The Book of Judges: An Introduction and an Outline

Author: Although the book itself makes no claim as to the identity of the author, Samuel traditionally has been identified by early sources such as the Baba Bathra as the author of Judges, along with Ruth and a portion of 1 Samuel (chapters 1-24).[1]

Date: The Book of Judges chronicles events that occurred over a period of 300 years   (ca. 1400-1100 B.C.). The composition of the work occurred before 1050 B.C., the approximate date of Samuel's death, and relates the history of the period between the Conquest and the Monarchy. In those days there was no king of Israel is an oft-repeated phrase (Judges 17:6; 18:1; 19:1; 21:25).

1:1-3:6 covers a period of 20 years

3:7-16:31 covers a period of 260 years

17:1-18:31 covers a period of 20 years

Recipients: The generation in which King Saul lived.

Purpose: The purpose of the Book of Judges is to demonstrate the problems that occur when people do not honor God, the mercy He shows to those who return to Him, and the blessed results when a nation follows Him.

An Outline of the Book of Judges

   I. Pre-Judge History (1:1-3:8)

            A. The Capture of Jerusalem (1:1-10)

            B. Cities Captured by the Israelites (1:11-26)

            C. Cities Not Captured by the Israelites (1:27-36)

            D. Israel Rebuked (2:1-5)

            E. Joshua Dies (2:6-10)

            F. Israel Turns to Idolatry (2:11-3:8) 

 II. The Era of the Judges (3:9-16:31)

            A. Othniel, the First Judge (3:9-11)

            B. Ehud, the Second Judge (3:12-30)

            C. Shamgar, the Third Judge (3:31)

            D. Deborah and Barak, the Fourth/Fifth Judges (4:1-5:31)

            E. Gideon, the Sixth Judge (6:1-8:35)

            F. Abimelech's Conspiracy (9:1-57)

            G. Tola, the Seventh Judge (10:1-2)

            H. Jair, the Eighth Judge (10:3-9)

            I. Jephthah, the Ninth Judge (10:10-12:7)

            J. Ibzan, the Tenth Judge (12:8-10)

            K. Elon, the Eleventh Judge (12:11-12)

            L. Abdon, the Twelfth Judge (12:13-15)

            M. Samson, the Thirteenth Judge (13:1-16:31)

III. Israelites Tragedies (17:1-21:25)

            A. Micah's Idolatry (17:1-13)

            B. The Tribe of Dan Turns to Idolatry (18:1-31)

            C. The Tribe of Benjamin is Debased (19:1-21:25)

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[1] Baba Bathra, in The Hebrew-English Edition of the Babylonian Talmud, rev. ed.,  2 vols., trans. Maurice Simon, Israel W. Slotki, ed. I. Epstein (London: Soncino Press, 1976), np. Baba Bathra 14b comments on the authorship of Judges.