ToC | Reading the Old Testament. . . Chapter 7. Judges | ToC

1. Narrative Introduction

The book of Judges is built around the adventures of the judges. The first three chapters establish a narrative context for their stories. The judges were needed because the Israelites had lost their spiritual direction. The problem revealed itself with the Israelites abandoning Yahweh for Baal and Canaanite religious practices. This theological explanation of historical experience is classic Deuteronomistic thinking. Faithfulness and loyalty to Yahweh is rewarded with success, forgetfulness with failure. Before this theological framework is examined, we need to clarify why the main characters of the book are called judges.
ToC | Reading the Old Testament. . . Chapter 7. Judges | ToC