Summary of the Bible Book of Judges

The Book of Judges, located in the Old Testament, tells the story of Israel’s cycle of disobedience, oppression, and deliverance. Through the leadership of judges, God rescues His people from their enemies and brings them back to Him.

Judges: A Quick Read for Inspiration

Chapter 1: Conquering Canaan. "The Lord was with Judah, so he took possession of the hill country." (1:19)
Chapter 2: Israel’s Disobedience. "They abandoned the Lord and served Baal and the Ashtoreths." (2:13)
Chapter 3: Oppression and Deliverance. "But when they cried out to the Lord, He raised up a deliverer." (3:15)
Chapter 4: Deborah and Barak. "Has not the Lord gone ahead of you?" (4:14)
Chapter 5: The Song of Deborah. "Blessed be the Lord for the avenging of Israel." (5:2)
Chapter 6: Gideon’s Call. "The Lord is with you, mighty warrior." (6:12)
Chapter 7: Gideon’s Victory. "The sword of the Lord and of Gideon!" (7:20)
Chapter 8: Gideon’s Downfall. "Thus Gideon died, but the sons of Israel did not remember the Lord." (8:35)
Chapter 9: Abimelech’s Rebellion. "But Jotham ran away and went to Beer and lived there because of his brother Abimelech." (9:21)
Chapter 10: Tola and Jair. "He judged Israel twenty-three years." (10:2)
Chapter 11: Jephthah’s Vow. "Whatever comes out of the door of my house to meet me when I return in triumph from the Ammonites will be the Lord’s, and I will sacrifice it as a burnt offering." (11:31)
Chapter 12: Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon. "He had thirty sons and thirty daughters whom he gave in marriage outside his clan." (12:9)
Chapter 13: The Birth of Samson. "He will begin to deliver Israel from the hands of the Philistines." (13:5)
Chapter 14: Samson’s Marriage. "Out of the eater, something to eat; out of the strong, something sweet." (14:14)
Chapter 15: Samson’s Revenge. "With a donkey’s jawbone I have made donkeys of them." (15:16)
Chapter 16: Samson’s Downfall. "He did not know that the Lord had left him." (16:20)
Chapter 17: Micah’s Idols. "As long as the Levite was with Micah, the house of the Lord prospered." (17:13)
Chapter 18: The Danites. "But when they came to Micah’s house, they recognized the voice of the young Levite." (18:3)
Chapter 19: The Levite’s Concubine. "But the men would not listen to him." (19:25)
Chapter 20: The War Against Benjamin. "And the Lord defeated Benjamin before Israel." (20:35)
Chapter 21: Wives for Benjamin. "And they took them wives according to their number from the dancers whom they carried off." (21:23)

Read the entire book of Judges to see how God’s love and faithfulness never waver, and how He uses even imperfect people to fulfill His purpose.