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Bible books history index

B i b l e :  S h o r t  H i s t o r y  O f  E a c h  B o o k
J u d g e s ,  R u t h ,  1 s t  a n d  2 n d  S a m u e l

J u d g e s.(*):.Written B.C.E. 1406, by who is unknown; the majority of critics ascribe it to Samuel, B.C.E. 1403, but many regard it as a compilation by Ezra.

The book of Judges is the history of Israel during the government of the Judges.(in Hebrew, written 'Shophetim'), which lasted for 450 years until the time of Samuel the prophet.

It is supposed that some periods overlap each other, but chronologists are not agreed as to the mode of reconciling the accounts in Judges with other known dates.

Judges were raised up by the Creator to rescue Israel from their oppressors, to reform their state and to administer justice to the people:.1Samuel 2:25 "If one man sin against another the judge shall judge him, but if a man sin against the Lord, who shall intreat for him?..."

Acts 13:17-22 "The God of this people of Israel chose our fathers and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt and with an high arm brought he them out of it. And about the time of forty years suffered he their manners in the wilderness. And when he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Chanaan.(the New Testament spelling for Canaan), he divided their land to them by lot. And after that he gave unto them judges about the space of four hundred and fifty years.(the Judges were also involved in the dividing of land), until Samuel the prophet. And afterward they desired a king. And God gave unto them Saul the son of Cis.(Old Testament spelling is Kish), a man of the tribe of Benjamin, by the space of forty years. And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king, to whom also he gave testimony and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will."

The Judges of Israel:

These judges ruled ancient Israel until the time of the first king, who was Saul.(1Samuel 10:19-24).and before the next kings who were David and his son Solomon.

There is also a different person whose name was also Saul. This was the Saul of the New Testament whose name was changed to Paul.

The state of God's people does not appear in this book as very prosperous, nor is their character so devout as might have been expected. Time and time again after one judge died, the people Israel would fall again into evil. 

There were many believers among them and the service of the ancient tabernacle was attended to.

Judges is the name given to those rulers who presided over the affairs of the Israelites during the interval between the death of Joshua and the accession of Saul.(Judges 2:18), a period of general anarchy and confusion.

Judges is the history of Israel's passing into the land of Canaan, conquering and dividing it, under the command of Joshua and their history until his death. The power and truth of the Creator in fulfilling his promises to Israel and in executing his justly threatened vengeance on the Canaanites are displayed.

The judges authority was limited by the law alone and in doubtful cases they were directed to consult God through the priest by means of the Urim and Thummim. The judges authority extended only over those tribes by whom they had been elected or acknowledged. There was no income attached to their office and they bore no external marks of dignity.

The only cases of direct divine appointment are those of Gideon.(the story of Gideon), a judge of ancient Israel and Samson and the latter stood in the peculiar position of having been from before his birth ordained 'to begin to deliver Israel'.

Gideon, also known as Jerubbaal.(Judges 8:29).lived circa.B.C.E. 1249, was the son of Joash, the Abiezrite, of the tribe of Manasseh. This was a different Joash than those with the same name that were kings.(1, 2).of ancient Israel and Judah.

From.American Tract Society:."An Abiezrite was one of the family of Abiezer, a great-grandson of Manasseh and founder of the family to which Gideon belonged."

Deborah was called to deliver Israel, but was already a judge. Samuel was called by the Lord to be a prophet but not a judge. Being a judge ensued from the high gifts the people recognized as dwelling in him.

As to Eli, the office of judge seems to have devolved naturally or rather ex officio.(by virtue of position).upon him. Of five of the judges, Tola.(Judges 10:1), Jair, Ibzan, Elon and Abdon.(Judges 12:8-15), we have no record at all beyond the bare fact that they were judges. Sacred history is not so much the history of individuals but of the plan of the Creator in its onward progress.

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R u t h.(*): means 'a friend'. She was one hot woman! Written B.C.E. 1312. Widow to Mahlon who was one of the two sons of Elimelech and Naomi.

