Name and Character of the Book - This second of the historical books of the Old Testament takes
its name from the exploits of the thirteen men raised up by God to deliver Israel from the
oppressions of alien peoples - oppressions brought upon them as punishment for their apostasies
and idolatries. Through these men, God continued his personal government of the nation. The
records of the book, however, are fragmentary without chronological order, and the work of
some of these leaders may have been contemporaneous, as least in part.
Condition of the Nation - Following the death of Joshua, Israel's national life continued over a
long period without being centrally organized, and the people were falling constantly into idolatry
and suffering under the iron heel of heathen nations. The book records seven apostasies, seven
periods of servitude to seven nations, and seven deliverances. It also proves explanations and
interpretations of these dealings of God with Israel and other significant events. Key phrases are
"The children of Israel again did evil in the eyes of the Lord"; and "The Lord sold them into the
hands of the oppressor." The key verse is "Every man did that which was right in his own eyes"
(17:6); whereas, the key word is "confusion."
Period Covered - We are told in 1Kings 6:1 that the time from the Exodus to the building of the
Temple in the fourth year of Solomon was 480 years. On the other hand, the periods of 40 years
in the wilderness, 40 years in the reign of Saul, 40 years for the reign of David, 24 years covering
the life of Joshua after entering Canaan, and 4 years in Solomon's reign total 148 years. If 148 is
subtracted from 480, we have 332 years as the period of Judges, including Samuel's long term of
service. Ussher gives this period as 305 years.
Outline - The book may be divided into four sections: I. The Conquest to the Judges (1:1-3:6)
II. The Judges and Their Work (3:7-16) III. The Idolatry of Micah (17-18) IV. The Crime of
Gibeah (19-21)
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