The best available resource taking this view is judges. Othniel, ehud, shamgar, deborah, gideon, abimelech, tola, jair, jephthah, ibzan, elon, abdon and samson. Watch our overview video on the book of judges, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. In judges the first decline of the people of israel is described. One of the more troubling passages of the old testament has to do with a vow made by one of israels judges, jephthah, as recorded in judges 11.
The book of judges, the third of the series of five books that reflect the theological viewpoint of the deuteronomic historian, the introduction is an account of the conquest of canaan 1. Judges 1 new international version niv israel fights the remaining canaanites. Othniel was the soninlaw of the great hero caleb judges 1. Judges 1 commentary, one of over 110 bible commentaries freely available, this commentary, by the leading authority in the church of christ, presents a verse level look at the bible. The book of judges includes several interesting genres. The title of the book in english, greek kritai, lxx, and hebrew is judges. Its author is anonymous but it is usually assumed that samuel, the prophet wrote it. Judges forms part of deuteronomistic history, a theologicallyoriented history of israel from the entry into canaan to the destruction of the temple. In this book we will find israel falling and getting back up as it seems just to fall again. The book of judges is not one of the easier books of the old testament for the modern reader to appreciate.
This volume is the mature fruit of three decades of study and reflection on the book of judges. The fact that he does this at night, out of fear, is a disturbing detail. Block wheaton college we have been waiting for barry webbs commentary a long time. The book of judges new international commentary on. In his collection of rabbinical fables and traditions titled legends of the jews, louis ginzberg includes two fanciful additions to. These are they who had departed from the faith that was originally delivered jude 1.
Contrasted greatly with the victorious book of joshua that precedes it, judges shows the failure of israel to conquer their enemies, claim their inheritance, and the huge effect that this had on their life and relationship with god. The book of judges is the history of israel during the government of the judges, who were occasional deliverers, raised up by god to rescue israel from their oppressors, to reform the state of religion, and to administer justice to the people. Each paragraph preceded by comment or q an abbreviation for question was introduced by someone other than bro. The book of judges is a book of human failure but also of godgiven revivals and deliverances.
And it was so, when gideon heard the telling of the dream, and the interpretation thereof. Adultery, idolatry, sexual violence, murder, theft all these and more were found in. They ruled over the ancient state of israel between 1150 bc until 1025 bc. As of this writing, the author is unaware of any commentaries that take a positive view of the judges. Book 2 is a commentary on the last 5 chapters of the book of judges, presenting examples of how israel was lawless after the death of joshua. This commentary is an excellent reading commentary for devotional use, or for help in leading a bible study on the book of judges. Judges 1 commentary james burton coffman commentaries.
Verse by verse commentaries by book precept austin. For the purpose of the commentary webb structures the book of judges in three main parts, namely the introduction 1. The book clearly reveals the sinfulness and the rebellion which characterized the majority of the children of israel during the judges period. The book of judges, which is believed to have been written by the prophet samuel around 1050 bc, presents us with a sad and turbulent period in israels history. This is the title of the whole book of judges and does not apply to the numerous events recorded in this chapter, all of which occurred during joshuas lifetime. With joshua gone, they were not left without a leader. The book of judges is one of the historical books of the old testament and is the chief source of our information concerning the historical period which it covers. We find the blessings of the people of god and their taking possession of them typically in the book of joshua. The book of judges is the second of the books of the former prophets in hebrew scripture, and serves as part of the historical books of the greek septuagint old testament, in the following order. Eminently readable, exegetically thorough, and written in an engaging style that flows from his keen sensitivity to the text, barry webbs the book of judges is just what is needed to properly interact with a dynamic, narrative work like the old testament book of judges. New generations served other deities and had forgotten god. Trent butlers wbc commentary on judges and frederic bushs wbc.
Each of the last five chapters starts or includes the notion that there was no king in israel. Israels lack of spiritual interest is made manifest with each of the twelve cycles of sin revealed in the book of judges. Book of judges overview insight for living ministries. Chaos judges 121 bible commentary theology of work. In the narrative of the hebrew bible, it covers the time between the conquest described in the book. We hope this outline of judges will deepen your understanding of gods word. Judges with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. Judges 1 commentary matthew henry commentary on the. From the death of joshua to the days of samuel, israels last judge. Put simply, theyve looked a bit puzzled and asked, why study the book of judges. Map of the judges of ancient israel conforming to jesus.
Israel needed a king and israel is going to have a king in the form of jesus the messiah. They should be utilized with the following understanding. His fathers name is also given as gilead, and, as his mother is described as a prostitute, this may indicate that his father might have been any of the men of that area. In time the elders of the people became the judges vv. They are described in a way that is true to the facts and which. The book of judges the new international commentary on. In the book of judges, every incidence of israels repentance and deliverance is sadly followed by another descent into sin and apostasy. The spotlight of the book is on a blessed peoples miserable failures. The first book is how the judges themselves are named prophetically to give a message of sonship. In the bible, i think of those leaders who were appointed to judge the.
If you glance back up at the outline of the book of judges above, youll see that in chapters 2. Book of judges bible study commentary the cycle of sin. For the most part, the commentary is based on the traditional. Judges free bible commentary in easy english easyenglish bible. Judges 1 niv israel fights the remaining canaanites. One resource that can help you track the geographical movement of the tribes and the surrounding peoples is the moody atlas of bible lands, available from your local christian bookstore or online book distributor. Summary of the book of judges the story of the bible.
As we move from the book of judges to the book of ruth, a bright. These continue as such in our christian old testament of the bible. The details of this historys composition are still widely debated, but most scholars place its origins, or at least its final form, in the 6th century bce and the community of the babylonian exile. The stories of each of the twelve judges that god sent. A free bible version and commentary on the book of judges in easyenglish. The judges mentioned in the old testament book of judges are. But it also is a book about gods great and abiding mercy. The book of judges is a book of failure and misery. Why the commentaries are wrong about the judges knowing. This lawlessness is summarized in the key verse of the book, every man did that which.
The book of judges, sefer shoftim is the seventh book of the hebrew bible and the christian old testament. Book of judges, an old testament book that, along with deuteronomy, joshua, i and ii samuel, and i and ii kings, belongs to a specific historical tradition. The following notes on the book of judges were compiled from a bible study led by bro. Then the book of judges ended with the nation spiraling out of control. It discusses not only unique features of the stories themselves but also such issues as the violent nature of judges, how. There is a cycle found throughout the book of judges. The text of judges gives no indication as to who wrote the book, but jewish tradition names the prophet samuel as the author. Jude wrote this book exclusively to fight against the apostasy that was defiling the church and defectors of the faith who were building apostate churches. Jephthah vowed to god that if the lord would grant him victory over the evil ammonites, the first thing that came out to meet him upon his return home, would be jehovahs, andor it would be.
A good commentary should therefore help overcome such various difficulties as the text may present, so that the book may live afresh. Joshua, judges, ruth, samuel, and kings, as well as the books of the restoration. In this commentary i have tried to let judges be what it is instead of taming it. God does condescend to assure gideon in this instance, but it is hardly an example for others to follow as. Soggin approaches the biblical text with historicallyorientated questions. Introduction to the book of judges agape bible study.