JUDGES OUTLINE

A Ralph Johnson

Theocracy -- God was king.  Judges served God in guiding and saving the people.

Author: Probably, Samuel (cf. 1Chron. 29:29)

Period covered: About 318 years from around BC 1375)

Key Phrase: “The children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord.” (2:11; 3:7; 3:12; 4:1; 6:1; 10:6; 13:1)

Key Problem: “Every man did that which was right in their own eyes” (17:6; 21:25).

CHAPTERS & KEY WORDS	Outline 21ch(12+2x) Map
1: Introduction	Introduction:  Canaanites not driven out after the death of Joshua.
	1.   Judah & Simeon’s success driving out the Canaanites (1:1-20).
	2.   Failure of other tribes (1:21-36).
2: Unfaithful	3.   Cause of their problems (2:1--3:6).
	a. Angel of Jehovah reproves them (2:1-5)
	b. After Joshua an unfaithful new generation (2:6-15)
	c. After each judge, apostasy (2:16-23).
3:	d. So, Jehovah left the nations to prove them.(3:1-6)
	A.   Mesopotamian king, Cushan-rishathaim (“Double Wicked”)
	Ruled 8 years. (3:7-8)
#1. Othniel	Othniel, Caleb’s son-in-law, defeated him and Judged 40 years (3:9-11).
	B.    Moabite King, Eglon plus, Ammon and Amalek
	Ruled 18 years (3:12-14)
#2. Ehud	Ehud (Left handed son of Gera the Benjamite)
	Killed Eglon (fat) in his chamber with dagger.
	Land rested 80 years  (3:15-30)
	C.    Philistines (south-west coast) (3:31)
#3. Shamgar	Shamgar defeats them (killed 600 with ox goad)
	Judged 31 years
4:	D.   Canaanite king, Jabin, of Hazor (in the north).
	Ruled 20 years (4:1-3)
#4. Deborah & Barak	Deborah, prophetess of Ephraim, Manasseh, Benjamin, Naphtali, Zebulon, Isaachar) (4:4--5:31)
	She called for Barak’s help. (4:6)
	Barak would go if Deborah would go with him (4:8)
	Sisera, captain, 900 iron chariots mired on plain.
	Sisera killed by Jael, wife of Heber, with tent peg
5: Song	Song of victory by Deborah and Barak (5:1-31)
	Land had rest 40 years.
6:	E.    Midianites (descendants of Abraham and Keturah) From East of Jordan, With Amalekites,
	Rule 7 years. (6:1-6)
	Grain stolen.  People hide in caves.
#5. Gideon	Gideon/Jerubbaal (tribe of Manasseh) called by Angel (6:7-18)
	Called from threshing wheat in wine-press.
	Offering burned by angel as a sign.(6:19-23)
	Altar built. (6:24)
	Baal and Asherah god images destroyed. (6:25-32)
	Abiezer, Manasseh, Asher, Zebulun, Naphtali called
	Fleece test (6:36-40)
7: 300	300 chosen from 32,000 at spring of Harod. (7:1-8)
	Midianite barley cake dream about tent.(7:9-14)
	Midianites defeated with pitchers and torches.(7:15-25)
	“Sword of Lord and of Gideon”
8: Pursuit	Ephraimites offended because they did not get in on spoils (8:1-3)
	Cities, Succoth & Penuel, refused them food.(8:4-9)
	Zeba & Zalmunna  (kings) captured.
	Son refuses to kill them so Gideon does. (8:18-21)
	Gideon refuses to rule. (8:22-28)
	Ephod made by Gideon becomes snare. (8:27)
	40 years rest for the land. (8:28)
	Gideon’s family (8:29-32)
	Return to Baal worship.(8:33)
