The Judges of Israel

The 15 Judges in the Bible were renowned leaders of their time. They were mostly skillful administrators, as well as successful military leaders, that delivered their tribes from its enemies. For over 325 years these Judges ran their country and led the people with wisdom, settled disputes and presided over judicial matters involving and affecting the people. During ancient times, justice was a central theme that dictated the traditions of the Law and how they should be put into practice. All three Abrahamic religions agree on this theme even unto our modern times. These faithful people presided over the Israelites before the Kings of Israel made their entrance into the Bible. The following Judges are listed in most of the Abrahamic Bibles... 

1 - Othniel

• From the Tribe of Judah who ruled between 1373-1334 B.C.
• Defeated the Mesopotamians and incurred 40 years of peace.
• Othniel was the first warrior-judge of Israel, who had captured the town of Debir from the Canaanites. He delivered Israel from the 8-year oppression of the Mesopotamian king, Cushan-Rishathaim and was known as a "Brave Judge".
• Reference: Judges 1:9-21; 3:15:13-17; 1 Chronicles 4:13.

2 - Ehud

• From the Tribe of Benjamin who ruled between 1316-1237 B.C.
• Defeated the Moabites and incurred 80 years of peace.
• Ehud delivered Israel from the domination of King Eglon of Moab by skillfully killing his enemy. Ehud was known as a "crafty operator". It is interesting to note that he was described as being left-handed.
• Reference: Judges 3:13-30

3 - Shamgar

• Which tribe Shamgar descended from is unknown, but his reign is calculated as 1262-1247 B.C.
• Defeated the Philistines, incurred peace for an unknown number of years.
• There are no references to the length of his Shamgar's reign nor a conclusion of his character. The enemy king he defeated is not named. But it is recorded that he slayed 600 Philistines with an oxgoad (axe). Shamgar was known as a "Fearless Judge".
• Reference: Judges 3:31; 5:6

4 - Deborah

• From the Tribe of Ephraim who ruled between 1237-1198 B.C.
• Defeated the Canaanites and incurred 40 years of peace.
• Deborah delivered Israel from King Jabin by defeating Sisera, the commander of Jabin's army, with the help of Barak (from the Tribe of Naphtali). Deborah was classified as a prophet, judge and warrior. She was known as a "Supportive Judge".
• Reference: Judges 4 and 5

5 - Gideon

• From the Tribe of Manasseh who ruled between 1191-1151 B.C.
• Defeated the Midianites and incurred 40 years of peace.
• Gideon delivered Israel from oppression with an army of only 300 men. Gideon was hesitant to follow the Israelite God's instructions and demanded a 'sign'. Because of this, God reduced his army from 32,000 to 300. However, Gideon was known as a "Valiant Judge".
• Reference: Judges 6 and 7

6 - Abimelech

• From the Tribe of Manasseh who ruled for three years.
• Noted for his attacks on Shechem and declaring himself a king.
• One of the 70 children of Gideon (the son of a concubine). He killed all his brothers and claimed the leadership. He was a tyrant who was eventually assassinated by a woman at Thebaz, a city that Abimelech was trying to overtake. He was considered an "evil judge".
• Reference: Judges 8:31 and 9

7 - Tola

• From the Tribe of Issachar who ruled between 1149-1126 B.C.
• It is unknown which enemy Tola defeated, but it is inferred it was the Philistines. He incurred 23 years of peace.
• Not much information is recorded about Tola's judgeship other than it followed a 3-year repressive and tyrannical rule of an unnamed Philistine king (referred to as the Abimelech).
• Reference: Judges 10:1-2

8 - Jair the Gileadite

• From the Tribe of Manasseh who ruled from 1126-1105 B.C.
• It is unknown which enemy Jair defeated, but he incurred 22 years of peace.
• While there is not a lot of enlightenment about this Judge, his name means, "he enlightens". Jair was a man of great wealth and power, whose sons ruled over 30 cities in Gilead. Jair was killed in battle.  After his death there were 18 years of infidelity to the God of the Israelites and oppression at the hands of their Philistine and Ammonite neighbors.
• Reference: Judges 10:3-5

9 - Jephthah the Gileadite

• From the Tribe of Manasseh who ruled between 1087-1081 B.C.
• Defeated the Ammonites and incurred 6 years of peace.
• Jephthah refused to give up land to the Ammonite king, thrashing 20 Ammonite cities. But he could be considered a "conniving judge" because he only agreed to lead a battle on the Ammonites if a higher position (such as a Judge) was granted to him. He also made an irrational vow to attain that position, but it explicitly cost him the life of his only daughter.
• Reference: Judges 11 and 12

10 - Ibzan the Bethlehemite

• From the Tribe of Judah who ruled from 1081-1075.
• Defeated an unknown enemy and incurred 7 years of peace.
• Not much is known about Ibzan other than he came from Bethlehem.  His greatest accomplishment was creating alliances with other Israelites by arranging marriages for his children outside of his tribe clan. Ibzan could have been considered as an "influential judge".
• Reference: Judges 12:8-10

11 - Elon

• From the Tribe of Zebulon who ruled between 1075-1065 B.C.
• There was no known enemy he defeated, but Elon continued 10 more years of peace.
• Very little is known about Elon, but his tribe, length of reign and his death are recorded in the scriptures. There is no written record about any known enemies or military campaigns, but his name meant, "strong".
• Reference: Judges 12:11-12

12 - Abdon the Pirathonite

• From the Tribe of Ephraim and ruled between 1065-1058 B.C.
• There was no known enemy he defeated, but Abdon continued 8 more years of peace.
• Scholars proclaim that Abdon restored order in Israel after the civil war between the Gileadites and Ephraimites. There is not a lot of personal information found on this ancient judge other than he was the son of Hillel.
• Reference: Judges 12:13-15

13 - Samson the Nazirite

• From the Tribe of Dan who ruled between 1069-1049 B.C.
• Defeated the Philistines and incurred 20 years of peace.
• A Nazirite was consecrated that no razor should come upon the head, and this gave Samson his strength. He lost his strength when Delilah cut his hair but calling upon the Lord to help regain his strength, Samson was able to defeat over 3,000 Philistines by bringing down the Temple of Dagon, therefore killing himself in the process. He was known as the "Strong and Weak Judge".
• Reference: Judges 13 and 16:31

14 - Eli the Priest

• Eli descended from Itamar, a son of Aaron (brother of Moses). He ruled in the 11th century B.C.
• The Philistines defeated Eli, killing all his sons who was in charge of the Ark of the Covenant, which the Philistines confiscated from the Israelites. Eli ruled Israel for 40 years. 
• Eli is best remembered for his establishment of a rival shrine at Shiloh, which the Samaritans attributed the schism between their communities. Eli was also instrumental in preparing Samuel for his future role as a judge.
• Reference: Book of 1Samuel

15 - Samuel the Nazirite

• From the Tribe of Korah (Moses' cousin) who ruled in the 11th century B.C.
• Samuel eventually defeated the Philistines after 20 years of oppression.
• Samuel was a key figure in keeping the Israelites' religious heritage and identity alive during Israel's defeat under Eli and the occupation by the Philistines, who returned the Ark of the Covenant to the Israelites seven months later when many calamities befell them. Samuel was technically the last Judge of the Israelites. He is responsible for paving the way for the first two Kings of Israel (Saul & David) to take charge of the people.
• Reference: Books of 1 & 2 Samuel

Related Articles:

Hebrew Bible judges - Wikipedia

Judges of the Old Testament (agapebiblestudy.com)

Era of the Judges (jewishhistory.org)