Judges

Judges 1

After Joshua's death, the Israelites ask God who will lead them against the Canaanites. Judah is chosen, and he leads a successful campaign against Bezek and other cities, including Hebron and Debir. Meanwhile, other tribes, such as Benjamin and Joseph, fail to drive out the Canaanite inhabitants of their assigned territories.

Judges 2

An angel of the Lord appears to the Israelites and rebukes them for disobeying God's commands by making a treaty with the inhabitants of Canaan. The chapter then describes how the Israelites continued to disobey God, serving Baal and other gods, and were subsequently oppressed by their enemies. However, God raised up judges to deliver them from their oppressors.

Judges 3

The chapter describes how God tests Israel by allowing them to be oppressed by various nations, including the Philistines and Moabites. A series of judges are raised up to deliver Israel from these oppressors, including Othniel, Ehud, and Shamgar. Ehud's story is particularly notable for its violent and cunning plot to assassinate Eglon king of Moab.

Judges 4

The chapter tells the story of Deborah, a prophetess who leads the Israelites to victory over their oppressor, Jabin's army, led by Sisera. Deborah commissions Barak to lead the troops and promises that God will deliver Sisera into his hand. The battle is won, but Sisera escapes and is eventually killed by Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite.

Judges 5

Deborah and Barak sing a song of praise to God for delivering Israel from their enemies. The chapter highlights various tribes' contributions to the battle against Sisera, including Zebulun and Naphtali's bravery and Jael's cunning in killing Sisera. The chapter concludes with a blessing on those who love God and a statement that the land had rest for forty years.

Judges 6

The Israelites suffer under Midianite oppression, prompting them to cry out to the Lord. A prophet is sent to remind them of their deliverance from Egypt, but they still struggle. Meanwhile, an angel appears to Gideon, a humble farmer, and commissions him to lead Israel against the Midianites.

Judges 7

Gideon is instructed by God to reduce his army from 32,000 to 300 men. He uses a test to identify the bravest soldiers, who then defeat the Midianites with trumpets and torches. The Israelites pursue and kill two of the Midianite leaders.

Judges 8

Gideon confronts Ephraim for not being called upon to fight against Midian and is initially rebuked. He then goes on to defeat Zebah and Zalmunna, the two kings of Midian, and their armies. The chapter concludes with Gideon's refusal to become king and his subsequent request for golden earrings from the Israelites.

Judges 9

Abimelech, the son of Jerubbaal's concubine, is made king over Shechem after he kills his 70 half-brothers. However, God sends an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem, causing them to turn against him. Abimelech eventually dies at the hands of a woman in Thebez.

Judges 10

Tola and Jair succeed Abimelech as judges in Israel, each ruling for several years. The Israelites eventually turn away from God and are oppressed by various nations. They cry out to the Lord for help, confess their sin, and return to worshiping Him.

Judges 11

Jephthah, a mighty warrior from Gilead, is asked by his people to lead them against the Ammonites. He agrees but only if they restore the land that Israel took from them centuries ago. Jephthah then vows to sacrifice whatever comes out of his house to meet him upon his return as a burnt offering.

Judges 12

The men of Ephraim accuse Jephthah of not calling them to fight against the Ammonites. The Gileadites defeat the Ephraimites at the Jordan River by identifying those who can't pronounce 'Shibboleth' correctly, killing 42,000 Ephraimites in the process. After Jephthah's six-year judgeship, Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon each judge Israel for seven, ten, and eight years respectively.

Judges 13

An angel appears to a barren woman from the tribe of Dan, telling her she will conceive a son who will be a Nazarite dedicated to God. The angel warns them not to drink wine or eat unclean foods while pregnant. Manoah and his wife are amazed by the angel's appearance and offer a burnt offering in gratitude.

Judges 14

Samson falls in love with a Philistine woman from Timnath and asks his parents to marry her, but they are hesitant due to the cultural differences between their tribes. Samson's riddle about 'the eater' and 'the strong' is solved by his wife after she pressures him into revealing it. In revenge for solving the riddle, Samson kills thirty Philistines in Ashkelon.

Judges 15

Samson visits his wife with a kid, but her father refuses to let him enter, leading Samson to exact revenge on the Philistines by burning their crops and vineyards. The Philistines retaliate by killing Samson's wife and her father, prompting Samson to vow vengeance. He then kills 1,000 men using the jawbone of an ass, before being released from his bonds and reviving after drinking water that miraculously appears in a rock.

Judges 16

Samson's affair with Delilah leads to his downfall as she discovers his secret to strength. She tells the Philistines, who bind and blind him, then use him for entertainment before killing him. In a final act of revenge, Samson collapses the temple on top of his enemies, killing many more than he did in life.

Judges 17

Micah's mother had dedicated silver to make idols, but instead gave it to a founder who made them into a graven image and molten image. Micah then hired a young Levite from Bethlehem as his priest in exchange for food, clothing, and 10 shekels of silver per year. The Levite becomes Micah's priest and lives with him.

Judges 18

The tribe of Dan sends five men to spy out the land and search for an inheritance, where they discover a Levite priest named Micah who has set up idols. They return with this information and convince their brethren to go to war against Laish, a peaceful city that is easily conquered. The Danites then establish a new city called Dan, using the idols from Micah's house.

Judges 19

A Levite's concubine is mistreated by a group of men in Gibeah, Benjamin, after they are refused hospitality. The Levite cuts his concubine into twelve pieces and sends them to the tribes of Israel as a warning. This event sparks a national outrage and leads to war against the Benjamites.

Judges 20

The Israelites gather against the Benjaminites in response to their wickedness. The two armies clash multiple times, with the Benjaminites initially gaining victories but ultimately being defeated. The Israelites use a clever tactic involving liers in wait and a signal fire to finally emerge victorious.

Judges 21

The men of Benjamin are found to have not participated in the previous wars, leaving them without wives. The people of Israel devise a plan to allow the Benjamites to take wives from the daughters of Shiloh who come out to dance. This plan is carried out and the Benjamites successfully take their wives.