Judges BRI

B.R.I—Judges

1.       Identify what Author wrote for which Original Reader, and When

a.       Author/Compiler of the Book

                                                              i.      Internal

1.       1 Samuel 7:3-17 ‘Then Samuel said to all the house of Israel...’

2.       1 Samuel 12 ‘Samuel said to the people...If you will fear the Lord and serve him and heed his voice...if you will still do wickedly you shall be swept away, both you and your king.’

                                                            ii.      External

1.       The author of Judges is unknown, but many believe that it was written by Samuel. (Nelson’s)

2.       Emily Yoder says that Samuel is the author of Judges. (lecture)

                                                          iii.      Conclusion

I believe that Samuel wrote Judges, because it makes the most since to me. In the day of the judges, there was no king, leading to the nation of Israel falling apart, and not heeding the words of God, because they had no physical ruler and they were jealous of the other nations who had kings. It makes sense that Samuel would have written it, because he wanted the OR to know how to choose a Godly king.

b.      To Whom was it Written

                                                              i.      Internal

1.       1 Samuel 7:3-4 ‘Then Samuel said to all the house of Israel...’

2.       1 Samuel 12:1 ‘Samuel said to all Israel, “I have listened to you in all that you have said to me, and have set a king over you.’

                                                            ii.      External

1.       Emily Yoder says that it was written to the Israelites. (lecture)

                                                          iii.      Conclusion

I believe the Judges was written to the Israelites, because they were still a relatively new nation, who wanted a king, therefore needing a way to choose a Godly king. The first part of the OT, so far, seems to be written to the Israelites.

c.       When/where was it Written

                                                              i.      Internal

1.       Judges 1:21 ‘After the death of Joshua...’

a.       Indicates that it would be written after the death of Joshua, which was around 1375 BC.

2.       Judges 21:25 ‘In those days there was no king in Israel...’

a.       Indicates that it was written before the beginning of monarchy in Israel, sometime after 975 BC.

                                                            ii.      External

1.       1399-1050 BC (Emily Yoder, lecture)

2.       Many people say that it was written around 1050-975 BC. (Nelson’s)

3.       The beginning of monarchy is the most likely the date of composition. (Zondervan’s)

                                                          iii.      Conclusion

I believe that Judges was written in the period of time between the death of Joshua and the beginning of the monarchy, around 1399-1050 BC. It makes sense because in 21:25 it states that there was on king and everyone did whatever they wanted, and in 1:1 it says that Joshua was dead. So this leads me to the conclusion that it was written in this time period.

2.       Research the Background of the Author, Original Audience, and Readers

a.       Author’s Background

Samuel was a prophet of God, who anointed both Saul and David, as king over Israel.

                                                              i.      Political History

1.       Corrupt levitical system

2.       Theocracy

3.       Beginning of the monarchy

                                                            ii.      Religious History

1.       Prophet of God

2.       In service to God since early childhood.

b.      Original Audience’s Background

The OA is the Israelites, who were the fourth generation; who did not know God and his laws as they should have, causing them to turn to the pagan ways.

                                                              i.      Political History

1.       Corrupt levitical system

2.       Theocracy

                                                            ii.      Cultural History

1.       Pagan mindset caused depravity

                                                          iii.      Religious History

1.       Did not know God

2.       Worship of Baal and other pagan gods

                                                           iv.      Current Leaders

1.       Ehud

2.       Deborah and Barak

3.       Gideon

4.       Abimelech

5.       Jephthah

6.       Samson

The Judges of Israel; only a few of them were good role models and leaders, Deborah and Barak. Even Gideon, who was called by God to defeat the Midianites, turned to the Canaanite gods, and Samson, a nazirite since birth fell prey to Philistine woman, and forgot what God had commanded him, believing that his strength was his own.

                                                             v.      Current Enemies

1.       The Canaanites

2.       The Philistines

3.       The Moabites

4.       The Midianites

5.       The Ammonites

                                                           vi.      Geography

1.       The land of Canaan and the surrounding area

c.       Original Reader’s Background

The OR is the generation after the generation of Judges.

                                                              i.      Political History

1.       Corrupt levitical system

2.       Either no king, or Saul, a bad king

                                                            ii.      Religious History

1.       Rejected God as king.

                                                          iii.      Current Leaders

1.       Samuel

                                                           iv.      Geography

1.       The former land of Canaan, now called Israel.

3.       Reasons Written

a.       To show that they are sinful, and that they are at fault for breaking the covenant.

b.      To help them choose a Godly leader.

c.       As a warning to the man who would become king.

4.       Author’s Literary Tools

a.       Kind of Writing

                                                              i.      Prose

                                                            ii.      Poetry

1.       5:2-31

2.       9:8-15

3.       14:14b

4.       14:18b

5.       15:16

b.      Type of Literature

                                                              i.      Narrative

c.       Structure

                                                              i.      Topical

1.       The topic of sin and what it does to a nation.

d.      Composition Tools

                                                              i.      Cycles

1.       The Israelites sin

2.       God hands them over to their enemies

3.       The Israelites are oppressed

4.       The Israelites repent

5.       God raises up delivers

6.       God delivers the Israelites

7.       And again it begins...

                                                            ii.      Chiasm

1.       (a) Cause [1:1-2:5]

2.       (b) Effect [17-18]

3.       (C) Cycles and Judges [3:7-16:31]

4.       (a) Cause [2:6-3:6]

5.       (b) Effect [19-21]

5.       Main Idea

a.       Israel needs a Godly leader.

b.      Lawlessness leads to rebellion; rebellion leads to misery

c.       Without God, their cycles of sin will continue.