Age 5 of 14
The Judges
c. 1380–1051 BC
Dating: Approximate
Relevance
The LORD raised up judges who delivered Israel (). "In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes" (). Ruth, a Moabitess, became an ancestor of David () and of Jesus ().
Dating views (no position taken)
Early Exodus view: c. 1380–1051 BC — (Jephthah: Israel had dwelt in the land 300 years)
Late Exodus view: c. 1200–1051 BC — Late Exodus with overlapping judgeships
Key events
Throughout the period
The cycle of the judges
Israel does evil, is oppressed, cries unto the LORD, and is delivered by a judge ().
Date not stated
Deborah and Barak defeat Sisera
Sisera's host falls by the edge of the sword (; ).
Date not stated
Gideon's three hundred
The LORD saves Israel by three hundred men (; ).
c. 1208 BC
Merneptah Stele names "Israel"
An Egyptian victory stele of Pharaoh Merneptah contains the earliest known mention of Israel outside the Bible. Not recorded in Scripture.
"In the days when the judges ruled" (Ruth 1:1)
Ruth comes to Bethlehem
Ruth the Moabitess marries Boaz; she becomes the great-grandmother of David (; ).
Date not stated
Samson against the Philistines
Samson judges Israel twenty years in the days of the Philistines (; ).
In the days of Eli
The ark captured
The Philistines take the ark of God; Eli dies ().
c. 1051 BC
Israel asks for a king
The elders ask Samuel, "make us a king to judge us like all the nations" ().
Rulers and empires
Key people
Judge
Othniel
Land rested 40 years ()
Delivered Israel from Chushan-rishathaim after 8 years of servitude ().
Judge
Ehud
Land rested 80 years ()
Slew Eglon king of Moab after 18 years of servitude ().
Judge
Shamgar
Slew six hundred Philistines with an ox goad ().
Prophetess and judge
Deborah
Land rested 40 years ()
Judged Israel under the palm tree after 20 years of oppression by Jabin ().
Commander
Barak
Went down from mount Tabor against Sisera (; ).
Judge
Gideon
Land rested 40 years ()
Delivered Israel from Midian after 7 years (; ).
Son of Gideon
Abimelech
Reigned 3 years ()
Slew his brethren and was slain at Thebez (; ).
Judge
Tola
Judged 23 years ()
Judge
Jair
Judged 22 years ()
Judge
Jephthah
Judged 6 years ()
Delivered Israel from Ammon after 18 years of oppression (; ).
Judge
Ibzan
Judged 7 years ()
Judge
Elon
Judged 10 years ()
Judge
Abdon
Judged 8 years ()
Judge, a Nazarite
Samson
Judged 20 years ()
Began to deliver Israel after 40 years under the Philistines ().
Priest and judge
Eli
Judged 40 years ()
Priest at Shiloh ().
Moabitess
Ruth
"Thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God" ().
Kinsman of Elimelech
Boaz
Redeemed the inheritance and married Ruth ().
Prophets
- DeborahIsrael
A prophetess who judged Israel ().
Books written during or about this period
Judges · Ruth · 1 Samuel (ch. 1–8)