Following Joshua's campaign to conquer the land of Canaan and deliver the Israelites to the Promise Land, the Book of Judges recounts the leaders of Israel. During this age of approximately 350 years, Israel was divided into the 12 tribes of Jacob, and were lead by notable leaders referred to as judges. This was prior to the establishment of the Kingdoms of Israel and Judah. The historical accuracy of this book is debatable however it certainly pertains to the real legends and tales of the Israelites. The approximate timeline here would be 1360 BC (when Joshua conquered Canaan) to 1024 BC where Saul became the first king of Israel.
These are some of my favorite books in the bible that pertain to the historical foundation of the nation of Israel. The books are loaded with military campaigns against the neighboring Philistine and Arab tribes, while also internal power struggles. God is of course the driving force of it all, but has not chosen an individual leader to succeed Joshua. Instead Israel is divided into various tribe and leaders (referred to as judges). God frequently grows frustrated with the Israelites as they take on neighboring gods such as Baal and Dagon and punishes the with defeat and famine. However they always realize their errors and return to give praise to God.
The 12 Tribes
The land of Israel was divided into 12 regions, based on the tribes and descendants of Jacob. This included Asher (symbol of a tree), Dan (symbol of justice), Judah (the crown), Rueben (a mandrake), Joseph (a palm tree), Naphtali (gazelle), Issachar (sun, moon, and stars), Simeon (towers and cities), Benjamin (jug, ladle, and fork), Gad (tent, cattle), Zeublun (ship, sea), and Levi (priests). The Tribe of Levi was appointed 6 cities of refuge, while the tribe of Joseph was divided into two land allocations in Manasseh and Ephriam. However of these 12 tribes, only 2 of them played a vital role in the development of Israel. This included Judah and Benjamin who inhabited the heart of Israel, in Jerusalem. The other 10 tribes were supporting players, who would later become referred to as the Lost Tribes.Following the death of Joshua, the Israelites asked God who would lead them next against the Canaanites. God did not chose an individual leader yet rather the tribe of Judah as his chosen people. The land of Judah then allied with the land of Simeon to defeat their neighboring enemies. However a recurring theme then begins in which the Israelites commit infidelities' against the Lord by adopting the gods of their neighbors. Since God is notorious for being a jealous god, he turns his back on the Israelites and lets them fall against their enemies. Finally the Israelites call out for a leader, and God appoints the first of various judges.
The 12 Judges
The first leader god appoints to judge over the Israelites is Othniel, from the tribe of Judah. Othniel redelivers victory against the Canaanites and then overseas an era of 40 years of peace for the Israelites. Ehud was then chosen to succeed him, from the house of Benjamin. His claim to fame was assassinating the enemy Moabite king with his left hand. He was then followed by the judge Shamgar who slaughtered 600 Philistines with an ox goad. Then came the first female leader of Israel, Deborah who served as a prophetess of God. She instructed the military commander Barak to lead an assault on the Canaanites at the Battle of Mount Tabor. She then gave a victory hymn, known as the Song of Deborah, regarded as the oldest Hebrew text in the bible.
Under Deborah's leadership Israel was at peace once again for 40 years, until her time passed. The Israelites once again turned against God and came under the power of the Midianites. Once again the Israelites called out for a leader, and God chose Gideon as his new champion. Gideon was from the half-tribe of Manasseh and had early doubts as to why God had called upon him. He famously tested the Lord to keep a fleece dry amidst a wet ground. Of course this goes against God's principle rule that faith in him should not be tested, he still performed the miracle so that Gideon would believe. With this act, Gideon knew he had the support of God and lead a small outnumbered army of 300 men to defeat the Midianites once and for all.Once again the land of Israel was at peace for 40 years under Gibeon, until his son Abimelech took power with greedy ambition. Abimelech killed 70 of his brothers so that he would be the sole ruler of Manasseh the destroyed the Canaanite city of Shechem. During his siege of Thebez, a woman hurled a stone at Abimelech, that crushed his head and killed him. Abimelech's final command was to be speared by one of his own soldiers so that he would not die at the hands of a woman. Following the death of the wicked Abimelech, God once again showed favor in selecting Tola to lead the Israelites. Tola was from the Tribe of Issachar and lead Israel for 23 years. He was followed by the judge Jair from the House of Manasseh, who judged Israel for 22 years.
After 40 years of strong leadership under Tola and Jair, the Israelites once again offended the lord by worshiping the Arab gods and came under oppression by the Ammonites. God then chose Jephthah, son of a prostitute from the city of Gilead, to lead the Israelites against the Ammonites. Jephthah made a vow with God, asking him for victory in return he would sacrifice whoever greeted him first at his house. God thus delivered the Ammonites into Jephthah's power, however when he returned hiome the first one to enter his house was his young daughter playing the tambourine. Jephthah mourned at his vow, but his daughter accepted her fate and requested two months to mourn, before she was put to death as a sacrifice to the lord.
The Mighty Samson
Jephthah judged Israel for six years and was then followed by Ibzan who judged for seven years, Elon who judged for ten years, and then Abdon who judged for eight years. After the death of Abdon, Israel once again fell into a leaderless void where they returned to the pagan gods. And once again God turned his back on them, and delivered them to the Philistines. However an angel later visits the infertile wife of Manoah and tells her she will bear a child (just as Mary bore Jesus). This child was to be named Samson who would lead the Israelites against the Philistine oppression. His body was consecrated by the lord, in which he would have tremendous strength as long as he did not consume wine nor cut his hair. He is without question the most famous figure in the book of Judges.
