Judges begins with a startling yet matter-of-fact statement that Israel’s long-time and faithful leader, Moses, was dead.
It was only a two or three week walk from Egypt to the border of the Promised Land. When Israel arrived, of the 12 spies Moses sent to assess the land, 10 came back with a negative report (Num 13:1-17; Deut 1:22-40). Only Joshua and Caleb returned with confidence in God’s power and plan. Joshua was 40 years old when he entered Canaan as a spy (Josh 14:6-8).
Israel wandered the Sinai Peninsula 40 years until everyone 20 and older (minus Joshua and Caleb) died for their unbelief (Num 14:29-35; Heb 3:19). Moses was the last of his generation standing, but God forbid him to enter the land because of his sin of twice striking the rock at Kadesh (Num 20:1-13; Deut 32:48-52). Then Joshua led the nation in conquering Canaan until he died at 110 years.
The Book of Judges reveals what happens to people who reject God and do what was right in his own eyes (Judg 17:6; 21:25). It’s the story of people living life in a way that was right to everyone but God; a tale of failure through compromise, but also a testimony to God’s grace and sovereignty.

I. An Outline. A judge (shophet) was a person who delivers and leads people. The Book of Judges covers 15 judges from the death of Joshua to the ministry of the last judge, Samuel; in all, a period of about 350 years (1380—1015 BC). Each judge was marked by a serious defect, yet God used the individual to save and lead His people. Some of these judges ruled simultaneously over different regions. One was a prophet, one a priest, and many were military leaders (kings); foreshadowing Jesus in His three offices as Messiah.
Historically, the Jews attribute the Book of Judges to Israel’s last judge, the prophet Samuel, around 1004 BC.
The book has three simple divisions: Introduction (1:1—3:4); History of the Judges (3:5-16:31); Examples of Israel’s Sin (17:1-21:25). Its pages show man’s failure apart from God and God’s grace revealed in a cyclical pattern of sin, suffering, supplication, and salvation.

II. Into the Land and Away from God. Israel entered the promised land expectantly, but rather than victorious living, the nation experienced failure after defeat. Moses warned the people of the danger of pride and forgetting God in the midst of His blessing (Deut 8:11-20). Forgetting God led to spiritual apathy, moral awfulness, and political anarchy.
The Israelites compromised with the Canaanites, something Moses also warned about (Deut 12:8, 29-32). Through intermarriage and business, the Canaanites whom Israel was to utterly destroy, became essential to Israel’s life and heart. It is harder to stand against your enemy when the enemy becomes your friend whom you depend upon. Compromise in small things led to grievous sin and God’s judgment.

III. God’s Purpose. Many people dislike this book because it portrays mankind as depraved: wholly sinful apart from God. Man’s failure because of sin is revealed in ways most people find repulsive; but it is an accurate and honest picture of us!
God included the Book of Judges in the Bible for the same reasons as the others books. First, it was written to reveal the sinfulness of man and the need for a Saviour. Second, it points the sinner to God, glorifies Him by creating praise for His eternal character, and reveals His work in saving sinners (Lk 24:27, 32, 44-48). Third, it teaches and creates hope in God’s promises in our struggles (Rom 15:3). Fourth, it warns believers from sin by the example of others (1 Cor 10:1-3).