All this took about 450 years.
This phrase refers to the period from the time of the patriarchs, through the Exodus, and into the conquest of Canaan. The 450 years likely includes the time of Israel's sojourn in Egypt, the wilderness wanderings, and the conquest of the Promised Land. This timeline aligns with the broader narrative of Israel's history as recounted in the Old Testament, particularly in the books of Genesis through Joshua. The number 450 is significant as it underscores God's long-term faithfulness and patience with His people, despite their repeated disobedience. This period is marked by God's covenantal promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and His deliverance of Israel from slavery in Egypt, which is a type of Christ's deliverance of believers from sin.

After this, God gave them judges
The era of the judges was a time when Israel was ruled by leaders raised up by God to deliver them from oppression and lead them back to faithfulness. This period is detailed in the Book of Judges, which describes a cyclical pattern of sin, oppression, repentance, and deliverance. The judges were not kings but were charismatic leaders who acted as military deliverers and spiritual leaders. This time highlights the need for righteous leadership and foreshadows the coming of a perfect judge and king in Jesus Christ. The judges served as types of Christ, each delivering Israel in a manner that pointed to the ultimate deliverance through Jesus.

until the time of Samuel the prophet.
Samuel marks the transition from the period of the judges to the establishment of the monarchy in Israel. He was the last judge and the first prophet in a new era, anointing the first two kings of Israel, Saul and David. Samuel's role as a prophet was crucial in guiding Israel through this transition, emphasizing the importance of obedience to God over the desire for a human king. His life and ministry are recorded in the books of 1 and 2 Samuel. Samuel's prophetic ministry points to Jesus Christ, who is the ultimate Prophet, Priest, and King. Samuel's anointing of David also foreshadows the coming of the Messiah, who would be a descendant of David and fulfill God's promises to establish an everlasting kingdom.

1. Judges
Leaders raised by God to deliver Israel from oppression and to govern them. This period was marked by cycles of sin, oppression, repentance, and deliverance.

2. Samuel the Prophet
The last judge of Israel and a significant prophet who anointed the first two kings of Israel, Saul and David. Samuel played a crucial role in transitioning Israel from a theocracy to a monarchy.

3. Israel
The nation chosen by God, experiencing cycles of faithfulness and rebellion during the time of the judges.

4. God
The sovereign ruler who orchestrates the history of Israel, raising judges to lead His people and ultimately guiding them towards a monarchy.

5. 450 Years
The approximate period from the conquest of Canaan to the establishment of the monarchy, highlighting God's patience and faithfulness despite Israel's repeated failures.God's Sovereignty and Patience
God orchestrates history according to His divine plan, demonstrating patience with His people despite their repeated failures.

The Cycle of Sin and Redemption
The period of the judges illustrates the human tendency to fall into sin and the need for divine intervention and redemption.

Leadership and Obedience
God raises leaders according to His purpose. Our role is to seek His guidance and obey His appointed leaders.

Transition and Change
The transition from judges to monarchy underlines the importance of adapting to God's evolving plans for His people.

Faithfulness in Uncertainty
Even in times of chaos and uncertainty, God remains faithful. We are called to trust in His timing and provision.(20) After that he gave unto them judges . . .--The statement in the text, assigning 450 years to the period of the judges, and apparently reckoning that period from the distribution of the conquered territory, is at variance with that in 1Kings 6:1, which gives 480 years as the period intervening between the Exodus and the building of the temple. The better MSS., however, give a different reading--"He gave their land to them as an inheritance, about 450 years, and after these things he gave unto them judges," the 450 years in this case being referred to the interval between the choice of "our fathers," which may be reckoned from the birth of Isaac (B.C. 1897 according to the received chronology) to the distribution of the conquered country in B.C. 1444. So far as any great discrepancy is concerned, this is a sufficient explanation, but what has been said before as to the general tendency in a discourse of this kind to rest in round numbers, has also to be remembered. (See Note on Acts 7:6.) Josephus (Ant. viii. 3, ? 1) gives 592 years from the Exodus to the building of Solomon's Temple. Of this period sixty-five years were occupied by the wanderings in the wilderness and the conquest under Joshua, eighty-four by the reigns of Saul and David and the first four years of Solomon, leaving 443 years for the period of the Judges. This agrees, it will be seen, sufficiently with the Received text in this passage, but leaves the discrepancy with 1Kings 6:1 unexplained. There would of course, be nothing strange in St. Paul's following the same traditional chronology as Josephus, even where it differed from that of the present Hebrew text of the Old Testament.

Parallel Commentaries ...

[All this took about]
ὡς (hōs)
Adverb
Strong's 5613: Probably adverb of comparative from hos; which how, i.e. In that manner.

450 {}
τετρακοσίοις (tetrakosiois)
Adjective - Dative Neuter Plural
Strong's 5071: Four hundred. Plural from tessares and hekaton; four hundred.

years.
ἔτεσιν (etesin)
Noun - Dative Neuter Plural
Strong's 2094: A year. Apparently a primary word; a year.

After
μετὰ (meta)
Preposition
Strong's 3326: (a) gen: with, in company with, (b) acc: (1) behind, beyond, after, of place, (2) after, of time, with nouns, neut. of adjectives.

this,
ταῦτα (tauta)
Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 3778: This; he, she, it.

[God] gave [them]
ἔδωκεν (edōken)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1325: To offer, give; I put, place. A prolonged form of a primary verb; to give.

judges
κριτὰς (kritas)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 2923: A judge, magistrate, ruler. From krino; a judge.

until the time
ἕως (heōs)
Preposition
Strong's 2193: A conjunction, preposition and adverb of continuance, until.

of Samuel
Σαμουὴλ (Samouēl)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 4545: Samuel, a Hebrew prophet. Of Hebrew origin; Samuel, an Israelite.

the
τοῦ (tou)
Article - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

prophet.
προφήτου (prophētou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 4396: From a compound of pro and phemi; a foreteller; by analogy, an inspired speaker; by extension, a poet.


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NT Apostles: Acts 13:20 After these things he gave them judges (Acts of the Apostles Ac)