BIBLE SUMMARY: JUDGES

Book of Judges Synopsis: Statistics And Summary of Main Topics.

Book of Judges Chapter by Chapter Summary.

JUDGES TOTAL CHAPTERS: 21

JUDGES TOTAL VERSES: 618

TOTAL WORDS: 18,976

DATE WRITTEN: 1050 – 1000 BC

AUTHOR: Anonymous/ May be Samuel

JUDGES THEME: 

Israel Before The Kings, God of the Rebels, The history of Israelites from Joshua to Samson.

MAJOR CHARACTERS:

God, Angel of the Lord, Othniel, Ehud, Deborah, Gideon, Abimelech, Jepthah, Samson, and Levites.

BOOK OF JUDGES KEY VERSES:

2:16-19: Then the LORD raised up judges, who saved them out of the hands of these raiders. Yet they would not listen to their judges but prostituted themselves to other gods and worshiped them. Unlike their fathers, they quickly turned from the way in which their fathers had walked, the way of obedience to the LORD’s commands. Whenever the LORD raised up a judge for them, he was with the judge and saved them out of the hands of their enemies as long as the judge lived; for the LORD had compassion on them as they groaned under those who oppressed and afflicted them. But when the judge died, the people returned to ways even more corrupt than those of their fathers, following other gods and serving and worshiping them. They refused to give up their evil practices and stubborn ways.

10:15: But the Israelites said to the LORD, “We have sinned. Do with us whatever you think best, but please rescue us now.

21:25: In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit.

JUDGES SUMMARY

The book of Judges, which means Rescuers covers a period of time from the death of Joshua to the birth of Samuel, an era often called “the dark ages” of Hebrew history covering an almost 480-year span of Israelites history. During this time period several Judges led the people of Israel, turning them from their worship of Baal and Ashtaroth. This is a story of disobedience and is a tragic account of how God was taken for granted by His people year after year, and on the divine side, of direction and deliverance. Out of the 13 judges named, only three are well known which are Deborah, Gideon, and Samson.

CHAPTER WISE SUMMARY:

Chapter# 1 – Judah & Simeon fight against Canaanites. Judah defeated the Canaanites and took Jerusalem. Joseph takes Bethel but Canaanites not completely driven out.
Chapter# 2 – Warning from God’s angel. After Joshua’s generation died the Israelites served Baal disobeyed God. God punished by defeating them through their enemies but raised up judges to deliver Israel.
Chapter# 3 – Israel intermarries & worships false gods. Judge Othniel, Ehud & Shamgar deliver Israel from other nations
Chapter# 4 – Israel did evil. King Eglon defeated them. God raised judge Deborah who killed Eglon.
Chapter# 5 – Deborah and Barak sang a victory song to God about battle with kings of Canaan.
Chapter# 6 – Israel did evil, serves Midian 7 yrs. An angel assures Judge Gideon of support. Gideon destroys alter of Baal.
Chapter# 7 – As per God’s instructions Gideon sent only300 men. The 300 crept into the Midianite camp. Gideon’s army defeats Midian.
Chapter# 8 – 1st Jealousy of Ephraim quarrels with Gideon. Gideon refuses kingship. Death of Gideon. Israel has peace 40 years, turns from God
Chapter# 9 – Abimelech killed his brothers and ruled over Israel. Gaal rose against him. Woman wound Abimelech; he died
Chapter# 10 Judges Tola and Jair. Israelites did evil. God sold them to the Philistines and the Ammonites. Israel cried to God for help
Chapter# 11 – Jephthah the 9th Judge. Jephthah vowed to sacrifice the first being he would met if he defeated the Ammonites. Defeated Ammonites and sacrificed her daughter.
Chapter# 12 – 2nd Jealousy of Ephraim. Gilead defeated Ephraim. Jephthah judges Israel 6 yrs. Judges Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon.
Chapter# 13 – Philistines rule Israel. The angel of God told Manoah’s wife that she would conceive a savior. Birth of Samson
Chapter# 14 – Judge Samson seeks a Philistine wife. Killed a lion. Shared a riddle. Samson’s wife given to another man.
Chapter# 15 – Samson’s Mighty Acts and revenge. Burnt Philistine’s crops. Israelites bound him. He killed 1000 Philistines.
Chapter# 16 – Samson escapes from Gaza. Samson loved Delilah. She shave his hairs. He died pulling down the Philistine temple.
Chapter# 17 – The Muddle of Micah. Micah made an idol from his mothers silver. There was no king so everyone did what was right in their own eyes. Micah appointed a Levite as priest.
Chapter# 18 – Danite Invasion & Idolatry. Dan sends spies to find land. Danites took Micah’s idol and his priest. Conquered Laish, build a city named it Dan.
Chapter# 19 – A Levite and His Concubine came to Gibeah. The men of the city raped his concubine and she died. The Levite cut up his wife’s body and sent a piece to each tribe.
Chapter# 20 – The Israelites gathered to attack Gibeah. 400000 men of Israel fight against Benjamin & defeated. Tribe of Benjamin nearly Destroyed only 600 of them survived.
Chapter# 21 – Israel gathers at Mizpah. Young women given to Benjamin and thus saved it as a tribe.