, “Surely he is relieving himself in the closet of the cool chamber.” 25 And they waited till they were embarrassed. But when he still did not open the doors of the roof chamber, they took the key and opened them, and there lay their lord dead on the floor.
26 Ehud escaped while they delayed, and he passed beyond the idols and escaped to Seirah. 27 When he arrived, he sounded the trumpet in the hill country of Ephraim. Then the people of Israel went down with him from the hill country, and he was their leader. 28 And he said to them, “Follow after me, for the LORD has given your enemies the Moabites into your hand.” So they went down after him and seized the fords of the Jordan against the Moabites and did not allow anyone to pass over. 29 And they killed at that time about 10,000 of the Moabites, all strong, able-bodied men; not a man escaped. 30 So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. And the land had rest for eighty years.
Shamgar
31 After him was Shamgar the son of Anath, who killed 600 of the Philistines with an oxgoad, and he also saved Israel.
Chapter 4
Deborah and Barak
1 And the people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the LORD after Ehud died. 2 And the LORD sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor. The commander of his army was Sisera, who lived in Harosheth-hagoyim. 3 Then the people of Israel cried out to the LORD for help, for he had 900 chariots of iron and he oppressed the people of Israel cruelly for twenty years.
4 Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel at that time. 5 She used to sit under the palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the people of Israel came up to her for judgment. 6 She sent and summoned Barak the son of Abinoam from Kedesh-naphtali and said to him, “Has not the LORD, the God of Israel, commanded you, ‘Go, gather your men at Mount Tabor, taking 10,000 from the people of Naphtali and the people of Zebulun. 7 And I will draw out Sisera, the general of Jabin's army, to meet you by the river Kishon with his chariots and his troops, and I will give him into your hand’?” 8 Barak said to her, “If you will go with me, I will go, but if you will not go with me, I will not go.” 9 And she said, “I will surely go with you. Nevertheless, the road on which you are going will not lead to your glory, for the LORD will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman.” Then Deborah arose and went with Barak to Kedesh. 10 And Barak called out Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh. And 10,000 men went up at his heels, and Deborah went up with him.
11 Now Heber the Kenite had separated from the Kenites, the descendants of Hobab the father-in-law of Moses, and had pitched his tent as far away as the oak in Zaanannim, which is near Kedesh.
12 When Sisera was told that Barak the son of Abinoam had gone up to Mount Tabor, 13 Sisera called out all his chariots, 900 chariots of iron, and all the men who were with him, from Harosheth-hagoyim to the river Kishon. 14 And Deborah said to Barak, “Up! For this is the day in which the LORD has given Sisera into your hand. Does not the LORD go out before you?” So Barak went down from Mount Tabor with 10,000 men following him. 15 And the LORD routed Sisera and all his chariots and all his army before Barak by the edge of the sword. And Sisera got down from his chariot and fled away on foot. 16 And Barak pursued the chariots and the army to Harosheth-hagoyim, and all the army of Sisera fell by the edge of the sword; not a man was left.
17 But Sisera fled away on foot to the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, for there was peace between Jabin the king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite. 18 And Jael came out to meet Sisera and said to him, “Turn aside, my lord; turn aside to me; do not be afraid.” So he turned aside to her into the tent, and she covered him with a rug. 19 And he said to her, “Please give me a little water to drink, for I am thirsty.” So she opened a skin of milk and gave him a drink and covered him. 20 And he said to her, “Stand at the opening of the tent, and if any man comes and asks you, ‘Is anyone here?’ say, ‘No.’” 21 But Jael the wife of Heber took a tent peg, and took a hammer in her hand. Then she went softly to him and drove the peg into his temple until it went down into the ground while he was lying fast asleep from weariness. So he died. 22 And behold, as Barak was pursuing Sisera, Jael went out to meet him and said to him, “Come, and I will show you the man whom you are seeking.” So he went in to her tent, and there lay Sisera dead, with the tent peg in his temple.
