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).
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CHAPTERS & KEY WORDS |
OUTLINE |
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1: Introduction |
Introduction: Canaanites not driven out after the death of Joshua. (1:1—3:6) |
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1. Judah & Simeon’s success driving out the Canaanites (1:1-20). |
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2. Failure of other tribes (1:21-36). |
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2: Unfaithful |
3. Cause of their problems (2:1--3:6). |
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a. Angel of Jehovah reproves them (2:1-5) |
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b. After Joshua an unfaithful new generation (2:6-15) |
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c. After each judge, apostasy (2:16-23). |
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3: |
d. So, Jehovah left the nations to prove them.(3:1-6)
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I. Mesopotamian king, Cushan-rishathaim (“Double Wicked”) (3:7-8) |
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Ruled 8 years. (3:7-8) |
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#1. Othniel |
Othniel, Caleb’s son-in-law, defeated him and Judged 40 years (3:9-11).
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II. Moabite King, Eglon plus, Ammon and Amalek (3:12--30) |
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Ruled 18 years (3:12-14) |
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#2. Ehud |
Ehud (Left handed son of Gera the Benjamite) (3:12—30) |
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Killed Eglon (fat) in his chamber with dagger. (20) |
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Land rested 80 years (3:30)
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III. Philistines (south-west coast) (3:31) |
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#3. Shamgar |
Shamgar defeats them (killed 600 with ox goad) (3:31) |
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Judged 31 years
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4: |
IV. Canaanite king, Jabin, of Hazor (in the north). (4:1—5:31) |
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Ruled 20 years (4:1-3) |
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#4. Deborah & Barak |
Deborah, prophetess of Ephraim, Manasseh, Benjamin, Naphtali, Zebulon, Issachar) (4:4--5:31) |
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Deborah calls for Barak’s help. (4:6) |
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Barak would only go if Deborah would go with him (4:8) |
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Sisera, captain, 900 iron chariots mired on plain. (13 |
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Sisera killed by Jael, wife of Heber, with tent peg (21) |
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5: Song |
Song of victory by Deborah and Barak (5:1-31) |
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Land had rest 40 years. (31)
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6: |
V. Midianites (descendants of Abraham and Keturah) From East of Jordan, With Amalekites (6:1—10:5) |
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Ruled 7 years. (6:1-6) |
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Grain stolen. People hide in caves. |
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#5. Gideon |
Gideon/Jerubbaal (tribe of Manasseh) called by Angel (6:11—9:57) |
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Called from threshing wheat in wine-press. (11) |
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Offering burned by angel as a sign.(6:19-23) |
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Altar built. (6:24 ) |
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Baal and Asherah god images destroyed. (6:25-32) |
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Abiezer, Manasseh, Asher, Zebulun, Naphtali called (34) |
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Fleece test (6:36-40) |
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7: 300 |
300 chosen from 32,000 at spring of Harod. (7:1-8) |
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Midianite barley cake dream about tent. (7:9-14) |
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Midianites defeated, panicked with pitchers and torches. (7:15-25) |
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“The sword of Lord and of Gideon” (18) |
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8: Pursuit |
Ephraimites offended because they did not get in on spoils (8:1-3) |
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Cities, Succoth & Penuel, refused them food.(8:4-9) |
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The kings, Zeba & Zalmunna captured. (11) |
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Son refuses to kill them so Gideon does. (8:18-21) |
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Gideon refuses to rule. (8:22-28) |
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Ephod made by Gideon becomes snare. (8:27) |
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40 years rest for the land. (8:28) |
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Gideon’s family (8:29-32) |
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Return to Baal worship.(8:33) |
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9: Abimelech |
Abimelech, Gideon’s concubine’s son, killed father’s 70 sons, except Jotham, the youngest (9:1-6). |
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Jotham’s “bramble” parable on Mt Gerizim.(9:7-21) |
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Abimelech oppressive king for 3 years.(9:22-25) |
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Gaal, son of Ebed destroyed by Abimelech (9:26-40) |
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Shechem destroyed and salted.(9:42-45) |
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Tower burned with 1000 people. (9:46-49) |
