Biblical judges facts for kids
The biblical judges were special leaders in ancient Israel. They helped guide the Israelite people before kings ruled the land. You can read about them mostly in the Book of Judges in the Hebrew Bible. These judges were often military leaders who stepped up during difficult times.
What Did the Judges Do?
The Book of Judges tells a repeating story about why these leaders were needed. First, the Israelite people would stop following God. Then, they would face hard times as a result. After that, they would ask God for help. God would then choose a judge to rescue them from their enemies. These judges would also help bring fairness and order.
The Bible describes these judges as individuals chosen by God. Each judge usually came from a different Israelite tribe. Their main job was to save the people from danger. They also helped establish justice in the land.
The word "judge" comes from the Hebrew term shofet. This word means more than just a person who decides cases in a courtroom. These leaders were more like temporary military and community leaders. They were not elected, and their leadership was not passed down to their children. They were chosen by God to lead the people during a crisis.
When Did the Judges Live?
Historians believe the time of the judges was before the first kingdom of Israel began. This period might have lasted for several hundred years. During this time, the Israelite tribes may have worked together loosely. They did not have one main government. Instead, leaders called judges would step up during tough times.
However, some scholars are not sure if these judges existed exactly as described in the Bible. The Book of Judges suggests this period lasted about 300 years. Some judges might have led at the same time, not one after another. This makes figuring out exact dates tricky for historians. There is also some debate among scholars about how historically accurate the Book of Judges is.
Who Were the Judges?
The Hebrew Bible mentions several leaders who "judged" Israel. Moses is described as a shofet over the Israelites. He even appointed other people to help him with cases.
The Book of Judges names twelve main leaders. These include Othniel, Ehud, Shamgar, Deborah, Gideon, Tola, Jair, Jephthah, Ibzan, Elon, Abdon, and Samson. Ehud is usually counted as a judge too. His story follows the same pattern as many of the others.
Other books of the Bible also mention judges. The First Book of Samuel mentions Eli and Samuel. It also names Joel and Abiah, who were Samuel's sons. The First Book of Chronicles mentions Kenaniah and his sons. The Second Book of Chronicles mentions Amariah and Zebadiah.
The Book of Judges also tells the story of Abimelech. He was a son of Gideon. The people of the city of Shechem made him a leader. However, his story is different from the other judges. He was later overthrown in a local fight. Because of this, some people question if he should be called a judge.
The Bible usually says these leaders "judged Israel." For example, it says Othniel "judged Israel" (Judges 3:10). It also says Tola "judged Israel twenty-three years" (Judges 10:2). This means they led the people and helped keep things fair.
See also
In Spanish: Juez bíblico para niños