23 So on that day God subdued Jabin the king of Canaan before the people of Israel. 24 And the hand of the people of Israel pressed harder and harder against Jabin the king of Canaan, until they destroyed Jabin king of Canaan.
Table of Contents
Introduction to Judges
Timeline
Author and Date
Nowhere in Scripture is an author of this book named. The events in Judges took place in the period between Joshua’s death and the rise of Samuel and Saul. Most of the book was likely written by David’s time (1010–970 B.C.).
Theme
The theme of Judges is the downward spiral of Israel’s national and spiritual life into chaos and rebellion against God, showing the need for a godly king (17:6; 21:25).
Purpose and Pattern
The book of Judges was written to show the consequences of religious unfaithfulness and to point the way to a king who, if righteous, would lead the people to God. In the book of Joshua, the people of Israel seemed to want to follow the Lord and obey his commands. The book of Judges reveals, however, that the people had been rebelling even in Joshua’s time. This disobedience continued and grew more serious throughout the period of the judges. As summarized in Judges 2:16–23, time and again Israel turned its back on God and embraced the gods and ways of the Canaanites. Israel’s history unfolds in a repetitive way, with each cycle taking Israel further away from God. By the end of the book, Israel had violated its covenant with God in almost every way imaginable.
Key Themes
- Israel’s existence in the land, which had been promised by God, was threatened by its continuing rebellion. Israel had not conquered the land completely (ch. 1), because of its unfaithfulness (2:1–3, 20–22). Therefore, the day would come when the nation would be taken captive, away from the land (18:30).
- The oppressions, chaos, and generally negative picture in the book are due to Israel’s repeated sin. Time and again the Israelites broke the covenant, turning to the Canaanite gods and “doing evil” (2:3, 11–13, 17, 19; 3:6, 7, 12; 4:1; 6:1, 10; 8:24–27, 33; 10:6; 13:1; 17:6; 21:25), and they repeatedly suffered the consequences.
- Despite Israel’s repeated falling away, God in his faithfulness continually delivered them. This was not due to Israel’s merits or its repentance. Instead it was because of God’s compassion and pity (2:16, 18) and his faithfulness to his promises to Abraham (Deut. 6:10–11; compare Gen. 12:7; 15:7, 18–21; 26:2–3; 35:12).
- The judges were not able to stop the peoples’ unfaithfulness. If anything, they made it worse. Major judges such as Gideon (8:24–27), Jephthah (11:30–31, 34–40), and Samson (chs. 14–16) were guilty of significant sin. The shining exception was Deborah (chs. 4–5).
- Israel needed a godly king to lead it in doing right in the Lord’s eyes rather than a leader who “did what was right in his own eyes” (compare 17:6; 21:25). God had promised from the beginning that there would be kings (Gen. 17:6, 16; 35:11; 49:10), and had explained what a godly king would look like (Deut. 17:14–20). The book of Judges shows the depths to which the people of Israel descended in the absence of a godly king.
Outline
- The Roots of Israel’s Unfaithfulness (1:1–3:6)
- The Downward Spiral of Israel’s Unfaithfulness (3:7–16:31)
- The Depths of Israel’s Unfaithfulness (17:1–21:25)
The Setting of Judges
Fact: Toes and Thumbs
Toes and Thumbs. Victors in ancient battles would often cut off the thumbs and toes of their foes (1:6–7). This would allow their enemies to live but would prevent them from ever participating in another battle.
Fact: Ashtoreth
Ashtoreth was the goddess of fertility, love, and war in Canaanite culture. Canaanite legends portray her as Baal’s wife or sister. She is also known by her Greek name, Astarte, and in Mesopotamian texts as Ishtar.
Fact: Cool breezes
Cool breezes were rare in the arid climate of ancient Israel. Usually the best place to feel a nice breeze was on the roof of the house. Roofs served many purposes. They provided a place to dry grain and fruit and to store the harvest. They were also a good place to sleep on hot summer nights.
Fact: Chariots of iron
Chariots of iron. Iron chariots were the equivalent of tanks in the ancient Near East. They were greatly feared by enemy foot soldiers. Charioteers could run over them, and archers riding in the chariots could hit them from a distance. The only real problem with chariots was that their wheels could get mired in mud.
