Survey of the Book of Judges

from the old testament

• Author: The Book of Judges does not specifically name its author, though Jewish tradition often attributes it to Samuel (see Babylonian Talmud, Bava Batra 14b). While the text itself is anonymous, internal evidence such as the repeated phrase “In those days there was no king in Israel” (Judges 17:6; 18:1; 19:1; 21:25) suggests it was written during or after the early monarchy, possibly during Samuel’s time, who also served as a transitional leader between the period of the judges and the establishment of kingship (1 Samuel 7:15–17).
• Date of Writing: The Book of Judges was likely written between 1050—1000 BC, during or shortly after the early monarchy in Israel. This dating is supported by the repeated statement, “In those days there was no king in Israel” (Judges 17:6; 18:1; 19:1; 21:25). The longing for stable leadership and the cyclical pattern of Israel’s rebellion and deliverance suggest the author wrote with hindsight. Additionally, references to locations and events that would have required historical perspective—such as the full conquest of certain territories—align with the transitional period between the judges and the united monarchy (cf. 1 Samuel 8:4–7; Deuteronomy 17:14–20).
• Purpose: The purpose of the Book of Judges was to record Israel’s moral and spiritual decline after the death of Joshua (Judges 2:7–10), emphasizing the consequences of disobedience to God (Judges 2:11–15) and revealing the need for godly leadership (Judges 21:25). It also sets the stage for the eventual desire for a king, as seen in the recurring phrase, “In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 17:6; 21:25), which points forward to Israel’s request for a monarchy in 1 Samuel 8:5.
• Themes: The Book of Judges highlights several central themes that reveal the spiritual condition of Israel during this period. One major theme is the recurring cycle of sin, judgment, repentance, and deliverance (Judges 2:11–19), as Israel repeatedly turns from God, faces oppression, sometimes cries out for help, and is rescued by God through appointed judges. Despite Israel’s persistent unfaithfulness, God remains faithful to His covenant, demonstrating His mercy and commitment to His people (Judges 10:16). These cycles also illustrate the desperate need for righteous leadership, as the absence of strong, godly guidance leads to widespread moral decline. This is captured in the repeated phrase, “everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 17:6; 21:25), reflecting a theme of moral relativism and decline when God’s authority is ignored.
• Brief Summary: Judges tells the story of Israel’s repeated cycle of rebellion after settling in the Promised Land (Judges 2:11–19). The people turn away from God, fall into oppression under foreign nations, sometimes cry out for help, and God raises a judge to deliver them (Judges 3:9, 15; 6:7–8). Once peace is restored, the cycle begins again. The book features well-known judges like Deborah (Judges 4–5), Gideon (Judges 6–8), and Samson (Judges 13–16), among others. It ends with disturbing accounts of moral collapse, including civil war and idolatry (Judges 17–21), reflecting the tragic consequences of Israel’s failure to remain faithful to God and their need for a godly king (Judges 21:25).

from the new testament

• The Book of Judges is not mentioned by name in the New Testament, but some of its figures and events are referenced, especially in summaries of Israel’s history and in examples of faith. Hebrews 11:32 names several judges—Gideon (Judges 6–8), Barak (Judges 4), Samson (Judges 13–16), Jephthah (Judges 11–12)—as examples of faith.
• Acts 13:20 acknowledges the period of the judges as a distinct era in Israel’s history, unveiling God’s unfolding plan.

implications for today

The Book of Judges paints a sobering picture of what happens when people reject God’s authority and live according to their own standards. When “everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 17:6; 21:25), Israel fell into spiritual confusion, injustice, violence, and idolatry. Further when one generation does not pass their faith and does not teach the generations who God is or what He has done, we see the tragic results (Judges 2:10). We see the same patterns today—when individuals or societies reject God’s Word, chaos replaces order, and personal freedom often leads to collective harm. For example, when truth becomes subjective, relationships fracture, corruption spreads, and families break down. Yet even amid Israel’s rebellion, God remained faithful, and He remains faithful today. He heard the people’s cries (Judges 3:9, 15), raised up deliverers, and never abandoned His people. In our own failures, this reminds us that God’s grace still reaches us. His faithfulness does not depend on our perfection but on His unchanging character. When we turn back to Him—repenting, trusting, and obeying—He restores us. Like Israel, we need godly leadership and a constant return to God's Word to anchor us in truth. Judges urges us to live not by what seems right to us but by what is right in God’s eyes.

Key verses:

“And all that generation also were gathered to their fathers. And there arose another generation after them who did not know the Lord or the work that he had done for Israel” (Judges 2:10).

“Then the Lord raised up judges, who saved them out of the hand of those who plundered them” (Judges 2:16).

“Whenever the Lord raised up judges for them, the Lord was with the judge, and he saved them... But whenever the judge died, they turned back and were more corrupt than their fathers” (Judges 2:18–19).

“But when the people of Israel cried out to the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer for the people of Israel, who saved them” (Judges 3:9).

“In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 17:6; 21:25).