In his youth Samson was attacked by a lion in the vineyards of Timnah, however he tore the lion to pieces and stole honey from the lion's belly. He then marries a prominent Philistine woman and offers a riddle to the 30 groomsmen in the wedding in exchange for garments. The Philistines are offended by Samson's mockery, and are able to convince his wife to find the answer. Enraged Samson goes to a nearby village to kill 30 Philistines, steal their garments, and offer them to the 30 Groomsmen as promised. He later discovers that his Philistine wife has remarried to one of the Groomsmen. Once again in a bout of rage, Samson gathers 300 foxes, lights their tails on fire, and sends them to scorch the grain fields of the Philistines. In response to this, the Philistines kill his wife and her father.Samson then began a fierce campaign of slaughter against the Philistines. He later took refuge in a cave known as the Rock of Etam. The Philistines then demand that the Israelites hand over Samson as prisoner. The Tribe of Judah approaches Samson with an army of 3000 and take him prisoner to hand over to the Philistines. However Samson breaks free and with the jawbone of an ass he slays 1000 Philistine soldiers. From this point on Samson became the hero and leader of Israel, and judged over them for twenty years.
However towards his final years Samson once again fell in love with a Philistine woman, a prostitute from Gaza named Delilah. Just as his previous Philistine wife had done, she would also betray him to her kin (which explains why the Phantom of the Opera uses her name as reference). Delilah was able to learn that Samsun's superhuman strength came from his hair and cut it one night while he was sleeping. The Philistines were then able to easily capture him and gauge out his eyes. One day as the Philistines are celebrating a religious feast at the temple of Dagon, they call for their prisoner Samson to entertain them. Samson then prays to the lord, leans against the pillars of the temple, and brings them down to collapse the building. All 3000 Philistines in attendance are killed along with Samson. He is considered an epic hero with a tale quite similar to the Sumerian's Gilgamesh or the Greek's Herakles.
The Book of Ruth
Towards the end of the age of judges there is a brief story in the Bible pertaining to a Moabite woman named Ruth. She embodies a Mary-like figure of piety, humility, and devotion to God. In the story she marries an Israeli named Mahlon who has moved with his family from Judah to the land of Moab. After ten years, Moab's father dies, his brother dies, and Moab himself dies. This leaves the mother Naomi alone with her two daughter-in-laws without any men in their family. The women weep for some time, unsure what to do, until Naomi decides it is best she returns to her home land of Israel.One of the daughter in-laws (Orpah) agrees with this plan to return to her Moab people, however Ruth decides to join Naomi on her return to Israel. She famously states that "where you go, I will go, where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my god. Where you die I will die, and I will be buried". This beautiful passage represents Ruth's devotion and loyalty to her family but also to God. Naomi and Ruth eventually relocate to Bethlehem, where Ruth finds work in the fields of barley. She later marries the owner of the field, Boaz who admires her devotion to Naomi. The two have a son named Obed, who has a son named Jesse, who has a son named David. Thus Ruth is the great-grandmother of King David.
The Prophet Samuel
Another very important figure during the age of judges was the prophet Samuel who wrote the Books of Samuel which describe Israel's transition into a kingdom. He was the son of Hannah from Levi, who prayed for a child, and God granted her prayer, thus she offered Samuel as a vassal of the lord. As a young boy Samuel was frequently called upon by the lord, of which he famously responded, "Here I am lord". The elder priest and judge Eli instructs him to respond to the lord, by stating, "Speak Lord for your Servant is Listening". God then explains that Eli's children have done wickedness and his dynasty must come to end. Shortly after this revelation, Eli dies and the Israelites are defeated by the Philistines who capture the ark of the covenant for some time.Samuel becomes the leading prophet and judge of Israel after the death of Eli where he seeks to regain the ark from the Philistines. The Philistines later discover their statue of Dagon to be laying prostrate towards the ark, as a sign of worship. God brings forth great devastation upon the Philistine tribes until they return the ark to the Israelites. Finally after 20 years of oppression by the Philistines, Samuel leads the Israelite army to victory at the hill of Mizpah. Towards his elder years, the people of Israel begin to call for a king, which upsets God who sees it as an insult to his leadership. Nonetheless God grants their wish and appoints Saul from the house of Benjamin, to be the first king of Israel.
The Rise of Saul
Thus the prophet Samuel became the king-maker of Saul by anointing him and consulting him in battles against the Philistines. Samuel presents Saul as king to the tribe leaders which marks the beginning of the new unified kingdom of Israel. There are of course those within Israel who contest his leadership however after Saul defeats the Ammonites all tribes swear allegiance. Yet there are early warning signs of Saul's devotion to God and unwillingness to follow Samuel's instructions. At one point Saul decides to spare an Amalekite king, against God's instructions and for this he is condemned. God makes it clear to Samuel that he regrets choosing Saul as king which no doubt was intentional as he did not want a king in the first place.Samuel confronts Saul one last time declaring how he has been disobedient to the lord and his dynasty would end with him. Saul is devastated at this news that he has loss favor with God and carries forth to kill the Amalekite king, but it is too late. Samuel then journeys to Bethlehem to seek out the young David, whom God has now chosen as the rightful successor to Saul. God of course would not undue his decision to make Saul king, however at this point his favor sharply shifts towards the young David. After the prophet Samuel dies, Saul becomes wicked with jealousy and malice towards David.