The Israelites had to make many changes when they began living in Canaan:
� Ark of the Covenant was far away in Shiloh
� Once desert people now had to farm for food
� Tribes were separated by mountains
� Hostile neighbors
� No leader to keep their focus on the covenant
So mistakes happened � the Israelites began to worship the pagan god of their neighbors
When neighboring tribes threatened their land, the Israelites recognized they had forgotten the Lord, their God.
They prayed to him for forgiveness and help.
God sent leaders to save them from their enemies.
These leaders were called judges.
They were men and women who were strong military leaders in times of trouble.
People also came to them for advice and to settle arguments.
There were 12 judges.
The judges had the gift of charism.
Charism � a special gift of God given for the good of others
The judges did not seem holy. Their lives and ways were rough.
They protected the Israelites and reminded them of Yahweh and their covenant.
Pattern of life for the Israelites in the time of the judges:
� Sin
� Suffering
� Sorrow
� Salvation
Ruth � a non-Hebrew woman who was faithful to her mother-in-law after her family died. She eventually wed Boaz and had a son who was the great-grandfather of King David, an ancestor of Jesus.
Important Judges:
� Deborah � took great risks but trusted in the Lord. She accompanied an army in a battle against the Canaanites.
� Gideon � trusted God enough to reduce his army during an important battle versus the Midianites.
� Samson � was under a vow not to drink or cut his hair so that the power of God was with him. He was tricked but Delilah who cut his hair. The Philistines then captured and blinded him.