NOTES ON JUDGES

Judges Introduction We all believe in the motto: “With Liberty and Justice for All," but the two are 

often at odds with one another. Here we have the judges” vs. everyone doing what was right in their 

own eyes.

Judges 3:22 In other cultures, kings would sometimes receive guests and conduct business while 

sitting on the toilet. There is a striking parallel to this story in 1589. Henri III of France was hated by 

the Catholics because he was planning to name a Protestant heir. Henri received a Dominican friar 

while sitting on the toilet because the friar pretended to have a secret message for Henri. Instead, the 

friar stuck a dagger into the king's stomach and killed him.

Judges 5:5 says that the mountains melted (KJV). Based on that verse, Marcus Reiner, one of the 

founders of the science of rheology, called the ratio of a characteristic relaxation time of a material to a 

characteristic time of the relevant deformation process the Deborah Number.

Judges 5:24-27 Her use of hammer and tent peg complies with Deuteronomy 22:5, which rabbis 

interpreted to include traditional instruments of war such as swords.

Judges 6-7 The motif of fear is prominent here (Gideon first and then the Midianites).

Judges 6:13-16 Literally, “With what can I save Israel?” God has already answered him, “Go with the 

strength you have.” Gideon looks to his own strength and the strength of his clan rather than the 

strength of the God who has sent him and will be with him all the way.

Judges 6-8 Camels are mentioned several times in this passage, in contrast to the Pentateuch, which 

almost exclusively mentions donkey caravans. William Albright has demonstrated through 

archaeology, the historical accuracy of such a picture whereby camels were only introduced for such 

use about 1200 BC.

Judges 8:1-3 A soft word turns away wrath. Sometimes it is better to just affirm a critic as a person, 

rather than trying to answer him directly.

Judges 8:20   na'ar = an apprentice, not a seasoned soldier.

Judges 9:23 People sin and then sin rules them. Like Pharaoh's heart being hardened. Also in I

Samuel 18:10.

Judges 14:1,7-8 Archeological finds from this time period confirm that, unlike other Canaanite cities 

of this time, the population of Timnah was a very mixed one -- Canaanites, Israelites and Philistines.

Judges 16:30b the  opposite of Jesus. This is a type in reverse.

Judges 19 This gory story prepares us to have a negative view of King Saul, who (a) was of the tribe 

of Benjamin and (b) similarly cuts up oxen and sends them to all the tribes commanding they join him 

in battle (I Sam. 11:7).

Judges 19-20 See I Samuel 9-10.

Judges 19:2 The Hebrew text adds "because she played the harlot against him," indicating that it was 

her sinful actions that set into motion the following events.

Judges 19:28-30 A levite's job was to cut up the sacrificed animals, and so he would have had plenty 

of practice at this job.