Judges 1-3

Who, When, Why

Who: Unknown but attributed traditionally to Samuel

1. **Jewish tradition**: The Talmud suggests Samuel wrote Judges, as well as the books that bear his name.

2. **Internal evidence**: The repeated phrase "in those days there was no king in Israel" (Judges 17:6, 18:1, 19:1, 21:25) suggests the author lived during the early monarchy, which would align with Samuel's lifetime.

3. **Timeline consistency**: The book was clearly written after the events it describes but before David had conquered Jerusalem (note Judges 1:21 which states the Jebusites were still in Jerusalem).

4. **Theological continuity**: The theological perspective aligns with Samuel's known views as expressed in 1 Samuel.

When: After Joshua has led them into the promised land and dies after he’d done his part of God’s plan for the children of Israel to take dominion of the land flowing with milk and honey.

Why: Judges tells us of one of the lowest moral times in the past history of the nation of Israel. It will show us the consequences of the vicious cycle of sin and it’s cost to not only us but our kids and our kids kids and those in the community around us!

Teaching Outline: Judges 2:6-3:6

Summary of Judges 1:1-2:5 (5 minutes)

Opens with a historical overview and establishes the pattern for the entire book of Judges

After Joshua's death, Israel begins conquering Canaan tribe by tribe

Partial obedience: (Many tribes fail to drive out all the Canaanites)

Judges 1:1–3 “1 Now after the death of Joshua it came to pass, that the children of Israel asked the LORD, saying, Who shall go up for us against the Canaanites first, to fight against them? 2 And the LORD said, Judah shall go up: behold, I have delivered the land into his hand. 3 And Judah said unto Simeon his brother, Come up with me into my lot, that we may fight against the Canaanites; and I likewise will go with thee into thy lot. So Simeon went with him.”

Judges 1:4-18 for 15 verses Israel obeyed and Yahweh delivered Judges 1:4 “4 And Judah went up; and the LORD delivered the Canaanites and the Perizzites into their hand: and they slew of them in Bezek ten thousand men.”

Key verse: Judges 1:19

Judges 1:19 “19 And the LORD was with Judah; and he drave out the inhabitants of the mountain; but could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley, because they had chariots of iron.”

Really the chariots?

Joshua 17:16–18 “16 And the children of Joseph said, The hill is not enough for us: and all the Canaanites that dwell in the land of the valley have chariots of iron, both they who are of Bethshean and her towns, and they who are of the valley of Jezreel. 17 And Joshua spake unto the house of Joseph, even to Ephraim and to Manasseh, saying, Thou art a great people, and hast great power: thou shalt not have one lot only: 18 But the mountain shall be thine; for it is a wood, and thou shalt cut it down: and the outgoings of it shall be thine: for thou shalt drive out the Canaanites, though they have iron chariots, and though they be strong.”

Not that the enemy had chariots it’s that the children of Israel didn’t have enough faith to obey Yahweh!

Judges 1:20-36 for the next 17 verses we see "But they did not dispossess" repeated 7 times about the people of the land Israel didn’t listen to Yahweh and obey to drive them out

Consequences: The Angel of the LORD appears at Bokim ( Judges 2:1-5)

Judges 2:1–5 “1 And an angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said, I made you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you unto the land which I sware unto your fathers; and I said, I will never break my covenant with you. 2 And 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? 3 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. 4 And it came to pass, when the angel of the LORD spake these words unto all the children of Israel, that the people lifted up their voice, and wept. 5 And they called the name of that place Bochim: and they sacrificed there unto the LORD.”

Reminds Israel of God's covenant and their disobedience

Announces that the Canaanites will be "thorns in your sides"

Notice verses 4-5, Israel wept but doesn't repent with actions and because of this they may sacrifice to the Lord but it’s an empty action without the faith of their fathers.

Main Focus: Judges 2:6-3:6 (20 minutes)

A. The Death of the Faithful Generation (2:6-10)

Judges 2:6–10 KJV

6 And when Joshua had let the people go, the children of Israel went every man unto his inheritance to possess the land. 7 And the people served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great works of the LORD, that he did for Israel. 8 And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being an hundred and ten years old. 9 And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnathheres, in the mount of Ephraim, on the north side of the hill Gaash. 10 And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel.

Joshua and the elders who witnessed God's works have died

Key problem: "Another generation arose who did not know the LORD"

Judges 2:10 “10 And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel.”

The faith that Joshua and his generation had died with them. The next generation never makes that faith their own, they are trying to live off the blessings of previous generations without the obedience that led to the blessings

Discussion question: Why didn't the next generation "know the LORD"?

B. The Cycle of Sin Established (2:11-19)

Judges 2:11–19 KJV

11 And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim: 12 And they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the LORD to anger. 13 And they forsook the LORD, and served Baal and Ashtaroth. 14 And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and he sold them into the hands of their enemies round about, so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies. 15 Whithersoever they went out, the hand of the LORD was against them for evil, as the LORD had said, and as the LORD had sworn unto them: and they were greatly distressed. 16 Nevertheless the LORD raised up judges, which delivered them out of the hand of those that spoiled them. 17 And yet they would not hearken unto their judges, but they went a whoring after other gods, and bowed themselves unto them: they turned quickly out of the way which their fathers walked in, obeying the commandments of the LORD; but they did not so. 18 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: for it repented the LORD because of their groanings by reason of them that oppressed them and vexed them. 19 And it came to pass, when the judge was dead, that they returned, and corrupted themselves more than their fathers, in following other gods to serve them, and to bow down unto them; they ceased not from their own doings, nor from their stubborn way.

Israel abandons Yahweh for Baal and Ashtoreth

The cycle begins:

Sin: Israel does evil and worships other gods

Judges 2:11–13 “11 And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim: 12 And they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the LORD to anger. 13 And they forsook the LORD, and served Baal and Ashtaroth.” )

Servitude: God gives them over to enemies

Judges 2:14 “14 And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and he sold them into the hands of their enemies round about, so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies.”

Supplication: Israel cries out in distress

Judges 2:15 “15 Whithersoever they went out, the hand of the LORD was against them for evil, as the LORD had said, and as the LORD had sworn unto them: and they were greatly distressed.”

Salvation: God raises up judges to deliver them

Judges 2:16 “16 Nevertheless the LORD raised up judges, which delivered them out of the hand of those that spoiled them.”

Silence: Period of peace, followed by return to sin

Judges 2:17–18 “17 And yet they would not hearken unto their judges, but they went a whoring after other gods, and bowed themselves unto them: they turned quickly out of the way which their fathers walked in, obeying the commandments of the LORD; but they did not so. 18 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: for it repented the LORD because of their groanings by reason of them that oppressed them and vexed them.”

Key verse: "When the judge died, they turned back and behaved more corruptly than their fathers"

Judges 2:19 “19 And it came to pass, when the judge was dead, that they returned, and corrupted themselves more than their fathers, in following other gods to serve them, and to bow down unto them; they ceased not from their own doings, nor from their stubborn way.”

C. God's Purpose in Testing Israel (2:20-3:6)

Judges 2:20–3:6 KJV

20 And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel; and he said, Because that this people hath transgressed my covenant which I commanded their fathers, and have not hearkened unto my voice; 21 I also will not henceforth drive out any from before them of the nations which Joshua left when he died: 22 That through them I may prove Israel, whether they will keep the way of the LORD to walk therein, as their fathers did keep it, or not. 23 Therefore the LORD left those nations, without driving them out hastily; neither delivered he them into the hand of Joshua. 1 Now these are the nations which the LORD left, to prove Israel by them, even as many of Israel as had not known all the wars of Canaan; 2 Only that the generations of the children of Israel might know, to teach them war, at the least such as before knew nothing thereof; 3 Namely, five lords of the Philistines, and all the Canaanites, and the Sidonians, and the Hivites that dwelt in mount Lebanon, from mount Baalhermon unto the entering in of Hamath. 4 And they were to prove Israel by them, to know whether they would hearken unto the commandments of the LORD, which he commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses. 5 And the children of Israel dwelt among the Canaanites, Hittites, and Amorites, and Perizzites, and Hivites, and Jebusites: 6 And they took their daughters to be their wives, and gave their daughters to their sons, and served their gods.

