Then the LORD raised up judges, who saved them from the hands of those who plundered them. Then the LORD raised up judgesIn the context of the Book of Judges, the term "judges" refers to leaders or deliverers whom God appointed to guide and rescue the Israelites during times of oppression. This period follows the death of Joshua and precedes the establishment of the monarchy in Israel. The judges were not merely judicial figures but were often military leaders and spiritual guides. The raising up of judges signifies God's direct intervention in response to the Israelites' cries for help, demonstrating His mercy and covenant faithfulness despite their recurring disobedience. This cycle of sin, oppression, repentance, and deliverance is a central theme in the Book of Judges. who saved them from the hands of those who plundered them
The phrase highlights the primary role of the judges: to deliver Israel from foreign oppressors. The "plunderers" were often neighboring nations that God allowed to oppress Israel as a consequence of their idolatry and covenant unfaithfulness. These oppressors included the Moabites, Ammonites, Philistines, and others. The deliverance by the judges is a foreshadowing of the ultimate deliverance through Jesus Christ, who saves humanity from the bondage of sin. The cyclical nature of Israel's sin and deliverance underscores the need for a permanent solution, which is fulfilled in the New Testament through Christ's redemptive work. Persons / Places / Events 1. The LORD (Yahweh)The covenant God of Israel, who intervenes in the lives of His people by raising up judges to deliver them. 2. JudgesLeaders appointed by God to deliver Israel from oppression. They were not judges in the modern legal sense but were military leaders and deliverers. 3. IsraelitesThe people of God who repeatedly fell into sin and idolatry, leading to their oppression by surrounding nations. 4. RaidersThe oppressors or enemies of Israel, often neighboring nations that God allowed to discipline Israel for their disobedience. 5. CanaanThe land promised to the Israelites, where they faced constant threats from surrounding nations due to their failure to fully obey God’s commands. Teaching Points God's Faithfulness in DeliveranceDespite Israel's repeated disobedience, God remains faithful to His covenant by raising up judges to deliver them. This demonstrates His mercy and commitment to His people. The Cycle of Sin and RedemptionThe book of Judges illustrates a cycle of sin, oppression, repentance, and deliverance. This cycle is a reminder of the human tendency to stray from God and the need for continual repentance and reliance on Him. The Role of LeadershipGod uses leaders to guide and deliver His people. This underscores the importance of godly leadership and the impact it can have on a community or nation. Dependence on God for SalvationThe judges were instruments of God's salvation, pointing to the ultimate deliverance through Jesus Christ. Believers are reminded to depend on God for salvation and deliverance from sin. Bible Study Questions 1. How does the role of the judges in Israel's history reflect God's character and His relationship with His people? 2. In what ways do you see the cycle of sin and redemption in your own life, and how can you break free from it? 3. How can the account of the judges inspire us to seek and support godly leadership in our communities today? 4. What lessons can we learn from the Israelites' failure to fully obey God's commands, and how can we apply these lessons to our spiritual walk? 5. How does the deliverance through the judges point to the ultimate deliverance through Jesus Christ, and how can this understanding deepen your faith? Connections to Other Scriptures Deuteronomy 7This chapter outlines God's commands to Israel to drive out the inhabitants of Canaan and avoid idolatry, which they failed to do, leading to the need for judges. 1 Samuel 12Samuel recounts the history of the judges, emphasizing God's faithfulness in raising leaders to deliver Israel despite their unfaithfulness. Hebrews 11The "Hall of Faith" includes some of the judges, highlighting their faith and God's power working through them. People Israelites, Joshua, NunPlaces Bochim, Egypt, Gaash, Gilgal, Timnath-heresTopics Cruel, Delivered, Despoiled, Hands, Judges, Nevertheless, Plundered, Power, Raiders, Raised, Raiseth, Save, Saved, Saviours, Spoiled, SpoilersDictionary of Bible Themes Judges 2:16 1320 God, as Saviour
6634 deliverance
7735 leaders, political Judges 2:6-23 8705 apostasy, in OT Judges 2:10-19 8151 revival, corporate Judges 2:10-23 8728 enemies, of Israel and Judah Judges 2:11-16 9210 judgment, God's Judges 2:16-17 6243 adultery, spiritual
8840 unfaithfulness, to God Judges 2:16-19 5358 judges
5489 rank Library A Summary of Israel's Faithlessness and God's Patience
'And an angel of the Lord came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said, I made you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you unto the land which I sware unto your fathers; and I said, I will never break my covenant with you. 2. And ye shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land; ye shall throw down their altars: but ye have not obeyed my voice: why have ye done this? 3. Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy ScriptureIsrael's Obstinacy and God's Patience
'And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and served Baalim; 12. And they forsook the Lord God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the Lord to anger. 13. And they forsook the Lord, and served Baal and Ashtaroth. 14. And the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel, and He delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Whether the Female Sex is an Impediment to Receiving Orders?
Objection 1: It would seem that the female sex is no impediment to receiving Orders. For the office of prophet is greater than the office of priest, since a prophet stands midway between God and priests, just as the priest does between God and people. Now the office of prophet was sometimes granted to women, as may be gathered from 4 Kings 22:14. Therefore the office of priest also may be competent to them. Objection 2: Further, just as Order pertains to a kind of pre-eminence, so does a position …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica The Judges.
Judges 1; 1 Sam. 7. The Characteristics of the Times. This is a period of transition for Israel Nothing was quite certain, and "every man did that which was right in his own eyes" (17:6). In consequence of this there was lack of organization, cooperation or leadership. While we do not have all the history covered by the period and while we do not easily understand or explain its events, it is clear that things did not run smoothly. In Judges 2:16-19 the author gives a vivid picture of the conditions …
Josiah Blake Tidwell—The Bible Period by Period The Unmistakable Honesty of the Writers of the Bible Attests to Its Heavenly Origin
The title of this chapter suggests a wide field of study the limits of which we can now only skirt here and there. To begin with the writers of the Old Testament. Had the historical parts of the Old Testament been a forgery, or the production of uninspired men, their contents would have been very different to what they are. Each of its Books was written by a descendant of Abraham, yet nowhere do we find the bravery of the Israelites extolled and never once are their victories regarded as the outcome …
Arthur W. Pink—The Divine Inspiration of the Bible The Death of Abraham
'Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years; and was gathered to his people.'--GENESIS xxv. 8. 'Full of years' does not seem to me to be a mere synonym for longevity. That would be an intolerable tautology, for we should then have the same thing said three times over--'an old man,' 'in a good old age,' 'full of years.' There must be some other idea than that in the words. If you notice that the expression is by no means a usual one, that it is only …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Formation and History of the Hebrew Canon.
1. The Greek word canon (originally a straight rod or pole, measuring-rod, then rule) denotes that collection of books which the churches receive as given by inspiration of God, and therefore as constituting for them a divine rule of faith and practice. To the books included in it the term canonical is applied. The Canon of the Old Testament, considered in reference to its constituent parts, was formed gradually; formed under divine superintendence by a process of growth extending through …
E. P. Barrows—Companion to the Bible The Doctrine of Angels.
I. THEIR EXISTENCE. 1. THE TEACHING OF JESUS. 2. THE TEACHING OF THE APOSTLES. II. THEIR NATURE. 1. CREATED BEINGS. 2. SPIRITUAL BEINGS. 3. GREAT POWER AND MIGHT. 4. VARIOUS GRADES. 5. THE NUMBER OF ANGELS. III. THE FALL OF ANGELS. 1. TIME AND CAUSE. 2. THE WORK OF FALLEN ANGELS. 3. THE JUDGMENT OF FALLEN ANGELS. IV. THE WORK OF ANGELS. 1. THEIR HEAVENLY MINISTRY. 2. THEIR EARTHLY MINISTRY. a) In Relation to the Believer. b) In Relation to Christ's Second Coming. THE DOCTRINE OF ANGELS. We are not …
Rev. William Evans—The Great Doctrines of the Bible A Case of Conscience Resolved
WHETHER, WHERE A CHURCH OF CHRIST IS SITUATE, IT IS THE DUTY OF THE WOMEN OF THAT CONGREGATION, ORDINARILY, AND BY APPOINTMENT, TO SEPARATE THEMSELVES FROM THEIR BRETHREN, AND SO TO ASSEMBLE TOGETHER, TO PERFORM SOME PARTS OF DIVINE WORSHIP, AS PRAYER, ETC., WITHOUT THEIR MEN? AND THE ARGUMENTS MADE USE OF FOR THAT PRACTICE, EXAMINED. BY JOHN BUNYAN. EDITOR'S ADVERTISEMENT. This exceedingly rare tract was first published in 1683, and was not reprinted, either separately, or in any edition of Bunyan's …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3 Judges
For the understanding of the early history and religion of Israel, the book of Judges, which covers the period from the death of Joshua to the beginning of the struggle with the Philistines, is of inestimable importance; and it is very fortunate that the elements contributed by the later editors are so easily separated from the ancient stories whose moral they seek to point. That moral is most elaborately stated in ii. 6-iii. 6, which is a sort of programme or preface to iii. 7-xvi. 31, which constitutes …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Judges 2:16 NIVJudges 2:16 NLTJudges 2:16 ESVJudges 2:16 NASBJudges 2:16 KJV
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