9: Abimelech	Abimelech, Gideon’s concubine’s son, killed father’s 70 sons, except Jotham, the youngest (9:1-6).
	Jotham’s “bramble” parable on Mt Gerizim.(9:7-21)
	Abimelech oppressive king for 3 years.(9:22-25)
	Gaal, son of Ebed destroyed by Abimelech (9:26-40)
	Shechem destroyed and salted.(9:41-45)
	Tower burned with 1000 people. (9:46-49)
	Woman’s Millstone killed Abimelech at Thebez (50-57)
10:      #6. Tola	Tola (of Issachar) from Ephraim hills,
	Judged 23 years. (10:1-2)
#7. Jair	Jair, Gileadite, 30 sons, 30 asses, 30 cities.
	Judged 22 years. (10:3-5)
	F.    Ammonites beyond Jordan and Philistines
	Israel vexed 18 years. (10:6-18)
11:   #8. Jephthah	Jephthah (Rejected son of Harlot)
	Defeated Ammonites.(11:1-33)
	Hasty vow consequences.(11:34-40)
12:	Ephraim’s arrogance and defeat.(12:1-6) (“Shibboleth”)
	Judged 6 years. (12:7)
#9. Ibzan	Ibzan (of Bethlehem) had 30 sons & 30 daughters.
	Judged 7 years (12:8-10).
#10. Elon	Elon (of Zebulun) Judged 10 years. (12:11,12)
#11. Abdon	Abdon (the Pirathonite) (40 sons, 30 grandsons, 70 asses)
	Judged 8 years.(12:13-15)
13:	G.   Philistine resurgence. (13:1)
#12. Samson	Samson (of Dan) birth announced by angel. (13:2-7)
	Angel appeared again (Nazarite). (13:8-14)
	Offering. Angel ascended in fire. (13:15-20)
	Samson’s birth and childhood. (13:21-25)
14: Wife	Samson wanted Philistine wife. (14:1-4)
	Lion and honey. (14:5-9)
	Riddle. (14:10-14)
	Wife begged for his riddle  (14:15-18)
	Smote 30 men for garments. (14:19)
	Wife given to best man. (14:20--15:4)
15: Vengeance	300 foxes with tails tied on fire in grain fields. (14:5)
	Wife & father burnt. (14:6)
	Samson smote them “hip and thigh.” (14:7,8)
	Hid in Rock of Etam. (15:8)
	Judah forced to bind him. (15:9-13)
	1,000 killed with jawbone of an ass. (15:14-16)
	Thirst quenched by water from Lehi (“Jawbone”).
	Judged 20 years. (15:20)
16:	Harlot. Gates carried to mountain top. (16:1-3)
Delilah	Delilah clips Sampson. (16:4-22)
	Four steps to ruin:
	1. Withes, 2. Ropes, 3. Weave 7 locks, 4. Haircut
	Samson’s humiliation (16:23-27)
	“Sin is binding, blinding, grinding”
	Sampson brings down the house. (16:28-31)
	APPENDIX I.  Danite pagan worship established
17: Micah	Micah, of Ephraim, made an image.(17:1-6)
	Got a Levite for his priest. (17:7-13)
18: Danites	Five Danite spies (18:1-6)
	Spies brought their people (18:1-6)
	Spies stole Micah’s images.(18:14-20)
	Micah and neighbors intimidated.(18:21-26)
	Danites establish pagan worship.(18:27-31)
	APPENDIX II. Benjamin tribe destroyed for rape
19: Concubine	Levite of Ephraim went to concubine’s house.
	On way home they stay in Gibeah (19:10-21)
	Benjamin homosexuals demand him.(19:22-24)
	Concubine raped and murdered. (19:25-26)
	She was Cut into 12 pieces and sent through Israel. (19:27-30)
20: Benjamites	Benjamin men destroyed by Israel.(20:1-48)
21: Wives	Oath not to give wives to Benjamin.(21:1-7)
	Wives for Benjamites taken from Jabesh-gilead which had not been present. (21:8-15)
	Kidnapped wives from dancing girls at Shiloh.(21:16-25)