Thematic Bible: Judge


Thematic Bible



After Elon, Abdon son of Hillel from Pirathon was leader of Israel. He had forty sons and thirty grandsons, who rode on seventy donkeys. Abdon led Israel for eight years, Abdon died and was buried at Pirathon in the territory of Ephraim in the mountains of the Amalekites.

What more shall I say? For the time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, Verse ConceptsDavid, Spiritual Significance Ofheroesgideon


I solemnly charge you in the sight (presence) of God, and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: Verse ConceptsGospel, Essence OfSolemn ChargesJudgesLast JudgmentThe Judgement InvolvesSecond Coming Of Christ, The PurposeEternal JudgmentChrist AppearingChrist JudgingLife And Deathepiphany






Why do you judge your brother? Why do you look down on your brother with contempt? We will all stand before the judgment seat of God (Theos). Verse ConceptsJudgment SeatStandingJesus Christ, JudgeNot JudgingDo Not DespiseJudgement SeatBelittlingJudging Others Actionscriticism


After Jephthah, Ibzan from Bethlehem led Israel. He had thirty sons and thirty daughters. He gave his daughters in marriage outside the clan and brought thirty young women from outside the clan for his sons to marry. Ibzan led Israel for seven years, then he died and was buried at Bethlehem.

After Tola came Jair from Gilead. He judged (led) Israel for twenty-two years. He had thirty sons who rode thirty donkeys. They had thirty cities in the land of Gilead. They are called the villages of Jair. Jair died and was buried at Kamon.



I solemnly charge you in the sight (presence) of God, and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: Verse ConceptsGospel, Essence OfSolemn ChargesJudgesLast JudgmentThe Judgement InvolvesSecond Coming Of Christ, The PurposeEternal JudgmentChrist AppearingChrist JudgingLife And Deathepiphany






Why do you judge your brother? Why do you look down on your brother with contempt? We will all stand before the judgment seat of God (Theos). Verse ConceptsJudgment SeatStandingJesus Christ, JudgeNot JudgingDo Not DespiseJudgement SeatBelittlingJudging Others Actionscriticism



I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God. The books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged according to the things written in the books, according to their works. Verse ConceptsGod, As JudgeGuilt, Human Aspects OfDestinySmallnessStandingJudgmentWhat Heaven Will Be LikeThe Judgement InvolvesThe Act Of OpeningOpening DocumentsThe Final JudgementGreat And SmallRepaid For DeedsJudgment According To WorksAccountabilityJudgement DayJudging Others Actionsdeeds

Therefore her plagues (literal and figurative) will overtake her in one day, death and mourning and famine; and she will be utterly burned with fire, for mighty is Jehovah God who judges her. (Jeremiah 50:34; 51:58) Verse ConceptsBabylonStrength, DivineBurning PeopleFamine ComingMourning Due To CatastropheShort Time For ActionFamine Will ComeGod Is StrongFamine


Men will say: Truly there is a reward for the righteous. Truly there is a God who judges the earth. Verse ConceptsGod, As JudgeJudgesReward, Divine

God is the Judge; He brings down one and exalts another. Verse ConceptsGod, As JudgeReversalsPromotionGod Lifting PeopleAbasing People

He comes before Jehovah! Yes, he comes to judge the earth! He will judge the world with righteousness, and the people with His truth (fidelity) (faithfulness). Verse ConceptsGod, As JudgeGod, Righteousness OfPunishment, By GodThe Nature Of The JudgementThe Fact Of His Comingfairness

I said in my heart, God should judge the righteous and the wicked for there is a time for every purpose and for every work. Verse ConceptsJudgmentThe Nature Of The JudgementThe Right TimeGod Suing

One day two women who were prostitutes came to the king. One of them said: Your Majesty, this woman and I live in the same house. I gave birth to a baby boy at home while she was there. Two days after my child was born she also gave birth to a baby boy. Only the two of us were there in the house. No one else was there. read more.
One night she accidentally rolled over on her baby and smothered it. She got up during the night and took my son from my side while I was asleep. She took him to her bed and put the dead child in my bed. The next morning I woke up and was going to nurse my baby. It was dead. I looked at it more closely and saw that it was not my child. The other woman said: The living child is mine, and the dead one is yours! The first woman answered back: The dead child is yours, and the living one is mine! They argued before the king. King Solomon said: Each of you claims that the living child is hers and that the dead child belongs to the other one. He sent for a sword. When it arrived, he said: Cut the living child in two and give each woman half of it. With a heart full of love for her son the real mother said: Please, Your Majesty, do not kill the child! Give it to her! But the other woman said: Do not give it to either of us cut it in two. Then Solomon said: Do not kill the child! Give it to the first woman. She is the real mother. The people of Israel heard of Solomon's decision and were all filled with deep respect for him. They knew then that God had given him the wisdom to settle disputes fairly.


