Background and Author
This book describes the period of Israel’s history between Joshua’s leadership and the beginning of the monarchy.
What is Judges?
This is the first step in the repeated pattern when Israel turned away from God and worshiped other gods.
What is rebellion/sin?
In Numbers 27:12–23, God told Moses to prepare this man to lead Israel after Moses’ death.
Who is Joshua?
Deuteronomy 20:16–18 commanded Israel to do this to the nations living in the land they were conquering.
What is completely destroy them?
Romans 6:23 teaches that this is what sin ultimately produces.
What is death?
The people who first received the message of Judges and needed to understand why their nation repeatedly turned away from God.
Who were the ancient Israelites?
Because of Israel’s rebellion, God allowed these to oppress His people.
Who are Israel’s enemies/oppressors?
Moses publicly commissioned Joshua so Israel would have a leader after Moses was gone. What does this demonstrate about Moses’ leadership?
What is that Moses prepared a successor before his death?
Judges 1 reveals that Israel did not completely remove the Canaanites from the land as God had commanded. What was the result?
What is the Canaanites negatively influenced the Israelites to worship idols?
Romans 6:23 contrasts sin’s result with this gracious gift from God through Christ.
What is eternal life?
The book of Judges was written to explain Israel’s repeated pattern of rebellion and the consequences that followed. What historical situation does the book focus on?
What is the period after Joshua's death?
After experiencing oppression, Israel would eventually do this.
What is cry out to God for help?
In Joshua 13:1–6, God reminded Joshua that although he was old, this still remained unfinished.
What is conquering/possessing the remaining land?
Joshua 24:29–31 says Israel served the LORD during the lifetime of Joshua and the elders who outlived him. What happened after that generation died?
What is Israel turned away from God?
Genesis 15:12–16 indicates that God did not immediately judge the Amorites. Their judgment would come after their wickedness had reached its full measure. What does this teach about God’s judgment?
What is God’s judgment is just and patient, not arbitrary?
Before Judges begins, the people had been slaves, delivered, wandered in the desert, and conquered the land. What land did they conquer?
Who is Canaan?
God responded by raising up this type of leader to rescue Israel from its enemies.
What is a judge/deliverer?
Judges 1:1 refers to the death of which important individual?
Who is Joshua?
Judges 1 demonstrates that although Israel won military victories, they repeatedly failed to do this completely.
What is drive out the inhabitants of the land?
Complete this statement from Judges 21:25: “Everyone did what was ______ in his own eyes.”
What is right?
Judges shows that Israel’s greatest problem was not simply a lack of strong leaders. What deeper spiritual problem continued throughout the book?
What is Israel’s repeated rebellion and unfaithfulness to God?
After being rescued, Israel eventually returned to its old ways, causing the entire pattern to begin again. What does this reveal about Israel’s spiritual condition?
What is Israel’s repeated failure to remain faithful to God?
Compare Moses and Joshua: Moses clearly prepared Joshua to succeed him, while Judges gives no indication that Joshua established one central successor. What problem followed Joshua’s death?
What is Israel lacked a central godly leader and repeatedly turned away from God?
Adoni-bezek was captured by Judah and treated in a humiliating way. Why might his thumbs and toes have been cut off?
What is to humiliate him, disable him, and to do to him what he did to others?
If everyone followed the philosophy of Judges 21:25 and decided for themselves what was right and wrong, what would likely happen to society?
What is moral chaos, conflict, injustice, and a rejection of God’s authority?