Fact: “prophesy out of their own hearts”
The women in 13:17 who “prophesy out of their own hearts” were false prophets and magicians. Unlike Miriam (Ex. 15:20), Deborah (Judg. 4:4), and Huldah (2 Kings 22:14), these female prophets did not speak God’s words.
The Judges of Israel
c. 1375–1050/1210–1050 B.C.
The judges came from various tribes and regions of Israel, and they likely held varying degrees of influence over their neighboring regions and tribes.
The Judges
| Judge | Reference | Tribe | Oppressor | Period of Oppression | Period of Rest | Total Length of Time* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Othniel | 3:7–11 | Judah | Mesopotamians | 8 years (3:8) | 40 years (3:11) | 48 years |
| Ehud | 3:12–30 | Benjamin | Moabites | 18 years (3:14) | 80 years (3:30) | 98 years |
| Shamgar | 3:31 | Philistines | ||||
| Deborah | chs. 4–5 | Ephraim | Canaanites | 20 years (4:3) | 40 years (5:31) | 60 years |
| Gideon | chs. 6–8 | Manasseh | Midianites | 7 years (6:1) | 40 years (8:28) | 47 years |
| Tola | 10:1–2 | Issachar | 23 years (10:2) | 23 years | ||
| Jair | 10:3–5 | Gilead-Manasseh | 22 years (10:3) | 22 years | ||
| Jephthah | 10:6–12:7 | Gilead-Manasseh | Ammonites | 24 years (10:8; 12:7) | 24 years | |
| Ibzan | 12:8–10 | Judah or Zebulun? | 7 years (12:9) | 7 years | ||
| Elon | 12:11–12 | Zebulun | 10 years (12:11) | 10 years | ||
| Abdon | 12:13–15 | Ephraim | 8 years (12:14) | 8 years | ||
| Samson | chs. 13–16 | Dan | Philistines | 40 years (13:1) | 20 years (15:20; 16:31) | 60 years |
*Added together, the dates in this column total about 410 years. However, many of the episodes in Judges overlap each other, unfolding in different parts of the land.
Ehud
The story of Ehud begins by saying that he was “a left-handed man” (3:15), and in fact the Lord used Ehud’s left-handedness to defeat Israel’s enemy. Ehud led a delegation to pay tribute to Eglon, king of Moab, who was ruling over Israel. Because he was left-handed, Ehud was able to conceal a sword on his right thigh, where it would not be expected. He then pretended to have a secret message for the king. While he was alone with King Eglon, Ehud killed him, then managed to escape before the king’s servants realized what had happened. The graphic details in this account show the rough nature of this time in Israel’s history and the earthy character of many of its “heroes.” (Judges 3:28)
Deborah
When the Canaanite king Jabin, with his 900 chariots of iron, oppressed Israel, the Lord raised up a woman to save them. Deborah, a prophetess, was called to lead the nation as a judge and deliverer. Since women did not usually go into battle, Deborah called upon Barak to lead the army against Jabin, but then Barak insisted that Deborah go into battle with him. Following the victory, Deborah and Barak sang a song of praise to the Lord. The defeat of Jabin ushered in a period of 40 years of peace for the people of Israel. Although many of the judges made poor choices during their rule, Deborah’s actions and words consistently pointed to God. (Judges 4:4–7)
Judg 1:1 After the death of Joshua a new era begins, but no new leader is appointed. This will lead to disorder and wickedness.
Judg 1:2–3 Judah shall go up. Judah had been destined for leadership in Israel since receiving Jacob’s blessing (Gen. 49:8–12). Judah and Simeon were closely linked because both had the same mother (Gen. 29:33, 35). Simeon had inherited land in Judah’s territory (see notes on Gen. 49:5–7; Josh. 19:1–9).
Judg 1:5–7 Each city and town in Canaan had its own “king,” such as Adoni-bezek, whose name means “Lord of Bezek.” cut off his thumbs and his big toes. This would prevent him from ever engaging in battle again.
