Author

Prophet Samuel

Written

Around 1050 BC (most likely) Covering the time period of 1350 - 1050 BC

Main Themes

Contains stories of a famous female judge and a female assassin.

Judge Deborah and Barak defeat their enemies at Canaan. (Judges 4)

Gideon defeats the Midianites with only 300 men. (Judges 6)

Delilah deceives Samson and steals his strength. (Judges 16)

Important Points

There was a time when God wanted to be head of Israel and for the people to trust in him instead of in a king. The Book of Judges covers that time period.

During those 300 years, Israel was served by a series of 15 judges. Some were very good, like Deborah and Samuel. Some were very evil like Abimelech who had 70 of his half-brothers killed in a conspiracy to become king.

The judges often made poor, unethical choices because they didn't seek God for their decisions but did things on their own. However, they had God as their king, which kept them out of deep trouble.

Key Verses

Judges 16:17 Then he told her all his heart, and said to her, No razor has ever been on my head; because I [have been] a Nazarite to God from my mother's womb: if I am shaven, then my strength will go from me, and I will become weak, and be like any [other] man.