Divine test: God leaves Canaanite nations to test Israel's faithfulness

Judges 2:20–23 “20 And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel; and he said, Because that this people hath transgressed my covenant which I commanded their fathers, and have not hearkened unto my voice; 21 I also will not henceforth drive out any from before them of the nations which Joshua left when he died: 22 That through them I may prove Israel, whether they will keep the way of the LORD to walk therein, as their fathers did keep it, or not. 23 Therefore the LORD left those nations, without driving them out hastily; neither delivered he them into the hand of Joshua.” )

Training ground: The new generation needs to learn warfare

Judges 3:1–2 “1 Now these are the nations which the LORD left, to prove Israel by them, even as many of Israel as had not known all the wars of Canaan; 2 Only that the generations of the children of Israel might know, to teach them war, at the least such as before knew nothing thereof;”

Five Philistine lords and other Canaanite peoples remain

Warning fulfilled: These nations become snares through intermarriage and idolatry (Judges 2:3 “3 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.” )

Judges 3:3–6 “3 Namely, five lords of the Philistines, and all the Canaanites, and the Sidonians, and the Hivites that dwelt in mount Lebanon, from mount Baalhermon unto the entering in of Hamath. 4 And they were to prove Israel by them, to know whether they would hearken unto the commandments of the LORD, which he commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses. 5 And the children of Israel dwelt among the Canaanites, Hittites, and Amorites, and Perizzites, and Hivites, and Jebusites: 6 And they took their daughters to be their wives, and gave their daughters to their sons, and served their gods.”

Brief Overview of Judges 3:7-31 (3 minutes)

The Lord will continue to test Israel the rest of the chapter:

Othniel: Israel's first judge delivers them from Mesopotamia Judges 3:7-11.

Cycle illustrated: Sin Judges 3:7 “7 And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and forgat the LORD their God, and served Baalim and the groves.”

→ Servitude (8 years) Judges 3:8 “8 Therefore the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Chushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia: and the children of Israel served Chushan-rishathaim eight years.”

→ Supplication Judges 3:9 “9 And when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD raised up a deliverer to the children of Israel, who delivered them, even Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother.”

→ Salvation Judges 3:10 “10 And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he judged Israel, and went out to war: and the LORD delivered Chushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand; and his hand prevailed against Chushan-rishathaim.”

→ Peace (40 years) Judges 3:11 “11 And the land had rest forty years. And Othniel the son of Kenaz died.”

Ehud: Left-handed judge uses cunning to defeat Moab (stabbed Eglon, fat king of Moab, in the belly) Judges 3:12-30.

Cycle repeats: Sin → Servitude (18 years) → Salvation → Peace (80 years)

Shamgar: Brief mention of his victory over 600 Philistines with an oxgoad Judges 3:31.

Conclusion and Prayer

The pattern is the same in every life and generation: Sin → Slavery

We will serve! The question is who and what we serve.

John 8:34 “34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.”

Romans 6:16 “16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?”

John 8:35–36 “35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. 36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”

Standing in the synagogue Jesus stands and reads from the scroll of Isaiah:

Luke 4:18 “18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,”

Jesus gives sight to the blind, heals the brokenhearted, delivers the captives, sets free the oppressed!

Galatians 4:30–31 “30 Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. 31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.”

And after freedom we fight the flesh and be made by sanctification, more like Jesus until we see Him face to face!

Galatians 5:1 “1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.”

Romans 6:17–18 “17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. 18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.”

Addendum

Application Points (2 minutes)

Danger of spiritual amnesia: Each generation must know God personally

Consequences of compromise: Small compromises lead to major spiritual failures

God's faithfulness: Even in judgment, God provides deliverers when we cry out

Warning for today: What "Canaanites" are we failing to drive out of our lives?