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Pages you visit will appear hereThe cycle of sin, oppression, and deliverance
| Chapter | Summary | Commentary |
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| 1 |
After Joshua’s death, Israel continues to fight remaining Canaanites. Judah leads, aided by Simeon. Some tribes fail to fully drive out inhabitants.
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Commentary
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| 2 |
An angel rebukes Israel for disobedience. After Joshua’s generation dies, Israel falls into idolatry. God raises judges to deliver them, but the cycle of sin continues.
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| 3 |
God leaves nations to test Israel. Othniel delivers them from Cushan-Rishathaim. Ehud kills Eglon of Moab, bringing peace. Shamgar strikes down 600 Philistines.
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| 4 |
Deborah, a prophetess, leads Israel with Barak. God grants victory over Sisera’s army; Jael kills Sisera by driving a tent peg through his head.
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| 5 |
The song of Deborah and Barak celebrates God’s victory over Canaan and Jael’s courage. The land has peace for 40 years.
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| 6 |
Israel oppressed by Midian. God calls Gideon, who doubts and asks for signs. Gideon destroys Baal’s altar and gathers an army.
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| 7 |
God reduces Gideon’s army to 300 to show His power. With trumpets, jars, and torches, they rout Midian’s vast army.
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| 8 |
Gideon pursues and defeats Midian’s kings. Israel asks him to rule, but he refuses. He makes an ephod that becomes a snare to Israel.
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| 9 |
Abimelek, Gideon’s son, seizes power by killing his brothers. His rule brings strife; he dies after a woman drops a millstone on his head.
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| 10 |
Tola and Jair judge Israel. Later, Israel turns to idols, and God delivers them to Ammon. They cry for mercy, and He relents.
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| 11 |
Jephthah, an outcast, is chosen to fight Ammon. He vows to sacrifice whatever first comes from his house. Victory comes, but his daughter is tragically offered.
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| 12 |
Ephraim quarrels with Jephthah; thousands die. Jephthah judges six years. Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon serve as judges afterward.
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| 13 |
Israel again sins. An angel tells Manoah’s wife she’ll bear Samson, set apart as a Nazirite from birth.
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| 14 |
Samson desires a Philistine wife. He kills a lion and later finds honey in its carcass. He poses a riddle at his wedding feast.
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| 15 |
Samson burns Philistine fields with foxes, kills many with a donkey’s jawbone after betrayal, and judges Israel for 20 years.
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| 16 |
Samson loves Delilah, who betrays him. His hair is cut, he’s captured and blinded. He dies pulling down a Philistine temple, killing many.
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| 17 |
Micah makes idols and hires a Levite as his priest, revealing Israel’s religious corruption.
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| 18 |
The tribe of Dan steals Micah’s idols and priest, conquers Laish, and sets up idolatry.
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| 19 |
A Levite’s concubine is abused and killed in Gibeah. He dismembers her body to summon Israel against such evil.
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| 20 |
Israel unites against Benjamin for the atrocity in Gibeah. After heavy losses, Israel defeats Benjamin with God’s help.
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| 21 |
Israel grieves Benjamin’s near destruction. Wives are found for the survivors through unconventional means. The book ends: “Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.”
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