Judges
This Book is called JUDGES, because it contains the history of what passed under the government of the judges, who ruled Israel before they had kings. The writer of it, according to the more general opinion, was the prophet Samuel.
The expedition and victory of Juda against the Chanaanites: who are tolerated in many places.
An angel reproveth Israel. They weep for their sins. After the death of Joshua, they often fall, and repenting are delivered from their afflictions, but still fall worse and worse.
The people falling into idolatry are oppressed by their enemies; but repenting are delivered by Othoniel, Aod, and Samgar.
Debbora and Barac deliver Israel from Jabin and Sisara, Jahal killeth Sisara.
The canticle of Debbora and Barac after their victory.
The people for their sins, are oppressed by the Madianites. Gedeon is called to deliver them.
Gedeon, with three hundred men, by stratagem defeateth the Madianites.
Gedeon appeaseth the Ephraimites. Taketh Zebee and Salmana. Destroyeth Soccoth and Phanuel. Refuseth to be king. Maketh an ephod of the gold of the prey, and dieth in a good old age. The people return to idolatry.
Abimelech killeth his brethren. Joatham's parable. Gaal conspireth with the Sichemites against Abimelech, but is overcome. Abimelech destroyeth Sichem: but is killed at Thebes.
Thola ruleth Israel twenty-three years; and Jair twenty-two. The people fall again into idolatry, and are afflicted again by the Philistines and Ammonites. They cry to God for help, who upon their repentance hath compassion on them.
Jephte is made ruler of the people of Galaad: he first pleads their cause against the Ammonites; then making a vow obtains a signal victory; he performs his vow.
The Ephraimites quarrel with Jephte: forty-two thousand of them are slain: Abeson, Ahialon, and Abdon, are judges.
The people fall again into idolatry and are afflicted by the Philistines. An angel foretelleth the birth of Samson.
Samson desireth a wife of the Philistines. He killeth a lion: in whose mouth he afterwards findeth honey. His marriage feast, and riddle, which is discovered by his wife. He killeth, and strippeth thirty Philistines. His wife taketh another man.
Samson is denied his wife. He burns the corn of the Philistines, and kills many of them.
Samson is deluded by Dalila: and falls into the hands of the Philistines. His death.
The history of the idol of Michas, and the young Levite.
The expedition of the men of Dan against Lais: in their way they rob Michas of his priest and his gods.
A Levite bringing home his wife, is lodged by an old man at Gabaa in the tribe of Benjamin. His wife is there abused by wicked men, and in the morning found dead. Her husband cutteth her body in pieces, and sendeth to every tribe of Israel, requiring them to revenge the wicked fact.
The Israelites warring against Benjamin are twice defeated; but in the third battle the Benjamites are all slain, saving six hundred men.
The tribe of Benjamin is saved from being utterly extinct, by providing wives for the six hundred that remained.