A. Judges
1. Be familiar with the Cycle of the Judges (be able to write out the parts)
JUDGE HEROES:
• Ehud – left handed Judge who created a plan to dispose Eglon. He assassinated
him when he stabbed him he was so fat that the dagger disappeared. Ehud escaped and the
Israelites became free again.
• Deborah – Wife of lebodo (fire) so “woman of fire”. Ehud is dead, Jabin
suppresses the Israelites. Deborah a respected woman leader, delivers an Oracle to Barak, to
organize troops to fight on Sisera. He asks Deborah to come with him; the victory would be
credited to Deborah.
• Gideon – slow to recognize and respond to God’s call. Requires 3 miracles to
convince him. Succumbs to false worship and leads Israel astray. Seems to forget the point of
the vision. Rejects hereditary rules.
-Angel came Gideon, he snuck to deface Baal’s temple. He created troops he asked Yahweh for
a sign. He received 2: God wanted a small army, when they asked him to be king he refused,
saying Yahweh will rule then. His sons became the King.
• Jephthah – delivered the Israelites of Gilead in Jordan from the oppression of the
Ammonites, he made a vow to Yahweh saying he would sacrifice the first thing out of his door.
They began to develop conflict between each other.
• Samson – shadow of what a judge is supposed to be. More successful in death
than life. A contradiction, physically massive yet spiritually infant. Ex: Samson married a
Philistine, Samson yet loved yet killed the Philistines. Delilah was his undoing. Told her a secret
about her hair, she betrayed him. The story is meant to depict Israel, with Yahweh all powerful
but without Yahweh empty but Yahweh never abandoned them.
What is a judge?
-not primarily judicial officials
-military leaders and clan chieftans.
-main figures about who the tales are told.(the ppl who rulled a charismatic rule)
-Deeply flawed individuals where leadership is a major theme.
The work of Judges: 3fold nature
1. spiritually : uphold the causes of the Lord.
2. Judicially: settle personal and tribal disciples.
3. Militarily: lead the army during war time.
A spiral:
1.APOSTASY: they do evil,
2.OPPRESSION: prompt God’s anger
3.REPENTANCE: delivery by God.
4.DELIVERANCE: after submission of enemy
5.PEACE: deliver judges in Israel, death and burial.
2. How is the beginning of Samuel connected to the end of Judges? What issue arises?
, • It is a book of transition. Samuel is Israel’s last judge.
• Need for a human king: Samuel anoints Saul=> Move from theocracy to
monarchy
• 21:25 “In those days there was no king in Israel; all the people did what was right
in their own eyes.”
3. Are there any queens during this time or women Judges?
• No Queen but Deborah is introduced as a prophet and even spoke an Oracle(to
Barak)
• She is extremely powerful and helps rescue the Israelites from dire
circumstances
• The courage of Deborah and Jael and the credit for victory they received set in
relief the terrible lack of male initiative and leadership in Israel at the time of the Judges
4. Which Judge had his cut? What are some features of other judges we covered in
class?
• SAMSON had his hair cut by Delilah.
• Saul was chosen by God – he was disobedient, didn’t wait for Samuel for the
sacrifice, so he presumed his function as a priest at the moment, Samuel was enraged – He
was a king AND judge
5. Which Judge needed proof to believe God would support him?
• Gideon as he required 3 miracles to convince him that God was there for him
I. Exam Time:(See Syllabus on-line):
II. Format: Same as last two exams: True/False, Multiple Choice, Vocabulary; no essay. This
exam is longer (somewhere around 40 T/F and 40 M/C) and it is weighted more heavily (30%).
III. Scope of Exam: Will begin with 1 Samuel (Hannah) and end with Daniel. It is not
comprehensive or cumulative in a classical sense, but as mentioned in class, some words that
carry over, e.g., Hesed, Theodicy, Theophany etc….
IV. Subject Matter and Sources: Exam material will come from Bandstra, class notes, and
power point outlines. Be familiar with major characters and the major points of stories read in
class. I have given clues along the way.
V. Vocabulary: includes lists beginning with relevant words from List 7 through 10: (See
Assignments Section of blackboard): ***Remember the vocabulary will give you insight into the
stories and you should learn vocab first.***
VI. Biblical Texts and Articles
A. Judges
1. What subject becomes prominent at the end of the book of Judges? See the powerpoint
and the “refrain” that helps to answer this question.