Elisha told the woman who lived in Shunem, whose son he brought back to life: Jehovah is sending a famine on the land. It will last for seven years. Leave with your family and go live somewhere else. She followed his instructions and left with her family to live in Philistia for the seven years. When the seven years ended she returned to Israel. She went to the king to ask that her house and her land be restored to her. read more.
The king was talking with Gehazi, Elisha's servant, when she found him. The king wanted to know about Elisha's miracles. Gehazi was telling the king how Elisha had brought a dead person back to life. The woman made her appeal to the king. Gehazi said to him: Your Majesty, here is the woman and here is her son whom Elisha brought back to life! She responded to the king's question by confirming Gehazi's story. The king called an official and told him to give back to her everything that was hers. This included the value of all the crops that her fields produced during the seven years she was away.

He would rise early in the morning and stand by the road at the city gate. When someone came there with a dispute that he wanted the king to settle, Absalom would call him over and ask him where he was from. After the man told him what tribe he was from, Verse ConceptsGatesRoadsStanding In The GatewayThose Who Rose EarlyWhere From?

Praise Jehovah your God! He delighted in you and made you king of Israel. Jehovah's love for Israel is long lasting, he has made you king, to be their judge in righteousness. Verse ConceptsPeople Of God, In OtPleasing GodThroneJews As God's Chosen PeopleBlessed Be God!God's Love For Israel

([Prayers of David]) O God, give the king your justice. Give your righteousness to the royal son. He will judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice. The mountains shall bring prosperity to the people. The hills bring the fruit of righteousness. read more.
He will judge the poor of the people. He will save the children of the needy, and will break the oppressor in pieces.

Jesus stood before the governor. He asked him: Are you the King of the Jews? Jesus said to him: It is as you say. When the chief priests and those in authority made statements against him, he gave no answer. Pilate said to him: Do you give no attention to what their witnesses say against you? read more.
Jesus did not answer. Not even a word! The governor was greatly surprised. It was a custom for the governor to set one prisoner free at the time of the feast. The people were to help choose that prisoner. At that time they held an important prisoner named Barabbas. When they assembled, Pilate asked: What is your choice? Barabbas or Jesus, the one called the Christ? He knew it was because of envy they gave him up. While he was seated in judgment his wife sent a message to him. She said, Do not judge that righteous man. I have had much trouble this day in a dream because of him. The chief priests and elders got the people to request Barabbas, and for Jesus to be put to death. The governor responded to them. He asked: Which of the two do you want me to set free? They shouted: Barabbas! Pilate said to them: What am I to do with Jesus, the one called Christ? They all said: Put him to death. Impale him! What evil has he done? Pilate asked. But they shouted: Impale him! Pilate saw that he could do nothing. The people were ready to cause much trouble. He took water and washed his hands in front of the people. He said: The blood of this man is not on my hands. You are responsible. The people answered: Let his blood be on us, and on our children. He set Barabbas free. He had Jesus whipped. Then he commanded that he be put to death on the stake.

The governor read the letter and asked Paul what province he was from. When he found out that he was from Cilicia, he said, I will hear you fully when your accusers arrive. He commanded him to be kept in the praetorian of Herod.

If I am a wrongdoer, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I do not refuse to die. But if charges brought against me by the Jews are not true no man has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar. Then Festus conferred with his council and answered: Have you appealed to Caesar? To Caesar you shall go.

Approach the Levitical priest or the judge who is in office in those days. Inquire of them and they will declare to you the verdict in the case. Verse ConceptsCourtsPriesthood, In OtPriests, Function In Ot Timespriests

Those who captured Jesus took him to the house of Caiaphas, the high priest. The scribes and those in authority also gathered there. But Peter kept his distance. He followed him to the courtyard of the high priest. He entered and sat down with the servants, to see the outcome. The chief priests and all the Sanhedrin were looking for false witness against Jesus. They wanted to put him to death. read more.
They failed, even though a number of false witnesses came. Later two witnesses came. They said: This man said, 'I am able to destroy the Temple of God and to rebuild it in three days.' The high priest stood up and said to him: Have you no answer? What is it these say against you?

Jehoshaphat also appointed some Levites, some priests, and some of the family leaders to serve as judges in Jerusalem. Verse ConceptsPriests, Function In Ot Times

They must teach my people the difference between what is holy and what is unholy. They must show the people how to tell the difference between what is clean and what is unclean. In all disputes the priests must act as judges and make decisions based on my Laws. They must obey my rules and my regulations at all my festivals. They must observe holy days to worship me.

Pilate saw that he could do nothing. The people were ready to cause much trouble. He took water and washed his hands in front of the people. He said: The blood of this man is not on my hands. You are responsible. Verse ConceptsGesturesTumultCrowdsInnocence, Examples OfResponsibility, Examples OfSymbolsWashingExcitementDisorder Among PeopleResponsibility For Blood ShedJesus Christ, SinlessnessPlea Of Innocence


They struck his head with a reed and spat on him. They bowed their knees in false adoration to him. After they mocked him, they took the purple off of him, and put his own garments on him. They led him out to impale him. Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus was passing by on the road. They compelled (forced) him to go with them, that he might carry his stake. read more.
They brought him to the place called Golgotha. This means the place of a skull. They offered him wine mixed with myrrh to drink, but he did not take it. After impaling him, they divided his garments among themselves, casting lots for them.

Nevertheless Jehovah established judges who delivered them out of the hand of those who plundered them. Yet they would not listen to their judges, but prostituted themselves to other gods. They worshiped them. They turned quickly, out of the way in which their fathers walked obeying the commandments of Jehovah. When Jehovah established judges he supported each judge. He delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days the judge lived. He had compassion for them as they groaned under those who oppressed and afflicted them. read more.
When the judge was dead they returned and corrupted themselves more than their fathers. They followed other gods to serve them, and to bow down to them. They did not give up their evil practices and stubborn ways.

Then he gave them judges until Samuel the prophet. This took about four hundred and fifty years. Verse ConceptsNamed Prophets Of The Lord

Eli was very old. He heard everything his sons did to Israel. He heard how they slept with the women who served at the door of the tabernacle of meeting. So he said to them: Why do you do such things? I hear of your evil dealings by all the people. No, my sons. It is not a good report that I hear. You make Jehovah's people transgress. read more.
If one man sins against another, God will judge him. But if a man sins against Jehovah, who will intercede for him? But his sons did not listen to the voice of their father. Jehovah desired to put them to death.

The sons of Eli were corrupt. They did not know Jehovah. The priests had a custom with the people. If any man offered sacrifice, the priest's servant came while the flesh was boiling, with a fork of three teeth in his hand. He stuck it into the pan, kettle, caldron or pot. All that the flesh-hook brought up the priest took for himself. So they did in Shiloh to all the Israelites that came there. read more.
Before they burned the fat the priest's servant came and said to the man who sacrificed: Give flesh to roast for the priest. For he will not have boiled flesh from you, but raw! If any man said to him: Let them burn the fat first, you may take as much as you desire. Then he would answer him, No! But you will give it now! If not, I will take it by force. The sin of the young men was very great before Jehovah. For men despised the offering of Jehovah.

The angel of Jehovah came to the village of Ophrah. He sat under the oak tree that belonged to Joash, a man of the clan of Abiezer. His son Gideon was secretly threshing wheat in a wine press, so that the Midianites would not see him. Jehovah's angel appeared to him there and said: Jehovah is with you, mighty man of valor! Gideon said to him: May I ask, sir, why has all this happened to us if Jehovah is with us? What happened to all the wonderful things that our fathers told us Jehovah used to do, how he brought them out of Egypt? Jehovah has abandoned us. He left us to the mercy of the Midianites. read more.
Jehovah answered him: Go in the strength you have and rescue Israel from the Midianites. I am sending you. Gideon replied: But Jehovah, how can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest in the tribe of Manasseh. I am the least important member of my family. Jehovah answered: You can do it. I will help you. You will crush the Midianites as easily as if they were only one man. Gideon replied: If you are pleased with me, give me proof that you are really Jehovah. Please do not leave until I return and bring you an offering. Jehovah said: I will stay until you come back. So Gideon went into his house and cooked a young goat and used a bushel of flour to make bread without any yeast. He put the meat in a basket and the broth in a pot, brought them to Jehovah's angel under the oak tree, and gave them to him. The angel told him: Put the meat and the bread on this rock, and pour the broth over them. Gideon did so. Jehovah's angel reached out and touched the meat and the bread with the end of the stick he was holding. Fire came out of the rock and burned up the meat and the bread. Then the angel disappeared. With that Gideon realized that it was Jehovah's angel he saw. He said in terror: Sovereign Lord Jehovah! I have seen your angel face-to-face! Jehovah told him: Peace. Do not be afraid. You will not die. Gideon built an altar to Jehovah there and named it: Jehovah is Peace. (Jehovah-shalom) It is still standing at Ophrah and belongs to the clan of Abiezer. That night Jehovah told Gideon: Take your father's bull and another seven year old bull, tear down your father's altar to Baal, and cut down the symbol of the goddess Asherah, that is beside it. Build a well-constructed altar to Jehovah your God on top of this mound. Take the second bull and burn it as a whole offering. Cut down the symbol of Asherah and use it for firewood. So Gideon took ten of his servants and did what Jehovah instructed him to do. He was afraid of his family and the people in town, so he did it at night. The people in town got up early the next morning. They found that the altar to Baal and the symbol of Asherah had been cut down. The second bull had been burned on the altar that was built there. They asked each other: Who did this? They investigated and found out that Gideon, son of Joash, did it. They said to Joash: Bring your son here. We will kill him! He tore down the altar to Baal and cut down the symbol of Asherah! Joash replied: Are you arguing for Baal? Are you defending him? Anyone who argues for him will be killed before morning. If Baal really is a god he can defend himself. It is his altar that was torn down. From then on Gideon was known as Jerubbaal, because Joash said: Let Baal defend himself for his altar was torn down. The Midianites, Amalekites, and the desert tribes assembled, crossed the Jordan River, and camped in Jezreel Valley. The Spirit of Jehovah took control of Gideon. He blew a trumpet to call the men of the clan of Abiezer to follow him. He sent messengers throughout the territory of both parts of Manasseh to call them to follow him. He sent messengers to the tribes of Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali, and they also came to join him. Gideon said to God: You have said you will rescue Israel using me. Look I will place wool on the threshing floor where we thresh the wheat. If in the morning there is dew only on the wool but not on the ground, I will know that you are going to use me to rescue Israel. That is what happened. When Gideon got up early the next morning, he squeezed the wool and wrung enough dew out of it to fill a bowl with water. Then Gideon said to God: Do not be angry with me. Allow me to speak just once more. Please let me make one more test with the wool. This time let the wool be dry, and the ground wet. That night God did it. The next morning the wool was dry, but the ground was wet with dew.

The Israelites gathered at Mizpah. They drew some water, poured it out in front of Jehovah and fasted that day. They confessed: We have sinned against Jehovah. So Samuel judged Israel in Mizpah. Verse ConceptsFasting, Practice OfAssemblyRepentance, Examples OfShrinesFasting, Accompanied ByReligious AwakeningsDrawing WaterPouring WaterJudging IsraelWe Have Sinned

Samuel judged Israel as long as he lived. Every year he went around to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah in order to judge Israel in all those places. Then he returned home to Ramah where he judged Israel. And in Ramah he built an altar to Jehovah.

The men of Ephraim were ready for battle. They crossed the Jordan River to Zaphon and said to Jephthah: Why did you cross the border to fight the Ammonites without calling us to go with you? We are going to burn the house down over your head! Jephthah replied: My people and I had a great struggle with the Ammonites. I called you, but you would not rescue me from them. When I realized you were not going to, I risked my life and crossed the border to fight them. Jehovah gave me victory over them. Why are you coming to fight me now? read more.
Jephthah brought all the men of Gilead together and fought the men of Ephraim and defeated them. To keep the Ephraimites from escaping, the Gileadites captured the places where the Jordan could be crossed. When any Ephraimite who was trying to escape would ask permission to cross, the men of Gilead would ask: Are you an Ephraimite? If he said: No, they would tell him to say Shibboleth. But he would say Sibboleth, because he could not pronounce it correctly. Then they would kill him at the Jordan River crossing. Forty-two thousand of the Ephraimites were killed. Jephthah led Israel for six years. Then he died and was buried in his hometown in Gilead.

