After the death of Joshua, Israel had judges instead of kings to rule.
No clear statement or indication of authorship occurs in the book, but many Bible scholars think Samuel was the author.
Judges is filled with sensational stories, as exciting as any of today’s headlines. It includes gruesome murders, sexual exploits, and superhuman feats of strength.
It was a period of terrible apostasy and immorality.
The period of the Judges is thought to have covered approximately three hundred years, but it could have been longer.
This book records seven apostasies, seven servitudes to seven heathen nations, and seven deliverances.
Twelve different judges are named in this book (some add Abimelech).
The chief judges were Deborah, Gideon, Samson, and Samuel.
Five of the judges about whom we know very little were Tola, Jair, Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon.
The judges were chosen by God to deliver the Israelites and then rule with justice.
Judges echoes with rebellion, retribution, repentance, and restoration. Then the same cycle repeats itself all over again, some six or seven times.
Each judge was divinely appointed and called out for a particular crisis.
Archaeology shows that the superpowers of Babylonia, Assyria, and Egypt were relatively weak during the days of the judges.
In general, the book of Judges is one of failures on the part of God’s people to trust His word and claim His power.
Warren Wiersbe gives the following suggested outline: