Week 12: A FeW Good Men….and Women The Book of Judges is the seventh book of the Bible and takes place between the late 14th to the Week TWelve Reading Plan early 11th century B.C.E. Following the conquest of 2:6-3:31 Time of the Judges Begins Canaan by Joshua until the formation of the first 2:6-3:31 Kingdom of Israel (ca. 1150-1025 B.C.E.), the 4:1-244:1-24 Girl Power 6:1-7:256:1-7:25 How Can I be Sure? Israelite Tribes formed a loose confederation. No central government existed, “In those days there 11:2-12:711:2-12:7 Jephthah Victory & Sorrow was no king in Israel; everyone did what was Ruth 1-2Ruth 1-2 Loyalty of Two Women Ruth 3-4Ruth 3-4 Love Stories right in his own eyes” (17:6; 21:25). In this time of anarchy, God appointed a series of leaders – or 16:1-316:1-31 Ladies’ Man judges – to bring salvation to His disobedient children. In The Book of Judges we see Israel go through a repeated cycle: (1) SIN – the people sin against God; (2) SERVITUDE – God allows oppressors to overcome His people; (3) SORROW – the people repent of their rebellion; (4) SALVATION – God sends a judge to deliver them. The book of Judges records twelve (thirteen if Abimelech is counted) such judges. Eli and Samuel, recorded in 1 Samuel, complete the list of judges. Book of Judges Focus Deterioraon Deliverance Depravity Judges Abimelech of Naonal Samson the Gideon, the Degradaon The Example Gideon’s Son Hesitant Hero and Six Judges Cycle of Judges Introduc-on to First Five Judges 1 2 3 5 6 8 9 12 13 Carnal Champion 16 17 21 Topics Disobedience Sin, Servitude & Salvaon Shocking Decline Religious Laxity Polical Uncertainty Moral Anarchy Place Canaan & Transjordan (East of the Jordan) Duraon Approximately 350 years Chapter Chapter 1 21 1-2 3-5 6-9 10-12 13-16 17-21 JOSHUA DIES ISRAEL IS TESTED GIDEON CYCLE CONTINUES SAMSON ISRAEL FAILS Canaanites not Othniel defeats Gideon defeats Tola and Jair judge Samson delivers Micah’s idols completely Cishan the Midianites Israel Israel from the driven out PhilisZnes Idol worship in Ehud defeats Gideon “rules” Jephthah defeats Dan Joshua dies Eglon Israel and the Ammonites Samson’s Midian marriage feast is War against the Warning from Shamgar defeats Ibzan, Elon & ruined – Samson Benjaminites Yahweh’s angel the PhilisZnes Gideon’s Abdon judge Israel takes revenge illegiZmate son Benjamin saved Deborah defeats Abimelech Samson meets as a tribe Jabin rules over Israel Delilah and is betrayed Chapter Chapter 1 4 The Book of Ruth is named aer its central figure Ruth, a resident of the land of Moab. She is the great- grandmother of David and according to the Gospel of Mahew, an ancestress of Jesus. The book tells of Ruth accepZng the God of the Israelites as her God and the Israelite people as her own. The major themes in the Book of Ruth are intermarriage and “hesed” – or loving kindness and loyalty. 1 1-2 3 4 RUTH OF MOAB RUTH’S DEVOTION RUTH & BOAZ LINE OF DAVID Elimelech and his wife, Naomi decides to return Boaz meets Ruth Boaz marries Ruth Naomi migrate to Moab to Bethlehem-Judah Naomi plots for Ruth Obed is born to Elimelech dies Naomi urges her to capture Boaz’s Ruth and Boaz daughters-in-law to aenZon Naomi’s sons Mahlon and remain in Moab David was Chilion violate the law and Lawfully, Boaz descended from marry Moabite women Orpah stays, but Ruth provides for Ruth Ruth and Boaz Orpah and Ruth refuses to leave and cares for Naomi Sons die, leaving Naomi without a husband or sons Ruth gleans in the fields of Boaz .