Judges and Ruth – Textbook

THE PURPOSE OF THE BOOK
1. It is transitional period from the conquest under the leadership of Joshua to the period of
Monarchy. However, it only seems to take us through the judgeship of 12 of the 14 judges.
The work of the judges Eli and Samuel is told in the Book of I Samuel.
2. It demonstrates the problems and results of a nation who knew God and His Word, but
reverted back to “doing what was right in their own eyes”.
3. It contrasts the decisive leadership of Joshua and Phinehas to leaders who do not lead, but
allow men to do their own thing. Without vision (revelation from God) the people perish.
4. To show the result of mixing light with darkness, God and Baal, and allowing the enemies to
live among you, to marry them and to put them to tribute. They did indeed become thorns in
Israel’s side. Sin not put away will captivate you, and bring you into bondage.
5. This book is referred to by other Bible books:
I Samuel 12:9-11, “9 And when they forgat the LORD their God, he sold them into the hand
of Sisera, captain of the host of Hazor, and into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand
of the king of Moab, and they fought against them. 10 And they cried unto the LORD, and
said, We have sinned, because we have forsaken the LORD, and have served Baalim and
Ashtaroth: but now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, and we will serve thee. 11 And
the LORD sent Jerubbaal, and Bedan, and Jephthah, and Samuel, and delivered you out of the
hand of your enemies on every side, and ye dwelled safe”. 11 Samuel 11:21, “Who smote
Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? did not a woman cast a piece of a millstone upon him
from the wall, that he died in Thebez? why went ye nigh the wall? then say thou, Thy servant
Uriah the Hittite is dead also”. Psalms 83:9-11, “9 Do unto them as unto the Midianites; as to
Sisera, as to Jabin, at the brook of Kison: 10 Which perished at Endor: they became as dung
for the earth. 11 Make their nobles like Oreb, and like Zeeb: yea, all their princes as Zebah,
and as Zalmunna”. Psalms 106:34-35, “34 They did not destroy the nations, concerning
whom the LORD commanded them: 35 But were mingled among the heathen, and learned
their works”. Hebrews 11:32, “And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell
of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of
the prophets”. Acts 7:45, “Which also our fathers that came after brought in with Jesus into
the possession of the Gentiles, whom God drave out before the face of our fathers, unto the
days of David”. Acts 13:19-20, “19 And when he had destroyed seven nations in the land of
Chanaan, he divided their land to them by lot. 20 And after that he gave unto them judges
about the space of four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the prophet”.