So she sent a letter in Ahab's name, stamped with his stamp, to the elders and nobles who were in authority with Naboth. The letter she wrote is as follows: Let a time of public sorrow be fixed, and put Naboth at the head of the people. Get two good-for-nothing persons to come before him and give witness that he has been cursing God and the king. Then take him out and have him stoned to death. read more.
So the elders and nobles in authority in his town did as Jezebel said in the letter she sent them. They gave orders for a day of public sorrow and put Naboth at the head of the people. The two good-for-nothing persons came in and took their seats before him and gave witness against Naboth, in front of the people. They said: Naboth has been cursing God and the king. Then they took him outside the town and had him stoned to death.

He hoped that Paul would give him money to free him. He sent for him frequently and conversed with him. After two years Porcius Festus succeeded Felix. Felix was willing to show the Jews a favor. He left Paul in prison.

After Elon, Abdon son of Hillel from Pirathon was leader of Israel. He had forty sons and thirty grandsons, who rode on seventy donkeys. Abdon led Israel for eight years,

After Ibzan, Elon from Zebulun led Israel for ten years. He died and was buried at Aijalon in the territory of Zebulun.

After Jephthah, Ibzan from Bethlehem led Israel. He had thirty sons and thirty daughters. He gave his daughters in marriage outside the clan and brought thirty young women from outside the clan for his sons to marry. Ibzan led Israel for seven years, then he died and was buried at Bethlehem.

Then the Israelites cried out to Jehovah. So he sent someone to free them. This was Ehud, a left-handed man, who was the son of Gera, from the tribe of Benjamin. The people of Israel sent Ehud to King Eglon of Moab with gifts for him. Ehud made himself a double-edged sword about a foot and a half long. He fastened it on his right side under his clothes. He took the gifts to Eglon, who was a very fat man. read more.
When Ehud gave him the gifts, he told the men who carried them to go back home. But Ehud turned back at the carved stones near Gilgal, went back to Eglon, and said: Your Majesty, I have a secret message for you. So the king ordered his servants: Leave us alone! Then they all went out. The king was sitting there alone in his cool room on the roof. Ehud went over to him and said: I have a message from God for you. The king stood up. With his left hand Ehud took the sword from his right side and plunged it into the king's belly. The whole sword went in, handle and all, and the fat covered it up. Ehud did not pull it out of the king's belly, and it stuck out behind, between his legs. Ehud went outside, closed the doors behind him, locked them. Then he left. The servants came and saw that the doors to the upstairs room were locked. They only thought that the king was inside, relieving himself. They waited as long as they thought they should. When he still did not open the door, they took the key and opened it. There lying dead on the floor was their master. Ehud got away while they were waiting. He went past the carved stones and escaped to Seirah. When he arrived there in the hill country of Ephraim, he blew a trumpet to call the people of Israel to battle. Then he led them down from the hills. He said to them: Follow me! Jehovah has given you victory over your enemies, the Moabites. So they followed Ehud and captured the place where the Moabites were to cross the Jordan. They did not allow anyone to cross. They killed about ten thousand of the best Moabite soldiers. None of them escaped. That day the Israelites defeated Moab. There was peace in the land for eighty years.

When Samuel was old, he appointed his sons judges over Israel. The name of his firstborn son was Joel. He named his second son Abijah. They were judges in Beersheba. The sons did not follow their father's example but turned to dishonest ways of making money. They took bribes and denied people justice. read more.
One day the nation's elders came to Samuel at Ramah. They said: You are an old man. You set a good example for your sons. But they have not followed it. Now we want a king to be our leader like all the other nations. Choose one for us!

When Samuel was old, he appointed his sons judges over Israel. The name of his firstborn son was Joel. He named his second son Abijah. They were judges in Beersheba. The sons did not follow their father's example but turned to dishonest ways of making money. They took bribes and denied people justice. read more.
One day the nation's elders came to Samuel at Ramah. They said: You are an old man. You set a good example for your sons. But they have not followed it. Now we want a king to be our leader like all the other nations. Choose one for us!

Gideon's son Abimelech went to the town of Shechem. All his mother's relatives lived there. He told them: Ask the men of Shechem: 'Which is better for you. To have all seventy of Gideon's sons govern you or to have just one man? Remember that Abimelech is your own flesh and blood.' His mother's relatives talked to the men of Shechem about this for him. The men of Shechem decided to follow Abimelech because: He is our relative. read more.
They gave him seventy pieces of silver from the temple of Baal-Berith. Abimelech hired worthless and reckless men to join him. He went to his father's house at Ophrah. There on top of a single stone he killed his seventy brothers, Gideon's sons. Gideon's youngest son Jotham hid and therefore was not killed. All the men of Shechem and Bethmillo got together and went to the sacred oak tree at Shechem, where they made Abimelech king. Jotham heard about this. He stood on top of Mount Gerizim and shouted out to them: Men of Shechem, listen to me and God may listen to you! The trees went out to anoint a king over them. They said to the olive tree: 'Be our king.' The olive tree answered: 'I would have to stop producing my oil in order to govern you. My oil is used to honor gods and human beings.' Then the trees said to the fig tree: 'Come and be our king.' The fig tree replied: 'I would have to stop producing my good sweet fruit that I may govern you.' Then the trees spoke to the grapevine: 'You come and be our king.' But the vine answered: 'I could not govern you for I would have to stop producing my wine. It makes gods and human beings happy.' So then all the trees said to the thorn bush: 'You come and be our king! The thorn bush answered: 'If you really want to make me your king, then come and take shelter in my shade. If you do not, fire will blaze out of my thorny branches and burn up the cedars of Lebanon.' Think about it, Jotham continued: 'Were you really honest and sincere when you made Abimelech king? Have you respected Gideon's memory? Did you treat his family properly, as his actions deserved? My father fought for you. He risked his life to deliver you from the Midianites. Today you turned against my father's family. You killed his sons, seventy men on a single stone. And this because Abimelech, his son by his servant woman, is your relative, you have made him king of Shechem. If you have acted in truth and sincerity today to Gideon and his family then be happy with Abimelech and let him be happy with you. But if not, may fire blaze out from Abimelech and burn up the men of Shechem and Bethmillo. May fire blaze out from the men of Shechem and Bethmillo and burn Abimelech up.' Jotham ran away to Beer and lived there, for fear of Abimelech his brother. When Abimelech had reigned three years over Israel, God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem. The men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech: That the cruelty done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might be avenged on their brother Abimelech. For he killed them and the men of Shechem helped him kill his brother. And the men of Shechem set men in ambush on the top of the mountains. They robbed all who came along that way. This was reported to Abimelech. Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brothers, and went over to Shechem: and the men of Shechem put their confidence in him. They all went to their vineyards and picked the grapes. Then they made wine from them, and held a festival. They went to the temple of their god, where they ate and drank and made fun of Abimelech. Gaal said: Who is Abimelech and who is Schechem that we should serve them? Who is he? The son of Gideon! And Zebul takes orders from him, but why should we serve him? Be loyal to your ancestor Hamor, the one who founded your clan! If I were leading this people I would get rid of Abimelech! I would tell him to: call out your army, come on out and fight! The ruler of the city, Zebul, became angry when he heard what Gaal said. He sent messengers to Abimelech at Arumah. They said: Gaal son of Ebed and his brothers have come to Shechem. They are not going to let you enter into the city. You and your men should move by night and hide in the fields. Get up early in the morning at sunrise and attack the city. When he and the people who are with him come out against you do what you can against them. Abimelech and all his troops, in four companies, took up concealed positions at night against Shechem. Abimelech and his men saw Gaal come out and stand at the city gate. So they got up from their hiding places. Gaal saw them and said to Zebul: There are men coming down from the mountaintops! Zebul answered: They are not men. They are only shadows on the mountains. Gaal responded: Do you see? There are men coming down from the top of the mountain. Some are coming along the road from the big tree of Meonenim (big tree of magic)! Zebul said to him: Where is all your big talk now? You asked why we should serve this man Abimelech. These are the men you made fun of. You go fight them! Gaal led the men of Shechem out to fight Abimelech. Abimelech chased Gaal, and Gaal ran away. Many were wounded at the city gate. Abimelech lived in Arumah. Zebul drove Gaal and his brothers out of Shechem. They could no longer live there. The next day it was reported to Abimelech that the people of Shechem were planning to go out into the fields. He divided his men into three groups. They hid in the fields, waiting. When he saw the people come out of the city, he came out of hiding to kill them. Abimelech and his group rushed forward to guard the city gate. The other two companies attacked the people in the fields and killed all of them. The fighting lasted all day. Abimelech captured the city and killed its people. He tore down the city and covered the ground with salt. When all the men in the fort at Shechem heard this, they sought safety in the stronghold of the temple of Baal-Berith. Abimelech was informed that they had gathered there, He traveled up to Mount Zalmon with his men. He took an ax, cut a limb off a tree, and put it on his shoulder. He told his men to hurry and do the same thing. So everyone cut off a tree limb. They followed Abimelech and piled the wood up against the stronghold. They set the fort on fire. All the people of the fort died. About a thousand men and women died. Then Abimelech went to Thebez. They surrounded that city, and captured it. There was a strong tower there. The men and women in the city, including the leaders, ran to it. They locked themselves in and went up to the roof. When Abimelech attacked the tower he went to the door to set the tower on fire. A woman threw a millstone down on his head and fractured his skull. He quickly called the young man who was carrying his weapons and told him: Draw your sword and kill me. I do not want it said that a woman killed me. The young man ran him through with his sword and he died.

The Israelites cried out to Jehovah, and he sent someone to free them. This was Othniel, the son of Caleb's younger brother Kenaz. The Spirit of Jehovah came upon him, and he became Israel's leader (judge). Othniel went to war, and Jehovah gave him the victory over the king of Mesopotamia. There was peace in the land for forty years until Othniel died.

After Tola came Jair from Gilead. He judged (led) Israel for twenty-two years. He had thirty sons who rode thirty donkeys. They had thirty cities in the land of Gilead. They are called the villages of Jair. Jair died and was buried at Kamon.

After Abimelech died Tola, the son of Puah and grandson of Dodo, came to save Israel. He was from the tribe of Issachar and lived at Shamir in the mountains of Ephraim. He was Israel's judge (leader) for twenty-three years. Then he died and was buried at Shamir.

When the man mentioned the Ark of God Eli fell backward from his seat beside the gate. He was so old and fat that the fall broke his neck and he died. He was a leader in Israel for forty years. Verse ConceptsLeaders, SpiritualThe Number Forty40 To 50 YearsBackwardsPeople Tumblinglosing a loved oneDeath Of A Family MemberDeath Of A FatherLeadership QualitiesFalling Backwards

And you, Ezra, by the wisdom of your God which is in you, are to put rulers and judges to have authority over all the people across the river who have knowledge of the laws of your God. You are to teach any who have no knowledge of them. Verse ConceptsGod, Wisdom OfJudgesMagistratesBeyond The RiverTeaching The Way Of God

Every year he went around to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah in order to judge Israel in all those places. Verse ConceptsCirclesEvery Year

The next leader was Shamgar son of Anath. He too rescued Israel, and did so by killing six hundred Philistines with an oxgoad. Verse ConceptsGoadsDeliverersSix To Seven HundredSharp ToolsSix Hundred And AboveNumbers Of Foreigners Killed

Now Deborah, the wife of Lappidoth, was a prophet, and she was serving as a judge for the Israelites at that time. Verse ConceptsDeborahLeaders, PoliticalRankWomenProphetessNamed WivesWomen Working


The next leader was Shamgar son of Anath. He too rescued Israel, and did so by killing six hundred Philistines with an oxgoad. Verse ConceptsGoadsDeliverersSix To Seven HundredSharp ToolsSix Hundred And AboveNumbers Of Foreigners Killed

His brothers and the rest of his family came to get his body. They took him back and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the tomb of his father Manoah. He had been Israel's judge for twenty years. Verse ConceptsTombsCemetery20 To 30 YearsJudging Israel

Samuel judged Israel as long as he lived. Every year he went around to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah in order to judge Israel in all those places. Then he returned home to Ramah where he judged Israel. And in Ramah he built an altar to Jehovah.

Our God will come and will not keep silent. A devouring fire is in front of him and a raging storm is around him. He addresses (summons) heaven and earth to judge his people:

The next leader was Shamgar son of Anath. He too rescued Israel, and did so by killing six hundred Philistines with an oxgoad. Verse ConceptsGoadsDeliverersSix To Seven HundredSharp ToolsSix Hundred And AboveNumbers Of Foreigners Killed

In the days of Shamgar son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were deserted. Travelers used the back roads. Verse ConceptsHighwayRoadsTravellersEmpty ThingsCaravansTragedy On The StreetsHighways

After Abimelech died Tola, the son of Puah and grandson of Dodo, came to save Israel. He was from the tribe of Issachar and lived at Shamir in the mountains of Ephraim. He was Israel's judge (leader) for twenty-three years. Then he died and was buried at Shamir.