Judges

Judges covers a chaotic period in Israel's history after Joshua's death, where the tribes failed to completely drive out the Canaanites and repeatedly fell into cycles of sin, oppression, repentance, and deliverance. The book is defined by a repetitive pattern: Israel disobeys God, God allows an enemy nation to oppress them, the people cry out for help, and God raises up a charismatic military leader—a "Judge"—to deliver them. Stories of these Judges, like Gideon, Deborah, and Samson, illustrate both great faith and serious flaws. The book highlights the need for a righteous king, concluding with the famous statement, "In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes."