Bible History

The Books of Judges & Ruth

Judges

The book contains,

(1.) An introduction (1-3:6), connecting it with the previous narrative in Joshua, as a "link in the chain of books."

(2.) The Bible history of the thirteen judges (3:7-16:31) in the following order:

FIRST PERIOD (3:7-ch. 5)
I. Servitude under Chushan-rishathaim of Mesopotamia 8 years
1. OTHNIEL delivers Israel, rest 40 years
II. Servitude under Eglon of Moab: Ammon, Amalek 18 years
2. EHUD'S deliverance, rest period of 80 years
3. SHAMGAR Unknown.
III. Servitude under Jabin of Hazor in Canaan 20 years
4. DEBORAH 5 years only and BARAK - 40 years
Sub-total of FIRST PERIOD - 206 years

SECOND PERIOD (6-10:5) IV. Servitude under Midian, Amalek, and children of the east - 7 years
6. GIDEON 40 years and ABIMELECH, Gideon's son, reigns as king over Israel 3 years
7. TOLA 23 years
8. JAIR 22 years
Sub-total of SECOND PERIOD - 95 years

THIRD PERIOD (10:6-ch. 12)
V. Servitude under Ammonites with the Philistines 18 years
9. JEPHTHAH 6 years
10. IBZAN 7 years
11. ELON 10 years
12. ABDON 8 years
Sub-total of THIRD PERIOD - 49 years

FOURTH PERIOD (13-16)
VI. Seritude under Philistines 40 years
13. SAMSON 20 years
Sub-total of FOURTH PERIOD - 60 years

In all 410 years

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Samson's exploits probably synchronize with the period immediately preceding the national repentance and reformation under Samuel (1 Sam. 7:2-6).

After Samson came Eli, who was both high priest and judge. He directed the civil and religious affairs of the people for forty years, at the close of which the Philistines again invaded the land and oppressed it for twenty years. Samuel was raised up to deliver the people from this oppression, and he judged Israel for some twelve years, when the direction of affairs fell into the hands of Saul, who was anointed king. If Eli and Samuel are included, there were then fifteen judges. But the chronology of this whole period is uncertain.

(3.) The historic section of the book is followed by an appendix (17-21), which has no formal connection with that which goes before. It records (a) the conquest (17, 18) of Laish by a portion of the tribe of Dan; and (b) the almost total extinction of the tribe of Benjamin by the other tribes, in consequence of their assisting the men of Gibeah (19-21). This section properly belongs to the period only a few years after the death of Joshua. It shows the religious and moral degeneracy of the people.

The author of this book was most probably Samuel. The internal evidence both of the first sixteen chapters and of the appendix warrants this conclusion. It was probably composed during Saul's reign, or at the very beginning of David's. The words in 18:30,31, imply that it was written after the taking of the ark by the Philistines, and after it was set up at Nob (1 Sam. 21). In David's reign the ark was at Gibeon (1 Chr. 16:39)

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Ruth

Ruth The Book of - was originally a part of the Book of Judges, but it now forms one of the twenty-four separate books of the Hebrew Bible.

The history it contains refers to a period perhaps about one hundred and twenty-six years before the birth of David. It gives

(1.) an account of Naomi's going to Moab with her husband, Elimelech, and of her subsequent return to Bethlehem with her daughter-in-law;

(2.) the marriage of Boaz and Ruth; and

(3.) the birth of Obed, of whom David sprang.

The author of this book was probably Samuel, according to Jewish tradition.

"Brief as this book is, and simple as is its story, it is remarkably rich in examples of faith, patience, industry, and kindness, nor. less so in indications of the care which God takes of those who put their trust in him."

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