The English word 'judges' translates the Hebrew word shophet (pronounced sho-feth) and—while ordinarily refers to the those who were called upon to decide cases between parties caught in a conflict of right and wrong—refers in the book of Judges to a number of charismatic figures raised up by Yahweh to rescue and to lead his people when they—by the fault of their own sins—came to be oppressed by non-Israelite masters at a time soon after the Israelite conquest of the land and "when there was no king in the land." The twelve of them are reported in the book include:
1. Ehud (Benjamin), 3:12-30.
2. Shamgar, 3:31.
3. Deborah (Ephraim?), 4:1-5:31.
4. Gideon (Manasseh), 6:1-8:35.
5. Abimelech (Manasseh), 9:1-57.
6. Tola (Issachar), 10:1-2.
7. Jair, 10:3-5.
8. Jephthah, 10:6-12:7.
9: Ibzan (Benjamin), 12:8-10.
10. Elon (Zebulun), 12:11-12.
11. Abdon, 12:13-15.
12. Samson (Dan), 13:1-16:31.
Further Reading & Resources:
Studies in Judges by Jay Sklar. Covenant Theological Seminary. N Audio (6 lectures).
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