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The Blue Letter Bible
Aa

Keith Essex
Part X: Judges


Keith Essex's correlating video lecture(s) from The Master's Seminary:


  1. Judges [MSB, 329-30; ESVSB, 433-8; BTSB, 384-92; NIVSB, 367-73; HWSOT, 234-47; WOTA, 186-99; LDIOT, 133-50]
    1. Introduction
      1. Title: "Judges" in Hebrew and LXX [W&W, 288]
      2. Date of Events:
        • From the Death of Joshua (c. 1390 BC)
        • to the Death of Samson (c. 1055 BC)
      3. The Continuing Impact: "to this day" (Jdg 1:21; 6:24; 10:4; 15:19)
      4. The History of Interpretation (DTIB, 410-11; Butler, xliii-lxiv; Block, 67-72; Webb, 4-9, 35-53; ACCSOT, vol. IV)
    2. Major Themes [see W&W, 297-98; NIDOTTE, 4:827-37]
      1. The Judges (n. Jdg 2:16-19 [6x]; v. Jdg 3:10; 4:3; 10:2, 3; *Jdg 11:27; 12:7, 8-9, 11, 13-14; 15:20; 16:31) [W&W, 291-92; CBCOT, 39; DOTHB, 580-92]
        1. The Background of the Judges (Exod 18:13-27; Num 11:10-17, 24-30; Deut 1:9-17; 16:18-20; 17:8-13; Josh 8:33; 23:2; 24:1) [see NIDOTTE, 4:213-20]
        2. The List of the Judges
          1. The Major / Primary Judges:
            Othniel, Ehud, Deborah, Gideon, Jephthah, Samson [see NIDOTTE, 4:512-3, 681-2, 750-2, 1165-8]
          2. The Minor / Secondary Judges:
            Shamgar, Tola, Jair, Ibzan, Elon, Abdon
      2. The Incomplete Obedience of Israel (Jdg 1; 2)
      3. The Cycle (Jdg 2; 3; 4-5; 6-8; 10-12; 13-16)
        1. Israel's Sin (Jdg 2:11-13, 17; 3:7, 12; 4:1; 6:1; 8:33; 10:6; 13:1)
        2. Israel's Servitude (Jdg 2:14-15, 20-23; 3:8, 12-14; 4:2; 6:1-6; 10:7-9; 13:1)
        3. Israel's Supplication (Jdg 2:18; 3:9, 15; 4:3; 6:7; 10:10)
        4. Israel's Salvation (Jdg 2:16; 3:9-10, 15; 4:6-7; 6:14, 10:18; 13:5)
        5. Israel's Security (Jdg 2:18; 3:11, 30; 5:31; 8:28; 12:7; 16:31)
      4. The Provocation and Protection of Yahweh (Jdg 2; 3; 4; 6-8; 10; cf. Ps 106:43-45; Neh 9:27-28)
      5. The Spirit of Yahweh (Jdg 3:10; 6:34; 11:29; 13:25; 14:6, 19; 15:14)
      6. The Angel of Yahweh (Jdg 2:1, 4; 5:23; 6:11, 12, 20, 21, 22; 13:3, 6, 9, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21)
      7. The Brutality in the Society (Jdg 3, 4, 5, 9, 12, 14-16, 19-21) [Webb, 59-67]
      8. The Kingship (Jdg 8:22-23; 17:6; 18:1; 19:1; 21:25)
    3. Purpose:
      • The failure of Israel during the period of the Judges demonstrated Israel's need for a righteous human King. [see W&W, 292]
    4. The Literary Structure (BTSB, 386-89; W&W, 292-97; DOTHB, 592-606)
      1. The Literary Chart for Judges
        Introduction: Israel's Disobedience
        Incomplete Conquest of Israel
        Jdg 1:1–Jdg 1:36
        Idolatry of Israel
        Jdg 2:1–Jdg 2:23
        Historical Cycles: Israel's Deliverance
        The Pattern of Israel's Experiences
        Jdg 3:1–Jdg 16:31
        A. Othniel (Jdg 3:1-11)
        < wife (Jdg 3:6; [Jdg 1:11-15])
        B. Ehud (Jdg 3:12-31)
        < message to king (Jdg 3:19-20)
        < fords of Jordan (Jdg 3:28)
        C. Barak (Jdg 4:1–Jdg 5:31)
        < death by a woman (Jdg 4:21)
        D. Gideon (Jdg 6:1–Jdg 8:32)
         
        C′. Abimelech (Jdg 8:33–Jdg 10:5)
        < death by a woman (Jdg 9:53-54)
        B′. Jephthah (Jdg 10:6–Jdg 12:15)
        < message to king (Jdg 11:12)
        < fords of Jordan (Jdg 12:5)
        A′. Samson (Jdg 13:1–Jdg 16:31)
        < wives (Jdg 14:2; [Jdg 16:2])
        Epilogue: Israel's Dereliction
        Idolatry of Israel
        Jdg 17:1–Jdg 18:31
        Immorality and Warfare in Israel
        Jdg 19:1–Jdg 21:25
        Seven Judges (Judges 3:7–16:31) [Dorsey, LSOT]
        a
        Othniel (Jdg 3:7-11; 1:11-15)
        - evaluation: positive
        - procures a good Israelite wife by obeying Yahweh
        - drives Canaanites from the land and settles there
        - wife presses him for a good thing: to extend their territory
        - good judge, leading a united Israel
        - blessed by his brave Israelite father-in-law
        b
        Ehud (Jdg 3:12-30)
        - evaluation: positive
        - Transjordanian king oppresses Israel eighteen years; occurs in Benjamin
        - Ehud has a secret message and message from God for enemy king
        - captures fords of Jordan and with help of Ephraimites kills thousands of enemies attempting to cross
        - Israelites united
        c
        Deborah and Barak (Jdg 4:1–Jdg 5:31)
        - evaluation: positive
        - woman crushes Sisera's skull in a careless moment
        - Israelites united
        d
        TURNING POINT: Gideon (Jdg 6:1–Jdg 8:32)
        - evaluation: positive / negative
        (1)
        Gideon's stand against idolatry at Ophrah (Jdg 6:1-32)
        (2)
        Gideon's battle against Midianites (Jdg 6:33–Jdg 7:25)
        (2′)
        Gideon's battle against Israelites (Jdg 8:1-21)
        (1′)
        Gideon's lapse into idolatry at Ophrah (Jdg 8:22-32)
        c′
        Abimelech (Jdg 8:33–Jdg 9:57)
        - evaluation: negative
        - woman crushes Abimelech's skull in careless moment
        - Israelites fragmented; civil war
        b′
        Jephthah (Jdg 10:6–Jdg 12:7)
        - Jephthah sends messages twice to enemy king
        - captures fords of Jordan and kills thousands of Ephraimites who cross
        a′
        Samson (Jdg 13:1–Jdg 16:31)
        - procures bad wives from Canaan's native population, disobeying Yahweh
        - settles among the pagan inhabitants of Canaan
        - wives press him for bad things: to betray his secrets
        - bad judge, fragmenting Israel
        - betrayed by his cowardly pagan father-in-law
      2. The Outline of Judges
        1. Introduction: The Disobedience of Israel (Jdg 1:1-Jdg 2:23)
          1. The Tribal Situation: The Incomplete Conquest by Israel (Jdg 1:1-36)
          2. The Religious Situation: The Idolatry of Israel (Jdg 2:1-23)
        2. The Historical Cycles: The Lord's Deliverances of Disobedient Israel through the Judges (Jdg 3:1-Jdg 16:31)
          1. The Reason: The Lord's Testing of Disobedient Israel (Jdg 3:1-6)
          2. The Judgeship of Othniel [Mesopatamians] (Jdg 3:7-11)
          3. The Judgeship of Ehud [Moabites] (Jdg 3:12-31)
          4. The Judgeship of Deborah [Canaanites] (Jdg 4:1-Jdg 5:31)
          5. The Judgeship of Gideon [Midianites] (Jdg 6:1-Jdg 8:32)
          6. The "Kingship" of Abimelech (Jdg 8:33-Jdg 9:57)
          7. The Judgeship of Jepthah [Ammonites] (Jdg 10:1-Jdg 12:7)
          8. The Judgeship of Samson [Philistines] (Jdg 13:1-Jdg 16:31)
        3. Appendices: The Dereliction of Israel (Jdg 17:1-Jdg 21:25)
          1. Religious Failure: Idolatry in Israel (Jdg 17:1-Jdg 18:31)
          2. Tribal Failure: Immorality and Warfare in Israel (Jdg 19:1-Jdg 21:25)
    5. Bibliography
      1. Exegetical:
        • Butler, Judges (WBC).
        • *Chisholm, Jr., A Commentary on Judges and Ruth (KEL).
      2. English Interpretation:
        • *Block, Judges-Ruth (NAC).
        • *Webb, The Book of Judges (NICOT).
      3. Expositional:
        • *Davis, Judges: Such a Great Salvation.
        • Younger, Jr., Judges, Ruth (NIVAC).
        • Webb, Judges (PTW).
    6. Selected Interpretive Problems
      1. The Purpose of the Book of Judges (ESVSB, 433; EBC2, 1056-8)
        1. Kingship:
        2. Assimilation:
          • To Show Yahweh's Gracious Sustaining of the Israelites Despite the Canaanization of Israelite Society after the Conquest and Settlement of the Land [Block; Younger]
      2. The Chronological Problem [MSB, 329-30, 3; ESVSB, 437; MKP, 166-70; W&W, 291; CBCOT, 26; DOTHB, 181-83, 434-41]
        • The Data:
          JUDGES
          JUDGE
          TRIBE
          OPPRES­SOR
          YEARS OF OPPRES­SION
          YEARS OF REST
          TOTAL YEARS
          JUDGE
          TRIBE
          OPPRES­SOR
          YEARS OF OPPRES­SION
          YEARS OF REST
          TOTAL YEARS
          Othniel
          Judah
          Meso-potamians
          8
          40
          48
          JUDGE
          TRIBE
          OPPRES­SOR
          YEARS OF OPPRES­SION
          YEARS OF REST
          TOTAL YEARS
          Ehud
          Benjamin
          Moabites
          18
          80
          98
          JUDGE
          TRIBE
          OPPRES­SOR
          YEARS OF OPPRES­SION
          YEARS OF REST
          TOTAL YEARS
          Shamgar
          ?
          Philistines
          JUDGE
          TRIBE
          OPPRES­SOR
          YEARS OF OPPRES­SION
          YEARS OF REST
          TOTAL YEARS
          Deborah / Barak
          Ephraim / Naphtali
          Canaanites
          20
          40
          60
          JUDGE
          TRIBE
          OPPRES­SOR
          YEARS OF OPPRES­SION
          YEARS OF REST
          TOTAL YEARS
          Gideon
          Man­assah
          Midianites
          7
          40
          47
          JUDGE
          TRIBE
          OPPRES­SOR
          YEARS OF OPPRES­SION
          YEARS OF REST
          TOTAL YEARS
          [Abim­elech]
          3
          JUDGE
          TRIBE
          OPPRES­SOR
          YEARS OF OPPRES­SION
          YEARS OF REST
          TOTAL YEARS
          Tola
          Issachar
          23
          23
          JUDGE
          TRIBE
          OPPRES­SOR
          YEARS OF OPPRES­SION
          YEARS OF REST
          TOTAL YEARS
          Jair
          Gad
          22
          22
          JUDGE
          TRIBE
          OPPRES­SOR
          YEARS OF OPPRES­SION
          YEARS OF REST
          TOTAL YEARS
          Jephthah
          Gad
          Ammonites
          18
          6
          24
          JUDGE
          TRIBE
          OPPRES­SOR
          YEARS OF OPPRES­SION
          YEARS OF REST
          TOTAL YEARS
          Ibzan
          Judah (?)
          7
          7
          JUDGE
          TRIBE
          OPPRES­SOR
          YEARS OF OPPRES­SION
          YEARS OF REST
          TOTAL YEARS
          Elon
          Zebulun
          10
          10
          JUDGE
          TRIBE
          OPPRES­SOR
          YEARS OF OPPRES­SION
          YEARS OF REST
          TOTAL YEARS
          Abdon
          Ephraim
          8
          8
          JUDGE
          TRIBE
          OPPRES­SOR
          YEARS OF OPPRES­SION
          YEARS OF REST
          TOTAL YEARS
          Samson
          Dan
          Philistines
          40
          20
          60
          JUDGE
          TRIBE
          OPPRES­SOR
          YEARS OF OPPRES­SION
          YEARS OF REST
          TOTAL YEARS
          410
          SAMUEL
          JUDGE
          TRIBE
          OPPRES­SOR
          YEARS OF OPPRES­SION
          YEARS OF REST
          TOTAL YEARS
          JUDGE
          TRIBE
          OPPRES­SOR
          YEARS OF OPPRES­SION
          YEARS OF REST
          TOTAL YEARS
          Eli
          Levi
          (Philistines)
          40
          40
          JUDGE
          TRIBE
          OPPRES­SOR
          YEARS OF OPPRES­SION
          YEARS OF REST
          TOTAL YEARS
          Samuel
          Levi
          Philistines
          20 (?)
          ?
          ?
          JUDGE
          TRIBE
          OPPRES­SOR
          YEARS OF OPPRES­SION
          YEARS OF REST
          TOTAL YEARS
          60+
        • The Problem:
          • There is not enough time for consecutive Judgeships
        • Conquest / Death of Joshua & Elders
          Period of Judges
          (325 Years)
          Kingship of Saul
          1406 BC
          1375 BC
          1050 BC
        • Note:
        • Chronological Marker:
        • Possible Solutions:
          • MSB, 3; CBCOT, 26; MKP, 166-70 (early Exodus);
          • Kitchen, On the Reliability of the Old Testament, 204-10 (late Exodus).
      3. Jephthah's Vow (Jdg 11:29-40) [MSB, 346-47; ESVSB, 459-60; BTSB, 411; CBCOT, 104]
        1. The Perpetual Virginity and Tabernacle Service [Life] of Jephthah's Daughter
        2. The Offering [Death] of Jephthah's Daughter [Butler; Block, Webb; Davis; EBC1; EBC2; BKC]
    7. Preaching Judges

Used with permission by Dr. Keith Essex. Redistribution without express permission from Dr. Keith Essex is prohibited.

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