Holy Bible Online 
The judges in Israel were leaders raised up by God to govern and deliver the people after the deaths of Moses and Joshua. They carried out military, judicial, and spiritual functions, guiding the tribes of Israel against their oppressors and restoring justice.
Israel was governed by 14 judges: Othniel, Ehud, Shamgar, Deborah, Gideon, Tola, Jair, Jephthah, Ibzan, Elon, Abdon, Samson, Eli, and Samuel.
Each played a unique role in history, leading the nation through crises while preparing the way for a future monarchy.
| Order | Name of Judge | Tribe | Notable Feature | Years of Oppression | Years of Rule |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Othniel | Judah | First judge of Israel | 8 years | 40 years |
| 2nd | Ehud | Benjamin | Assassinated Eglon, king of Moab | 18 years | 80 years |
| 3rd | Shamgar | Unknown | Killed 600 Philistines with an ox goad | Not mentioned | Not mentioned |
| 4th | Deborah | Ephraim | Prophetess and leader in battle against Sisera | 20 years | 40 years |
| 5th | Gideon | Manasseh | Led 300 men to defeat the Midianites | 7 years | 40 years |
| 6th | Tola | Issachar | Judge after Abimelek, brought peace to Israel | Not mentioned | 23 years |
| 7th | Jair | Gilead | Had 30 sons and ruled 30 towns in Gilead | Not mentioned | 22 years |
| 8th | Jephthah | Gilead | Made a tragic vow after victory | 18 years | 6 years |
| 9th | Ibzan | Zebulun | Had 30 sons and 30 daughters | Not mentioned | 7 years |
| 10th | Elon | Zebulun | Judged Israel during a peaceful period | Not mentioned | 10 years |
| 11th | Abdon | Ephraim | Had 40 sons and 30 grandsons | Not mentioned | 8 years |
| 12th | Samson | Dan | Known for his strength; fought against the Philistines | 40 years | 20 years |
| 13th | Eli | Levi | Priest and judge; his sons were wicked | Not mentioned | 40 years |
| 14th | Samuel | Levi/Ephraim | Last judge; anointed Saul and David as kings | Not mentioned | 5 years |
Note: Some information, such as years of oppression and total years for certain judges, is not explicitly mentioned in the Bible, which is why it is listed as “Not mentioned.”
Understanding the Era of the Judges of Israel
After the leadership of Moses and Joshua, Israel was governed by judges. The first judge of Israel was Othniel, from the tribe of Judah, who delivered Israel from the control of the Mesopotamians.
Next came Ehud, from the tribe of Benjamin, who assassinated Eglon, the king of Moab, liberating the people. His successor was Shamgar, known for his bravery in killing 600 Philistines with an ox goad.
Deborah, from the tribe of Ephraim, was a prophetess and judge who, together with Barak, led Israel to victory against Sisera and his army. After her came Gideon, from the tribe of Manasseh, who defeated the Midianites with only 300 men.
Tola, from the tribe of Issachar, was the judge who brought stability after the death of Abimelek. He was followed by Jair, who ruled Israel and had 30 sons, each governing 30 towns in Gilead.
Jephthah, a warrior from Gilead, delivered Israel from the Ammonites but is remembered for the tragic vow he made after victory. The next judge was Ibzan, from the tribe of Zebulun, who had 30 sons and 30 daughters. Following him, Elon, also from Zebulun, judged Israel during a peaceful period. Abdon, from the tribe of Ephraim, succeeded him and had a large family, with 40 sons and 30 grandsons.
Samson, from the tribe of Dan, is perhaps the most famous judge, known for his superhuman strength and battles against the Philistines. His life was marked by both victories against Israel’s enemies and personal failures.
After Samson came Eli, a priest from the tribe of Levi who served as judge for 40 years. However, his sons were corrupt, which weakened his leadership. Samuel, the last judge, also from Levi but raised in Ephraim, stood out as a judge, prophet, and priest. He anointed Israel’s first kings, Saul and David, marking the transition of Israel from a tribal confederation to a monarchy.
The judges played important roles at different times in Israel’s history, being used by God to guide, correct, and deliver the people according to the needs of each period.
The End of the Era of the Judges: Success or Failure?
The era of the judges in Israel was marked by cycles of oppression and deliverance. When the people turned away from God, they fell under the control of enemies such as the Moabites, Midianites, and Philistines. This period lasted between 300 and 350 years, with long stretches of oppression. Although God raised up judges to help, they were unable to establish stable leadership or unite the tribes permanently.
The inconsistency and lack of strong leadership led the people to desire a king, like the neighboring nations. They sought a figure who could provide stability, security, and permanent leadership. This popular desire led to the transition of government during the time of Samuel, the last judge and prophet.
Although Samuel warned the people about the risks of having a king, he anointed Saul as Israel’s first king. However, due to Saul’s disobedience, God chose David as the next king, beginning a lineage that would ultimately lead to the coming of Jesus, the Messiah.
The era of the judges highlighted the difficulty of maintaining faithfulness to God and national cohesion. It paved the way for the monarchy as a solution to achieve the stability and unity that Israel desperately needed.
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