Thematic Bible: Extraordinary Judges


Thematic Bible



In those days, when there was no king in Israel, a Levite living in a remote part of the hill country of Ephraim acquired a woman from Bethlehem in Judah as his concubine. Verse ConceptsConcubinesKingship, HumanBethlehemNo King

In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did whatever he wanted. Verse ConceptsEyes, Figurative UseChaosSelfishnessAnarchyNo King

In those days, there was no king in Israel, and the Danite tribe was looking for territory to occupy. Up to that time no territory had been captured by them among the tribes of Israel. Verse ConceptsNo King

In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did whatever he wanted. Verse ConceptsAuthority, of human institutionsKingship, HumanSelfishnessAnarchyNo King

When they gathered at Mizpah, they drew water and poured it out in the Lord’s presence. They fasted that day, and there they confessed, “We have sinned against the Lord.” And Samuel judged the Israelites at Mizpah. Verse ConceptsFasting, Practice OfAssemblyRepentance, Examples OfShrinesFasting, Accompanied ByReligious AwakeningsDrawing WaterPouring WaterJudging IsraelWe Have Sinned

Samuel judged Israel throughout his life. Every year he would go on a circuit to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah and would judge Israel at all these locations. Then he would return to Ramah because his home was there, he judged Israel there, and he had built an altar to the Lord there.

Then his brothers and his father’s family came down, carried him back, and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the tomb of his father Manoah. So he judged Israel 20 years. Verse ConceptsTombsCemetery20 To 30 YearsJudging Israel

So the woman gave birth to a son and named him Samson. The boy grew, and the Lord blessed him. Verse ConceptsBecoming An AdultChildren, Good Examples OfGrowing UpBlessed By GodBabies Being A Blessingempowerment

But Gideon said to them, “I will not rule over you, and my son will not rule over you; the Lord will rule over you.” Verse ConceptsGovernmentTheocracygideon

Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon) son of Joash went back to live at his house.

but they did not listen to their judges. Instead, they prostituted themselves with other gods, bowing down to them. They quickly turned from the way of their fathers, who had walked in obedience to the Lord's commands. They did not do as their fathers did. Whenever the Lord raised up a judge for the Israelites, the Lord was with him and saved the people from the power of their enemies while the judge was still alive. The Lord was moved to pity whenever they groaned because of those who were oppressing and afflicting them. Whenever the judge died, the Israelites would act even more corruptly than their fathers, going after other gods to worship and bow down to them. They did not turn from their [evil] practices or their obstinate ways.

The Israelites cried out to the Lord. So the Lord raised up Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb's youngest brother as a deliverer to save the Israelites. The Spirit of the Lord was on him, and he judged Israel. Othniel went out to battle, and the Lord handed over Cushan-rishathaim king of Aram to him, so that Othniel overpowered him.

When he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell backward off the chair by the city gate, and since he was old and heavy, his neck broke and he died. Eli had judged Israel 40 years. Verse ConceptsLeaders, SpiritualThe Number Forty40 To 50 YearsBackwardsPeople Tumblinglosing a loved oneDeath Of A Family MemberDeath Of A FatherLeadership QualitiesFalling Backwards

And what more can I say? Time is too short for me to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets, Verse ConceptsDavid, Spiritual Significance Ofheroesgideon

After Elon, Abdon son of Hillel, who was from Pirathon, judged Israel.

Elon, who was from Zebulun, judged Israel after Ibzan. He judged Israel 10 years, Verse ConceptsTen To Fourteen YearsJudging Israel

After Ehud, Shamgar son of Anath became judge. He delivered Israel by striking down 600 Philistines with an oxgoad. Verse ConceptsGoadsDeliverersSix To Seven HundredSharp ToolsSix Hundred And AboveNumbers Of Foreigners Killed

Ibzan, who was from Bethlehem, judged Israel after Jephthah Verse ConceptsJudging Israel

After Abimelech, Tola son of Puah, son of Dodo became judge and began to deliver Israel. He was from Issachar and lived in Shamir in the hill country of Ephraim. Verse ConceptsDefenseRescueTribes Of Israelgrandfathers

After him came Jair the Gileadite, who judged Israel 22 years. Verse Concepts20 To 30 YearsJudging Israel

Then the Israelites cried out to the Lord, and He raised up Ehud son of Gera, a left-handed Benjaminite, as a deliverer for them. The Israelites sent him to Eglon king of Moab with tribute money. Verse ConceptsHandsTaxationTributesAnswered PrayerLeft Handed

Jephthah the Gileadite was a great warrior, but he was the son of a prostitute, and Gilead was his father. Verse ConceptsIllegitimate ChildrenHarlots

The Angel of the Lord came, and He sat under the oak that was in Ophrah, which belonged to Joash, the Abiezrite. His son Gideon was threshing wheat in the wine vat in order to hide it from the Midianites. Verse ConceptsAgriculture, TermsAppearances Of God In OtGrainThreshingWheatWinepressWarriorsOaksActing In Secretgideon

Whenever the Lord raised up a judge for the Israelites, the Lord was with him and saved the people from the power of their enemies while the judge was still alive. The Lord was moved to pity whenever they groaned because of those who were oppressing and afflicting them. Verse ConceptsGod, As SaviorCruelty, God's attitude toGrace, In OtSensitivitySympathyGod Saving From EnemiesGod With Specific PeopleGod Showed Mercy

The Lord raised up judges, who saved them from the power of their marauders, Verse ConceptsGod, As SaviorDeliverance, Means OfLeaders, PoliticalDeliverers

Then all the lords of Shechem and of Beth-millo gathered together and proceeded to make Abimelech king at the oak of the pillar in Shechem. Verse ConceptsPillarsObelisksOaksMaking KingsCitizens

Deborah, a woman who was a prophetess and the wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel at that time. Verse ConceptsDeborahLeaders, PoliticalRankWomenProphetessNamed WivesWomen Working

This all took about 450 years. After this, He gave them judges until Samuel the prophet. Verse ConceptsNamed Prophets Of The Lord

Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers.