THE BOOK OF JUDGES!(Review)

What’s it all about?

Question #1

•Describe the pattern that occurs repeatedly in the Book of Judges.

Answer: Israelites fall into sin, worshiping idols and abandoning God

Sin leads to calamity, assaulted and persecuted by their enemies, Canaanites

Israelites repent of their sin and cry to God for help

God raises up a judge to deliver them from disaster

Question #2:

•In the Bible what was the role of the Judges? List the six major judges.

Answer:

▫To deliver the Israelites from destruction Othniel Ehud Deborah Gideon Jephthah Samson

Defining ‘judge’

•Not a judge as we think of one (e.g Supreme Court; Law & Order; Judge Judy)

•Judge defined as…▫One who acted as a temporary military

leader, as well as arbiter of disputes within and between tribes.

▫Judges were expected to remind people of their covenant promise to God.

Who were the judges?• Military Leaders

▫Othniel, Ehud, Barak, Gideon, Jepthah• Lone Warriors

▫Shamgar, Samson• Leader & Commander

▫ Jepthah• Priests

▫Eli and Samuel• Prophets

▫Deborah and Samuel• Others not specified

▫Tola, Jair, Ibzan, Elon, Abdon

The Theology of the Judges

•When Israel followed God and the Covenant, they lived peacefully.

•When Israel lost awareness that God was in charge, suffering followed (usually at the hands of a foreign group).

•The people would cry out to God for help and it would be granted.

•After their rescue, they would resume their careful practice of the Covenant, at least for a while.

The Theology of the Judges Summary

SinPunishmentRepentanceDeliverance

Judges Skits

Create a skit based on one of the Judges:-Othniel & Ehud (Judges 3:7-30)-Deborah (Judges 4-5)-Gideon (Judges 6-8)-Jephthah (Judges 10:6 – 12:7)-Samson (Judges 13-16)

*See Rubric for more ‘graded’ details

•Read & Write down main plot/events•Remember the “Theology of Judges”

▫Did the Israelites sin?▫What was their punishment?▫How did they repent?▫How were they delivered?

…Have Fun

Skit Basics: