HISTORICAL CONTENT Author: most likely Samuel. Major theme: Failure after failure through compromise. The name: Judges = deliverer “Judges” were men or women leaders whom God raised up to deliver the people from bondage. KEY EVENTS •Rebellion (chapter 1) Joshua 1:19; The Lord was with the people of Judah, and they took possession of the hill country. But they failed to drive out the people living in the plains, who had iron chariots. •Selfishness (chapter 2) Joshua 2:10; After that generation died, another generation grew up who did not acknowledge the Lord or remember the mighty things he had done for Israel. •Assimilation (chapter 3) Joshua 3:5-6; So the people of Israel lived among the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, 6 and they intermarried with them. Israelite sons married their daughters, and Israelite daughters were given in marriage to their sons. And the Israelites served their gods. •God raises up deliverers (Judges) chapters 3-16 Judges 3:9; But when the people of Israel cried out to the Lord for help, the Lord raised up a rescuer to save them. •Chaos, corruption and civil war (chapters 17-21) Joshua 17:6 Joshua 18:1 Joshua 19:1 Joshua 21:25 ORDINARY PEOPLE WITH EXTRAORDINARY STORIES 1. Deborah (chapters 4-5)- From wife to warrior. 2. Gideon (chapters 6-8) From the least of his family to a great leader. 3. Samson (chapters 13-16) From extraordinary to ordinary. LIFE APPLICATION •Giftedness does not guarantee success in God’s eyes •Lack of giftedness is not an excuse to sit on the sidelines Tools and resources available at thisismybible.io | Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @thisismybibleio