Bible Book Summaries › Judges
Judges: Summary & Key Themes
The Book of Judges at a glance, before you read it.
| Written by | unknown (tradition names Samuel) |
|---|---|
| Written for | Israel |
| Type | History |
| Chapters | 21 |
| Position | Book 7 of 66 · book 7 of the Old Testament |
Summary
After Joshua, Israel repeats a cycle: they turn away, are oppressed, cry out, and God raises a judge such as Deborah, Gideon or Samson to rescue them. It ends in chaos when “every man did that which was right in his own eyes.”
Main themes
- the cycle of sin
- God’s rescue
- the need for a true king
Key verse
In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.Judges 21:25 (KJV)
How to read Judges
Try one chapter a day: 21 days to finish. Ask three questions as you go: what did this mean to the first readers, what does it show about God, and what does it ask of me?