Fact: Toes and Thumbs
Toes and Thumbs. Victors in ancient battles would often cut off the thumbs and toes of their foes (1:6–7). This would allow their enemies to live but would prevent them from ever participating in another battle.
Judg 1:8 Jerusalem lay between Judah and Benjamin. Neither tribe drove out its inhabitants completely (Josh. 15:63; Judg. 1:21).
Judg 1:10–15 This passage (almost identical to Josh. 15:13–19) is probably a “flashback” to the earlier capture of Hebron and Debir.
Judg 1:16 The Kenite, Moses’ father-in-law was Jethro (Ex. 3:1). The Israelites and Kenites had been friendly during Israel’s wilderness wanderings (Num. 10:29–32). city of palms. Another name for Jericho (2 Chron. 28:15).
Judg 1:18 Gaza . . . Ashkelon . . . Ekron. Judah captured three of the major Philistine cities (Josh. 13:2–3). Later the cities returned to Philistine control (Judg. 14:19; 16:1; 1 Sam. 5:10).
Judg 1:19 he could not drive out. The Israelites failed to drive out the Canaanites completely, as God had instructed (Josh. 6:17; 11:14). This was a main cause of Israel’s unfaithfulness (Judg. 2:11–3:6).
Judg 1:22 The house of Joseph. There was no tribe of Joseph. His inheritance had been split between his two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh (Gen. 48:5–6). Bethel means “the house of God.”
Judg 1:34 Amorites were Canaanite peoples (see Josh. 3:10) living in the central hill country. They eventually forced the tribe of Dan to move northward (Josh. 19:47; Judg. 18:1).
Judg 1:22–36 After an initial success at Bethel (vv. 22–26), six tribes failed to drive out the Canaanites from their territories (vv. 27–36). This area included almost the entire northern two-thirds of the Promised Land. The Israelites were apparently satisfied with a comfortable home in a productive land. They were not eager to achieve God’s full purpose there.
Judg 2:1 The angel of the LORD was God’s representative, speaking authoritatively to the people about their unfaithfulness (see note on Gen. 16:7). This angel may be the same one promised to Moses in Ex. 23:20–23, or it may have been an appearance of the Lord himself. I will never break my covenant. See Lev. 26:44; Ps. 89:34.
Judg 2:2–3 Israel had disobeyed God’s commands. See Ex. 23:32; 34:12–13; Deut. 12:3. So these nations would be a snare to them (e.g., by pagan rituals; Judg. 8:27), just as God had warned (Ex. 23:33; Num. 33:55; Josh. 23:13).
Judg 1:1–2:5 Canaan was not completely conquered during Joshua’s day, so military action continued (1:1–26). Several tribes had conquered only parts of their land (1:27–36).
Judg 2:6–10 Joshua had already died (1:1), but the repetition of information about Joshua introduces the rebellion to follow.
Judg 2:11 the people of Israel did . . . evil. This clear statement about Israel’s wickedness recurs throughout the book (e.g., 3:7; 6:1; 13:1). It is also repeated many times in 1–2 Kings, regarding the kings of Israel and Judah (e.g., 1 Kings 15:26, 34; 2 Kings 21:2). Israel’s tendency throughout its history was to turn away from the Lord. Only God’s grace and the leadership of a few godly individuals kept Israel from complete paganism. served the Baals. See note on Judg. 3:7.
Judg 2:13 Ashtaroth is the plural of Ashtoreth, a goddess of fertility, love, and war closely associated with Baal (10:6; 1 Sam. 12:10). Ashtoreth is also known by her Greek name Astarte and in Mesopotamian texts as Ishtar. She should not be confused with Asherah (plural Asheroth; see notes on Judg. 3:7; 6:25–26).
Fact: Ashtoreth
Ashtoreth was the goddess of fertility, love, and war in Canaanite culture. Canaanite legends portray her as Baal’s wife or sister. She is also known by her Greek name, Astarte, and in Mesopotamian texts as Ishtar.
