Nick Schlueter
Kevin Crowe
Stephen Chapman
Mike Viamontes
2/26/97 Theology
Introduction to the Book of Judges
The Book of Judges is about tweve military leaders who were sent by God to aid and protect the tribes of Israel. The tweleve tribes were in great danger fom other peoples. The events of the Judges take place between the death of Joshua and monarchy of Israel. Of the twelve judges, six of them were considered major judges. There stories are told in somewhat specific detail. They were Othniel, Ehud, Barak, Gideon, Jephthah and Samson. There were also minor judges, whose stories were briefly summarized. The Judges had authority over a few of the tribes at a time, never ruling the whole nation. The main purpose of the book is to show that the Israelite's obedience (and disobedience) determined their future.
The Story of Ehud
The people of Israel once again offended God. God's anger then allowed the people to be overcome by their enemies: the Ammorites, the Amolekites, and Eglon, king of Moab. The Israelites were then enslaved for 18 years until the left handed Ehud came to save. Ehud killed the king of Moab with a two-edged, foot long dagger that was hidden in his pants. Ehud is considered a great and unlikely hero (unlikely because left-handedness was a sign of being less than a right handed person).