For Further Study

Chapter 7 Bibliography. See Part 2 Bibliography for general works on the Deuteronomistic history.

Questions for Review

1. What is the theological framework of the book of Judges, and how does this shape the way the tales of individual judges are told?
2. For Ehud, Deborah, Gideon, and Samson, identify the foe and the way each judge achieved victory.
3. How is the book of Judges transitional between the era of Joshua and the rise of kingship?
4. How does the overall shape of the book of Judges, especially the people's cycle of disobedience, reflect its theology of history?

Questions for Reflection and Discussion

1. Think about the character of the major judges. What was wrong with each of them? What do their flaws say about Israel at this time in its history? Do you think the judges are heroes or anti-heroes?
2. Reflect on the writer's perspective on women in these narratives, especially in relation to the Deborah and Jephthah stories. Did the writer have a positive or a negative valuation of females in Israel?
3. The book of Judges presents clear evidence of the role of the editor in shaping the final work. What is the relationship between history-telling and history? Was the Deuteronomistic Historian true or untrue to history in the way he shaped the book? What does it really mean to write history?

Chapter 7 Study Guide

• Chapter summary
• Key terms linked to the glossary
• Concept questions with answer links
• Progress tests: true/false, multiple choice, matching, and identification