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Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon (12:8-15), we have no record at all beyond the bare fact that they were judges. Sacred history is not the history of individuals but of the kingdom of God in its onward progress.

In Exodus 2:14 Moses is so styled. This fact may indicate that while for revenue purposes the “taskmasters” were over the people, they were yet, just as at a later time when under the Romans, governed by their own rulers.

•JUDGES, BOOK OF is so called because it contains the history of the deliverance and government of Israel by the men who bore the title of the “judges.” The book of Ruth originally formed part of this book, but about

A.D. 450 it was separated from it and placed in the Hebrew scriptures immediately after the Song of Solomon.

The book contains, (1.) An introduction (1-3:6), connecting it with the previous narrative in Joshua, as a “link in the chain of books.” (2.) The history of the thirteen judges (3:7-16:31) in the following order:

FIRST PERIOD (3:7-ch. 5)

I. Servitude under Chushan-rishathaim of Mesopotamia 8

Years

1. OTHNIEL delivers Israel, rest 40

II. Servitude under Eglon of Moab: Ammon, Amalek 18

2. EHUD’S deliverance, rest 80

3. SHAMGAR Unknown.

III. Servitude under Jabin of Hazor in Canaan 20

4. DEBORAH and,

5. BARAK 40

—— 206

SECOND PERIOD (6-10:5)

IV. Servitude under Midian, Amalek, and children of the east 7

6. GIDEON 40

ABIMELECH, Gideon’s son, reigns as

king over Israel 3

7. TOLA 23

8. JAIR 22

—— 95

THIRD PERIOD (10:6-CH. 12)

V. Servitude under Ammonites with the Philistines 18

9. JEPHTHAH 6

10. IBZAN 7

11. ELON 10

12. ABDON 8

—— 49

FOURTH PERIOD (13-16)

VI. Seritude under Philistines 40

13. SAMSON 20

—— 60

In all 410

Samson’s exploits probably synchronize with the period immediately preceding the national repentance and reformation under Samuel (1 Samuel 7:2-6).

After Samson came Eli, who was both high priest and judge. He directed the civil and religious affairs of the people for forty years, at the close of which the Philistines again invaded the land and oppressed it for twenty years. Samuel was raised up to deliver the people from this oppression, and he judged Israel for some twelve years, when the direction of affairs fell into the hands of Saul, who was anointed king. If Eli and Samuel are included, there were then fifteen judges. But the chronology of this whole period is uncertain.

(3.) The historic section of the book is followed by an appendix (17-21), which has no formal connection with that which goes before. It records (a)

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