Judges
Judge Othniel (Judges 3:8-11)
Othniel (עָתְנִיאֵל בֶּן קְנַז, Otniel ben Kenaz) was the first of the judges of Israel. The name Othniel can be interpreted as „Protector of God“ or „Protection (is) God“. Some time after the death of Joshua, the Israelites once again turned to sin and fell under the subjection of...
Judge Ehud (Judges 3:12-30)
Ehud (אֵהוּד בֶּן־גֵּרָא, Ehúd ben Géráh) is the second judge who was sent by God to deliver the Israelites from Moabite domination resulting in peace lasting for eighty years. He is described as being left-handed and a member of the Tribe of Benjamin. The judge is sent to the Moabite King...
Judge Shamgar (Judges 3:31)
Shamgar deflected Philistine raids into Israel and slaughtered 600 of the invaders with an ox goad. The text is very unordinary compared with the records of other judges. The reference to Shamgar has no introduction, conclusion, or relation to the length of reign. It continues directly from the...
Judge Debora and Barak (Judges 4:1-5:31)
Deborah was the fourth judge and the only female judge mentioned in the Bible. She presented her judgments underneath a date palm tree. Since Deborah had a prophetic gift, she instructed Barak that God appointed him to lead an attack against Jabin, the king of Canaan, and his military commander...
Judge Tola (Judges 10:1-2)
Tola judged Israel for 23 years after the death of Abimelech. He lived and was also buried at Shamir in Mount Ephraim.
Judge Jair (Judges 10:3–5)
The name of judge Jair (יָאִיר) means "he enlightens." He was a man from Gilead of the Tribe of Manasseh, east of the River Jordan, who judged Israel for 22 years. The passage mentioning this judge is only of three verses long and describes general whereabouts, years of reign and sons of Jair.
Judge Ibzan (Judges 12:8-10)
Ibzan is the ninth judge of Israel. He was from Bethlehem and had very numerous offspring. He ruled over Israel for seven years.
Judge Elon (Judges 12:11-12)
Judge Elon served as a judge of Israel for ten years. He was a member of the tribe of Zebulun.
Judge Abdon (Judges 12:13-15)
Abdon was the eleventh Judge of Israel, the son of Hillel. He had very numerous offspring who rode on seventy donkeys.