Old Testament
Book of Judges
After Joshua, Israel drifts from God again and again. Each time God raises up a judge such as Deborah, Gideon or Samson to rescue them, until the book closes in moral chaos.
At a glance
Judges key facts
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Chapters
- 21
- Author
- Not named in the text; Jewish tradition credits Samuel
- When it was written
- Probably during or after the early monarchy, about 1050 to 1000 BC
- Main theme
- A repeating cycle of failure, trouble and rescue
- Key verse
- Judges 21:25
Summary
What is Judges about?
After Joshua, Israel drifts from God again and again. Each time God raises up a judge such as Deborah, Gideon or Samson to rescue them, until the book closes in moral chaos.
Key verse
A key verse in Judges
“In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.”
21 chapters
Judges chapters
Read any chapter of Judges in full, with verse-by-verse links.
Questions
Judges: common questions
Who wrote the book of Judges?
Not named in the text; Jewish tradition credits Samuel.
When was Judges written?
Probably during or after the early monarchy, about 1050 to 1000 BC.
What is the book of Judges about?
After Joshua, Israel drifts from God again and again. Each time God raises up a judge such as Deborah, Gideon or Samson to rescue them, until the book closes in moral chaos.
How many chapters are in Judges?
Judges has 21 chapters, in the Old Testament.
What is a key verse in Judges?
Judges 21:25: “In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.” (KJV).
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