The Judges

The 12 judges that are presented in the book of Judges are "helpers" sent by God to resolve the disruption that is occurring among the Israelites at this time. The pattern that occurs that causing the judges to be sent is the people do evil, god sends a judges to save them and once the judge dies they return to evil.

The Judges are:

1. Othniel-God had them sold the Israelites to King Cushanrishathaim of Aramnaharaim. They served the king for 8 years till the Israelites asked for forgiveness from God. God sends Othniel, son of Kenaz, to their rescue. He delivers them from slavery.
2. Ehud- The Israelites were worshipping the Canaanite gods which leads God to let the nation of Moab attack them. Ehud comes to save the Israelites. Ehud tells the king he has a secret message for him, so once the servants of the king are gone, he stabs the king, killing him. Then Ehud escapes and leads the Israelites in recapturing the Jordan River valley.
3.Shamgar- Shamgar was the son of Anath who killed 600 of the Philistines with a oxgoad delivering the Israelites once again.
4. Deborah- The Israelites again returned to doing evil and were attacked by a mighty army from the north who had a leader named Sisera. Deborah comes and counsels the people of Israel telling them to revolt. The Israelites, with the help of God, defeat Sisera and his army, but Sisera escapes. He runs into a women named Jael's tent. Sisera hides under a rug thinking he is safe, but he is not. While Sisera is passed out from running, Jael takes a tent stake and drives it through his temple. Deborah sings a song of the defeat calling herself "mother of Israel." (Judges 5:7)
5. Barak- Barak was the assistant of Deborah who went up to Mount Tabor with 10 thousand warriors and waited for Sisera's forces. He drove Sisera into jael's tent, which is where Sisera met his doom.
6. Gideon- God calls Gideon to save his people from the Midianites. He destroys his fathers alter to the pagan god Baal, and commands the people to fight. There are to many men and in order to limit them he brings them to the river. Those who cup their hands to drink are sent home and those who lap from the river stay and fight. The Israelites never end up truly fighting, though, because there war cry is so loud, it confuses the Midianites and the Midianites slay each other.
7. Tola- Tola was the son of Puah who judged Israel for 23 years. He died and was buried in Shamir.
8. Jair- Jair judged Israel for 22 years and he had 30sons who owned 30 towns.
9. Jephthah- Jephthah is selected to defend the Israelites from the Ammonites. He promises that if he is victorious he will sacrifice to God the first thing that comes out of his house. They are victorious, but Jephthah regrets his promise when his daughter comes skipping out of the house first. He kills her because of his promise. God promises them another child, who will be there next deliverer. The child is named Samson and is raised as a Nazirite, or a person who doesn't cut their hair as a symbol of his devotion to God.
10. Ibzan- Ibzan judged Israel for 7 years and had 30 sons and 30 daughters. When he died he was buried in Bethlehem.
11. Elon-Elon judged Israel for 10 years. When he died he was buried at Aijalon.
12. Abdon- Abdon judged Israel 8 years and had 40 sons and 30 grandsons. When he died he was buried in Pirathon.
13. Samson- Samson is a Naazirite, or a person who symbolises his devotion to God by never cutting his hair. God givces Samson amazing strength. Samson is supposed to marry a Philistine woman, but when he comes to recieve her, they have already given her to another man. Samson sets the Philistines feilds ablaze and when they come to capture him the Israelites hand him over, but Samson beaks free of the chains and kills 1000 Philistines. (For more information about Samson to go to the story of Samson and Delilah).

Through these judges the Israelites were saved numerous times from the evil and sins that they had done.