Judg 2:15 as the LORD had sworn. See Deut. 28:25; Josh. 23:13.
Judg 2:16 the LORD raised up judges. The judges’ primary (though temporary) function was military. They were provided by the grace of God.
The Judges of Israel
c. 1375–1050/1210–1050 B.C.
The judges came from various tribes and regions of Israel, and they likely held varying degrees of influence over their neighboring regions and tribes.
Judg 2:17 whored. Israel is described as committing adultery against God by following other gods (compare Ezekiel 16; 23; Hosea 1–3).
Judg 2:18 moved to pity. Compare 1 Sam. 15:29, “have regret”; Jonah 3:10, “relented.” God graciously changed his course concerning the Israelites because of his compassion for their suffering (see Judg. 10:16).
Judg 2:20 The term this people is normally reserved for pagans (e.g., vv. 21, 23; 3:1). Its use here shows the disgust God feels toward his people, whom he now regards as being just like the other nations.
Judg 3:3 Philistines belonged to the mercenary sea peoples, mentioned in Egyptian texts as early as the fourteenth century B.C.
Judg 1:1–3:6 The Roots of Israel’s Unfaithfulness. This introduction identifies the root causes and effects of Israel’s wickedness. The pattern established here repeats throughout the book (3:7–16:31).
Judg 2:6–3:6 The recurring downward cycle of history presented in 2:16–23 is such that “whenever the judge died, they turned back and were more corrupt than their fathers” (2:19).
Judg 3:7 the Baals and the Asheroth. Baal was the most powerful god of the Canaanites. Asherah was a Canaanite goddess, a companion of El, the head of the Canaanite gods (see notes on 2:13; 6:25–26). At some point Baal may have replaced El as the most powerful Canaanite god. The use of the plural forms (Baals and Asheroth) shows that each was worshiped in multiple places.
Judg 3:9–10 Othniel of Judah had captured the city of Kiriath-sepher and had become Caleb’s son-in-law (see 1:13). The Spirit of the LORD was upon him. See note on 14:6.
Judg 3:7–11 This main section of the book begins by repeating much of 2:11–14.
Judg 3:20 his cool roof chamber. In ancient cities, the coolest place in the house was on the roof.
Fact: Cool breezes
Cool breezes were rare in the arid climate of ancient Israel. Usually the best place to feel a nice breeze was on the roof of the house. Roofs served many purposes. They provided a place to dry grain and fruit and to store the harvest. They were also a good place to sleep on hot summer nights.
Judg 3:12–30 The story of Ehud killing Eglon is graphic, highlighting the rough nature of this period and many of its “heroes.”
Judg 3:31 Shamgar, mentioned only here and in 5:6, is apparently Hurrian, not Israelite. His designation as “son of Anath” probably refers to the Canaanite warrior goddess Anath.
Ehud
The story of Ehud begins by saying that he was “a left-handed man” (3:15), and in fact the Lord used Ehud’s left-handedness to defeat Israel’s enemy. Ehud led a delegation to pay tribute to Eglon, king of Moab, who was ruling over Israel. Because he was left-handed, Ehud was able to conceal a sword on his right thigh, where it would not be expected. He then pretended to have a secret message for the king. While he was alone with King Eglon, Ehud killed him, then managed to escape before the king’s servants realized what had happened. The graphic details in this account show the rough nature of this time in Israel’s history and the earthy character of many of its “heroes.” (Judges 3:28)
Judg 4:1–3 Israel again did . . . evil. Compare 3:7–8, 12–14.
Fact: “prophesy out of their own hearts”
The women in 13:17 who “prophesy out of their own hearts” were false prophets and magicians. Unlike Miriam (Ex. 15:20), Deborah (Judg. 4:4), and Huldah (2 Kings 22:14), these female prophets did not speak God’s words.
