Hebrew Bible judges

שופטים šōp̄əṭīm) whose stories are recounted in the Hebrew Bible, primarily in the Book of Judges, were individuals who served as military leaders of the tribes of Israel in times of crisis, in the period before the monarchy was established.

Cyrus H. Gordon argued the shophetim may have come from among the hereditary leaders of the fighting, landed, and ruling aristocracy, like the basileis or kings of Homer.

[5] The biblical scholar Kenneth Kitchen argues that from the conquest of Canaan by Joshua until the formation of the Kingdom of Israel and Judah (c. 1150–1025 BCE), the Israelite tribes may have formed a loose confederation.

No central government would have existed in this conception, but in times of crisis, the people would have been led by ad hoc chieftains known as shophetim.

Claiming that Deborah's victory has been confirmed as taking place in 1216 from archaeology undertaken at Hazor, he suggests that the period may have lasted from c. 1382 to c. 1063.

[11] In the Hebrew Bible, Moses is described as a shophet over the Israelites and appoints others to whom cases were delegated following the advice of Jethro, his Midianite father-in-law.

Ehud, described in the text between Othniel and Shamgar, is usually included as a judge because the history of his leadership follows a set pattern characteristic of five of the others.

The Book of Judges also recounts the story of Abimelech, an illegitimate son of Gideon, who was appointed as a judge-like leader by the citizens of the city of Shechem.

The united prayers of Kenaz, Eleazar the high priest, and the elders of the congregation, were answered thus : “ Ask these men name of Reuben, was like sardius; the second, for Simon, like topaz; the third, Levi, like emerald; the fourth, Judah, like carbuncle; the fifth, Issachar, like sapphire; the sixth, Zebulon, like jasper; the seventh, Dan, like figure; the eighth, Naphtali, like amethyst; the ninth, Gad, like agate; the tenth, Asher, like chrysolite; the eleventh, Joseph, like beryl; and the twelfth, Benjamin, like onyx.

Then I will take them up, and they shall be an everlasting fight to those who love Me and keep My commandments.” 14 When Kenaz bore the stones to the sanctuary, they il¬ lumined the earth like unto the sun at midday.

He ordered the thirty-seven 18 men who had railed against him to be incarcerated, and he swore to kill them, if God would but grant him assistance for the sake of His people.

Thereupon he assembled three hundred men of his at¬ tendants, supplied them with horses, and bade them be prepared to make a sudden attack during the night, but to tell none of the plans he harbored in his mind.

Before he passed away, he spoke once more, saying : “ If such be the rest which the righteous obtain after their death, it were better for them to die than live in this corrupt world and see its iniquities.” 20 As Kenaz left no male heirs, Zebul was appointed his successor.

Mindful of the great service Kenaz had per¬ formed for the nation, Zebul acted a father’s part toward the three unmarried daughters of his predecessor.

The descendants of Jethro left Jeri¬ cho, the district assigned to them, and journeyed to Arad, only that they might sit at the feet of Othniel.34 His wife, the daughter of his half-brother Caleb, was not so well pleased with him.

She complained to her father that her husband’s house was bare of all earthly goods, and his only possession was knowledge of the Torah.35 The first event to be noted in Othniel’s forty years’ reign ” is his victory over Adoni-bezek.

For eight years Israel suffered oppression at the hands of Cushan, the evil-doer who in former days had threatened to destroy the patriarch Jacob, as he was now endeavoring to destroy the descendants of Jacob, for Cushan is only another name for Laban.2* Othniel, however, was held so little answerable for the causes that had brought on the punishment of the people, that God granted him eternal life; he is one of the few who reached Paradise alive.30[16]