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Judges of Israel |
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In the midst of a
time when the Israelites had no earthly king (Judges 18:1, 19:1) and
often choose to fall into sin and rebellion against God (Judges
21:25), He repeatedly came to their aid when they remembered Him and
sought His help. To lead and rescue his people he raised up
individuals who became known as the Judges of Israel (i.e. Ruth 1:1).
It is likely that some of the Judges may have overlapped, having
primary influence in one region of Israel. A quick add of known years
of persecution, years of rest, and years judging, if all linear,
arrive at a period of at least 75 years longer than that allowed for
in our Bible time line. If overlapped, or if
some of the minor Judges ruled during the noted times of persecution
or rest, all of which the text certainly allows for, this would not
be a problem2. |
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Judge |
Major or |
Reference |
Years of |
Years of Rest |
Years Judging |
Enemies |
Othniel |
Major |
Judges |
8 |
40 (LXX says 50) |
-- |
Cushan-Rishathaim king of Aram Naharaim |
Ehud |
Major |
Judges |
18 |
80 |
-- |
Eglon of Moab |
Shamgar |
Minor |
Judges |
-- |
-- |
-- |
Philistines |
Deborah |
Major |
Judges |
20 |
40 |
-- |
Jabin and Sisera of Canaan |
Gideon |
Major |
Judges |
7 |
40 |
-- |
Midianites, Amalekites and other eastern peoples |
Tola |
Minor |
Judges |
-- |
-- |
23 |
-- |
Jair |
Minor |
Judges |
-- |
-- |
22 |
-- |
Jephthah2 |
Major |
Judges |
18 |
-- |
6 |
Philistines and Ammonites |
Ibzan |
Minor |
Judges |
-- |
-- |
7 |
-- |
Elon |
Minor |
Judges |
-- |
-- |
10 |
-- |
Abdon |
Minor |
Judges |
-- |
-- |
8 |
-- |
Samson |
Major |
Judges |
40 |
-- |
20 |
Philistines |
Samuel |
Major |
1 Samuel |
-- |
-- |
See 1 Samuel 12:2 |
Philistines |
Notes: 1. Minor judges are those who only received brief mention in Scriptures versus major judges where more detail is provided. 2. Scriptures clearly indicate that Jephthah was about 300 years after the conquests of Joshua (Judges 11:26), which also helps to position which Judges ruled when. Certainly it lends support to the early date for the exodus (1440 B.C. versus 1270 B.C.) as it fits well with the time line established by other chronologies such as 1 Kings 6:1.
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(c) 2008 Brent MacDonald/LTM. Duplication is permitted as long as the source is cited. A courtesy email is desired, we like to know how our resources are being used. . |