READ IT! - Introduction to Judges 1-3

Introduction to Judges 1-3

The book of Judges is the second book in the Deuteronomistic History, and it contains the history of Israel in the land of Canaan before Israel had kings.

It was written during the time of the kings, and is presented as a downward spiral, with an outlook on Israel’s entry into the Promised Land that is quite different than the book of Joshua.

Some of the themes of the book include…

Leadership… as scene with Deborah who holds court. Also, the other major judges are seen as deliverers of the people, while the minor judges usually govern in times of peace. Kingship is at first seen as negative because God should be Israel’s king, but later, kingship is seen as a good thing in light of the disasters Israel experienced without one.

Another theme is the Spirit of the Lord. God’s spirit comes upon certain people and allows them to perform great feats, but God’s spirit does not come upon everyone.

Another theme is Holy War, in which, the LORD alone wins victory, and Israel can only defeat her enemies because God fights on her behalf. And there is a sense of a spiritual battle taking place on top of the physical battles.

Chapter 1

So Judges begins with the Unfinished Conquest. Chapter One shows the Israelites continuing to conquer the land of Canaan. However, they begin to have great difficulties in doing so. Caleb offers his daughter to anyone who will attack a certain region, and Othniel leads the way.

Chapter 2

Now in Chapter Two, the Israelites are portrayed as settling among the Canaanites instead of driving them out, and God says that Israel has violated their covenant and He will no longer assist them in driving out the nations.

Chapter 3

And so we come to the first of many judges to rule over the people…

Othniel. Now Othniel is from the tribe of Judah and was Caleb’s nephew who ended up marrying Caleb’s daughter. Now Othniel is the model judge, but the Israelites were worshiping Baal and Asherah at this time, and they became oppressed by Cushan-Rishathaim of Aram Naharaim, whose name literally means, “one of double-wickedness from land of double-rivers.”

Othniel rescues the Israelites after they have been oppressed for eight years. Yahweh is given credit for the victory, and Othniel rules Israel for forty years.

Next, we have our second judge… Ehud.

Now The Israelites continued in their disobedience, and God allowed them to be oppressed by the Moabites, and so Ehud comes to the rescue. Ehud is from the tribe of Benjamin. In Hebrew, Benjamin means “son of my right hand.” Ironically, Ehud is a left-handed man. And Ehud kills King Eglon, Israel’s oppressor. Eglon is described as being very fat. The name “Eglon” sounds a lot like the word for “calf.” This is a pun, comparing Eglon to “a fattened calf ready for slaughter.”

Ehud saves the Israelites by assassinating Eglon with his left hand by thrusting a “double-edged” or “double-mouthed” dagger into his belly. This is fitting for a king described tongue-in-cheek as having a “double-mouth” with which he gorged himself. Even his belly is described as “swallowing” up the dagger. After this the text reads, “and the dirt fell out,” or in other words “he pooped himself.”

Ehud escapes via the sewer system (i.e., he jumps down the king’s poop chute to escape). And the king’s attendants thought Eglon was just taking a long time in the bathroom. Ehud then leads Israel in victorious battle against the Moabites and there is peace for 80 years.

“After Ehud came Shamgar son of Anath, who struck down six hundred Philistines with an oxgoad. He too saved Israel.” Judges 1:33 refers to a town named “Beth Anath,” or “House of Anath” that was in the territory of Naphtali, so perhaps Shamgar was from the tribe of Naphtali.