The Oxford Guide to People & Places of the Bible by Bruce M. Metzger & Michael D. Coogan

Author:Bruce M. Metzger & Michael D. Coogan [Metzger, Bruce M. & Coogan, Michael D.]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi, pdf
Tags: Reference, Religion
ISBN: 9780195176100
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Published: 2001-06-07T00:00:00+00:00

JUDGES. The judges are the tribal heroes who led Israel during the late second millennium BCE, between the death of "Joshua and the establishment of the monarchy. According to the book of judges, under Joshua's strong and effective leadership, the *tribes of Israel enjoyed unity and success. No leader comparable to Joshua took his place, with the result that the unity of the tribes was broken: apostasy soon followed, then military defeat. Israel was

faithful to Yahweh during Joshua's lifetime; after his death it fell away. Because Israel turned to other gods, it placed itself in mortal danger. The stories of the judges show how a number of tribal heroes were able to ward off this dangerbut only for a time. The book of Judges is a collection of stories about these heroes; the chronological sequence of the stories is certainly artificial, and the fact that the total number of heroes is twelve also suggests editorial design.

The stories about the savior judges portray them as heroes who led single tribes or groups of tribes in military campaigns in order to liberate Israel from periodic oppression by its enemies. Their rule was temporary. They led certain tribes in a specific military campaign and then, after the military threat was removed, they returned home. None of the judges succeeded in gaining the allegiance of all the tribes. They held power briefly and the area under their effective control was limited. In the present framework, however, these stories receive greater significance. They are not simply tribal sagas about famous heroes of the past; they have become testimonies to the power of Yahweh, who frees Israel when it repents and calls out for deliverance.

The predominant motif in these stories is Yahweh's deliverance of Israel through the judges. The judges are charismatic leaders upon whom has come the "spirit of Yahweh" Qudg. 6.34; 11.29; 14.6,19; 15.14). This spirit enables them to accomplish what is apparently beyond their natural abilities. In Gideon's story, this receives special emphasis through the narrative about his call (Judg. 6.11-23).

The first of the judges was Othniel, whose portrait (Judg. 3.7-11) is rather illdefined, though it follows the Deuteronomic pattern that is the interpretive framework of the book as a whole: Israel sinned by worshiping the gods of Canaan; God gave Israel into the hands of its enemies for a time: the people repented and God raised up a warrior to deliver them; then Israel had rest for forty years. The story about Ehud Qudg. 3.12-30) is a coarse Benjatninite saga about one of that tribe's ancient heroes who outwitted and then killed Eglon, king of *Moab. There is no narrative connected with Shatngar but only the statement that he "delivered Israel" (3.31).

The story of the prophet `Deborah and the commander Barak is told in both prose and poetry. The poem of Judges 5 is known as the Song of Deborah and is the most authentic literary source from the period of the judges, probably composed a short time after the victory it celebrates.

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