Judges

A few weeks ago we noted that Numbers might be the "worst" book in Israel's history. Judges competes with
Numbers for that notorious distinction. A faithful generation took the land of Canaan under Joshua (Jud. 2:6-7), but
after Joshua died, a generation arose which did not know the Lord (2:10). For the next three-and-a-half centuries,
God's chosen nation plunged deep into sin, and suffered for it.

The book of Judges covers the 350-year period of Israel's history from the possession and settlement of Canaan
(and Joshua's death) to the death of Samson. Two judges served Israel after Samson's death, but their lives and
work are recorded in 1 Samuel. Essentially, though, Judges gives the history of Israel from Canaan to kingdom.

A distinct cycle characterized Israel during these three-and-a-half centuries; it is laid out in the introductory part of
the book: (1) Israel rebelled against God ("the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and served
Baalim…they forsook the Lord God…and provoked the Lord to anger" 2:11-13); (2) God punished Israel, giving them
over to be oppressed by foreign powers ("The anger of the Lord was hot against Israel, and he delivered them into
the hands of spoilers…and he sold them into the hands of the their enemies round about…and they were greatly
distressed" 2:14-15); (3) God sent them judges to deliver them from their enemies ("Nevertheless the Lord raised up
judges, which delivered them out of the hand of those that spoiled them…and when the Lord raised them up judges,
then the Lord was with the judge, and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge."
2:16-18). Following their deliverance, Israel would go right back to serving other gods and corrupting themselves
even further, and so the cycle continued (2:19).

This cycle is recorded in general terms in 2:11-19; the remainder of the book is devoted to showing the specific
instances of rebellion, punishment, repentance, and deliverance.

Before we briefly note some highlights (and lowlights) from the history covered in Judges, let us first understand the
background to their failures and affliction. Jehovah clearly, emphatically, and repeatedly told the children of Israel
that in their conquest of Canaan it was essential that they completely drive out the original inhabitants of the land.
There were at least two reasons for this command: first, God had suffered long enough with the wickedness of the
Canaanites--the Israelites were to serve as the punishing instrument of his wrath (Gen. 15:16; Lev. 18:24-28);
second, if the Israelites permitted those heathen people to remain in the land, they would be adversely influenced by
them and suffer for it (Joshua 23:1-16). Notice Numbers 33:50-56.

"And Jehovah spake unto Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho, saying, Speak unto the children of
Israel, and say unto them, When ye pass over the Jordan into the land of Canaan, then ye shall drive out all the
inhabitants of the land from before you, and destroy all their figured stones, and destroy all their molten images, and
demolish all their high places: and ye shall take possession of the land, and dwell therein; for unto you have I given
the land to possess it ... But if ye will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then shall those that
ye let remain of them be as pricks in your eyes, and as thorns in your sides, and they shall vex you in the land
wherein ye dwell. And it shall come to pass, that, as I thought to do unto them, so will I do unto you."

As often and somberly as this was repeated, however, Israel yet failed to listen to and obey God. They did not drive
out all of the inhabitants of Canaan. Their failures are noted in the first chapter of Judges, and the Lord's disapproval
is noted in 2:1-2, "I said…ye shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land; ye shall throw down their altars:
but ye have not obeyed my voice: why have ye done this?" Then, God reiterated what consequences would follow:
"Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their
gods shall be a snare unto you (2:3)." These verses set the tone for the rest of the book and, in reality, the rest of
Israel's history.

If God was so clear in demanding that Israel completely drive out the Canaanites, why didn't they just do it? Were
they not strong enough? Judges 1:19 tells us that Judah drove out some of the inhabitants in the south, but "could
not drive out the inhabitants of the valley." This was not due to a lack of strength, however, but a lack of faith. They
"did not obey God's voice" (2:2). Perhaps Judges 1:27-28 gives us some insight into what may have motivated some
of the tribes to allow some inhabitants to remain. After subduing the enemies and possessing some of the northern
parts of Canaan, we are told, "neither did Manasseh drive out the inhabitants … but the Canaanites would dwell in
that land. And it came to pass, when Israel was strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute, and did not utterly
drive them out." It seems that the prospect of making servants and tributaries of the Canaanites was more appealing
to Israel than removing them completely.

Virtually all of the tribes failed to completely drive out the inhabitants of their respective territories. Idols and
paganism remained in the land, and it is not long before we see "the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the
Lord, and served Baalim [Canaanite gods] (2:11)."

For the next three centuries, Israel changed hands among the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites,
Jebusites, Moabites, Philistines, and other nations. God raised up fifteen judges to deliver them at various points:
Othniel, Ehud, Shamgar, Deborah and Barak, Gideon, Tola, Jair, Jephthah, Ibzan, Elon, Abdon, Samson, Eli, and
Samuel. Though we call them judges, they should be viewed more as "liberators" or "deliverers." They were not
judicial figures so much as military leaders.

Let us briefly note some additional lessons and principals taught in Judges.

When man is his own moral authority, society plunges into moral chaos and depravity. It is twice noted
that "In those days when there was no king in Israel [the period of the judges], every man did that which was right
in his own eyes (17:6; 21:25)." You will not find uglier characters and acts than those recorded in the book of
Judges. Incest, rape, sodomy, mutilation, and murder characterized life in Israel. This logically follows when God is
removed from his throne and man is allowed to do whatever he pleases.

God gives up. God had already determined that should Israel refuse to drive out the Canaanites, he would turn
them over to their enemies for a miserable existence ("God delivered them into the hands of spoilers" - 2:14; cf.
2:20-23). When man gives up on God, God gives man over to the product of man's wicked thoughts and actions.
When people of old refused God and his wisdom (Rom. 1:21-23, 28), "God gave them up" (1:24, 26) and "gave them
over" (1:28) to every sort of disgusting and destructive vice.

God's covenant with Israel was always conditional. That is, Israel would only be entitled to their land and
other privileges if they were faithful to God. The judgments in Judges were temporary, but ultimately the
longsuffering of God ran out, and Israel as a covenant people would once and for all be disowned and disinherited by
God.