Before the judges were established, the people of Israel had no formal governance, relying instead on leaders like Moses and Joshua. After Joshua's death, the Great Creator saw that Israel's sinful tendencies were leading them toward chaos once again. Fearing that the tribes would fall back into their wicked ways, as they had when Moses went to receive the Ten Commandments, God decided to appoint individuals with authority to guide Israel back to the path of righteousness. Thus, the Judges of Israel came into being and ruled for 324 years.
According to the Life Application Bible commentary, it says, "These judges were not perfect; in fact, they included an assassin, a sexually promiscuous man, and a person who broke all laws of hospitality. But they were submissive to God, and God used them."
There is a probability that there were other judges not named in the Holy Bible as there are gaps in the timeline. Likewise, some judges have chapters rich with details about their lives, while others remain shrouded in mystery, with little information to uncover, leaving their enigmatic reign open to speculation.
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Major Judge: Othniel
Meaning of Name: "Lion of God"
Tribe: Judah
Time Period: 1373-1334 BC
Enemy Defeated: Mesopotamians
Years of Peace: 40
Characteristics: Integrity and Faithfulness
Notable Information: Othniel served as a Israelite judge for eight years, bringing 40 years of peace with his reign.
Description: Othniel, the son of Kenaz and Caleb's brother, married Achsah, Caleb's daughter, after successfully capturing the town of Debir from the Canaanites. As the first warrior-judge of Israel, he freed the nation from an eight-year oppression under Cushan-Rishathaim, the king of Mesopotamia.
Biblical Reference: Joshua 15:13-17; Judges 1:9-21; 3:1-11; 1 Chron 4:13
Major Judge: Ehud
Meaning of Name: "I will give thanks"
Tribe: Benjamin
Time Period: 1316-1237 BC
Enemy Defeated: Moabites
Years of Peace: 80
Characteristic: Left-handedness
Notable Information: It is unknown how long Ehud served as judge, but he brought the longest period of peace to Israel.
Description: Ehud, the son of Gera from the tribe of Benjamin, was a left-handed man who cleverly assassinated Eglon, the king of Moab, using a double-edged sword about a cubit long (approximately 18 inches). His actions brought an end to 18 years of Moabite rule over Israel.
Biblical Reference: Judges 3:12 – 4:1
Minor Judge: Shamgar
Meaning of Name: "Sword"
Tribe: Unknown
Time Period: 1262- 1247 BC
Enemy Defeated: Philistines
Years of Peace: Unknown
Characteristic: Bravery
Notable Information: Shamgar is not a Hebrew name. He was said to be the son of Anath (Semitic goddess of love and war), sister of the Baal god.
Description: Unlike the accounts of other biblical judges there are no mentions of the duration of Shamgar's reign, nor is there a clear introduction or conclusion regarding his character. Armed with an oxgoad, he achieved a significant feat by killing 600 Philistines and delivering Israel from their oppression.
Biblical Reference: Judges 3:31 and Judges 5:6
Major Judge: Deborah
Meaning of Name: "Bee"
Tribe: Ephraim
Time Period: 1237-1198 BC
Enemy Defeated: Canaanites
Years of Peace: 40
Characteristics: Supportive and Unwavering Faith
Notable Information: She is the only female judge mentioned in the Bible.
Description: Deborah, the wife of Lappidoth, was a prophetess, counselor, and warrior. She led a successful counter-attack with Barak from the tribe of Naphtali against Sisera, the commander of King Jabin of Canaan's army. With God's guidance, she defeated Sisera and his entire army by the sword.
Biblical Reference: Judges 4-5
Major Judge: Gideon
Meaning of Name: "Hewer"
Tribe: Manasseh
Time Period: 1191-1151 BC
Enemy Defeated: Midianites
Years of Peace:40
Characteristics: Timid and Humble
Notable Information: Gideon was the youngest son of Joash the Abiezrite.
Description:An angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon while he was winnowing wheat in a winepress to conceal it from the Midianites. The angel commanded him to deliver Israel from Midianite oppression, assuring him that he would defeat all the Midianites. Gideon sought confirmation of God's plan by twice laying out a woolen fleece for a sign. Obeying God's instructions, Gideon reduced his army from 10,000 to 300 and successfully defeated the enemy forces.
Biblical Reference: Judges 6-8
Minor Judge: Tola
Meaning of Name: "Worm"
Tribe: Issachar
Time Period: 1149-1126 BC
Enemy Defeated: No known enemy
Years of Peace: 23
Characteristics: Faithfulness and Humility
Notable Information: The Bible does not mention what Tola saved the clans of Israel from.
Description: Tola belonged to one of the prominent clans of the tribe of Issachar but resided in the town of Shamir, located in the territory of Ephraim. His tenure as a judge, lasting 23 years, succeeded the chaotic three-year reign of Abimelech, which had plunged Israel into turmoil.
Biblical Reference: Judges 10:1-2
Minor Judge: Jair
Meaning of Name: "He enlightens"
Tribe: Manasseh
Time Period: 1126-1105 BC
Enemy Defeated: No known enemy
Years of Peace: 22
Characteristics: Administrative Skill and Authority
Notable Information: Jair is quite a popular name and is mentioned in several books in the Bible.
Description: Jair, also known as Yair, was the seventh judge of Israel and is regarded as a minor judge by scholars and theologians. He had 30 sons who rode on 30 donkeys and governed 30 cities in Gilead. Known for his wealth and influence, the Bible does not detail his achievements but does note that he was buried in Kamon.
Biblical Reference: Judges 10:3-5
Major Judge: Jephthah
Meaning of Name: "He opens"
Tribe: Manasseh
Time Period: 1087-1081
Enemy Defeated: Ammonites
Years of Peace: 6
Characteristics: Mighty Warrior and Brillant Military Strategist
Notable Information: He fought the Ammonites and defeated 20 cities, thus subduing King Ammon.
Description: Jephthah was the son of a prostitute and was rejected by his half-brothers, who drove him away for being the son of another woman. Later, the Gileadite elders appointed him as their leader and commander at Mizpah, where he refused to relinquish the land to the king of the Ammonites. Jephthah ultimately instigated a civil war with the tribe of Ephraim and made a reckless vow that led to the devastating loss of his daughter's life.
Biblical Reference: Judges 11-12
Minor Judge: Ibzan
Meaning of Name: "Splendid"
Tribe: Judah
Time Period: 1081-1075
Enemy Defeated: No known enemy
Years of Peace: 7
Characteristics: Judicial Background and Social Influence
Notable Information: The Jewish Talmud (Bava Batra 91a) asserts that Ibzan is to be identified with Boaz from the Book of Ruth.
Description: Ibzan, the Bethlehemite, was a prominent and affluent judge of Israel, recognized for his social standing and influence. He had 30 sons and 30 daughters, through whom he significantly extended his reach by arranging marriages outside his clan, thereby forging strategic alliances with other Israelite tribes.
Biblical Reference: Judges 12:8-10
Minor Judge: Elon
Meaning of Name: "Oak Tree; Mighty"
Tribe: Zebulun
Time Period: 1075-1065 BC
Enemy Defeated: No known enemy
Years of Peace: 10
Characteristics: Stability and Autonomous
Notable Information: Israel was at peace when Elon picked up the torch of Ibzan. He was buried in the territory of where his tribe was from.
Description: Although little is known about Elon or the duration of his reign, the Bible does mention his tribe and his death. There is no evidence to suggest that he led any military campaigns or took action to defend Israel from its adversaries.
Biblical Reference: Judges 12:11-12
Minor Judge: Abdon
Meaning of Name: "Servant"
Tribe: Ephraim
Time Period: 1065-1058 BC
Enemy Defeated: No known enemy
Years of Peace: 8
Characteristics: Faithfulness and Service to God
Notable Information: Abdon was also a territory of Palestine. Like Judge Jair, the name Abdon is commonly shared with three other Israelites in the Bible.
Description: Abdon, the son of Hillel, was a man of great wealth and influence. He had 40 sons and 30 grandsons, all of whom rode on 70 donkeys. Some scholars suggest that Abdon played a key role in restoring order in Israel following the devastating civil war between the Gileadites and the Ephraimites.
Biblical Reference: Judges 12:13–15
Major Judge: Samson
Meaning of Name: "Like the sun"
Tribe: Dan
Time Period: 1069-1049
Enemy Defeated: Philistines
Years of Peace: 20
Characteristics: Strength, Faith and Moral Weakness
Notable Information: Samson's birth was announced by an angel. He killed a lion with his bare hands and killed over 1,000 Philistines with a jawbone of a donkey.
Description: Samson, the son of Manoah and Hazlalphonith, was consecrated as a Nazirite, meaning no razor was to touch his head. Blessed by the Lord with extraordinary strength, Samson showed a preference for the daughters of the Philistines. He lost his strength when his lover, Delilah, cut his hair. Blinded and imprisoned in Gaza, one of the five Philistine city-states, he prayed to God for his strength to be restored. In a final act, he brought down the Temple of Dagon, killing himself and approximately 3,000 Philistines.
Biblical Reference: Judges 13-16
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