Judg 4:4–5 Deborah is called a prophetess, one of five such women in the OT (compare Miriam [Ex. 15:20]; Huldah [2 Kings 22:14]; Isaiah’s wife [Isa. 8:3]; and Noadiah [a false prophetess; Neh. 6:14]). Deborah functioned as a civil leader (Judg. 4:6–10; 5:7) and as a judge of legal cases (4:4–5).
Judg 4:6–9 Has not the LORD, the God of Israel, commanded you? A woman would not normally be a military leader in Israel, so Barak summoned the tribes of Israel and led the army (see vv. 10, 14, 15, 16, 22). At least six tribes participated, the nearest thing in Judges to an “all-Israelite” coalition.
Judg 4:13 900 chariots of iron. Chariots were swift and easily maneuverable, the ancient equivalent of tanks. However, the chariots got mired in the river Kishon (see 5:19–22).
Fact: Chariots of iron
Chariots of iron. Iron chariots were the equivalent of tanks in the ancient Near East. They were greatly feared by enemy foot soldiers. Charioteers could run over them, and archers riding in the chariots could hit them from a distance. The only real problem with chariots was that their wheels could get mired in mud.
Judg 4:17–24 The story of Sisera’s death by the hand of Jael is told in great detail, similar to the story of Ehud’s killing of Eglon (3:12–30). God himself is credited with subduing Jabin.
Deborah
When the Canaanite king Jabin, with his 900 chariots of iron, oppressed Israel, the Lord raised up a woman to save them. Deborah, a prophetess, was called to lead the nation as a judge and deliverer. Since women did not usually go into battle, Deborah called upon Barak to lead the army against Jabin, but then Barak insisted that Deborah go into battle with him. Following the victory, Deborah and Barak sang a song of praise to the Lord. The defeat of Jabin ushered in a period of 40 years of peace for the people of Israel. Although many of the judges made poor choices during their rule, Deborah’s actions and words consistently pointed to God. (Judges 4:4–7)
Why are the judges necessary?
Listen NowDive Deeper | Judges 1-4
Do you ever wonder if God gives up on His people? This book is a glimpse into God's compassionate heart for people who are broken, just like we are.
Most of my life, I can remember doing what I wanted to do. I didn't seek counsel—and especially not from the Lord. In Judges 2, the Israelites refused to give up their evil practices and stubborn ways. When God gave the Israelites a judge, there would be a temporary season of obedience, but when that judge died, they would inevitably return to their comfortable sin patterns.
It is much easier to serve God when some strong leaders, such as parents or pastors or Bible teachers, have a big influence on our lives. I've learned that unless we fully trust God and obey Him, our sinful cycles will continue.
After the death of Joshua, Israel had no king on earth; only God in heaven. So, this meant that the people of Israel needed to fully trust the Lord.
The Israelites were surrounded by the Canaanites, who lived idolatrous lives in which money, lust, and even a relationship with God were on their own terms. The Canaanites led the people of God to turn from Him, rejecting His commands by doing what they saw fit for themselves.
The Israelites abandoned God and worshiped idols (Judges 2:11-13; 17, 19). As a consequence, God allows Israel's enemies to overtake them. In this life, the Lord allows His people to suffer the consequences of being unfaithful to Him to bring them back to Him. Israel's delayed obedience led to complacency.
Leaning on and trusting God's guidance is vital, and understanding that He will not allow sin to go unpunished should move us to live holy lives. Isaiah 55:9 says, "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." This verse should give us rest and reassurance that our God is with us, and we can trust in His plans, authority, and wisdom to guide our every step.
This month's memory verse
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”
– 1 Samuel 16:7
Discussion Questions
1. Where in your walk with God are you not fully trusting the Lord? Is disobedience comfortable for you?
2. Every command from God is for a reason. He told the Israelites to drive out the inhabitants of the land to protect the Israelites from temptations and idol worship. What is God telling you to turn away from today?
3. What temptations of the world are you wrestling with right now? How can you be obedient to God's Word instead?
4. The people God used to lead were sinners and imperfect. But they had great faith and a desire to serve the Lord and see change. Do you believe that God can use anyone? Are you willing to serve Him with your whole heart?