Ruth's mother in law, came with Ruth to Bethlehem. There Naomi had a rich relative, Boaz, to whom Ruth eventually partnered with. 

She became the mother of Obed, the grandfather of David. Thus Ruth, a Gentile, being of Moab is among the maternal progenitors of the one who was the Christ in the physical body of the one called Emmanuel:.Matthew 1:5.

Ruth, was not of the then chosen race of Israel as was the Canaanitess.Tamar.(Matthew 1:3).and the Canaanitess Rahab.(Matthew 1:5), privileged to become the ancestress of David:.Ruth 4:18-22.

This book contains excellent examples of faith, piety, patience, humility, industry and loving kindness in the common events of life. Also we see the special care which the Creator takes of our smallest concerns, encouraging us to full trust therein.

Elimelech and his sons die in the land of Moab:.Ruth chapters 1-5.

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1 s t.and.2 S a m u e l: The name Samuel means 'heard of God'.

1st.and.2Samuel were written B.C.E. 1055 and 1018 respectively

Comprised from the Concise Bible Dictionary: 'Samuel was a prophet, a Nazarite from his birth, raised up by the Creator to be His servant because ancient Israel had failed in its priests and every man was doing that which was right in his own eyes:.Deuteronomy 12:8; Judges 17:6; Proverbs 12:15; 16:2; 21:2.

He was one whom God answered when he called upon Him.(Psalms 99:6).and is classed with Moses as intercessor with the Creator:.Jeremiah 15:1. Samuel was also a faithful judge in Israel and acted as priest when Eli and his sons were dead. His history is given in the books that bear his name, 1st and 2nd Samuel.

The peculiar.circumstances connected with his birth are recorded in 1Samuel 1:20.

About the early years of Samuel: Hannah, one of the two wives of Elkanah, who came up to Shiloh to worship before the Lord, earnestly prayed to God that she might become the mother of a son. Her prayer was graciously granted and after the child was weaned she brought him to Shiloh and consecrated him to the Lord as a perpetual.Nazarite.

Here he was trained and was attended to by the women who served in the tabernacle, while Eli cared for development of Samuel's spiritual life, as the young child Samuel was under the high priest Eli's care. It was here where God called him:.1Samuel 3:3-10.

Thus, probably, twelve years of his life passed along:.1Samuel 2:26 "The child Samuel grew on and was in favour both with the Lord and also with men"; compare Luke 2:52.

When Samuel came on the scene, it was a time of great and growing degeneracy in Israel:.Judges 21:1-25; 1Samuel 2:12-17,22.

The Philistines, who of late had greatly increased in number and in power, were practically masters of the country and kept the people in subjection:.1Samuel 10:1-8; 13:3.

In the book of 1Samuel we have an account of Eli and the wickedness of his sons; also of Samuel, his character and actions. Then of the advancement of Saul to be the king of ancient Israel and his ill behaviour, until his death made way for David's succession to the throne, who was an eminent type of Christ. David's patience, modesty, constancy, persecution by open enemies and feigned friends, are a pattern and example to the church and to every member of it. Many things in this book encourage the faith, hope and patience of the believer. It contains also many useful cautions and warnings.

About: Elkanah and his family:.1Samuel 1:1-4.

Hannah's prayer:.1Samuel 1:12-15.

In the.book of 2Samuel.is the history of the reign of king David.  The second Book of Samuel shows that the principles which would exist under Christ were personified in David. It relates his victories, the growth of the prosperity of ancient Israel and his reformation of the state in regards to worship. With these events are recorded the grievous sins he committed and the family as well as public troubles with which he reaped what he had sown.

We here meet with many things worthy of imitation and many that are written for our warning.

The history of king David is given in Scripture with much faithfulness and from it he appears, to those who fairly balance his many virtues and excellent qualities against his faults, to have been a great and good man.

Information brought to David of the death of Saul shows what David's heart was like:.2Samuel 1:1-17.

David's lamentation for Saul and Jonathan, Saul's son and David's good friend:.2Samuel chapters 17-24.

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