Who/What are judges?
This English word “judge” doesn’t really do justice to what the original Hebrew was talking about. These “judges” were seen as more as prophets and troubleshooters. They saved Israel from themselves as well as others. The only time the actual Hebrew word for “judge” is used is talking about God.
He is THE Judge.

This book doesn’t just use the judges as examples of perfect people. Quite the opposite! The book, like the rest of the bible, talks about the failings and weaknesses of humans.
Barak isn’t too manly / Gideon is a scaredy-cat / Jephath is the son of a prostitute / Samson disrespected his parents and his wife, slept with a prostitute AND dated Philistine women.
If we add up all the time the judges spent “judging” it comes to 400 years. But the time-line of the book of Judges is only 200 years. Huh?

[Read Judges 2]

• “Being brought up out of Egypt” is mentioned time and time again throughout the Old Testament. Why?
• Why did the angel of the Lord think it was important for the Isrealites NOT to make a covenant with the people in that land?

BAAL simply means Lord and takes the form of many false gods in the bible. The worship of baal included sacred prostitution and child sacrifices. (molek the detestable = who ate babies!)
ASHTORETH is a godess / wife of baal. She is the godess of war and fertility. Worship of ashteroth included sacred male prostitutes and worst of all…tapestry weaving!

[gods & idols today]

• Why do you think the Israelites DIDN’T tear down the alters to false gods?
• Why do you think it was the next generation that became unfaithful to God?