The Israelites, as we know, were rescued from Egypt, wandered in the wilderness for forty years, and finally inherited the Promised Land of Canaan. The book of Judges is the history of the period that immediately followed the death of Joshua. Those individuals after whom this book was named filled a larger office than the civil functions of the judges stipulated in Mosaic law. They were, in most cases, summoned directly to their great work by divine appointment and entered upon it more as deliverers from foreign bondage than as civil rulers. In fact, the very necessity for their call and their great deeds arose from the anarchy that rendered all ordinary procedures unavailing against the prevalent apostasy and oppression. The most illustrious were national heroes rather than civil or religious guides. This is the story of that remarkable time.
This study will allow us to continue the story that we began in Genesis, and continued to follow through Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy and Joshua. I hope that studying these passages will help us continue to develop a sense of the history and chronology of the Old Testament. Additionally, many of these events are referenced in the rest of the Bible. So studying these stories will (hopefully) continue to help us to better understand God's relationship with His original chosen people, the Israelites. Since the Christain church has inherited this relationship, it's important for us today to understand the original one! Many of these stories are highly entertaining as well as spiritually valuable, so I hope you will enjoy this study.
I will list both the worksheets for the study and samples of possible completed worksheets. There are plenty of different correct answers, and we could always be wrong, so don't take them as definitive! Note also that we have made heavy use of the Seventh-day Adventist Bible commentaries and the works of Ellen White (particularly Patriarchs and Prophets and Prophets and Kings) in these responses.
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References and Background Information:
Cover Page for Notebook
Spine Title for Notebook
Title and Authorship of the Book of Judges
Chronology for the Time of the Judges
Outline of the Book of Judges
Map of the Distribution of the Twelve Tribes in Canaan
Map of the Nations Surrounding the Israelites in Canaan
Map of the Origins of the Judges of the Israelites
Study Guides:
Study Notes for Judges Chapter 1: Prepare for 8/11/21
Discussion on Judges 1
Study Notes for Judges Chapter 2: Prepare for 8/18/21
Discussion on Judges 2
Study Notes for Judges 3:1-11: Prepare for 8/25/21
Discussion on Judges 3:1-11
Study Notes for Judges 3:12-31: Prepare for 9/1/21
Discussion on Judges 3:12-30
Study Notes for Judges 4:1-12: Prepare for 9/8/21
Discussion on Judges 4:1-12
Study Notes for Judges 4:13-24: Prepare for 9/15/21
Discussion on Judges 4:13-24
Study Notes for Judges 5:1-31: Prepare for 9/22/21
Discussion on Judges 5:1-31
Study Notes for Judges 6:1-23: Prepare for 9/29/21
Discussion on Judges 6:1-23
Study Notes for Judges 6:24-40: Prepare for 10/6/21
Discussion on Judges 6:24-40
Study Notes for Judges 7:1-25: Prepare for 10/13/21
Discussion on Judges 7:1-25
Study Notes for Judges 8:1-17: Prepare for 10/20/21
Discussion on Judges 8:1-17
Study Notes for Judges 8:18-35: Prepare for 10/27/21
Discussion on Judges 8:18-35
Study Notes for Judges 9:1-21: Prepare for 11/3/21
Discussion on Judges 9:1-21
Study Notes for Judges 9:22-40: Prepare for 11/10/21
Discussion on Judges 9:22-40
Study Notes for Judges 9:41-57: Prepare for 11/17/21
Discussion on Judges 9:41-57
Study Notes for Judges 10:1-18: Prepare for 11/24/21
Discussion on Judges 10:1-18
Study Notes for Judges 11:1-28: Prepare for 12/1/21
Discussion on Judges 11:1-28
Study Notes for Judges 11:28-40: Prepare for 12/15/21
Discussion on Judges 11:28-40
Study Notes for Judges 12:1-15: Prepare for 12/22/21
Discussion on Judges 12:1-15
Study Notes for Judges 13:1-25: Prepare for 12/29/21
Discussion on Judges 13:1-25
Study Notes for Judges 14:1-20: Prepare for 1/5/22
Discussion on Judges 14:1-20
Study Notes for Judges 15:1-20: Prepare for 1/12/22
Discussion on Judges 15:1-20
Study Notes for Judges 16:1-17: Prepare for 1/19/22
Discussion on Judges 16:1-17
Study Notes for Judges 16:18-31: Prepare for 1/26/22
Discussion on Judges 16:18-31
Study Notes for Judges 17:1-13: Prepare for 2/2/22
Discussion on Judges 17:1-13
Study Notes for Judges 18:1-31: Prepare for 2/9/22
Discussion on Judges 18:1-31
Study Notes for Judges 19:1-30: Prepare for 2/16/22
Discussion on Judges 19:1-30
Judges 19 Supplemental Material
Study Notes for Judges 20:1-48: Prepare for 3/2/22
Discussion on Judges 20:1-48