A king will make a difference
2. How is the beginning of Samuel connected to the end of Judges? What issue arises?
The issue of kingship Arises
3. What does the Book of Judges “universalized” about the nation’s faith? Bandstra p. 237
1. Be familiar with the Cycle of the Judges (be able to write out the parts)
JUDGE HEROES:
• Ehud – left handed Judge who created a plan to dispose Eglon. He assassinated
him when he stabbed him he was so fat that the dagger disappeared. Ehud escaped and the
Israelites became free again.
• Deborah – Wife of lebodo (fire) so “woman of fire”. Ehud is dead, Jabin
suppresses the Israelites. Deborah a respected woman leader, delivers an Oracle to Barak, to
organize troops to fight on Sisera. He asks Deborah to come with him; the victory would be
credited to Deborah.
• Gideon – slow to recognize and respond to God’s call. Requires 3 miracles to
convince him. Succumbs to false worship and leads Israel astray. Seems to forget the point of
the vision. Rejects hereditary rules.
-Angel came Gideon, he snuck to deface Baal’s temple. He created troops he asked Yahweh for
a sign. He received 2: God wanted a small army, when they asked him to be king he refused,
saying Yahweh will rule then. His sons became the King.
• Jephthah – delivered the Israelites of Gilead in Jordan from the oppression of the
Ammonites, he made a vow to Yahweh saying he would sacrifice the first thing out of his door.
They began to develop conflict between each other.
• Samson – shadow of what a judge is supposed to be. More successful in death
than life. A contradiction, physically massive yet spiritually infant. Ex: Samson married a
Philistine, Samson yet loved yet killed the Philistines. Delilah was his undoing. Told her a secret
about her hair, she betrayed him. The story is meant to depict Israel, with Yahweh all powerful
but without Yahweh empty but Yahweh never abandoned them.
What is a judge?
-not primarily judicial officials
-military leaders and clan chieftans.
-main figures about who the tales are told.(the ppl who rulled a charismatic rule)
-Deeply flawed individuals where leadership is a major theme.
The work of Judges: 3fold nature
1. spiritually : uphold the causes of the Lord.
2. Judicially: settle personal and tribal disciples.
3. Militarily: lead the army during war time.
A spiral:
1.APOSTASY: they do evil,
2.OPPRESSION: prompt God’s anger
3.REPENTANCE: delivery by God.
4.DELIVERANCE: after submission of enemy
5.PEACE: deliver judges in Israel, death and burial.
2. How is the beginning of Samuel connected to the end of Judges? What issue arises?
, • It is a book of transition. Samuel is Israel’s last judge.
• Need for a human king: Samuel anoints Saul=> Move from theocracy to
monarchy
• 21:25 “In those days there was no king in Israel; all the people did what was right
in their own eyes.”
3. Are there any queens during this time or women Judges?
• No Queen but Deborah is introduced as a prophet and even spoke an Oracle(to
Barak)
• She is extremely powerful and helps rescue the Israelites from dire
circumstances
• The courage of Deborah and Jael and the credit for victory they received set in
relief the terrible lack of male initiative and leadership in Israel at the time of the Judges
4. Which Judge had his cut? What are some features of other judges we covered in
class?
• SAMSON had his hair cut by Delilah.
• Saul was chosen by God – he was disobedient, didn’t wait for Samuel for the
sacrifice, so he presumed his function as a priest at the moment, Samuel was enraged – He
was a king AND judge
5. Which Judge needed proof to believe God would support him?
• Gideon as he required 3 miracles to convince him that God was there for him
I. Exam Time:(See Syllabus on-line):
II. Format: Same as last two exams: True/False, Multiple Choice, Vocabulary; no essay. This
exam is longer (somewhere around 40 T/F and 40 M/C) and it is weighted more heavily (30%).
III. Scope of Exam: Will begin with 1 Samuel (Hannah) and end with Daniel. It is not
comprehensive or cumulative in a classical sense, but as mentioned in class, some words that
carry over, e.g., Hesed, Theodicy, Theophany etc….
IV. Subject Matter and Sources: Exam material will come from Bandstra, class notes, and
power point outlines. Be familiar with major characters and the major points of stories read in
class. I have given clues along the way.
V. Vocabulary: includes lists beginning with relevant words from List 7 through 10: (See
Assignments Section of blackboard): ***Remember the vocabulary will give you insight into the
stories and you should learn vocab first.***
VI. Biblical Texts and Articles
A. Judges
1. What subject becomes prominent at the end of the book of Judges? See the powerpoint
and the “refrain” that helps to answer this question.
A king will make a difference
2. How is the beginning of Samuel connected to the end of Judges? What issue arises?
The issue of kingship Arises
3. What does the Book of Judges “universalized” about the nation’s faith? Bandstra p. 237
