Judges

The History of Israel during the Times of the Judges

 

Synopsis of the Book of Judges

 

There are three periods into which the book may be divided.

 

I.                     The Period Immediately after the Death of Joshua, 1:1 – 2:10.

II.                   The Period of the Seven Apostasies, Six Servitudes and Civil War, Chs. 3-16.

 

The first servitude, to Mesopotamia – Othniel, 3:5-9

The second servitude, to Moab – Ehud and Shamgar, 3:12-31

The third servitude, to Jabin and Sisera – Deborah and Barak, 4:1-23

The fourth servitude, to Midian – Gideon, Chs. 6-7

The civil war – Abimelech, Tola and Jair, 8:33-10:5

The fifth servitude, to the Philistines and Ammon – Jephthah, Ibzan, Elon and Abdon, Chs. 10-12

The sixth servitude, to the Philistines – Samson, Chs. 13-16

 

III.                 The Period of Confusion and Anarchy, Chs. 17-21.