Judges: Outline

Outline:

In Judges we see seven apostasies, seven servitudes to seven heathen nations with seven deliverances under fourteen judges. The book of Joshua begins with the death of Moses, the servant of the Lord, and Joshua, the minister to Moses (Joshua 1:1). It ends with the death of Joshua, the servant of the Lord (24:29). Judges begins with the death of Joshua (1:1), servant of the Lord (2:8). Judges is sectioned by the phrase, “Israel did evil” (2:11; 3:7, 12; 4:1; 6:1; 10:6; 13:1) up to Samson’s end (16:31). Then the sectional phrase becomes, “Israel had no king” (18:1; 19:1; 21:25).

1. JUDGES 1-3:6 – END OF AN ERA

a. Judges 1:1-2:10: Condition of Nation after Joshua’s Death

b. Judges 2:11-3:6: Preview of the Israel’s Cycle of History

(Serve God ->Forsake God -> Slavery -> Repent -> Serve God)

2. JUDGES 3:7-16:31 – ERA OF JUDGES

Scripture	Oppressions	Sin	Punishment	Instrument	Deliverer Judge
Judges 3:7-11	1st Apostasy	Idolatry	8 years	Mesopotamia	OTHNIEL
Judges 3:12-31	2nd Apostasy	Immorality, Idolatry	18 years	Moab & Philistines	EHUD & SHAMGAR
Judges 4:1-5:31	3rd Apostasy	Departed from God	20 years	Jabin of Canaan	DEBORAH & BARAK
Judges 6:1-8:32	4th Apostasy	Departed from God	7 years	Midian	GIDEON
Judges 8:33-10:5	5th Apostasy	Departed from God	Civil War	Other Tribes of Israel	TOLA, JAIR, (ABIMELECH)
Judges 10:6-12:15	6th Apostasy	Idolatry increased	18 years	Philistines & Ammon	JEPHTHAH, IBZAN, ELON, ABDON
Judges 13:16	7th Apostasy	Departed from God	40 years	Philistines	SAMSON

3. JUDGES 17-21: RESULTS OF ERA – CONFUSION

a. Judges 17-18: Religious Apostasy: Confusion over Worship

b. Judges 19: Moral Awfulness: Confusion in the Home

c. Judges 20-21: Political Anarchy: Confusion in the State

Judges begins in compromise and ends in confusion – the same as in every unsurrendered life.