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Woman’s Millstone on head of Abimelech at Thebez (50-57) |
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10: #6. Tola |
Tola (of Issachar) from Ephraim hills, (10:1-2) |
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Judged 23 years. (10:1-2) |
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#7. Jair |
Jair, Gileadite, 30 sons, 30 asses, 30 cities. |
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Judged 22 years. (10:3-5)
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VI. Ammonites beyond Jordan and Philistines (10:7—12:15) |
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Israel vexed 18 years. (10:7-18) |
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11: #8. Jephthah |
Jephthah (rejected son of Harlot) (11:1—12:7) |
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Defeated Ammonites. (11:1-29) |
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Hasty vow and consequences. (11:30-40) |
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12: |
Ephraim’s arrogance and defeat. (12:1-6) (“Shibboleth”) |
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Judged 6 years. (12:7) |
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#9. Ibzan |
Ibzan of Bethlehem had 30 sons & 30 daughters (12:8—10) |
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Judged 7 years (12:8-10). |
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#10. Elon |
Elon of Zebulun Judged 10 years. (12:11-12) |
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#11. Abdon |
Abdon the Pirathonite (40 sons, 30 grandsons, 70 asses) (12:13-15) |
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Judged 8 years.(12:13-15)
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13: |
VII. Philistine resurgence. (13:1—16:31) |
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#12. Samson |
Samson of Dan. Birth announced by angel. (13:1—16:31) |
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Angel appeared again. Son to be a Nazarite. (13:6-14) |
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Offering. Angel ascended in fire. (13:19-20) |
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Samson’s birth and childhood. (13:24-25) |
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14: Wife |
Samson wants Philistine wife. (14:1-4) |
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Lion and honey. (14:5-9) |
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Riddle. (14:12-14) |
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Wife begged for his riddle (14:15-18) |
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Smote 30 men for garments. (14:19) |
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Wife given to best man. (14:20--15:4) |
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15: Vengeance |
300 foxes with tails tied on fire in grain fields. (15:3) |
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Wife & father burnt. (15:6) |
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Samson smote them “hip and thigh.” (15:7-8) |
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Hid in Rock of Etam. (15:8) |
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Judah forced to bind him. (15:9-13) |
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1,000 killed with jawbone of an ass. (15:14-16) |
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Thirst quenched by water from Lehi (“Jawbone”). (19) |
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Judged 20 years. (15:20) |
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16: |
Consorts with a harlot. Gates carried to mountain top. (16:1-3) |
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Delilah |
Delilah clips Sampson. (16:4-22) |
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Four steps to ruin: |
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1. Withes, 2. Ropes, 3. Weave 7 locks, 4. Haircut |
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Samson’s humiliation (16:23-27) |
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“Sin is binding, blinding, grinding” 21 |
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Sampson brings down the house. (16:28-31)
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APPENDIX I. Danite pagan worship (17:1—18:31) |
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17: Micah |
Micah, of Ephraim, made an image. (17:1-4) |
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Got a Levite for his priest. (17:7-13) |
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18: Danites |
Five Danite spies (18:1-6) |
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Spies brought their people (18:1-6) |
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Spies stole Micah’s images. (18:14-20) |
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Micah and neighbors intimidated.(18:22-26) |
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Danites establish pagan worship.(18:27-31)
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APPENDIX II. Benjamin tribe destroyed for rape (19:1—21:25) |
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19: Concubine |
Levite of Ephraim went to concubine’s house. (3) |
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On way home they stay in Gibeah (19:11-21) |
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Benjamin homosexuals demand him. (19:22-24) |
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Concubine raped and murdered. (19:25-26) |
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She was Cut into 12 pieces and sent through Israel. (19:29-30) |
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20: Benjamites |
Benjamin men destroyed by Israel. (20: 1-48) |
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21: Wives |
Oath not to give wives to Benjamin. (21:1-7) |
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Wives for Benjamites taken from Jabesh-gilead which had not been present. (21:8-15) |
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Kidnapped wives from dancing girls at Shiloh.(21:16 -25) |
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